INTERNATIONAL  TYPOGRAPHICAL  UNION 

JAMBS    M.    LYNCH,    PRESIDENT         HUGO    MILLER,  SECOND   VICE-PRESIDENT 
J.   W.   HAYS,    SECRETARY-TREASURER  CONSTITUTING    EXECUTIVE    COUNCIL 


History  of 
The  Typographical  Union 


ITS  BEGINNINGS,  PROGRESS  AND  DEVELOPMENT 

ITS  BENEFICIAL  AND  EDUCATIONAL  FEATURES 

TOGETHER  WITH  A  CHAPTER  ON  THE   EARLY 

ORGANIZATIONS  OF  PRINTERS 


Compiled  by  Authority  of  the  Executive  Council  oj  the 
International  Typographical  Union 

By 

GEORGE  A.  TRACY 
ii 

Prnldrnt  Columbia  Typographical  Union  No.  101  (1894-1895) 

PrrMclmt  San  Franrlaro  Typographical  Onion  No.  21       (1906-1910) 
Fir*  Vice-Prcaldcnt  International  Typographical  Inion  ( 1909-1912) 


rURI.IMIED  BY  THt 

IM  I  KNAI  H>s  M     I  •>  KM HAPH1CAL  UNION 
1913 


PRINTED    BY    THE    HOLLENBECK    PRESS    INDIANAPOLIS    INDIANA   USA 


*# 


Contents 


FACE 

Preface    9~>3 

Acknowledgment '4 

Early  Organizations  of  Printers: 

Beginnings,  1786  to  1830 17-62 

Period  from   1830  to   1850 63-1 13 

Conventions,  1850-1912: 

Conventions  1850,  1851,  1852 1 17-139 

Conventions   National  Typographical    Union,    1853-1869 143-241 

Conventions   International   Typographical   Union,    1870-1888 243   4--4 

Conventions   International   Typographical    Union,    1889-1900 425-058 

Conventions  International   Typographical   Union,    1901-1912 659-1068 

Deutsch-Amerikanische  Tvpograpiiia    1069-1094 

Technical  Trade  Education 1095-11 10 

Public  Copyright  Acts 1 1 1 1-1 128 

Historical  Sketch  or  the  Union  Printers  Home 1 129-1 144 

Ihdex    1 145-1 165 


00^545 


Illustrations  facing 

PACE 

Aimison,     William,     Nashville,     president     International     Typographical 

Union,  June  8,   1886  -  June  14,   1888 408 

Armstrong,  John,  Toronto,  president   International  Typographical   Union, 

June  8,    1878  -  June  5,   1879 312 

Atkinson,   William   P.,   Erie,   Pa.,   president   International  Typographical 

Union,  June  n,  1880 -June   10,   1881 328 

Bell,    Walter    W.,    Philadelphia,    president    International    Typographical 

Union,  June  11,   1875  -  July  7,   1876 288 

Bodwell,  William   H.,  New  York,   President  International  Typographical 

Union,  June  1,  1874  -  June  1 1,  1875 280 

Bramwood,  J.  W.,  Denver,  secretary-treasurer  International  Typographical 

Union,  November  16,  1806  -  February  1,  1909 536 

Brant,  Lyman  A.,  Detroit,  corresponding  secretary  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  June   11,    1880 -June   10,    1881 336 

Brown,  M.  C,  Philadelphia,  president  third  national  convention  journey- 
men printers,  May  3-5,  1852;  president  National  Typographical  Union, 
May  s,    1856- May  4,    1857 168 

Carver,  A.  M.,  Cincinnati,  president   National  Typographical  Union,   May 

2,  1864- June  6,  1865 216 

Clark,   George,    St.    Louis,   president    International   Typographical    Union, 

June   10,   1881-June  8,   1883 360 

Craig,  Robert  E.,  St.  Louis,  president  National  Typographical  Union,  June 

6,    1865-June  4,    1866 224 

Crawford,  Mark  L.,  Chicago,  president  International  Typographical  Union, 

June  8,   1883 -June  3,   1884 376 

Deacon,  Charles,  Colorado  Springs,  superintendent  Union  Printers  Home.    1128 

Donnelly,   Samuel  B.,   New   York,   president    International  Typographical 

Union,  November  1,  1898  -  October  31,   1900 576 

Farquiiar,   John    If.,    Chicago,    president    National    Typographical    Union, 

May   7,    i860  -  May  4,    1863 200 

Force,  Peter,  president  New  York  Typographical  Society,  181 5,  mayor  of 

Washington,  D.  C,   1836 88 

George,  Isaac  I).,  Nashville,  president  International  Typographical  Union, 

June  8,   1869 -June  6,   1870.' 248 

Gibsons,  J.  L.,  Louisville,  president  second  national  convention  journey- 
men printers,  September  ia-16,  1851 136 

Graham,    Lewis,    New   Orleans,   president   National   Typographical   Union. 

May  2,   1854  -  May  7.   1855 160 

ELOMMAM,  Samukl.  Washington,  I).  C,  president  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  June  5,  1879  -  June  1 1,  1880 jjo 

Hammond,  Win  mm  J.,  New  Orlcan*.  president  International  Typograph- 
ical Union,  June  6,   1870 -June  -•.    1873 464 

Hays,   .1.   \\'..    Minneapolis,  secretary-treasurer   International  Typographical 

I'm.  .ii,    I'elirniuy    I,    !')">>    <•>    - 0J6 

Lewis,   Mist  Augusta.   New   Ynrlc.   i-..t  responding   wtrury   International 

.  1  -1  pin.  .il    I  'in.. 11.    lunr  61    1H70      June   j,    1871 144 

>.  Jambs  M.,  Syracuse,  president   International  Typographical  Union, 

1,    1900   19 — 658 

If cCuVlt.  ¥     Bh  I  Imago,  secretary-treasurer  laUfflJtVml  Typographical 

I'liimi.     lunr    1...    iNH;  ||gj  4J,| 

nsir.   KosruT.   New   York,  Dftsldw  Typography  kl    I 

.ttmr    1.    iHf.X       lunr    H,    i8f..j 

.:t. .11.   I»    «    .  president   International  Typographical 
Union,  June  j.   187,1     June   t.    is.-,  ayj 


Illustrations 


FACING 
PAGK 


McVicar,    John,    Detroit,    president    International    Typographical    Union, 

July  7,  1876  -June  8,  1877 296 

Miller,  Hugo,  Indianapolis,  Typographia  vice-president  International 
Typographical  Union,  1894-19 — ;  secretary-treasurer  German-Amer- 
ican   Typographia,    1886-19 — 1068 

Morrison,    Frank,    Chicago,    secretary    American    Federation    of    Labor, 

1897-19 —    552 

Nafew,  John    S.,   Albany,    president   National   Typographical    Union,    May 

5,  1852  -  May  5,  1853 144 

Oberly,   John    H.,    Cairo,    111.,    president    National    Typographical    Union, 

June  4,   1866 -June   1,    1868 232 

Peregoy,  John  W.,  Baltimore,  president  first  national  convention  journey- 
men printers,   December  2-5,    1850 120 

Philadelphia  Typographical  Society   (allegory)      56 

Plank,   Edward  T.,    San   Francisco,   president   International   Typographical 

Union,  June   14,   1888  -  June   13,   1891 440 

Prescott,    William    B.,    Toronto,    president    International    Typographical 

Union,  June   13,   1891  -  October   31,   1898 456 

Smith,   Robert  C,   Philadelphia,   president  National  Typographical   Union, 

May   3,    1858 -May   7,    i860 184 

Stith,    Gerard,    New    Orleans,    president    National    Typographical    Union, 

May  5,   1853  -  May  2,   1854 152 

Streeter,    Darwin    R.,    St.    Louis,    president    International    Typographical 

Union,  June  8,   1877  -June  7,   1878 304 

Sullivan,  J.  J.,  Washington,  D.  C,  copyright  representative  International 

Typographical  Union   mo 

Tracy,  George  A.,  San  Francisco.  Cal.,  first  vice-president  International 
Typographical  Union,  March  24,  1909  -  October  31,  191 2;  compiler 
"History  of  the  Typographical  Union" 8 

Union  Printers  Home,  Colorado  Springs,  Colo 1144 

Vallette,   Eugene,   Philadelphia,  president  National  Typographical  Union, 

May  4,   1863  -  May  2,   1864 208 

Wines,   A.   G.,    St.    Louis,   secretary-treasurer    International   Typographical 

Union,  January  28,  1893  -  November  is,  1896 472 

Witter,  M.  R.  H.,  St.  Louis,  president  International  Typographical  Union, 

June  3,  1884  -  June  8,  1886 392 


/ 


In   llir  K.inu-  >|>int  <>(   (rnlrrnily   thai   ha»  markr<l  I  lie  progrcaa  and  development 

of  the  Typographical  Union  .m.|  gui.lr.i  it*  .lr«nt>>  through  a  long  and  honorable 

,n,l  with  the  hope  that  it*  future  ■ahtevtaMBti  may  even  excel  what  ha» 

been  acrnmpli«hn|  in  thr  i>.i«t.  a*  recorded  in  thete  page*,  thin  volume  ia  rever- 

cntly  ilcillcatol   to  0><-   inrmhrr»hip  of   the  orgam- 


-^U^.   CO    /Z^Ujm 


Pre  face 

IN  offering  this  history  to  the  public  it  is  advisable  to 
say  a  word  concerning  the  aims  and  objects  of  the 
work.  Many  questions  must  necessarily  be  considered  be- 
fore launching  such  a  project.  First  of  all,  perhaps,  is  the 
query :  Does  anybody  want  such  a  book?  If  so,  how  best 
can  it  be  compiled  and  presented  to  satisfy  the  desires 
and  wishes  of  those  who  may  subscribe  for  it,  and  to  what 
extent  is  it  possible  to  go  in  attempting  to  satisfy  what- 
ever demand  there  may  be?  To  the  first  question  it  may 
be  said,  in  view  of  the  many  requests  received  by  the 
union  for  information  regarding  events  in  its  history,  and 
the  unquestioned  duty  of  the  organization  to  preserve  for 
future  generations,  in  permanent  and  indestructible  form, 
the  story  of  its-  birth,  struggles,  progress  and  develop- 
ment, that  it  would  seem  an  imperative  duty  on  the  part 
of  the  organization  to  produce  the  history. 

Assuming  that  the  publication  of  the  history  is  justi- 
fied, the  next  question,  How  shall  it  be  done?  is  presented. 
In  answer  to  this  question  it  may  be  said  that,  while  m 
eral  distinguished  authors  have  from  time  to  time  pro- 
duced monographs  and  special  articles  covering  parts  of 
the  history  of  the  Typographical  Union,  and  many  rhe- 
torical efforts  have  been  offered  on  special  subjects  of  in- 
terest, no  one  has  yet  attempted  to  produce  a  history  of 
the  Typographical  Union  complete  in  all  its  parts.  Por 
thai  reason,  and  because,  perhaps,  no  other  agency  than 
the  Organisation  itself  fa  prepared  or  in  a  position  to  un- 
dertake the  work,  it  mav  be  argued  that  no  other  agency 
can  tell  the  story  of  the  printers'  organization  better  than 
the  printer  himself     tad  so  we  have  predated,  beta 

'hf  '  npilcd  by  a  printer. 

in  |  manner  consciously  lacking  in  literary  style,  but 


Preface 

sufficient,  it  is  believed,  to  satisfy  whatever  demand  there 
may  be  for  such  a  work. 

In  adopting  a  style  for  the  history  it  was  determined  to 
use  such  portions  of  the  public  document  issued  by  the 
United  States  Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor,  en- 
titled "A  Documentary  History  of  the  Early  Organiza- 
tions of  Printers,"  as  are  deemed  sufficient  to  cover  the 
period  preceding  the  formation  of  the  National  Typo- 
graphical Union.  This  document  was  prepared  by  Ethel- 
bert  Stewart,  special  agent  of  the  United  States  Bureau 
of  Labor,  and  is  believed  to  be  the  most  comprehensive 
and  authentic  work  of  its  character  yet  produced.  In  mak- 
ing use  of  this  document,  no  part  of  the  appendix  has 
been  included.  That  part  of  the  text,  however,  which  has 
been  used  is  carefully  sustained  by  many  interesting  quo- 
tations from  the  records  of  the  early  societies.  Following 
this  chapter  is  summarized  the  proceedings  of  the  early 
conventions  of  journeymen  printers  and  the  conventions 
of  the  National  Typographical  Union  and  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  covering  the  complete  his- 
tory of  the  organization,  as  preserved  in  the  records  of 
those  conventions.  Important  events  that  occurred  be- 
tween the  convention  sessions  are  included  in  sequence 
with  the  meetings  of  the  delegates  from  year  to  year. 
Authenticity  for  all  statements  of  fact  contained  in  the 
history  may  be  found  in  the  archives  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  unless  original  evidence  is  pro- 
duced by  footnote  citations,  which  occur  only  in  the  chap- 
ter describing  early  organizations  of  printers.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  this  assertion  guaranteeing  authenticity  will 
satisfy  all  readers,  and  thus  is  obviated  the  ofttimes  vex- 
ing necessity  of  diverting  one's  attention  from  interesting 
text  to  tedious  verifications  of  fact. 

In  many  instances  throughout  the  book  will  be  found 
evidences  of  contradictory  action  by  the  various  conven- 

10 


Preface 

tions.  Some  reversals  are  so  complete  and  direct  that  any 
one  not  acquainted  with  the  vagaries  of  the  printer,  es- 
pecially the  compositor  of  early  days,  may  regard  the  in- 
cidents as  amusing,  if  not  absurd.  Neither  was  the  case — 
the  printer  was  merely  wandering  around  till  he  found 
what  he  wanted,  and  in  his  travels  visited  the  starting 
place  occasionally  before  reaching  the  end  of  his  journey. 
A  peculiarity  of  the  printer  in  legislating  is  that  he  is 
continually  fixing  things  over  by  offering  amendments  to 
this  or  that  section  of  the  law  of  his  organization.  Con- 
ventions are  held  yearly  and  the  chief  business  transacted 
is  the  consideration  of  amendments  to  the  laws.  Just  why 
this  is  so  has  never  been  satisfactorily  accounted  for,  but 
no  doubt  the  character  of  the  printer's  work,  fixing  up 
bad  copy  and  fixing  over  and  over  this  or  that  job  to 
create  a  neat  and  tasty  typographical  appearance,  has 
trained  his  mind  to  a  degree  where  it  seems  impossible  to 
produce  anything  that  can  not  be  fixed  over  and  made 
better  or  more  attractive. 

Under  the  chapter  heading  "Conventions,"  the  nar- 
rator has  endeavored  to  bring  together,  in -comprehensive 
form  and  chronological  sequence,  the  essential  formative 
acts  of  legislation  by  the  three  important  historical  con- 
ventions of  union  printers,  held  in  1850,  1851  and  1852, 
out  of  which  the  National  Typographical  Union  was  pro- 
jected. Following  this  interesting  epoch,  and  beginning 
with  the  first  convention  of  the  National  organization 
(  1852)1  this  chapter  contains  |  summary  of  the  important 
transactions,  interesting  happenings  and  legislative  enact- 
ments of  each  succeeding  convention  to  date.  The  data 
from  which  this  history  is  learned  arc  contained  in  the 
minutes  ol  the  proceedings  of  the  various  conventions,  as 
orded  by  the  duly  elected  officers  and  approved  by  the 
delegates.  All  such  data  arc  preserved  in  the  archi\es  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union. 

1 1 


Preface 

In  1836  a  convention  of  the  National  Typographical 
Society  met  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  held  a  session  last- 
ing five  days.  Delegates  were  present  from  six  societies. 
A  year  later  this  society  met  in  New  York,  eight  organi- 
zations being  represented.  A  fraternal  delegate  was  pres- 
ent from  Nova  Scotia.  This  was  the  last  meeting  held  by 
the  society,  although  the  convention  adjourned  to  meet  in 
Pittsburgh  the  following  year.  As  the  date  for  the  meet- 
ing approached  a  notice  was  sent  out  postponing  the 
gathering  for  a  year,  but  the  organization  never  held  an- 
other convention,  at  least  no  record  can  be  found  of  any 
future  meeting. 

At  the  seventh  annual  session  of  the  National  Typo- 
graphical Union,  held  in  Chicago,  May,  1858,  Sam  Slaw- 
son,  of  Chicago,  was  requested  to  prepare  an  abbreviated 
history  of  the  organization.  From  information  contained 
in  the  monograph  prepared  by  Mr.  Slawson,  it  appears 
that  in  the  year  1843  an  attempt  was  made  in  the  city  of 
New  York  to  form  a  general  union  of  the  craft,  under  the 
title  of  "The  Order  of  Faust."  According  to  the  Boston 
Guide,  "The  Order  of  Faust"  could  have  been  success- 
fully carried  out  had  there  been  the  least  effort  made  to 
extend  it,  as  there  were  men  in  Washington,  Albany,  Cin- 
cinnati, Boston  and  Philadelphia  ready  to  form  co-opera- 
tive branches.  Its  proceedings  were  secret  and  confined 
entirely  to  journeymen.  Enrolled  under  this  title  were 
many  of  the  most  competent  printers  of  New  York  city. 

We  hear  of  no  further  attempts  for  some  years  to  form 
a  general  organization,  though  many  good  men  in  the 
craft  saw  the  necessity  for  it,  and  talked  and  corresponded 
in  regard  to  it.  In  May,  1849,  there  appeared  in  the  Bos- 
ton Guide,  above  alluded  to,  an  editorial  on  the  formation 
of  an  "American  Printers'  Union,"  to  be  composed  of  ac- 
credited delegates  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 
"This  union,"  says  the  editorial,  "should  be  possessed  of 

12 


Preface 

the  power  of  granting  charters  to  co-operative  or  subordi- 
nate unions;  to  endeavor  to  promote  their  formation 
throughout  the  country ;  to  act  as  a  council  of  advice,  and 
to  exercise  a  general  control.  The  subordinate  unions 
should  have  the  power  of  settling  the  prices  in  their  sev- 
eral districts  and  should  exercise  under  the  supreme  union 
a  general  control  each  in  its  district."  This  plan  of  organ- 
ization, so  well  conceived,  is  substantially  the  same  as  that 
now  in  existence.  It  was  apparent  at  that  time  that 
the  abuses  which  had  crept  into  the  trade,  one  by  one, 
oppressing  the  journeymen  in  their  relations  with  the 
employers,  and  the  many  disadvantages  arising  out  of 
disconcerted  and  disconnected  action  on  the  part  of  vari- 
ous unions  and  societies,  called  loudly  for  some  means  of 
redress.  To  devise  measures  for  the  correction  of  these 
abuses,  and  to  harmonize  interests  which  were  identical  in 
their  nature  throughout  the  country,  by  united  and  ear- 
nest action  in  one  common  cause,  a  circular  was  issued 
about  the  1st  of  November,  1850,  by  the  New  York,  Phil- 
adelphia and  Boston  unions,  calling  on  sister  unions  and 
societies  to  send  delegates  to  a  "National  Convention  of 
Journeymen  Printers,"  to  be  held  in  New  York  city  on  the 
2d  day  of  December  following. 

The  special  chapters  presented  in  conclusion  have  been 

prepared  in  order  that  those  features  of  the  union's  prog- 

and  development   which   have  been  most  successful, 

and  of  which  the  organization  is  justly  proud,  may  receive 

tin-  attention  they  deserve. 

The  aim  lias  been  to  prepare  a  narrative  historically 
accurate,  and  at  the  same  time  present  it  in  such  form 
as  to  sustain  the  interest  <>f  the  reader,  and  especially  the 
membership  of  the  union.  n||     ^  ^^ 


M 


Acknowledgment 

The  International  Typographical  Union  wishes  pub- 
licly to  acknowledge  its  appreciation  of  the  privilege  ac- 
corded it  in  making  use  of  such  part  of  the  documentary 
history  of  the  early  organizations  of  printers,  by  Ethel- 
bert  Stewart,  as  is  contained  in  these  pages.  To  former 
President  William  B.  Prescott,  Second  Vice-President 
Hugo  Miller  and  J.  J.  Sullivan,  copyright  representative 
at  Washington,  members  of  the  organization,  who  have 
contributed  to  the  success  of  the  publication,  public  ac- 
knowledgment of  appreciation  is  also  made.  To  those 
persons  who  assisted  in  gathering  the  collection  of  photo- 
graphs of  former  officials  of  the  union,  which  are  used  to 
illuminate  the  pages  of  the  history,  the  executive  council 
wishes  to  return  thanks. 


14 


Early  Organizations  of 
Printers 


Early   Organizations   of  Printers 
Beginnings,   1786    to   1830 

(inclusive) 

WHATEVER  of  associated  effort  there  was  among 
printers  prior  to  1795  was  temporary,  having  a 
single  purpose,  and  when  this  was  accomplished  the  com- 
pact was  dissolved.  It  was  the  custom  in  all  trades  to  call 
a  "general  meeting"  of  the  trade  whenever  a  matter  of 
importance  to  all  presented  itself.  Such  calls  were  signed 
by  one  or  two  men  of  recognized  influence  in  the  trade. 
These  meetings,  usually  held  in  private  homes,  were  or- 
ganized by  the  election  of  officers,  a  statement  was  made 
of  the  purpose  in  calling  the  trade  together,  and  after 
discussion  resolutions  were  adopted  embodying  the  views 
of  those  present  upon  the  question  presented.  When  the 
meeting  had  decided  what  the  attitude  of  the  trade  was  to 
be,  all  those  present,  if  willing  to  do  so,  signed  an  agree- 
ment to  stand  by  each  other  during  the  difficulty.  Com- 
mittees were  appointed,  and  frequent  meetings  were  held 
during  the  trouble,  especially  if  it  proved  to  be  a  strike  and 
of  some  duration,  thus  creating  the  impression  that  a  per- 
manent association  of  journeymen  had  been  formed.  It  is 
certain  that  some  of  the  strikes  in  colonial  times  were  un- 
dertaken with  no  more  of  an  organization  than  this,  and 
while  there  is  nothing  inherently  improbable  about  the 
existence  of  permanent  unions  in  colonial  times,  since  they 
had  been  in  existence  in  England  and  other  countries  i" 
Europe  for  many  generation!  before,  yet  we  should  be 
cautious  about  concluding  from  §uch  a  statement  as  "The 
journeymen  bakers  of  New  York  went  Ofl  strike  in  1741." 
that  therefore  there  vraa  an  organisation,  other  than  a 
temporary  underttanding,  among  them. 

t.    probably,   of   such   understandings   among 

»7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

journeymen  printers  was  in  New  York  city  in  1776,  when 
a  demand  for  an  increase  of  wages  was  made  by  them  and 
refused  by  their  employers,  with  the  result  that  a  strike 
was  called,  which,  proving  successful,  the  association 
ceased.  Again,  in  Philadelphia  in  1786,  an  attempt  by  the 
employers  to  reduce  wages  to  $5.83  1-3  a  week  was  made 
the  occasion  for  calling  the  trade  together.  The  statement 
issued  by  the  printers  at  this  meeting  has  fortunately  been 
preserved,  and  was  as  follows  : 

Philadelphia,  June  7,  1786. 

At  a  meeting  of  journeymen  printers  of  Philadelphia  held 
at  the  house  of  Henry  Myers  on  Wednesday  evening,  the  31st 
ultimo,  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  entered  into 
and  ordered  transcribed  for  publication.  In  consequence  of  an 
attempt  having  been  made  by  some  of  our  employers  to  reduce 
our  wages  to  35  shillings  per  week : 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  subscribers,  will  not  engage  to  work 
for  any  printing  establishment  in  this  city  or  county  under  the 
sum  of  $6  per  week. 

Resolved,  That  we  will  support  such  of  our  brethren  as  shall 
be  thrown  out  of  employment  on  account  of  their  refusing  to 
work  for  less  than  $6  per  week. 

This  document  is  signed  by  twenty-six  printers,  prob- 
ably comprising  a  majority  of  the  competent  men  in  the 
city  at  that  time.  There  are  indications  that  this  struggle 
lasted  for  some  time,  but  none  whatever  that  the  organiza- 
tion of  printers  had  any  purpose  beyond  the  immediate 
one  of  resisting  that  reduction  of  wages,  or  any  existence 
after  this  single  purpose  was  accomplished.  The  docu- 
ment is  important,  however,  as  showing  that  the  sentiment 
of  supporting  each  other  in  time  of  a  strike,  out  of  which 
the  union  strike-benefit  fund  grew,  existed  among  printers 
long  before  unions  as  such  were  formed. 

In  1795  an  organization  was  formed  in  New  York  city 
known  as  "The  Typographical  Society,"  comprising  in  its 
membership  most  of  those  working  at  the  trade  at  that 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

time.  It  was  the  first  known  society  devoting  its  energies 
to  trade  conditions  and  wage  scales  that  existed  for  any 
appreciable  length  of  time.  So  far  as  known  it  was  the 
first  society  not  called  into  existence  by  an  immediate 
exigency  of  the  trade,  and  ceasing  to  exist  when  that 
exigency  was  removed.  The  Typographical  Society  of 
1  795  lived  two  and  one-half  years,  or  until  far  into  1797, 
and  succeded  in  securing  an  increase  of  wages  to  $1  per 
day  for  New  York  printers. 

In  1799  the  Franklin  Typographical  Society  of  Jour- 
neyman Printers  of  New  York  was  organized.  Mr.  David 
Bruce,  the  famous  typefounder,  was  its  first  president. 
This  society  formulated  the  first  complete  wage  scale  ever 
adopted  by  the  printers  of  New  York  city,  and  went  on 
strike  for  its  enforcement.  No  copy  of  this  scale  has  been 
preserved.  It  demanded  25  cents  per  1,000  ems,  and  not 
less  than  $7  per  week  in  book  and  job  offices,  and  $8  per 
week  on  newspapers.  None  of  its  records  and  no  copy 
of  its  constitution  could  be  found,  but  from  contempo- 
rary newspaper  files  it  is  learned  that  the  "Franklin 
Typographical  Society  assembled  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
P.  Becanon,  87  Fair  street,  to  celebrate  the  twenty-sixth 
anniversary  of  American  Independence  July  4,  1801." 

The  Daily  Advertiser,  of  New  York,  in  its  issue  of  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1803,  printed  the  following  notice: 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  Franklin  Typographical  Society 
will  be  held  at  their  rooms,  63  StOM  street,  on  Saturday  even- 
ing, February  5,   1K03.     Members  are  requested  to  be  punctual 

in  tiicir  attendance. 

By  order  of  the  prerident  i        jOMN  C01 1  ins.  Stcrrtmj. 

It  would  appear  from  this  that  the  Mcie&y  bad  grown 
too  large  to  meet  in  the  private  I  is  members  and 

Itrong  enough  to  have  a  hall,  or  at  lca-t  rOOOM  ol  it-  own. 

In  its  issue  of  September  iq.  1803,  the  New  York  Even- 
ing Post  bad  the  following  acknowledgment. 

19 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

The  president  of  Franklin  Typographical  Society,  of  New 
York,  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  $83.50  from  the  Philadel- 
phia Typographical  Society  for  the  relief  of  such  of  our 
members  as  may  be  distressed  in  consequence  of  the  prevailing 
epidemic. 

The  minutes  of  the  Philadelphia  society  show  that  at 
its  monthly  meeting  in  June,  1803,  "it  was  voted  to  con- 
tribute $83.60  to  assist  the  printers  in  New  York  city  who 
may  be  suffering  from  ravages  of  the  yellow  fever." 

The  Franklin  Typographical  Society  of  New  York- 
ceased  to  exist  in  1 804,  but  the  bill  of  prices  formulated 
by  it  remained  the  standard  of  wages  until  September 
20,  1809,  when  the  New  York  Typographical  Society, 
organized  early  in  that  year,  formulated  a  new  scale. 

As  further  tribute  of  a  documentary  character  to  the 
work  of  this  society  of  1799- 1804,  may  be  cited  the  first 
paragraph  of  a  letter  written  August  25,  1809,  by  the  sec- 
retary of  the  New  York  Typographical  Society : 

New  York,  August  25,  1809. 

Gentlemen  :  The  board  of  directors  of  the  New  York 
Typographical  Society,  by  a  resolution  passed  the  19th  instant, 
have  directed  me  to  inform  you  that  the  customary  price  per 
token  for  working  super-royal  paper  is  37^  cents,  and  48 
tokens  (which  is  supposed  to  be  the  number  you  work  per  week) 
at  that  price  would  be  $18.  The  present  society,  however, 
have  yet  no  established  prices,  either  for  presswork  or  for  com- 
position, but  the  price  which  is  here  mentioned  is  that  which  was 
instituted  by  a  former  association  in  this  city,  and  which  we 
believe  is  now  generally  conformed  to. 

So  much  space  has  been  given  to  this  organization 
because  to  it  belongs  the  credit  of  formulating  the  first 
detailed  scale  of  wages  presented  to  employers  in  the 
printing  business  in  the  United  States,  and  because,  curi- 
ously enough,  while  the  earlier  society  of  1795  is  some- 
times mentioned  by  writers,  this  much  more  important 
one  of  1 799- 1 804  is  not  referred  to  by  any  of  them. 

20 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

The  Philadelphia  Typographical  Society  was  organ- 
ized in  1802,  and  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  old- 
est existing  organization  of  the  craft.  Up  to  1831  it 
existed  as  both  a  benevolent  and  a  trade  society,  as  was 
the  rule  among  the  early  societies.  In  1831  it  became  a 
purely  benevolent  association,  and  as  such  exists  today. 

February  22,  1802,  this  society  formulated  a  list  of 
prices  (which  is  believed  to  be  identical  with  that  of  the 
New  York  Typographical  Society  in  1800),  and,  pref- 
acing it  with  a  neat  address  to  the  employers,  submitted  it 
for  acceptance.1  A  reproduction  of  the  only  copy  of  this 
price-list  known  to  be  now  in  existence  is  here  presented : 

Philadelphia,  February  22,  1802. 
Sir:  The  "Philadelphia  Typographical  Society"  takes  the 
liberty  to  furnish  you  with  their  List  of  Prices.  We  hope  that 
we  shall  be  indulged  with  at  least  a  candid  examination  of  our 
demands. . .  .we* presume  you  are  not  unacquainted  with  many 
of  them.  We  would  wish  to  be  placed  on  a  footing,  at  least, 
with  mechanics. . .  .our  wages  have,  in  no  instance,  kept  pace 
with  them.  We  have  the  merit  of  not  being  the  most  dissatis- 
fied, and  in  no  one  instance  of  demanding  anything  unjust.  We 
have,  in  the  following  statement,  confined  ourselves  to  what 
a  majority  of  the  employers  in  this  city  give.  Our  object  is,  to 
have  one  uniform  price  established.  In  doing  this,  we  shall  act 
as  men  toward  men  ....  no  person  will  leave  his  employ  until 
he  has  given  a  reasonable  notice  ....  in  return,  we  expect  that 
your  conduct  toward  us  will  be  equally  candid.  Indeed,  we 
cherish  a  hope,  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  the  em- 
ployer and  the  employed  will  vie  with  each  other,  the  one, 
in  allowing  a  competent  salary,  the  other  in  deserving  it. 
Under  these  impressions,  we  submit  the  following  prices  to 
your  decision  : 

COMPOSITION 

I'rr    »rrk.    not    lr»<t   tlian $8  oo 

v    loon  m'l,  from   Ilrcvicr  to   Baglith,  in.lu.nr J$ 

H  K\ilc  or  Figure  work 50 

'  lhr  l.il.lmgraphy  apprn.lr.l  (,.  Si.lnrv  aihI  Ucatncr  WeMi'f  "HtMoiy  of 
Trade  I'm..,,, .m"  in  Kngland  gives  "the  »cale  of  price*  of  the  Edinburgh  com- 
positors for  1805"  a%  the  oldest  printer*'  wale.  It  may  therefore  develop  that 
this  Philadelphia  price  list  ia  the  oldett   in  the  language. 

21 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

PRESS    WORK 

Per  week,  not  less  than $8  oo 

All  paper  below  medium,  per  token 30 

Ditto  above  medium ZlYi 

Broadsides,  per  token 75 

Cards,   per   pack 12  J/£ 

A  single  pack  of  cards 30 

All  small  jobs 30 

George  White,  President. 
John  Childs,  Vice-President. 
William  Little,  Secretary. 

The  constitution  of  this  society,  which  was  not  finally 
adopted  until  November  6,  1802,  is  believed  to  be  the  old- 
est constitution  of  a  labor  organization  extant  in  the 
United  States. 

While  the  constitution  gives  prominence  to  the  sick  and 
funeral  benefit  features  of  the  organization,  as  did  the 
early  craft  guilds  and  still  earlier  burial  societies,  never- 
theless, unlike  them,  it  does  not  entirely  conceal  its  indus- 
trial purposes.  The  journeymen  printers  had  secured  the 
acceptance  by  the  master  printers  of  their  price-list  of 
February  22,  and  under  "a  desire  to  consolidate  the  pres- 
ent good  understanding  and  harmony  which  now  happily 
subsists  among  the  brethren  of  our  profession,"  the  con- 
stitution of  November  6  was  adopted.  In  addition  to  a 
sick  benefit  of  $3  a  week  and  a  funeral  benefit  of  $10,  "in 
every  case  when  a  member  may  be  thrown  out  of  employ, 
by  reason  of  his  refusing  to  take  less  than  the  established 
prices,"  the  board  of  directors  "shall  advance,  if  required, 
on  his  own  security,  in  their  discretion,  such  sum  per  week 
as  will  be  sufficient  to  defray  his  ordinary  expenses,"  and, 
furthermore,  if  such  person  was  unable  to  return  the 
money  so  loaned,  then  an  assessment  should  be  levied 
upon  the  membership  to  repay  the  same.  To  this  incip- 
ient strike-benefit  fund  was  added  an  obligation  upon  the 
part  of  at  least  the  officers  of  the  society  to  use  their  in- 
fluence to  secure  employment  for  members  in  preference 
to    non-members,    and,    above    all,    membership    in    the 

22 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

society  was  conditioned  on  having  "served  an  apprentice- 
ship satisfactory  to  the  board  of  directors."  It  is  impos- 
sible to  read  the  minutes  of  the  meetings  of  these  early 
societies,  however,  without  being  convinced  that  the  seri- 
ous purpose  of  their  existence  was  not  made  prominent  in 
their  published  documents.  They  had  an  exoteric  and  an 
esoteric  side.  To  the  public  they  pointed  out  their  benev- 
olent features.  The  real  work  was  done  in  executive 
session.  However,  a  great  many  of  their  members  joined 
them  because  of  these  benevolent  features,  and  thought 
their  mission  confined  to  this,  so  that  there  were  always 
two  factions,  one  demanding  more  and  more  of  trade 
regulation  by  the  society,  the  other  opposing  any  inter- 
ference in  trade  matters,  and  constantly  urging  a  further 
extension  of  the  mutual  benefits,  from  an  "alimoner's" 
point  of  view. 

At  its  monthly  meeting  of  December,  1802,  the  society 
appointed  a  committee  to  draft  a  memorial  to  congress 
praying  for  an  additional  duty  on  all  imported  European 
books.  April,  1803,  it  raised  the  price  of  composition  on 
daily  newspapers  to  30  cents  per  1,000  ems,  placed  a 
charge  of  20  cents  on  each  alteration  from  copy  after 
proofs  were  corrected,  and  passed  a  "lost-time"  rule,  as 
follows : 

Whenever  an  employer  agrees  to  pay  for  lost  time  it  shall 
be  at  the  rate  of  15  cents  per  hour. 

In  June,   1803,  the  society  raised  the  initiation  fee  to 
$2;  voted  $83.60  to  the  printen  in  New  York  who  n 
suffering  from  yellow  fever;  then   passed  the  following 
not  at  all  eleemosynary  measure: 

Whim  1  .  Several  employer!  iiave  taken  laborers  at  press- 
work,  and  thereby  the  business  has  been  materially  injured; 
therefore, 

•■'■■>■  ■/.  That  no  member  of  this  society  shall  be  permitted 
to  work  at  presswork  with  am   person  who  is  not  regularly 

*3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

bred,  bound  apprentice  till  21  years  of  age,  except  under  pen- 
alty of  expulsion. 

In  1806  it  began  expelling  members  on  first  offense  for 
working  below  the  scale  of  prices,  and  in  February,  1807, 
extended  the  obligation  to  all  members,  theretofore  rest- 
ing upon  officers  only,  to  aid  members  in  securing  em- 
ployment in  preference  to  non-members  by  the  passage  of 
the  following: 

Resolved,  That  if  any  member  of  this  society  who  shall  pro- 
cure employment  for  any  person  or  persons  who  are  not  mem- 
bers of  this  institution  in  preference,  and  knowing  at  the  time 
of  the  procuring  of  such  employment  that  there  are  members  of 
this  society  then  out  of  actual  employment,  such  member  or 
members  so  offending  shall  on  conviction  be  subject  to  a  fine  of 
$5,  and  for  second  offense  be  liable  to  suspension  or  expulsion, 
at  the  discretion  of  the  directors :  Provided,  nevertheless,  that 
this  resolution  shall  not  be  construed  to  the  prejudice  of  mem- 
bers interesting  themselves  in  behalf  of  strangers  in  distress  or 
emigrants  from  Europe. 

The  year  1807  marks  the  development  by  the  Typo- 
graphical Society  of  Philadelphia  of  much  that  has  been 
thought  to  have  originated  with  modern  unionism,  such 
as  the  demand  for  the  exclusive  employment  of  union 
men,  the  monthly  "working  card,"  arid  the  adoption  of  a 
system  very  suggestive  of  the  "house  of  call,"  or  union 
employment  bureau.  At  the  meeting  held  April  4,  1807, 
the  initiation  fee  was  raised  to  $4  and  the  funeral  ben- 
efit increased  to  $25.  After  these  concessions  to  the 
"alimoners"  this  resolution  was  passed  and  a  committee 
appointed  in  accordance  with  its  terms : 

Whereas  many  illegal  practices  and  abuses  hostile  to  the 
established  regulations  of  this  society,  as  well  as  injurious  to  the 
interests  of  each  and  every  industrial  member  thereof;  and 
whereas,  also,  the  said  abuses  and  illegal  practices  on  the  part 
of  the  employers  are  tamely  submitted  to,  and  in  some  instances 
connived  at  by  the  employed,  to  remedy  which  and  to  make  such 
further  inquiries  as  they  may  deem  necessary, 

24 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  inquire  into  the 
present  state  of  the  art,  and  whether  any  and  what  abuses  are 
practiced,  and  what  regulations  it  may  be  expedient  on  the  part 
of  the  society  to  adopt,  to,  check  and  do  away  with  all  such 
abuses  and  irregular  practices  hostile  to  the  interests  and  well- 
being  of  its  members,  and  that  the  committee  report  the  results 
of  their  investigations. 

Apparently  there  is  a  studied  vagueness  about  this 
resolution  so  unusual  that  one  is  at  a  loss  to  understand 
it  until  it  is  learned  from  the  report  of  the  committee 
that  the  resolution  is  aimed  not  at  members  of  this  so- 
ciety, but  at  the  master  printers,  who  were  cutting  prices 
and  employing  "two-thirders,"  or  persons  who,  not  hav- 
ing finished  their  apprenticeship,  were  willing  to  work 
for  anything  they  could  get.  The  report  of  the  com- 
mittee follows : 

In  reviewing  the  present  state  of  the  art,  it  is  with  consider- 
able regret  that  we  dissent  from  a  very  prevalent  opinion,  which 
we  can  not  think  was  even  true  when  it  was  first  formed. 

To  say  that  "printing  was  in  a  highly  flourishing  condition" 
may  be  well  enough  applied  to  themselves  by  the  gang  of  petti- 
fogging master  printers,  but  the  great  body  of  the  journeymen 
and  the  few  respectable  master  printers  know  it  to  be  false.  The 
prices  received  by  the  master  printers  six  years  ago  were  better 
for  common  work  than  what  they  receive  at  present.  At  that 
time  all  common  work  gave  them  ^4^2  cents,  whereas  at  pres- 
ent they  only  receive  45  cents,  and  in  some  cases  even  less. 

The  committee  are  of  the  opinion,  that  in  order  to  maintain 
that  harmony  which  as  yet  happily  exists  between  the  society 
and  the  master  printers,  it  would  be  expedient  to  hold  a  con- 
ference  with  them  on  the  subject,  and  make  such  regulations  in 
the  prices  as  the  nature  of  the  times  may  require,  and  enable 
employer!  In  all  catee  to  give  the  preference,  and.  if  possible. 
never  tO  employ  any  other  than  members  of  this  society,  or  at 
least  men  who  have  served  I  regular  apprenticeship. 

September,  1807,  the  society  adopted  the  following 
regulation : 

■!•■<:/.  That  cards  be  printed  by  the  society,  to  be  renewed 

*5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

by  the  secretary  every  month,  for  the  benefit  of  those  out  of  em- 
ployment, stating  that  they  are  not  in  arrears ;  and  such  per- 
sons who  can  not  produce  the  same,  on  inquiring  of  a  member 
for  a  berth,  he  is  prohibited  from  informing  the  said  person 
under  penalty  of  $i  for  every  such  offense. 

As  yet  no  journeymen's  society  had  been  strong  enough 
to  maintain,  indeed  none  had  had  the  temerity  to  ad- 
vance any  apprenticeship  regulations.  There  was  a  cus- 
tomary apprenticeship  rule  that  had  come  down  from 
the  masters'  guilds  to  the  effect  that  a  term  of  six  years^ 
between  the  ages  of  15  and  21,  was  necessary  to  con- 
stitute a  journeyman.  But  the  old  guild  conditions 
were  gone,  and  the  new  conditions  were  only  forming; 
neither  the  conditions  nor  the  workmen's  societies  were 
ripe  for  a  definite  stand  on  the  regulation  of  apprentice- 
ship. The  Philadelphia  society,  at  its  meeting  of  De- 
cember, 1808,  took  such  stand  as  it  could  on  the  problem 
by  enacting  that  no  member  should  teach  an  apprentice 
who  was  not  bound  before  his  eighteenth  year;  the  pen- 
alty for  violation  being  not  only  expulsion  from  the  so- 
ciety but  notices  of  such  expulsion  to  be  sent  to  the  other 
societies  of  printers.  This  is  the  first  intimation  of  the 
exchange  of  names  of  objectionable  printers,  which  aft- 
erward developed  into  the  "unfair  lists,"  "rat  lists,"  etc. 

The  regulation  as  passed  reads : 

That  from  and  after  the  1st  day  of  January,  1809,  no  per- 
son, a  member  of  this  society,  shall  teach  or  assist  in  teaching 
any  person  in  the  art  of  printing  who  may  have  arrived  at  the 
age  of  18  years;  and  be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  if  any  member  or  members  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Typographical  Society  shall,  in  violation  of  the  rule  in 
that  case  made  and  provided,  undertake  to  instruct,  or  in  any 
manner  assist  to  instruct,  in  any  branch  of  the  art  of  printing, 
any  irregular  person  included  in  the  foregoing  resolution,  such 
member  or  members  shall,  on  conviction,  be  expelled  from  the 
society,  and  notice  of  such  expulsion  shall  be  communicated  to 
the  different  typographical  associations  throughout  the  United 

26 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

States  as  the  president  of  the  board    of   directors   may    think 
proper. 

The  latter  part  of  this  resolution  not  only  marks  the 
beginning  of  the  "unfair  list,"  but  raises  the  question 
as  to  what  other  typographical  associations  existed  in  the 
United  States  at  that  time. 

So  far  as  can  be  definitely  ascertained,  from  original 
records  at  this  late  date,  there  were  no  other  such  so- 
cieties in  existence  in  December,  1808.  In  "Thomas's 
History  of  Printing"  it  is  stated  that  "The  Boston  Typo- 
graphical Sociefy  was  organized  in  1803,"  without  giv- 
ing any  clue  to  the  authority  for  the  statement.  In  1809 
the  Philadelphia  society  received  a  communication  from 
the  Boston  Typographical  Society,  stating  that  it  had 
just  completed  and  presented  a  scale  of  prices  to  the 
employers.  The  letter  gives  an  impression  that  the  so- 
ciety had  been  but  recently  organized,  though  it  does 
not  say  so.  This  society  seems  to  have  been  short  lived, 
as  another  of  the  same  name  was  organized  November 
25,  181 5,  as  appears  from  a  letter  in  the  minutes  of  the 
New  York  society.  The  records  of  the  Boston  Typo- 
graphical Society,  after  its  demise,  were  placed  in  the 
library  of  the  Franklin  Typographical  Society,  of  Bos- 
ton, which  was  organized  in  1822  as  a  purely  beneficial 
society,  admitting  to  membership  both  employers  and 
employes,  and  prevented  by  its  constitution  from  taking 
any   part  in,  trade  matters.      This  society  still   exists,  but 

the  records  of  the  journeymen*!  organization  have  been 

lost.     The  latest    mention   of   the   Boston  Typographical 

Society  is  in  1826,  when  it  sent  a  communication  to  the 

Columbia  Typographical  Society,  at  Washington,  1>.  C, 
as  shown  by  the  minutes  of  the  latter  society.  The  Faus- 
Associatinn  of  Printers  was  organized  in  Boston  in 
1805.  but  this  was  an  employers'  association,  to  regulate 
prices  of  work  done  for  the  public.     It  can  not,  therefore, 

27 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

be  confidently  asserted  that  there  were  any  societies,  out- 
side of  Philadelphia,  in  existence  when  the  Philadelphia 
society  passed  its  resolution  in  December,  1808;  but  it 
is  not  improbable  that  there  were  such  in  Boston  and 
Baltimore.  The  Baltimore  Typographical  Society  is  re- 
ferred to  in  1 81 5  as  one  of  the  older  societies.  The  date 
of  its  organization  has  not  been  ascertained,  and  none  of 
its  records  could  be  located.  Unfortunately,  also,  the  pres- 
ent typographical  union  of  Baltimore,  organized  in  183 1, 
lost  its  records  in  the  great  fire  of  February,  1904. 

The  condition  of  the  trade  in  New  York  city  seems  to 
have  deteriorated  rapidly  after  the  collapse  of  the  union 
in  1804. ,  In  June,  1809,  a  coterie  of  printers  met  in  the 
private  house  of  David  Reins,  49  Barclay  street,  to  dis- 
cuss the  question  of  organization.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  draft  a  constitution  and  report  Saturday 
evening,  July  I.  At  this  meeting  the  constitution  was 
presented,  adopted,  and  an  organization  perfected  by  the 
election  of  S.  W.  Andrews,  president,  and  David  Reins, 
secretary.  One  of  the  most  active  men  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  society,  known  as  the  New  York  Typograph- 
ical Society,  was  Samuel  Woodworth,  author  of  "The 
Old  Oaken  Bucket."  From  the  start  the  society  took 
what  was  at  that  time  a  radical  stand  along  trade  lines, 
though  embodying  in  its  plan  the  beneficial  features 
common  to  all  trade  societies  of  the  time. 

The  first  efforts  of  the  society  were  directed  toward 
the  education  of  the  journeymen  in  the  purposes  of  the 
organization,  and  inducing  them  to  join.  At  a  meet- 
ing held  July  29  two  members  (pressmen  working  at 
the  office  of  the  American  Citizen)  reported  that  when 
they  notified  their  employer  that  they  could  not  longer 
work  for  less  than  the  customary  standard  of  wages  fixed 
by  the  scale  of  1800,  they  were  both  discharged  and  their 
places    given    to    "two    strangers."     A    committee    was 

28 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

appointed  to  wait  on  the  "strangers,"  and  later,  when  this 

committee  reported,  a  letter  was  ordered  to  be  sent  them 

which  so  explicitly  states  the  purpose  of  the  society  that 

it  is  transcribed  in  full: 

New  York,  August  25,  1809. 

Gentlemen  :  The  board  of  directors  of  the  New  York 
Typographical  Society,  by  a  resolution  passed  the  19th  instant, 
have  directed  me  to  inform  you  that  the  customary  price  per 
token  for  working  super-royal  paper  is  37^2  cents,  and  48 
tokens  (which  is  supposed  to  be  the  number  you  work  per  week) 
at  that  price  would  amount  to  $18. 

The  present  society,  however,  have  yet  no  established  prices, 
either  for  presswork  or  for  composition ;  but  the  price  which  is 
here  mentioned  is  that  which  was  instituted  by  a  former  asso- 
ciation in  this  city,  and  which  we  believe  is  now  generally  con- 
formed to.     [This  was  the  society  of  1 799- 1 804.] 

The  board  of  directors,  however,  actuated  only  by  motives  of 
interest  for  the  profession,  have  also  directed  me  to  inform  you 
that,  having  expressed  your  determination  to  use  all  honorable 
means  to  increase  the  wages,  both  of  compositors  and  pressmen, 
if  necessary,  and  to  support  and  maintain  the  honor  and  dignity 
of  the  trade,  the  best  manner  in  which  you  could  evince  your 
sincerity  would  be  by  joining  the  society,  whose  objects  and 
conduct  you  seem  to  have  mistaken.  To  establish  equitable 
prices  for  our  labor  is  the  principal  object  for  which  we  have 
recently  associated,  and  which  we  hope  in  a  short  time  to  ac- 
complish. The  first  step  toward  this  is  an  increase  in  our  num- 
bert,  and  we  conceive  it  to  be  the  duty  and  the  interest  of  every 
journeyman  printer  In  the  city  to  come  forward  and  unite  with 
li is  fellow-craftsmen  in  promoting  an  object  which  has  for  its 
end  the  benefit  of  the  whole. 

Should  jrou,  gentlemen,  conceive  the  above  observations  satis- 
factory and  have  I  desire  to  promote  the  objects  we  have  in 
view,  I  would  observe  that  the  board  Of  directors  meet  everv 
Saturday  evening  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Clark  (Harmony  Halli. 
to  whom  an  application  can  be  made  at  anv  of  their  meetings. 

D   11   Eta 
.w.v  York  Typographic*}  S**i 

The  organisers  of  this  began  at  once,  as  a 

part    of    their    vigorous    policy,    to    ..pen    communication 

29 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

with  all  similar  organizations  in  the  country,  to  which 
they  mailed  a  circular  letter  dated  September  9,  1809, 
and  which  proposed  nothing  less  than  an  exchange,  from 
time  to  time,  of  what  is  today  known  as  "unfair  lists;" 
that  is,  that  whenever  a  printer  does  what  to  the  union 
is  considered  an  unfair  thing  in  trade  matters,  other 
unions  shall  be  notified  of  the  fact. 

That  this  principle  was  then  new,  or  practically  so,  is 
inferred  no  less  from  the  arguments  used  in  the  circular  to 
maintain  it,  than  from  the  letter  of  the  Philadelphia  Typo- 
graphical Society  in  reply.  Both  these  letters  are  repro- 
duced in  full : 

New  York,  September  9,  1809. 

Gentlemen  :  In  all  classes  of  society  experience  has  proven 
that  there  have  been  men  who,  laying  aside  those  principles 
of  honor  and  good  faith  which  ought  to  govern  their  conduct 
toward  their  brethren,  and  for  a  mere  gratification  of  private 
interest,  have  set  aside  the  obligations  they  were  under  by  vio- 
lating the  ordinances  which  they  had  pledged  themselves  to 
maintain. 

It  is  for  the  interest  of  the  profession  that  such  persons  (if 
any  there  are)  should  be  discountenanced;  and  to  the  end  that 
the  knowledge  of  their  sins  should  follow  them,  the  directors  of 
the  New  York  Typographical  Society  have  directed  me  to  open 
a  correspondence  with  you,  by  requesting,  if  compatible  with 
your  constitution,  that  in  cases  where  members  of  your  society 
or  others  of  the  profession  may  have  acted  dishonorably  toward 

it,  and  should  leave for  this  city,  you  would  be  so  good 

as  to  transmit  information  to  them,  the  favor  of  which,  on  a 
like  occasion,  would  be  reciprocated. 

The  directors  of  the  New  York  Typographical  Society  sin- 
cerely hope  that  an  instance  of  this  nature  may  never  have  to 
be  recorded,  yet  it  appears  to  them  that  the  adoption  of  a  rule 
like  the  above  might  be  attended  with  mutual  benefit.  There  is 
nothing  which  acts  more  powerfully  on  the  human  mind  than 
shame.  It  makes  the  coward  bold,  the  miser  generous;  and  it 
is  to  be  hoped  that  it  will  ever  deter  a  journeyman  printer  from 
conducting  unworthily  toward  his  brethren  when  innate  princi- 
ple is  wanting. 

30 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

Accept  the  assurance  of  my  esteem  for  you  gentlemen,  and 

my  sincere  wishes  for  the  prosperity  of  the society. 

D.  H.  Reins,     * 
Secretary  New  York  Typographical  Society. 

To  this  elaborate  argument  for  and  cautious  statement 
of  one  of  the  protective  features  of  unionism,  so  univer- 
sally understood  today  that  it  is  never  stated  in  terms, 
the  following  equally  remarkable  reply  was  received  from 
the  Philadelphia  society.  The  "second  letter  of  the  23d" 
referred  to  was  one  announcing  the  completion  of  the 
wage  scale  of  September  20  by  the  New  York  society. 

Philadelphia,  October  28,  1809. 

Sir  :  Your  letter  of  the  18th  ultimo  and  23d  instant  came 
duly  to  hand,  and  I  have  to  apologize  for  the  delay  in  forward- 
ing an  answer. 

That  of  the  1 8th  embraced  a  principle  which  was  not  read- 
ily acceded  to — and  the  consideration  of  it  was  twice  referred 
to  the  opinion  of  a  select  committee — a  report  was  made  this 
evening  and  finally  adopted  by  the  following  words:  "The 
committee  thinks  proper  to  report  that  they  have  considered  the 
letter  referred  to  them,  and  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  principle 
set  forth  therein  is  a  good  one,  and  will  have  a  tendency  to  pro- 
mote the  interests  of  the  two  societies,  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  whenever  any  member  of  this  society  shall 
act  derogatory  to  the  principles  of  this  constitution,  and  shall 
leave  this  city  for  New  York,  information  shall  immediately  be 
forwarded  to  the  New  York  Typographical  Society." 

As  I  am  decidedly  opposed  to  the  principle,  it  can  not  be  ex- 
pected that  I  should  dilate  upon  it.  I  beg  leave,  however,  to 
assure  you  that  the  will  of  the  majority  is  my  guide,  and  th.it 
I  shall  consider  it  my  duty  to  act  in  strict  conformity  to  the 
resolution. 

Your  second  letter  of  the  23d  instant  h.is  ghrtt  ine\pr< 
pleasure  to  the  members  of  the  hoard  and  of  the  society  In  gen- 
eral. The  energetic  measure  you  have  taken  had  been  so  long 
wanting  In  the  respectable  city  of  Nan  York  that  the  friends 
of  equal  rights  reflect  with  ditgnst  npon  the  humiliating  condi- 
tion Is  whirh  our  brethren  suffered  themselves  to  remain  there; 
and  the  following  hope  now  held  forth  that  they  have  broken 

31 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union   . 

their  manacles,  with  a  determination  that  they  shall  never  be 
riveted  again,  will  be  fostered  and  cherished,  nay,  assisted,  as 
far  as  constitutionally  may  lay  in  their  power.  But  the  old 
adage  will  here  apply,  and  should  be  attentively  considered : 
"He  that  will  not  help  himself  shall  have  help  from  nobody." 
Persevere  in  your  laudable  struggle,  and  remember  that  no  great 
end  was  ever  yet  attained  without  danger  and  difficulty. 

Be  pleased  to  accept  my  best  wishes  and  regards  for  your 
society,  and  believe  that  I  am,  with  the  sincerest  respect,  your 
humble  servant,  JoHN  Childs> 

President  Typographical  Society  of  Philadelphia. 

September  20,  1809,  the  society  adopted  a  scale  of 
prices,  no  copy  of  which  has  been  found,  but  which  it 
is  known  did  little  more  than  restore  the  scale  of  1800 
on  common  work  while  providing  for  the  classes  of  work 
not  covered  by  any  former  standard  of  wages. 

A  circular  letter  was  printed  and  sent  to  the  master 
printers,  of  which  a  copy  follows : 

To  the  Master  Printers  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

Gentlemen  :  Between  employers  and  employed  there  are 
mutual  interests  depending,  mutual  duties  to  perform.  To  the 
end  that  these  may  result  in  harmony,  certain  rules  and  regu- 
lations should  be  adopted.  Therefore,  we,  the  journeymen 
printers  of  the  city  of  New  York,  having  duly  and  deliberately 
taken  into  consideration  the  present  irregular  state  of  the  prices 
in  many  of  the  printing  offices,  and  conceiving  that  they  are  in- 
adequate to  a  comfortable  subsistence,  have  united  themselves 
into  an  association  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  and  establish- 
ing the  same.  The  annexed  list,  framed  with  a  due  deference 
to  justice  and  equitability,  is  presented  with  a  view  that  it  may 
meet  your  approbation. 

Upon  receipt  of  the, above  the  'master  printers  formed 
an  organization,  and  as  a  first  move  asked  for  a  post- 
ponement of  the  date  when  the  new  regulations  should 
go  into  effect.  This  the  journeymen  declined.  To  gain 
time,  the  masters'  association  then  agreed  to  the  demands, 
but  at  once  began  to  advertise  in  other  cities  and  towns 

32 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

for  printers,  offering  good  wages  and  permanent  posi- 
tions. As  an  offset,  the  Typographical  Society's  board 
of  directors  instructed  the  secretary  to — 

Inform  the  different  typographical  societies  in  the  United 
States  that  this  board  have  reason  to  believe  that  it  is  the  object 
of  the  master  printers  of  this  city,  by  advertising  for  a  great 
number  of  workingmen,  to  fill  the  city  with  hands  and  thereby 
be  enabled  to  reduce  the  prices  of  work  in  this  city  to  their 
former  standard. 

The  members  of  the  society  were  instructed  to  send 
information  of  the  situation  by  letter  to  all  outside  jour- 
neymen of  their  acquaintance. 

Evidently  the  master  printers  were  having  some  suc- 
cess with  their  plan,  and,  to  bring  the  matter  to  imme- 
diate issue,  the  Typographical  Society  called  a  strike, 
beginning  October  30,  1809,  for  the  enforcement  of  their 
scale.  Most  of  the  master  printers  soon  agreed  to  the 
scale,  but  quite  a  number  fought  the  issue  bitterly,  and 
what  was  for  that  time  a  strike  of  considerable  duration 
resulted.  Strike  benefits  were  paid  weekly,  and  it  is  not 
until  December  18  that  the  last  entry  on  the  minutes  is 
found  recording  money  appropriated  to  the  "brethren 
who  had  been  thrown  out  of  their  employ  in  consequence 
of  their  refusing  to  work  for  less  than  the  established 
prices." 

During  this  strike  the  society  discovered  that  one  of 
its  members  had  secretly  arranged  to  work  for  less  than 
tin  Kale  in  an  office  ostensibly  paying  the  society's  rate 
of  wages.  Immediately  the  other  members  of  the  so- 
ciety refused  to  work  in  the  office  with  him,  and  requested 
that  he  not  only  be  expelled  from  the  society,  but  that 
his   name  be  sent   to  the  Other  societies.      For  some  time 

the  km  iety  was  busy  expelling  members  who  had  secret  I y 
unrked  below  the  scab-  during  the  strike  However,  the 
Struggle  had  cleared  the  atmosphere  perceptibly. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

As  showing  the  situation  before  the  strike,  it  may  be 
stated  that  the  report  of  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
society  to  "investigate  the  state  of  trade"  and  "list  those 
working  for  less  than  the  established  price"  showed  com- 
positors working  at  20  cents  per  1,000  ems,  pressmen 
working  at  25  cents  per  token  (240  sheets),  and  num- 
berless boys  at  from  $4  to  $4.50  per  week.  At  one  office 
they  report: 

There  is  a  man  working  at  press  who  occupies  the  situation 
of  two  journeymen,  who  is  said  to  have  served  no  apprentice- 
ship at  the  business. 

Out  of  their  experience  came  an  amendment  to  their 
by-laws,  passed  December  23,  within  a  week  after  the 
close  of  the  strike : 

No  person  shall  be  admitted  a  member  of  this  society  unless 
he  shall  have  duly  and  regularly  served  the  term  of  three  years 
as  an  apprentice  to  one  branch,  namely,  either  as  a  compositor 
or  as  a  pressman. 

On  December  30,  1809,  they  issued  a  circular  letter, 
going  into  the  whole  matter  of  "half-way  journeymen," 
afterward  called  "two-thirders,"  and  the  laxity  of  the 
apprenticeship  regulations.  It  was  addressed  to  the  em- 
ployers, and  as  it  is  the  earliest  survey  of  the  situation 
in  the  trade  from  the  workman's  point  of  view  it  is, 
notwithstanding  its  length,  given  in  full  below : 

To  the  Master  Printers  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

Gentlemen  :  Viewing  with  deep  concern  the  improper 
practices  in  many  of  the  printing  offices  in  this  city,  the  journey- 
men composing  the  New* York  Typographical  Society  have  ap- 
pointed the  undersigned  committee  to  address  you  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  represent  the  many  evil  effects  they  have  on  the  art  of 
printing  in  general  and  its  demoralizing  effects  on  its  professors. 

The  practice  of  employing  what  is  termed  "half-way  jour- 
neymen" in  preference  to  those  who  have  served  their  time, 
while  it  holds  out  encouragement  to  boys  to  elope  from  their 
masters,  as  soon  as  they  acquire  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the 

34 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

art  to  be  enabled  to  earn  their  bread,  is  a  great  grievance  to 
journeymen,  and  almost  certain  ruin  to  the  boys  themselves. 
Becoming  masters  of  their  own  conduct  at  a  period  of  life  when 
they  are  incapable  of  governing  their  passions  and  propensities, 
they  plunge  headlong  into  every  species  of  dissipation,  and  are 
often  debilitated  by  debauchery  and  disease  before  they  arrive 
at  the  state  of  manhood.  And  it  also  tends  to  an  unnecessary 
multiplication  of  apprentices,  inasmuch  as  the  place  of  every 
boy  who  elopes  from  his  master  is  usually  supplied  by  another, 
while  at  the  same  time  the  runaway  supplies,  after  a  manner, 
the  place  of  a  regular  journeyman,  and  one  who,  probably,  has 
a  family  dependent  on  his  labor  for  support. 

We  would  also  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  a  practice 
as  illiberal  and  unjust  as  the  former,  and  attended,  perhaps, 
with  evils  of  a  more  aggravating  nature.  We  mean  that  of  tak- 
ing grown  men  (foreigners)  as  apprentices  to  some  twelve  or 
fifteen  months,  when  they  are  to  be  turned  into  the  situations 
of  men  who  are  masters  of  their  business ;  which  men  are  to  be 
turned  out  of  their  places  by  miserable  botches,  because  they 
will  work  for  what  they  can  get.  By  these  means  numbers  of 
excellent  workmen,  who  ought  to  be  ornaments  to  the  profes- 
sion, are  driven  by  necessity  to  some  other  means  of  support. 
When  a  parent  puts  out  a  child  to  learn  an  art,  it  is  with  the 
pleasing  idea  that  a  knowledge  of  that  art  will  enable  him, 
when  he  becomes  a  man,  to  provide  for  himself  a  comfortable 
subsistence.  Did  he  know  that  after  laboring  from  his  youth  to 
manhood  to  acquire  our  art  he  would  be  compelled  to  abandon 
it  and  resort  to  some  business,  with  which  he  was  totally  unac- 
quainted, to  enable  him  to  live,  he  would  certainly  prefer  that 
he  should  in  the  first  instance  seek  a  livelihood  on  the  sea,  or 
1>\  some  other  precarious  calling,  than  trust  to  the  equally  pre- 
carious  success  of  a  trade  overstocked  by  its  professors.  Of  the 
number  thai  have  completed  their  apprenticeship  to  the  print- 
ing business  within  the  last  five  vears,  hut  few  have  been  en- 
ahled  to  hold  a  situation  for  any  length  of  time.  And  it  is  an 
incontrovertible   fact,  that   nearly  one  half  who  learn  the  trade 

are  obliged  to  relinquish  it  and  follow  some  other  calling  for 

support. 

Under  the  direful   influence  Of  the  unwarrantable  pra 
the  professors  of  the  noblest  art  with  which  the  world  is  blessed, 
have  become   "birds  of  passage,"    seeking    a    livelihood     from 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Georgia  to  Maine.  It  is  owing  to  such  practices  that  to  ac- 
knowledge yourself  a  printer  is  to  awaken  suspicion  and  cause 
distrust.  It  is  owing  to  such  practices  that  the  professors  of 
the  noble  art  are  sinking  in  the  estimation  of  the  community. 
And  it  will  be  owing  to  such  practices,  if  persisted  in,  that  to 
see  a  book  correctly  printed  will,  in  a  few  years,  be  received  as 
a  phenomenon. 

To  render  an  art  respectable  it  is  indispensably  necessary  that 
its  professors  should  be  perfect  masters  of  their  calling,  which 
can  only  be  acquired  by  serving  a  proper  apprenticeship.  And, 
in  our  art,  it  is  not  always  time  that  perfects  the  printer.  For 
it  is  too  often  the  case,  that  boys  of  little  or  no  education  are 
taken  as  apprentices  which  the  first  services  as  devil  frequently 
preclude  the  knowledge  of,  until  they  are  bound,  when  the  dis- 
covery is  too  late  to  be  remedied.  Owing  to  the  deficiency,  they 
make  but  sorry  printers ;  whereas,  had  they  learned  some  trade 
which  does  not  particularly  require  a  good  education,  they 
might  have  been  perfect  masters  of  it  and  better  able  to  gain 
a  livelihood.  These  are  evils,  gentlemen,  which  we  sorely  feel, 
and  which  it  is  in  your  power  to  remedy ;  and  we  sincerely  hope 
that  this  appeal  to  your  justice  and  humanity  may  meet  with 
that  consideration  which  its  importance  demands.2 

D.  H.  Reins, 

W.    BlJRBRIDGE, 

S.  Johnson. 

A  letter  from  the  Philadelphia  society  in  September, 
1810,  informed  the  New  York  city  organization  of  the 
new  wage  scale,  that  of  September  20,  and  the  strike  for 

2  It  is  impossible  to  read  this  circular,  and  the  subsequent  struggle  the 
unions  had  for  fifty  years  with  the  runaway-apprentice  and  "two-thirder"  prob- 
lems without  recalling  that  oldest  of  journeymen  printers'  documents,  preserved 
in  the  British  Museum,  and  quoted  in  full  by  Brentano  in  his  "History  and  De- 
velopment of  Guilds"    (note  to  p.   97),  as  follows: 

"The  case  and  proposals  of  the  free  journeymen  printers  in  and  about  Lon- 
don humbly  submitted  to  consideration.     Licensed  October  23,    1666. 

"Whereas  there  are  at  this  present  in  and  about  the  city  of  London,  to  the 
number  of  140  workmen  printers,  or  thereabouts,  who  have  served  seven  years 
to  the  art  of  printing,  under  lawful  master  printers,  and  are  reduced  to  great 
necessities  and  temptations  for  want  of  lawful  employment,  occasioned  partly 
by  supernumerary  apprentices  and  turnovers,  which  have  increased  the  number 
almost  twice  as  many,  on  the  whole,  as  would  be  sufficient  to  discharge  all  the 
public  and  lawful  work  of  the  kingdom.  The  workmen  printers  above-mentioned, 
etc.,   propose:     1.    That  no   foreigners   (that  is  to  say)    such   an   one   as  has  not 

36 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

its  enforcement  in  the  former  city.  Immediately  an 
extra  meeting  of  the  New  York  society  was  called  to  act 
upon  it.  The  following  extract  from  the  minutes  shows 
how  a  feeling  of  unity  of  interest  was  rapidly  growing 
among  the  workmen  of  the  neighboring  cities  of  that  date. 
The  minutes  are  those  of  the  special  or  called  meeting: 

A  letter  was  read  from  the  journeymen  printers  of  Philadel- 
phia, accompanied  with  a  circular  list  of  prices,  which  they  are 
now  standing  out  for,  and  urging  us  to  co-operate  with  them  in 
order  to  obtain  their  just  demands ;  and  the  board,  conceiving 
the  nature  of  the  communication  of  the  utmost  importance, 
came  to  the  immediate  resolution  of  convening  the  general  so- 
ciety, and  the  following  was  immediately  passed : 

"Resolved,  That  a  general  extra  meeting  of  this  society  be 
called  on  Monday,  the  24th  instant,  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
general  information  to  the  members  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
journeymen  printers  of  Philadelphia. 

"Resolved  (unanimously),  That  we  highly  approve  of  the 
proceedings  of  our  typographical  brethren  of  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia in  the  demand  for  a  raise  of  prices. 

"Resolved,  etc.,  That  we  pledge  ourselves  to  each  other  that 
we  will  not  take  any  situation  vacated  by  any  of  our  brethren  in 
Philadelphia  under  the  present  circumstances. 

"Resolved,  etc.,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  members  of 
this  society  to  make  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  known  m 
general  as  possible. 

"Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  transmitted 
by  the  secretary  to  the  Philadelphia  Typographical  Society." 

served  seven  years  to  the  art  of  printing,  under  a  lawful  master  printer,  as  an 
apprentice,  may  be  entertained  and  employed  liy  any  mailer  printer  foi  the 
time  to  come.  a.  That  a  provision  may  be  made  to  hinder  the  increase  of  ap- 
prentice! and  a  limitation  appointed  as  to  ihe  numb,  r.  ct..  i.  That  no  turn- 
overs Ik-  received  by  any  master  printer  but  from  a  master  printer;  and  that 
no  in.iMn  pi  mtrr  turning  over  any  apprentice  to  another  master  printer  may 
be  permitted  to  take  any  other'  appicnticr  in  In*  pl.i.  c  till  the  full  time  of  the 
said  apprentice  so  turned  over  be  expired;  for.  otherwise,  the  restraint  and 
limitation  of  apprentices  will  be  evaded,  and  the  niimbrr  supplied  by  turntn. 

It    is   significant    to   note    that    the    ieme.lv    ptOftOHd   bv   this    first    craft    guild 
of   I. on. Ion   |. unlet,  in    11,1.1.      1    .       liiitiutmii  on   the   number  of  apprentice*  -  was 
eventually  adopted  by  the  typographical  societies  in  the   lnite.1 
Bttttt.    beginning    with    the    New    Orleans    society    in    I R j«.    and   finally    adopted 
l.v   tin    Washington    1  I'  a   >u   its   constitution  of   1867.  the   last  of   the 

local  unions  to  adopt  the  measure. 

37 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

On  August  7,  1 8 1 1 ,  the  society  added  an  article  to  its 
constitution  limiting  the  age  at  which  apprentices  at 
presswork  may  begin  and  prohibiting  members  from 
working  with  men  receiving  less  than  the  scale.  The 
words  of  the  amendment  were : 

No  member  of  this  society  shall  be  permitted  to  take  with 
him  as  a  companion  at  press  a  person  who  is  of  full  age  at  the 
commencement  of  his  apprenticeship ;  nor  shall  any  member  of 
the  society  work  in  an  office  where  a  person  is  employed  for  less 
than  our  established  prices,  under  the  penalty  of  expulsion  in 
either  case. 

A  side  light  is  thrown  on  the  conditions  which  fur- 
nish a  justification,  from  the  trade-unionist  point  of  view, 
for  the  first  provision  of  the  above  article,  when  on  July 
24,  181 3,  a  committee  reports  on  a  proposition  for  mem- 
bership. This  applicant  proves  to  have  been  a  weaver 
by  trade;  but  as  weaving  "gave  him  a  pain  in  the  breast" 
he  got  a  situation  in  a  livery  stable.  From  that  he  went 
into  a  printing  office  as  a  pressman.  Even  his  employer 
testified  before  the  committee  that  when  he  came  to  work 
for  him  "he  did  not  know  how  to  scrape  a  ball,  and  by 
his  appearance  and  conduct  thought  he  was  never  in  a 
printing  office  before."  The  society  refused  him  admis- 
sion "since  he  is  a  weaver,  not  a  printer."  Apprenticeship 
was  felt  to  be  their  only  protection,  and  as  a  safeguard 
the  pressmen  (who  worked  in  pairs)  were  prohibited  from 
taking  as  companion  a  man  who  had  "broken  into  the 
trade"  after  he  was  21  years  of  age. 

Early  in  181 5  the  society  began  debating  the  question 
of  a  new  wage  scale.  One  was  finally  adopted  October 
7,  1 81 5.  This  scale  further  restricted  the  apprentices  by 
requiring  the  employer  to  pay  the  pressmen  an  extra 
piece  price  where  apprentices  were  being  taught  the 
trade.  Not  only  did  the  society  adopt  a  new  scale,  rais- 
ing the  rates  to  27  cents  per  1,000  ems  and  $9  per  week, 

38 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

but  at  the  same  meeting,  by  unanimous  vote,  adopted  a 
resolution  that  "a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to 
confer  with  the  different  typographical  societies  in  the 
United  States,  the  duty  of  which  committee  shall  be  to 
induce  (if  possible)  the  journeymen  of  Philadelphia,  and 
Albany  in  particular,  to  raise  their  prices  to  at  least  the 
same  standard  as  ours." 

The  new  wage  scale  was  accepted  by  most  of  the 
employers,  but  involved  the  society  in  a  strike  for  its 
enforcement  in  a  few  minor  offices.  From  a  clause  in 
a  letter  the  New  York  society  sent  to  the  societies  in  Al- 
bany, N.  Y.,  and  Washfngton,  D.  C,  in  1816,  in  response 
to  notices  of  the  adoption  of  new  wage  scales  by  those 
societies,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  employers  of  New  York 
were  the  first  to  insist  upon  or  at  least  suggest  the  idea 
of  a  uniform  wage  scale  for  the  entire  country,  an  idea 
which  for  other  reasons  agitated  the  various  societies  for 
nearly  a  half  century  afterward.  The  clause  referred  to 
states : 

That  you  should  pursue  the  measures  you  are  now  pursuing 
has  been  the  desire  of  both  the  journeymen  and  employers  of 
this  city  for  the  following  reasons:  It  was  urged  by  the  em- 
ployers last  summer,  when  our  journeymen  made  a  demand  for 
higher  wages,  that  unless  journeymen  in  other  places  would 
raise  their  prices  to  an  equilibrium  with  those  we  had  presented, 
it  would  induce  the  booksellers  to  send  their  work  out  of  the 
city,  as  the  difference  in  the  price  for  which  work  could  be  done 
elsewhere  would  more  than  pay  for.  the  transportation. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  at  this  time  and  for  nearly 

a  quarter  of  a  century  afterward  newspapers  employed 

1  1  small  percentage  of  the  printers  that  the  societies 

paid  little  attention  to  anything  else  than  the  book  and 

job  offices. 

Alter  the  strike' to  enforce  the  wage  scale  of  181 5  the 
iety  again  had  t«>  disiiplinr  a  number  of  its  numS 
Some  of  the  early  societies  had  admitted  to  membership 

.V) 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

employers  who  paid  the  scale.  While  this  society  had 
never  done  this,  a  member  who  had  been  admitted  as  a 
journeyman  did  not  lose  any  of  his  rights  in  the  society 
by  becoming  an  employer.  The  obligation  or  pledge  re- 
quired members  not  only  to  demand  the  scale  of  prices 
as  journeymen,  but  to  pay  it  should  they  become  "mas- 
ters." The  experience  of  the  strike  forced  a  new  meas- 
ure upon  the  organization.  The  temper  of  the  society 
was  to  be  tested  by  the  trial  of  an  extreme  case,  and  one 
member  who  had  become  an  employer  subsequent  to 
joining  the  society  was  brought  up  on  a  charge  having 
six  separate  counts,  three  of  whidh  read  as  follows : 

First.  For  an  attempt,  in  combination  with  a  few  employ- 
ing printers,  to  lessen  the  established  wages  of  journeymen. 

Second.  For  introducing  into  the  printing  business  men 
wholly  unacquainted  with  it  to  the  exclusion  of  regular-bred 
workmen. 

Third.  For  refusing  to  give  employment  to  members  of  this 
society  and  employing  one  not  a  member  in  preference — a  di- 
rect violation  of  the  solemn  pledge  he  has  repeatedly  given  us. 

The  other  three  charges  were,  in  substance,  that  he  had 
given  currency  among  the  masters  to  the  plans  and  pur- 
poses of  the  society,  contrary  to  his  obligation ;  that  he 
had  permitted  his  name  to  be  added  to  the  announcement 
of  other  employers  in  advertising  for  "strangers"  to  come 
to  New  York  and  take  the  places  of  the  striking  printers ; 
and  lastly,  that  he  had  injured  his  brother  members  of 
the  society.  On  motion,  a  resolution  of  expulsion  was 
passed,  which  resolution  provided :  "And  his  name,  with 
the  nature  of  his  offense,  be  transmitted  to  the  differ- 
ent typographical  societies  in  the  United  States."  To 
safeguard  the  future  and  make  permanent  the  lesson 
learned,  the  by-laws  were  amended  by  the  addition  of 
the  following: 

Experience  teaches  us  that  the  actions  of  men  are  influenced 
almost  wholly  by  their  interests,  and  that  it  is  almost  impossible 

40 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

a  society  can  be  regulated  and  useful  where  its  members  are 
actuated  by  opposite  motives  and  separate  interests.  This  so- 
ciety is  a  society  of  journeymen  printers,  and  as  the  interests  of 
the  journeymen  are  separate  and  in  some  respects  opposite  to 
that  of  the  employers,  we  deem  it  improper  that  they  should 
have  any  voice  or  influence  in  our  deliberation ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  when  any  member  of  this  society  shall  be- 
come an  employing  printer  he  shall  be  considered  without  the 
limits  of  the  society  and  not  to  vote  on  any  question,  or  pay  any 
dues  in  the  same. 

No  device  was  to  be  permitted  to  lessen  the  piece  price 
of  a  quantity  named  in  the  scale.  Under  the  old  system 
of  printing  playing  cards  but  one  was  printed  at  a  time. 
Some  master  printer  devised  a  scheme  of  setting  up  two 
cards  in  a  form  and  then  claimed  a  reduction  from  the 
pressmen's  scale  for  presswork.  The  meeting  of  June  7, 
181 7,  was  devoted  to  a  solution  of  the  problem:  "If 
two  cards  of  the  same  be  set  and  worked  two  at  a  pull 
shall  they  be  charged  less  than  if  they  were  worked 
singly?"  The  decision  of  the  society  was  that  "every 
fifty-two  cards  so  worked  be  charged  a  pack."8  Mem- 
bers were  held  to  honest  work  for  their  employers  and 
expelled  from  the  society  for  an  unworkmanlike  thing 
as  surely  as  for  an  act  prejudicial  to  the  interests  of 
other  workmen.  In  November,  181 7,  a  member  was  ex- 
pelled and  his  name  sent  to  all  known  societies  becaUM 
he  had  "turned  wrong  a  half  sheet  of  24's,  and  without 
mentioning  the  fact  to  his  employers  left  the  city,  evw 
neglecting  to  note  down  the  signature  letter  in  his  bill — 
conduct  highly  derogatory  to  the  New  York  Typograph- 
ical S<x  nil  .uid  disgraceful  to  himself  as  a  member." 

Out  of  the  conditions  in  the  industry  were  rapidly  de- 

*  The    prladpU    in\..1\r.l    here    ha«    always    been    contended    (or    by    Dritiih 
trade  union.,  Imi   not.  a*  a   rule,  by  those   of  the   United  Slate*,   at   least   until 
<U       lh.    1  laim    i«   that   labor   should    have   a   once-established   percentage 
share  of  thr  prodMtj  t>  «.n.llr«»  of  ntnr  involved  In  its  production.    This  i» 

Ma  "<  tlir   Mm. 'tis  that  seek  to  maintain  "a  competitive  equality"  among 
employers,  but  is  not  a  part  of  the  typographical  union's  creed. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

veloped  the  measures  which  soon  became  the  customs 
which,  ossifying,  became  the  anatomy  of  subsequent  trade 
unionism — the  bones  and  framework  of  all  modern  or- 
ganizations along  trade  lines.  These  "fundamental 
principles  of  trade  unionism,"  which  are  never  now 
expressed  in  constitutions,  or  elaborated  in  resolutions, 
because  too  thoroughly  understood  to  be  expressed,  or 
require  expression,  are  but  the  successful  experiments  of 
the  formative  period  in  its  life,  made  permanent  by  time; 
the  sediment  of  experience  petrified.  As  witness  to  this 
development  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  at  its  meeting  in 
November,  1817,  the  society  resolved  to  keep  a  register 
of  members,  and  their  places  of  employment.  One  mem- 
ber was  appointed  as  the  representative  of  the  society  in 
each  printing  office,  and  at  each  meeting  as  their  names 
were  read  they  must  give  information  "as  to  the  state  of 
trade  and  the  chances  of  employment  for  more  of  our 
members."  A  list  of  those  out  of  work  was  also  to  be 
kept,  and  these  in  the  order  of  registration  were  to  be 
notified  of  any  vacancies  or  opportunities  for  employ- 
ment reported  at  each  meeting.  How  suggestive  this  is 
of  the  "father  of  the  chapel,"  the  "house  of  call,"  and 
the  "waiting  list,"  and  each  of  the  early  societies  de- 
veloped similar  features.  The  aggressive  element  was, 
however,  being  defeated  in  another  direction.  In  1816 
the  society  had  made  application  to  the  state  legislature 
at  Albany  for  an  act  of  incorporation.  The  assembly 
passed  the  bill,  but  the  senate  inserted  an  ame'ndment, 
which,  while  preserving  all  of  the  social  and  "benefit" 
features  of  the  society,  prohibited  it  from  interfering  in 
any  manner  with  trade  matters,  or  attempting  to  influ- 
ence the  wages  of  labor.  This  amendment  to  its  bill  the 
society  declined  to  accept,  and  the  matter  went  over  for 
two  years.  In  181 8  the  bill  came  up  in  its  original  form 
again,  and  was  again  passed  by  the  assembly.    Thurlow 

42 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

Weed,  who  had  joined  the  society  in  October,  1816,  just 
after  it  had  established  its  wage  scale  of  1815,  but  be- 
fore industrial  peace  had  been  entirely  secured,  had 
charge  of  the  society's  bill  in  Albany.  Mr.  Weed  seems  to 
have  been  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  the  trade  regula- 
tion interests  of  the  organizations,  but  the  senate  was  not 
to  be  moved.  After  two  years  of  effort  to  secure  what  it 
wanted  from  the  legislature,  the  society  finally  accepted 
the  senate's  terms  and  adopted,  as  section  5  of  article  1 
of  its  constitution,  the  following:    . 

Sec.  5.  In  no  case  shall  the  society  interfere  in  respect  to 
the  price  of  labor. 

The  society  exists  today  and  is  financially  prosperous, 
but  it  passed  out  of  the  class  of  organizations  considered 
in  this  article  by  its  acceptance  of  this  legislative  charter 
in  18 1 8.  On  its  beneficial  side  it  had  a  most  elaborate 
system  for  the  relief  of  needy  members,  going  so  far  as 
to  furnish  and  pay  watchers  for  the  sick.  The  large 
area  of  its  jurisdiction  was  divided  into  sections  with 
visiting  committees  for  each.  It  was  as  active  in  matters 
of  mutual  benefit  and  help  as  on  its  trade  side.  The  mu- 
tual aid  clement  in  these  early  societies  has  been  fully 
written  up  heretofore  by  scholars  who,  judging  only  from 
their  printed  constitution,  and  not  having  access  to  the 
minutes  or  records,  have  assumed  that  they  were  merely 
mutual  aid  and  burial  societies.  There  is  no  disposition 
here  to  question  or  ignore  this  element  in  these  s« ui< -\ 
but  to  bring  to  light  f nun  the  minutes  the  evidence  that 
whatever  livery  of  charitable  clubs  they  wore  in  public, 
in  their  hall  rooms  they  were  labor  organizations. 

Considerable  space  has  been  given  to  this  New  York- 
society  of  1800  because  <>f  its  trade  aggressiveness.  In 
trade  matters  it  was  the  Moriny  petrel  of  the  early  SO- 
deties,  and  but  for  the  clipping  of  its  wings  in  1818  the 
societies  organized  in  the  movement  of    1815  to   1820 

43 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

would  probably,  under  its  influence,  have  been  as  dis- 
tinctively and  as  openly  trade  unions  as  were  those 
organized  from  1 830  to  1850. 

In  order  to  follow  more  closely  the  career  of  this  New 
York  Typographical  Society  from  its  inception  to  the 
surrender  of  its  trade  influence,  there  has  been  some  sac- 
rifice of  strict  chronological  arrangement.  It  remains, 
however,  but  to  state  that  from  the  time  of  its  organiza- 
tion, July  1,  1809,  until  it  ceased  to  be  a  labor  force  in 
1 818,  it  had  enrolled  237  members. 

During  the  war  of  1 81 2  the  secretary  of  the  society, 
David  H.  Reins,  organized  a  company  of  artillery  com- 
posed entirely  of  printers  for  the  defense  of  the  harbor 
of  New  York;  just  as  the  Philadelphia  society,  by  unani- 
mous vote  in  September,  18 14,  resolved  to  appropriate 
one  day's  labor  for  each  of  its  members  "on  the  fortifica- 
tions now  erecting  for  the  defense  of  the  city,"  and  on 
October  14,  1814,  appointed  a  committee  of  three  "whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  receive  applications  of  the  wives  of 
such  members  of  this  society  now  absent  in  the  service 
of  the  country,  under  the  requisition  of  the  president 
thereof,  as  may  stand  in  need  of  assistance,  and  that  they 
report  at  every  meeting  of  the  directory  the  sum  they 
think  proper  to  be  allowed  to  each." 

The  Philadelphia  society,  after  passing  the  resolution 
of  December,  1808,  forbidding  its  members  to  instruct 
an  apprentice  who  was  more  than  18  years  of  age  at  the 
commencement  of  his  apprenticeship,  and  providing  for 
the  transmission  to  other  societies  of  the  names  of  ex- 
pelled members,  as  elsewhere  referred  to,  followed  this 
up  in  March,  1809,  by  requiring  all  members  to  take  the 
obligation  formerly  exacted  only  from  officers,  including 
the  pledge  "that  I  will  procure  employment  for  any 
member  or  members  of  this  society  in  preference  to  any 
other  when  occasion  may  require." 

44 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

Early  in  1809  the  society  began  proceedings  to  secure 
incorporation.  Some  alteration  in  the  constitution  was 
required  by  the  courts  preliminary  thereto,  though  the 
exact  character  of  the  change  does  not  appear  on  the 
minutes.  In  December,  1809,  however,  "the  committee 
appointed  to  procure  an  incorporation  reported  that  the 
constitution  had  been  handed  to  the  judge  of  the  supreme 
court  for  signature  on  that  day  and  that  Mr.  Franklin's 
fee  as  counsel  was  $8,  which  he  would  not  accept,  but 
returned  to  the  committee  as  a  donation  to  the  funds  of 
the  society." 

July  14,  1810,  the  initiation  fee  was  raised  to  $5  and  a 
clause  added  to  its  constitution  which  has  caused  the 
downfall  of  more  societies  than  any  other  one  thing  with 
which  they  had  to  contend,  to  the  effect  that  members 
who  paid  their  dues  for  twenty  years  became  "free  mem- 
bers," entitled  to  all  the  benefits  of  the  society  for  life 
without  further  payment.  The  effect  of  this  will  be 
referred  to  elsewhere. 

In  September,  18 10,  the  society  presented  a  new  scale 
of  prices  to  the  employers,  which  seems  to  have  been 
unsatisfactory.  No  copy  of  this  price  list  has  been  found. 
A  strike  for  its  enforcement  seems  to  have  been  a  dis- 
astrous failure,  almost  depleting  the  society's  treasury 
and  greatly  reducing  its  membership.  At  the  beginning 
of  1810  there  were  119  members  in  good  standing,  14 
joining  during  the  year,  and  78  resigned  or  were 
prllrd,  having  tin-  membership  55.  Of  only  OM  BON  th.m 
in  1802,  at  the  close  of  its  first  year  of  existence. 

Apart  from  its  patriotic  attitude  in  1814,  referred  t<> 
above,  the  brnrvolrnt  feature!  of  the  Society  OCCIiptad  its 
rnrrgirs  until  June-,  1816,  when  the  pressmen  formulated 
.1  1  air  and  issued  tin-  following  iddfMI  t<>  thr  rmplovrrs. 
A  similar  statement  was  issued  by  the  compositors,  bear- 
ing the  indorsement  of  the  society,  which  raises  the  ques- 

45 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tion  as  to  whether  the  pressmen  belonged  to  the  society  or 
whether  the  society  as  such  indorsed  only  the  demands 
of  the  compositors  and  not  those  of  the  pressmen.  The 
only  copy  of  this  address  and  price  list  found  was  tran- 
scribed on  the  minutes  of  the  New  York  Typographical 
Society  as  a  communication  from  Philadelphia.  The 
document  itself  appears  to  emanate  from  a  mass  meeting 
rather  than  from  the  society. 

The  Philadelphia  Typographical  Society  seems  not  to 
have  become  a  purely  benevolent  association  until  1831. 
Whether  or  not  the  pressmen  acted  independently  of  the 
society  in  this  matter  the  address  and  scale  is  worth  pre- 
serving here. 

Philadelphia,  June  17,  1816. 

To  the  Employing  Printers  of  the  City  and  County  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

Gentlemen  :  The  pressmen  are  induced,  from  a  duty 
which  they  owe  to  themselves,  to  call  your  serious  attention  to 
what  they  here  present  you.  The  general  prices  that  they  now 
receive  for  their  work  were  established  fourteen  years  since  [by 
the  scale  committee  of  1802]  ;  it  will  therefore  appear  obvious 
to  every  person  that  there  has  been  a  great  increase  since  that 
period  in  the  population  of  our  country,  likewise  a  wide  exten- 
sion of  our  commerce,  agriculture,  and  manufactures.  The 
consequence  has  been  a  very  considerable  rise  in  the  things 
necessary  for  the  comfort  of  man.  They  are  decidedly  of  the 
opinion  that  almost  all  mechanics  have  had  an  advance  in  their 
wages  in  proportion  to  the  rise  in  the  necessaries  of  life,  taken 
in  the  aggregate ;  while  the  printer,  whose  profession  is  not 
second  in  point  of  merit  to  any  other,  is  left  as  it  were  to  stem 
the  torrent  of  adversity  with  an  empty  pocket.  Heaven  forbid 
that  this  should  be  the  fate  of  those  whose  labors  tend  so  essen- 
tially to  the  promulgation  of  knowledge  throughout  our  ex- 
tensive country.  And  they  likewise  believe  it  to  be  an  indelible 
fact,  long  since  established,  that  Philadelphia  is  famous  for  its 
workmen  in  the  art  preservative  of  all  arts,  both  in  skill  and 
faculty;  but  with  shame  they  are  compelled  to  say  (notwith- 
standing our  city  is  the  emporium  of  art)   that  they  receive  a 

46 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

less  award  for  their  services  than  is  awarded  in  any  of  the  other 
cities  of  the  Union.  From  a  sense  of  imperious  duty  incumbent 
upon  them  as  respectable  members  of  society,  they  now  make 
the  demand,  fully  confident  that  it  is  moderate  and  just.  The 
laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire. 

They  therefore  anticipate  that  you  will,  with  liberality  be- 
coming your  profession,  give  your  decided  approbation  to  the 
annexed  scale  of  prices.  Your  opposition  we  ought  not  to  ex- 
pect. We  are,  however,  directed  by  the  meeting  to  inform  you 
that  we  have  been  authorized  and  directed  to  correspond  and 
confer  with  you  individually,  or  to  meet  any  committee  that  may 
be  appointed  on  your  part  for  that  purpose.  You  will,  there- 
fore, gentlemen,  please  to  inform  us  of  your  determination  as 
soon  as  possible,  as  we  have  to  report  to  the  next  meeting.  On 
our  part,  we  assure  you  that  we  will  use  our  utmost  endeavors 
in  this  conference  to  produce  a  good  understanding  and  to 
avoid,  as  far  as  possible,  those  inconveniences  and  altercations 
which  invariably  arise  out  of  an  imperfect  understanding,  well 
aware  that  it  is  too  often  cherished  by  those  whose  position 
"does  not  command  a  view  of  the  whole  ground." 

(Signed  by  order  of  the  meeting.)  _    _    _ 

°  J.  C.  Dowden, 

P.  Miller, 

Geo.  Hitner, 

John  Douglas, 

O.  P.  Merrii.i  . 

Committee  on  behalf  of  the  Journeymen  Pressmen. 

v  k  I  s  s  WOF  K 
Pressmen  to  receive  not  less  than  $9  per  week  for  10  hours* 
work  per  day.     Paper — medium  and  below  medium,  not  las 
than  33  1-3  cents  per  token  ;  when  the  number  is  less  than  four 

tokens,  to  be  charged  35  cents  per  token;  stove  medium  37l4 
cents  per  token;  stereotype  editions  to  be  charged  35  cents  pes 

token  ;  broadsides,  medium,  no  cents  per  token  :  royal.  75  cents 
per  token.     CSTOS — for  one  pack  and  not  exceeding  tw 
33  1  3  cents ;  when  the  number  exceeds  two  pecks,  to  be  charged 
I2j^  cents  per  pack. 

The  remit  Of  this  appeal  is  n<'t  known.     In  April,  1817. 

the  society  appointed  a  committee  styled  the  Committee 
of  Employ — 

47 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

"Whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  receive  the  name  or  names  of 
such  person  or  persons  belonging  to  this  society  as  shall 
from  time  to  time  be  out  of  employment,  which  committee 
shall  thereupon  take  all  just  and  honorable  methods  of 
procuring  situations  for  such  applicants. 

"Said  committee  shall  meet  at  least  twice  in  every  month, 
and  shall  make  report  to  the  board  of  directors  at  every 
meeting  thereof  of  the  number  of  applicants  (designating 
their  names),  and  generally  of  the  progress  made  in  the 
duties  of  said  committee,  which  report  shall  be  duly  en- 
tered on  the  minutes  by  the  secretary  and  read  at  each 
stated  meeting  of  the  society." 

From  time  to  time  committees  were  "appointed  to  in- 
vestigate the  state  of  the  printing  business  in  this  city" 
until  February  5,  1831,  when,  by  resolution,  it  was  de- 
cided "that  this  society  from  and  after  the  first  day  of 
April,  183 1,  be  dissolved,"  and  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  turn  all  its  assets  into  cash  and  divide  the  funds  among 
the  members.  Before  the  date  set  for  dissolution  ar- 
rived, however,  namely,  February  12,  it  was  decided 
"that  we  do  now  agree  to  form  an  association  for  benevo- 
lent purposes;"  and  that  while  the  cash  on  hand  should 
be  divided  among  the  members,  "the  library  and  book- 
case and  the  burial  lot"  should  be  given  to  the  new 
organization,  provided  the  donor  of  the  burial  lot  (Mr. 
Ronaldson)  would  consent  to  the  transfer. 

Thus  died  the  trade  regulation  features  in  one  of  the 
oldest  societies.  As  a  society  it  still  exists,  as  does  the 
New  York  society  of  1809.  Never  so  aggressively  indus- 
trial as  some  of  the  others,  the  Philadelphia  society  was 
conservatively  a  trade  organization  from  1802  to  1831, 
and  even  after  that,  in  1832,  it  being  rumored  that  one 
of  its  members  was  about  to  employ  women  as  compos- 
itors, and  had  offered  a  non-union  printer  a  situation  as 
foreman  in  case  women  were  employed,  the  feeling  in 

48 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

the  society  was  so  strong  that  the  member  in  question  felt 
called  upon  to  write  a  letter  to  be  spread  upon  the 
minutes  of  the  society  denying  that  he  had  ever  intended 
to  employ  women.4 

A  table  (see  page  50),  compiled  from  the  records  of 
this  society,  shows  the  growth  in  membership  and  receipts 
and  expenditures  for  half  a  century,  from  its  organi- 
zation in  1802  till  1852. 

The  year  181 5  was  a  memorable  one  for  printers'  so- 
cieties. Boston,  Mass. ;  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  Washington, 
D.  C,  organized  during  the  year,  and  while  the  date  of 
the  organization  of  the  Baltimore  Typographical  So- 
ciety is  not  known,  the  first  mention  of  it  is  also  found 
during  this  year.     The  first  meeting  of  the  Washington 


*  This  is  the  first  mention  found  of  women  in  the  trade.  Later  the  ques- 
tion became  of  utmost  importance  to  printers,  and  a  brief  summary  of  its  his- 
tory seems  necessary  here,  since  the  final  disposition  did  not  occur  until  after 
the  date  set  as  a  limit  to  the  general  text  of  this  article.  January  17,  183s,  a 
special  meeting  was  called  by  the  Washington  (D.  C.)  society  because  of  the 
alarm  occasioned  by  a  statement  published  in  a  local  paper  "that  girls  were 
being  employed  as  compositors  in  newspaper  offices  in  Philadelphia,"  to  break  a 
strike.  Kt-solutions  were  adopted  and  embodied  in  a  circular  letter  sent  to  the 
typographical  societies  of  Philadelphia,  Boston,  New  York  and  Baltimore,  ask- 
ing if  any  girls  were  so  employed,  if  so,  how  many,  and  what  action  these  so- 
cietics  "proposed  to  take  to  prevent  the  further  progress  of  this  evil  ?"  The 
records  do  not  show  that  any  replies  were  received.  The  national  convention 
of  1854  devoted  much  of  its  time  to  a  discussion  of  the  "woman  question,"  as 
the  Detroit  Union  had  asked  for  instructions  in  the  matter.  The  proceedings 
of  the  convention  contain  pages  of  resolutions  on  all  sides  of  the  problem,  none 
of  which  passed.  The  matter  was  referred  to  a  committee  which  recommended 
that  the  regulation  of  the  subject  be  left  to  local  unions,  since  "the  employ- 
ment of  females,  as  compositors,  can  never  become  so  general  or  extensive 
as  to  affect  the  trade  materially."  At  a  meeting  of  the  Boston  Typographical 
Union  held  June  14,  1856,  a  motion  that  "any  member  working  in  any  office 
thai  employs  female  compositors  should  be  expelled  from  the  union."  was  "laid 
for  future  consideration,  and  April  11,  1857,  the  same  union  pa*scd  a 
m  volution  "that  all  females  be  allowed  by  this  society  to  work  in  alt  branches 
of  ll'  •oviilnl  tliry  receive  the  scale  of  prices  adopted  by  this  union.'* 

III.  Philadelphia  , I,  Incurs  to  the  national  convention  of  i8$j  were  especially 
mini  to  oppose  any  recognition  of  the  employment  of  female*  as  cool' 
ry  national  convention  debated,  and  every  local  union, 
hi  I  ilies  at  least,  had  to  adopt  n  policy  In  regard  to  this  subject.  Finally  » 
"union  of  women  j.t inter*"  was  organised  in  New  York  city  in  IS70  and 
souglil    idmltfflftfl    lo    llir    national,    .in  I    the    national    QQmUBdOH    of    1872    Settled 

tin-  in  iitn   liv  .I'lmittniK  women  to  full  nirinU  t  >lnp  in  local  union,  and  demand- 
ing for  her  labor  the  same  price  |w»id  to  men. 

41 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Statistics  of  Membership  and  of  Receipts  and  Expenditures 
During  First  Half  Century  of  the  Philadelphia  Typograph- 
ical Society: 


MEMBERS 


Ad- 
mitted 


Died, 
Resigned, 


Expelled 


In  Good 
Stand- 
ing 


RECEIPTS 


Dues, 

Fines, 

Initiations 


From 
Other 
Sources 


EXPENDITURES 


Death, 

Sick,  or 

Out-of-work 

Benefits 


802 
803 
804 
805 
806 
807 
808 
809 
810 
811 
812 
8l3 
814 
815 
816 
817 
818 
819 
820 
821 
822 
823 
824 
825 
826 
827 
828 
829 
830 
83: 
832 
833 
834 
835 
836 
837 
838 
839 
840 
841 
842 
843 
844 
845 
846 
847 
848 
849 
850 
851 


9 
24 
14 
6 
7 
6 
3 


45 
29 
39 
26 
19 
19 
21 
25 
37 
1 1 

9 
16 

IS 

-'4 


78 


4 
3 
3 
3 
lH4 

14 
23 
33 
28 
19 
12 
18 
15 
6 
9 


54 
62 
63 
63 
68 
88 
95 
119 
55 
59 
64 
67 
66 
72 
80 
88 
93 
91 
88 


91 

99 

104 

112 

113 

116 

114 

52 

74 

105 

in 

117 

US 

115 

122 

125 
135 
166 
168 
169 
!75 
190 
208 
212 
225 
234 
235 
241 


$80  64 
70  94 
162  00 
52  62 
116  87 
229  38 
109  78 
168  00 
333  00 
209  88 
172  00 
193  00 
138  37 
251  38 
232  62 
247  50 
203  87 
130  25 
128  50 
118  50 
123  87 
161  88 
128  87 
154  63 
U5  50 
199  25 
H4  75 
137  9i 
158  25 
463  35 
429  36 
473  84 
840  19 
831  00 
620  49 
688  13 
569  56 
729  24 
835  24 
1,030  04 
1,008  04 
1,156  21 
1,161  is 
1,221  00 
1,340  76 
1,642  34 

1,533  53 
1,630  42 

1,564  5° 
1,508  12 


$3  75 
48  00 
48  70 

44  00 
52  00 
31  00 

833  00 
6S  34 
74  90 

70  34 
78  19 
95  93 
95  67 
67  92 
21  98 
35  75 

314  09 

71  54 
62  81 

999  05 
73  25 
80  25 

76  50 
91  00 

297  12 

100  00 
112  00 

45  00 
70  00 

77  65 
88  10 

100  00 
112  00 
132  00 
150  00 
278  00 
162  00 
162  00 
162  00 

162  00 

163  10 
162  00 
162  00 
328  90 
233  71 


$3  00 


12  00 

41  00 

36  00 

65  00 

79  00 

194  00 

101  00 

31  00 

105  00 

103  00 

75  00 

48  00 

129  00 

183  00 

215  00 

270  00 

143  00 

114  50 

259  50 
101  50 

36  00 
163  50 
162  00 
248  00 
328  00 

55  00 
368  57 
267  00 
150  00 
295  52 
297  54 
203  67 
462  84 

260  36 
267  72 
648  35 

1,331  84 

827  13 

1,293  35 

1,264  72 

782  99 

1,23s  35 

1,362  16 

1,566  88 

1,801  69 

1,568  23 


Reorganization.  Funds  divided  equally. 
50 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

printers  for  the  purpose  of  organization  was  held  Decem- 
ber io,  1814,  at  the  private  house  of  H.  L.  Lewis,  in 
whose  parlor  the  society  met  for  some  years,  paying  him 
$1  per  month  for  the  privilege.  At  this  first  meeting 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  draft  a  constitution  "with 
instructions  to  model  the  same  as  nearly  as  may  be  prac- 
ticable by  that  of  the  Philadelphia  Typographical  So- 
ciety." This  committee  reported  in  January,  1815;  the 
constitution  was  adopted,  and  the  society  organized  with 
nineteen  members.  Nine  more  were  added  during  the 
year,  making  a  total  of  twenty-eight  at  the  close  of 
1815.8 

The  fact  should  not  be  overlooked  that  the  Washing- 
ton society  (called  the  Columbia  Typographical  Society) 
was  modeled  after  the  most  conservative  and  largely  ben- 
eficial of  the  earlier  societies — that  of  Philadelphia ; 
while  that  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  evidently  organized  at  the 
instigation  of  the  emissaries  from  the  New  York  city 
society,  was  patterned  after  that  more  aggressive  body. 
But  if  the  "first  object  of  the  Columbia  society  was  benev- 
olence," it  also  proposed  to  "regulate  prices,"  and  in  the 
conflict  of  factions,  almost  evenly  divided  as  to  numbers 
(except  under  extreme  provocation,  as  in  1836),  it  was  at 
once  liberally  benevolent  and  conservatively  persistent  in 
trade  matters,  being  the  only  one  of  the  old  societies  that 
has  survived  until  today,  and  developed  into  a  modern 
trade  union,  rather  than  a  mutual  benefit  association. 

On  June  15,  181 5,  a  committee  of  correspondence  was 

*  A*  no  information  ha*  hitherto  Ix-rn  obtainable  relative  to  the  membership 
of  thcae  organization*,  the  acce**ion*  to  thia  nociety,  by  year*,  ii  here  noted  up 
to  1840.  Aa  Mated  above,  it  had  twenty-right  member*  at  the  cloac  of  i8ij. 
In  1816  it  milled  fifteen  to  it*  meml>rr«hi|>:  live  in  1H17;  nine  in  1818;  ti\ 
iKi.j;  nine  in  iKjo;  nix  in  iHji;  live  in  i8«:  fourteen  in  ih.-.t.  ten  in  i8j<; 
thiitnn  10  l|gj|  eleven  111  1H.16;  nine  in  1H.17;  eleven  in  i8jH;  two  in  i8j«; 
four  in  tHjo;  eleven  in  tH.w;  »even  111  iH|.-;  ti\e  in  l8jj:  Stventv  one  in  1834; 
thiitv  three    in    |H.\<;    nrvrotrrn    in    |tftf|    thirtv  one    in    i8j7J    Seventeen    in 

and  *rventeen  m  1830,  making  a  total  of  recorded  name*  In  twenty-five  year* 
of  305. 

51 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

appointed,  which  reported  July  I  that  it  had  sent  the 
following  circular  letter  to  the  typographical  societies 
of  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Albany,  and  Bos- 
ton. The  copy  here  given  is  from  the  minutes  of  the 
original  society.  It  differs  in  phraseology  on  minor 
points  from  the  copy  made  from  the  records  of  the  New 
York  society  as  received. 

Washington,  July  — ,  1815. 
To  the  President  of  the Society, at . 

Sir  :  By  a  vote  of  the  Columbia  Typographical  Society,  we 
were  appointed  a  committee  of  correspondence :  In  pursuance 
of  which  appointment  it  has  become  our  duty,  through  you,  to 
address  the  society  over  which  you  preside,  informing  them  of 
the  organization,  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  of  a  society  un- 
der the  above  title :  having  for  its  object,  first,  benevolence,  and 
second,  the  establishment  of  a  regular  system  of  prices.  In  the 
obtainment  of  these  views,  we  feel  assured  of  the  good  wishes 
of  your  body,  as  well  as  of  every  friend  to  the  profession. 

In  the  infancy  of  associations  of  this  nature  difficulties  will 
frequently  occur,  tending  to  dampen  the  fondest  expectations 
of  the  most  sanguine.  That  we  have  had  to  contend  with  such 
difficulties  we  will  not  attempt  to  deny,  but  by  a  determined 
perseverance  on  the  part  of  each  member,  they  have  been  caused 
to  vanish,  and  we  now  indulge  the  pleasing  hope  that  our  so- 
ciety is  firmly  and  permanently  established.  With  satisfaction 
we  have  it  in  our  power  to  state  that,  with  but  few  exceptions, 
every  journeyman  in  this  District  is  now  a  member  of  this  so- 
ciety. The  few  who  are  not,  we  have  the  strongest  reasons  for 
asserting,  will  in  a  short  time  attach  themselves  to  us. 

We  are  also  directed  to  state,  for  the  information  of  the 
journeymen  in  your  vicinity,  the  wages  given  in  the  District, 
viz. : 

During  the  session   of  congress,   per  week $10  oo 

Working  on  a  Sunday 2  oo 

During  the  recess,  per  week 9  do 

For  pressmen  and  compositors — 

Composition,  per  1000  m's,  for  brevier  and  upward 28 

Composition,  per  1000  m's,  for  less  than  brevier 33^$ 

Presswork,  per  token 33  yi 

Presswork,  per  token,  on  newspapers 37  Vi 

52 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

Journeymen  are  altogether  employed  by  the  week  during  the 
session  of  Congress. 

We  give  this  notice  with  a  hope  that  it  may  prevent  journey- 
men at  a  distance  engaging  at  less  prices  than  those  above 
quoted. 

With  a  request  that  reciprocal  communications  having  a 
tendency  to  benefit  the  profession  may  at  all  times  take  place, 

We  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  yours,  etc.,  respectfully, 

Jas.  Pettigrew, 
J.  Gideon,  jr. 

This  letter  brought  but  two  replies,  one  from  Balti- 
more0 and  that  of  the  president  of  the  New  York  Typo- 
graphical Society,  which  society  sent  a  further  commu- 
nication, received  October  7,  notifying  the  Columbia 
society  of  a  strike  in  New  York  to  enforce  the  scale  of 
prices,  and  asking  that  no  Washington  printers  be  per- 
mitted to  take  situations  in  New  York  until  the  trouble 
was  over.  At  this  meeting  of  October  7  a  "committee 
was  appointed  to  draft  a  list  of  prices  similar  to  that  of 
Baltimore."  This  committee  reported  and  the  list  was 
approved  November  4,  181 5. 


•The  letter  from  the  Baltimore  society  makes  so  clear  the  fact  that  that  or- 
ganization was  likewise  as  thoroughly  economic  in  its  purpose  as  were  the 
others  that  it  is  reproduced  here,  since  no  other  documents  of  this  early  Balti- 
more society  have  been  discovered. 

Baltimore,  December  8,  1815. 
To  the  President  of  the  Columbia  Typographical  Society. 

Sib:  I  hasten  to  comply  with  a  rtqoMtkw  "f  <nc  Baltimore  Typographical 
Association,  imposed  on  me  by  a  vote  of  that  body  at  their  last  meeting 
a  reply  to  a  communication  received  from  a  committrc  of  thr  society  over 
which  you  have  the  honor  to  preside — under  thr  name  and  title  first  mentioned. 
I'm  vious,  however,  to  entering  iiAfc  the  performance  of  this  task  it  becomes  a 
duty   iiuuuilxiit    on   DM   as   a    friend   to   a   mutual    interchange   of   sentiments   b»- 

p  ;is»oi  1. it  ioi,s  of  this  n.itiirr,  as  well  as  imlivnlii.ilv  to  rvpljin,  so  far  as 
is  within  tn v  power,  the  CMMM  whieh  h.i\e  prodaMd  thin  almost  unpardonable 
delay — a  delay  so  derogatory  to  the  feelings  and  so  contrary  to  the  wishes  of 
every   ineinl.ei    of  our   body. 

Y0111    1  omnium,  .ition    bears    dote    of    June    .10.    i»n       It    «n,    I    relieve,    re- 
ceived   in    due   season,    and    promptly    laid    btfOTl    the    next    meeting   after    it 
.eipt.    whnh    meeting    empowered    urn!    ie«|iim.|    the    then    secretary    to    forward 
a   reply,  expressive   of   thr   iImiiU.   Of   the   association   for   ihr   attention   you   have 
shown  them,   the  pleasure   they  always  experience  la  the  atabtssllsTHnt  of  any 

53 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

The  Boston  Typographical  Society  of  1809  had  appar- 
ently ceased  to  exist,  as  another  of  the  same  name  was 
organized  November  25,  1 81 5,  and  on  March  2,  1816, 
on  the  eve  of  a  demand  for  an  increase  of  wages,  sent 
the  following  letter  to  the  various  societies : 

Boston,  March  2,  1816. 

Sir  :  A  society  bearing  the  name  of  the  "Boston  Typo- 
graphical Society"  was  formed  in  this  town  on  the  25th  of 
November  last  past,  of  which  P.  F.  Quearean  is  president ; 
Henry  Nichols,  vice-president,  and  William  Learned,  secretary. 

On  Monday  next,  4th  of  March,  the  journeymen  of  this 
town  and  vicinity  calculate  to  receive  the  prices  which  they  have 
adopted.  The  employers  have  already  been  informed  of  our 
determination  and  we  doubt  not  they  will  be  obstinate  at  first, 
but  must  eventually  agree  to  give  us  the  prices  we  ask,  provided 
we  are  united  and  the  journeymen  of  your  city  do  not  think 
proper  to  come  to  this  town  for  work  at  the  call  of  the  masters, 
as  they  will  doubtless  many  of  them  advertise  for  workmen  in 
a  short  time. 


regulations  which  have  the  least  tendency  to  promote  the  interest  and  happi- 
ness of  our  brethren  in  every  section  of  the  Union,  their  congratulations  that 
you  have  so  completely  succeeded  in  rebuffing  the  many  obstacles  naturally  in- 
cident in  the  formation  of  such  associations,  and  their  readiness  at  all  times 
to  co-operate  with  you  in  all  and  every  measure  which  may  have  for  its  ob- 
ject the  mutual  interest  of  both  associations  and  the  profession  generally.  The 
above  order,  from  causes  not  yet  explained,  has  not  been  complied  with,  nor 
was  known  until  the  last  meeting. 

Hoping  that  the  above-recited  fact  will  be  sufficient  to  remove  any  un- 
pleasant sensations  from  your  minds  which  may  have  been  excited  in  conse- 
quence thereof,  I  embrace  the  present  occasion  of  complimenting  you  on  the 
fundamental  principles  of  your  association — "benevolence"  and  the  "establish- 
ment of  a  regular  system  of  prices."  The  first  is  one  of  the  noblest  virtues 
of  the  human  heart  and  the  last  very  essential  to  the  promotion  of  the  inter- 
est and  happiness  of  every  association  of  aginechanical  nature. 

To  conclude,  sir,  you  may  be  assured  that  we  will  always  feel  proud  to 
receive  any  communication  from  the  Columbia  society  which  may,  in  the  least, 
have  a  tendency  to  favor  the  views  or  carry  into  effect  the  objects  of  each 
association,  and  will  ever  be  ready  at  any  moment  to  act  with  alacrity  in  con- 
junction with  it  on  any  measure  that  might  lead  to  our  mutual  benefit. 

I  have   the   honor  to   remain,   with   the  sentiments  of  respect    (on  behalf   of 

the  Baltimore  association),  your  very  obt.  humble  servant. 

John  Reveix, 

__   .   j  _  President  of  said  Association. 

Mr.  Alexander  Graham, 

President  of  the  Columbia  Typographical  Society. 

54 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

We,  therefore,  earnestly  request  that  you  will  give  notice  to 
the  members  of  your  society  of  our  proceedings,  and  as  it  is  all 
important  that  we  should  be  left  to  manage  our  own  affairs  in 
our  own  way,  you  will  please  give  us  every  necessary  aid  in  the 
present  contest  which  "try  men's  souls." 
We  are,  sir,  with  respect,  yours,  etc., 

Eliakim  Fish, 
Geo.  Singleton, 
Wm.  Kerry,  jr., 

Committee. 
P.  S. — Should  you  observe  in  the  newspapers  an  advertise- 
ment for  journeymen  wanted  in  this  place,  we  request  you  to 
advertise  in  our  behalf  that  there  are  between  50  and  60  jour- 
neymen out  of  employ  in  Boston. 

October  4,  18 16,  the  aggressive  Albany  society,  which, 
as  stated  above,  had  been  organized  in  181 5,  sent  the 
following  letter  to  all  societies : 

Albany,  October  4,  1816. 
To  the  President  of  the  Washington  City  Typographical  So- 
ciety, Washington . 

Sir  :  All  bodies  formed  for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  the 
rights  of  those  concerned  therein,  while  at  the  same  time  they 
afford  relief  in  cases  of  distress  to  which  any  of  their  members 
may  be  exposed,  ought  to  possess  the  means  of  holding  up  to' 
the  contempt  of  those  societies  who  have  the  same  just  and 
benevolent  ends  in  view,  such  persons  as  either  from  self- 
interest  or  perverseness  endeavor  to  defeat  the  object  of  such 
associations. 

Influenced  by  these  sentiments,  the  Albany  Typographical 
Society  authorized  the  undersigned  to  communicate  to  the  differ- 
ent societies  in  the  United  States  their  willingness  to  co-operate 
with  them  in  the  furtherance  of  all  lawful  measures  condu 
witli  the  interests  of  the  business,  and  at  the  same  time  to  fol 
ward  the  names  of  several  unprincipled    persons    to    vim.    and 

through  vou  to  the  Washington  City  Typographical  So. 

who,    f(1r  months  past,  have  |>tln  and  are  still   working  in  the 

office  of  Messrs. in  this  city  below  the  prices  established 

by  the  society. 

Their  names  are , , , ,  , . 

55 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

What  renders  their  conduct  the  more  censurable  is  the  fact 
of  their  being  several  times  warned  of  the  consequences  which 
would  result  from  their  proceedings,  but  persisting  notwith- 
standing. 

By  order  of  the  society. 

John  B.  N.  Steinbergh,  President. 
John  Henshall,  Secretary. 

While  this  was  recognized  as  a  radical  step  to  take  at 
that  time,  there  was  no  refusal  to  comply  with  the  re- 
quest of  the  Albany  society.  It  was,  in  fact,  no  more 
than  the  Philadelphia  society  had  reluctantly  conceded 
to  the  New  York  society  in  1809.  The  Albany  society 
seems  to  have  refused  to  permit  its  members  to  work  in 
offices  with  men  receiving  less  than  the  scale  almost  from 
the  first.  This  society  seems  to  have  been  the  first  to 
give  currency  to  the  term  "rat"  as  applied  to  a  printer 
who  works  for  less  than  the  established  wages,  and  struck 
against  the  employment  of  a  man  designated  as  a  "rat" 
in  1 82 1.  To  the  credit  of  this  stormy  little  society  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  let  it  be  said  that  in  a  subsequent  letter 
it  took  up  the  case  of  at  least  one  of  these  men  and  re- 
scinded its  action.  The  letter  gives  an  inside  view  of 
the  industrial  conditions  of  the  time  which  renders  it 
pre-eminently  worth  preserving. 

"We  have  become  more  fully  acquainted  with  the  causes 
which  compelled  Stephen  Dorion  to  accept  of  the  illegiti- 
mate prices.  It  appears  he  was  among  the  first  of  those 
who  refused  to  comply  with  the  views  of  the  employers 
and  consequently  lost  his  situation.  He  went  to  New  York 
in  pursuit  of  work,  but  could  not  procure  any.  He  returned 
again  to  this  city  and  after  sacrificing  all  his  property, 
amounting  to  about  $100,  besides  contracting  a  heavy  debt 
for  the  support  of  his  family,  with  starvation  staring  him 
in  the  face,  without  the  least  hope  or  possibility  of  pro- 
curing any   assistance  from  our  society,   and,  from  the 

56 


Philadelphia    Typographical 
Society 

On  the  illustrated  sheet  preceding  this  paragraph  is  reproduced  the  allegory 
used  by  the  Philadelphia  Typographical  Society  to  embellish  its  certificate  of 
membership.     It  was  designed  and  engraved  by  John  Sartain.* 

The  Philadelphia  Society  was  organized  November  6,  1802.  Every  member 
was  required  to  provide  himself  with  a  silver  rule,  with  his  name  on  one  side 
and  the  name  of  the  society  on  the  other.  The  president  and  vice-president 
were  provided  with  a  gold  rule,  at  the  expense  of  this  society,  for  their  u»e 
and  their  successors.  The  sums  given  by  the  society  to  its  members  are  paid 
as  a  right,   and   not  as   a  charity. 

This  society  has  always  been  a  public-spirited  and  patriotic  body.  In  181 2 
it  sold  its  profitable  bank  shares  at  a  loss  of  twenty  per  cent,  and  subscribed 
to  United  States  bonds  instead,  to  help  the  government  in  its  war  with  Great 
Britain.  It  also  made  appropriations  to  assist  the  families  of  members  who 
had  enlisted. 

In  1824  the  society  turned  out  in  a  body  at  a  reception  given  to  General 
Lafayette. 

In  1827  the  society  contributed  $90  to  assist  the  Greeks  in  their  gallant 
though    fruitless  struggle   for   independence. 

In  1832  it  participated  in  the  centennial  celebration  of  the  birth  of  General 
Washington.  It  had  in  the  line  of  parade  a  press  in  operation,  on  which  some 
of  the  members  were  busy  printing  the  "Farewell  Address"  of  Washington 
while  other  members  gave  the  printed  sheets  to  the  people  along  the  route  of 
parade. 

In  1834  the  society  participated  in  the  mock  funeral  over  General  Lafayette. 

In   1844  it  took  part  in   the  obsequies  to  General  Harrison. 

In  1861  to  1865,  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  it  kept  those  members 
in  good  standing  who  were  serving  their  country  "at  the  front." 

From  1802  until  the  Typographical  Union  was  formed  in  1850,  this  society 
was  the  regulator  of  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  trade,  and  its  decisions 
were  acquiesced  in  by  both  employers  and  employed.  Upon  it  were  centered 
the  respect  of  the  employer,  the  faith  of  the  journeyman  and  the  hope  of  the 
apprentice.  It  has  been  especially  honored  in  its  membership  by  such  men 
as  John  C.  Clark,  James  Ronaldson,  T.  K.  Collins,  book  printer;  J.  6.  Lippin- 
cott,  book  publisher;  Charles  Eneu  Johnson,  ink  manufacturer;  Louis  A.  Godey, 
publisher  of  "Godey's  Lady's  Book";  Mathew  Carey,  well  known  as  an  author 
and  publisher;  Charles  Johnson,  Sr. ;  Archibald  Binney,  eminent  a*  an  attorney- 
at-law;  Adam  Ramage,  inventor  of  the  "two-pull"  Ramage  press;  P.  G.  Collins, 
printer,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  present  society;  Simon  Cameron,  secretary 


•Sartain,  John:  Engraver,  designer  and  literary  editor;  born  in  London. 
England,  October  24.  1808;  became  an  engraver  and  did  some  important  work, 
including  some  of  the  plates  for  William  Young  Ottley's  works  on  early  Italian 
prints.  He  removed  to  the  United  State*  in  1830  and  settled  m  Philadelphia. 
He  is  generally  thought  to  have  introduced  roeizotint  engraving  into  America. 
He  also  practiced  oil-painting  and  miniature-painting  on  ivory  and  vellum. 
Afterward  he  was  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Foreign  Semi  Monthly  MagufM, 
and  having  bought  the  Union  Magazine  renamed  It.  making  it  Sartain's  Union 
Magaiine.  He  designed  several  public  monummt*.  among  which  I*  that  to 
Wa»hington  and  Lafavrttc  in  Monummt  (Vmctrrv.  Philadelphia.  Ills  Remi- 
niscences of  a  Verv  Old  Man  w«»  mhttsbM  fal  l8»o.  Died  in  Philadelphia. 
October  »$,   1807.     Revised  by  Ru»>r11   Stur«t»  —  Unhrrfi  Bmcyciftti*. 


of  war  during  Lincoln's  administration;  William  W.  Harding,  publisher  for 
years  of  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer;  Robert  P.  King,  printer,  a  member  of 
the  late  firm  of  King  &  Baird;  Colonel  James  Page,  eminent  as  a  member  of 
the  Philadelphia  bar;  John  W.  Forney,  United  States  senator,  and  founder  of 
the  Philadelphia  Press;  Morton  McMichael,  publisher  of  the  North  American 
for  a  number  of  years,  also  sheriff,  and  mayor  of  Philadelphia;  Isaiah  Thomas, 
of  Worcester,  Mass.,  author  of  "Printing  in  America";  Anthony  J.  Drexel; 
Laurence  Johnson,  Thomas  MacKellar,  John  F.  Smith,  Richard  Smith,  Peter 
A.  Jordan,  type  founders;  Richard  Ronaldson,  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Johnson  type  foundry;  George  W.  Childs,  publisher  for  some  years  of  the 
Public  Ledger. 

From  the  year  1831  down  to  the  present  time  the  society  has  paid  out 
for   relief   more   than   $300,000. 

Following  is   a  key  to  the  allegory   referred  to: 

A  figure  of  Liberty  enveloped  by  the  American  banner  and  accompanied 
by  the  American  eagle,  which  hovers  immediately  over  her  head;  she  holds 
in  one  hand  a  scroll  inscribed  with  the  motto  of  the  society,  and  with  the 
other  directs  the  attention  of  the  world  (as  represented  by  four  figures  per- 
sonating its  great  leading  divisions  of  Europe,  Asia,  Africa  and  America)  to 
the  printing  press  as  the  source  of  mental  light.  The  light  on  the  foreground 
objects  comes  both  from  the  form  on  the  press  and  from  a  figure  of  Intelli- 
gence above  it,  who  has  overthrown  Ignorance,  and  points  to  the  press  as  the 
instrument  of  power.  The  dark  figure  of  Ignorance  is  represented  with 
chains,  and  going  down  headlong,  writhing  and  imprecating.  In  front  is  a 
pile  of  volumes,  periodicals,  newspapers,  etc.,  and  a  number  of  instruments 
of    warfare    and    destruction    broken    into    fragments. 

Far  in  the  distance  is  the  Temple  of  Fame,  placed  on  the  top  of  an  almost 
inaccessible  hill,  and  at  its  foot  a  king,  his  head  bowed  to  the  ground  and 
his  crown  rolled  in  the  dust — his  freed  subject  standing  by,  erect,  with  fetters 
broken. 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

conviction  that  'rats'  in  abundance  could  be  procured  to 
carry  on  the  work  of  destruction,  he  chose  rather  to  work 
at  reduced  wages  than  to  become  an  inhabitant  of  a  gaol  or 
a  poorhouse.  Therefore  we  hope  he  may  be  exonerated 
from  the  odious  appellation  of  'rat'." 

Twenty  years  later  (1838),  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  protested 
against  a  too  strenuous  hounding  of  "rats,"  and  it  was 
one  of  the  first  acts  of  the  national  organization  of  1852  to 
call  a  halt  on  the  abuse  of  this  custom  by  local  societies. 

From  1 8 16  to  1827,  so  far  as  can  be  determined  from 
the  minutes  of  the  Washington  society,  communications 
between  the  various  societies  practically  ceased,  but  each 
was  active  in  its  own  field.  The  problem  of  a  uniform 
wage  scale  throughout  the  country,  begun  by  the  com- 
plaint of  the  employers  of  New  York  city  in  the  strike 
of  1 81 5,  now  became  a  serious  question  to  the  societies 
from  another  point  of  view.  The  price  lists  were  printed 
separately  from  the  constitution,  and  the  earlier  constitu- 
tions in  most  societies  made  no  direct  reference  to  wage 
scales.  Some  members  claimed  that  working  for  less 
than  the  wage  scale  was  not  a  violation  of  the  constitu- 
tion. Roving  printers  also  claimed  that  if  they  did  not 
work  below  the  scale  of  the  society  they  had  originally 
joined  they  were  not  violating  any  obligation.  The 
Washington  society's  scale  was  higher  than  that  of  any 
northern  city,  and.  as  tin-  government  printing  made  the 
capital  a  sort  of  Mecca  for  "tramp"  printers,  this  society 
became  the  first  serious  victim  "f  this  subterfuge. 

To  settle   the  elaim    made   by    home   members,   who   in- 

d  that  the  not  a  part  of  the  organic  lau. 

the  society,  February  1.  1B17,  ordered  150  copies  of  the 

constitution  printed  "with  the  |i*1  of  priCCI  annexe. I 
thereto."  This  plan  was  adopted  by  Hoston  in  1825,  and 
gradually  by  all  MCtetiea,  and  tin-  reason  for  it  is  as 
stated  above.      It  is  kept  up  to  this  day  by  local  printers' 

57 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

unions.  This,  however,  only  partially  settled  the  trouble 
with  itinerant  compositors.7 

April  4,  1818,  the  society  adopted  an  entirely  new  con- 
stitution, both  in  preamble  and  nearly  every  section.  It 
broke  away,  practically,  from  the  ultra  conservatism  of 
the  Philadelphia  model,  and  placed  the  Washington  so- 
ciety more  in  line  with  that  of  New  York  city  prior  to 
its  acceptance  of  a  legislative  charter. 

The  special  agitation  of  the  apprentice  question  began 
in  Washington  in  1818,  and  while  the  constitution  of  that 
year  does  not  go  beyond  requiring  "a  satisfactory  ap- 
prenticeship," nevertheless  from  the  minutes  it  is  learned 
that  candidates  for  membership  were  not  only  vigorously 
questioned  on  this  point,  but  were  required  to  prove  by 
written  statements  from  "their  masters"  that  they  had 
served  "a  four-years'  apprenticeship."  Even  after  ad- 
mission members  were  held  liable  to  expulsion  if  it  was 
discovered  that  there  "had  been  irregularities  in  his  ap- 
prenticeship." A  case  of  this  character  came  up  July 
16,  1818,  when  it  was  charged  that  one  Fleming  had  no 
right  to  membership.  Fleming  proved  that  he  had  served 
two  and  a  half  years'  apprenticeship  in  Dublin,  Ireland, 
and  afterward  a  short-term  apprenticeship  in  Philadel- 
phia, but  this  was  claimed  irregular,  as  the  entire  term 


7  The  division  of  sentiment  on  the  uniform  wage  scale  was  apparent  in  the 
call  for  the  national  convention  of  1836,  in  which  the  Washington  society 
sought  to  estop  the  convention  from  dealing  with  uniform  rates  by  the  very 
terms  of  the  call,  while  Cincinnati  had  made  the  original  request  for  a  na- 
tional convention  in  the  hope  of  securing  uniform  rates  of  wages.  In  the  con- 
vention of  1854  a  resolution  was  introduced  that  all  members  should  consider 
the  bill  of  prices  a  part  of  the  by-laws,  and  the  convention  of  1855  formulated 
a  pledge,  to  be  taken  by  all  members,  which  covered  the  question  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner: 

"I,   ,   hereby   solemnly   and    sincerely   swear     *     *     *     that   I 

will,  without  equivocation  or  evasion,  and  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  so  long  as 
I  live,  abide  by  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  and  the  particular  scale  of  prices 
of  work  acknowledged  and  adopted  by  this  or  other  typographical  unions  of  the 
United  States,  of  which  I  now  am  or  may  become  a  member,  and  that  I  will 
at  all  times,  by  every  honorable  means  in  my  power,  procure  employment  for 
members  of  our  .union  in  preference  to  all  others.    So  help  me  God." 


58 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

must  be  under  one  master  to  protect  the  trade  against 
"runaways."  The  vote  on  his  expulsion  being  a  tie,  he 
was  saved  only  by  the  casting  vote  of  the  president.  The 
constitution  of  1 8 1 8  provided  for  certificates  of  member- 
ship, especially  traveling  certificates,  and  remitted  the 
dues  of  members  while  traveling  outside  the  District  of 
Columbia,  provided  they  joined  any  other  society  while 
so  traveling  and  brought  back  with  them  a  clear  record 
from  the  society  so  joined.  February  16,  1819,  the  so- 
ciety ordered  250  certificates  of  membership  and  made 
it  obligatory  for  members  to  carry  them  when  at  work, 
whether  in  the  District  or  out.  The  constitution  was 
again  revised  in  1821,  when  the  faction  opposed  to  any 
trade  interference  had  again  secured  a  majority  in  the 
society.  This  revision  is  not  here  reproduced,  as  there 
are  no  important  changes,  except  that  four  years'  ap- 
prenticeship is  made  an  "indispensable  qualification  for 
all  persons  hereafter  admitted."  All  reference  to  other 
societies  was  stricken  out,  and  a  member  absent  from  the 
District  was  compelled  to  pay  dues  upon  his  return  pre- 
cisely as  though  he  had  not  been  absent. 

The  first  clause  of  article  17,  section  1,  states  that  "a 
majority  of  the  society  shall  determine  on  all  charges  al- 
leged against  any  member,  whether  they  are  of  a  nature 
cognizable  by  the  rules  of  the  society."  As  the  event 
proved,  it  was  under  this  provision  that  all  interference 
in  trade  matters  was  to  be  ruled  out  of  order  by  the  "ali- 
moners,"  who,  at  that  moment,  held  a  majority  against 
the  "industrialists."  The  society  was  not  read)-,  how- 
ever, to  take  a  step  which  might  compel  the  surrender 
"t  its  right  to  interfile  in  wage  matters.  At  a  meeting 
held  December  I,  1821,  a  resolution  was  introduced 
looking  to  the  incorporation  of  the  society  by  Congress. 
The  trade-regulating  element  among  numbers  feared 
that  this  would  result,  as  it  had  in   New  York  city,  in 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

taking  away  all  power  to  interfere  in  prices  of  labor.  It 
being  pretty  generally  conceded  that  this  might  result, 
the  debate  was  along  that  line.  The  vote  was  a  tie,  the 
president  casting  his  vote  against  the  project  of  incor- 
poration. It  was  not  until  October  4,  1823,  that  a  trade 
question  was  forced  before  the  society,  at  which  time  the 
question  whether  or  not  setting  minion  for  30  cents  per 
1,000  ems  on  a  newspaper  was  a  violation  of  the  price 
list  was  decided  in  the  negative.  April  3,  1824,  charges 
were  lodged  against  three  men — one  a  foreman,  one  a 
proprietor  for  whom  the  others  worked,  and  the  third 
a  journeyman — all  members  of  the  society,  charging  the 
two  former  with  paying  the  latter  less  than  the  scale, 
and  the  latter  with  working  under  the  scale.  The  con- 
tention was  that  it  was  none  of  the  society's  business,  if 
all  parties  to  the  arrangement  agreed  to  it  willingly 
as  individuals. 

The  test  of  strength  between  the  two  factions  came 
on  the  question  as  to  whether  this  was  a  charge  "of  a 
nature  cognizable  by  the  rules  of  the  society,"  under 
article  17  of  the  constitution,  as  quoted  above,  and  a  ma- 
jority voted  that  it  was.  The  membership  of  the  society 
had  been  waning  for  some  time — but  six  new  members 
joined  in  1821,  five  in  1822.  Some  improvement  began 
to  be  noted,  however,  and  in  1824,  for  the  first  time,  the 
society  joined  in  a  civic  parade  on  the  Fourth  of  July 
as  a  society,  wearing  silver  "printers'  rules"  as  badges. 
From  the  minutes  it  appears  the  society  was  out  in  full- 
force,  forming  "in  front  of  the  president's  house."  In 
the  parade  they  had  a  press  on  a  wagon  "printing  and 
distributing  from  it  copies  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence." 

At  the  June  meeting  in  1827  the  spirit  of  the  progres- 
sive element  began  to  stir  anew,  and  a  communication 
was  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the  New  York  city  and  Phila- 

60 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

delphia  societies.  For  ten  years  there  had  been  no  cor- 
respondence between  these  organizations.  The  letter  of 
the  Washington  society8  brought  replies  from  both  the 
societies  addressed.  They  were  faint-hearted  letters, 
however,  indicating  that  those  societies,  as  such,  were  not 
more  progressive  than  this  one  at  that  time.  The  letters 
are  not  of  sufficient  historical  interest  to  reproduce  them 
here.  Of  considerable  more  importance  is  a  resolution 
introduced  by  W.  H.  Blaney,  January  5,  1828.  Mr. 
Blaney  was  a  member  of  both  the  Philadelphia  and 
Washington  societies.  During  1827  he  had  been  visiting 
in  New  York  city  and  Philadelphia.  His  acquaint- 
ance with  the  views  of  the  printers  of  these  cities  was 
wide,  and  the  plan  he  proposed  was  without  reasonable 
doubt  approved  by  a  strong  minority  in  all  three  of  the 

•  Copy  of  a  communication  to  the  presidents  of  the  New  York  and  Phila- 
delphia typographical  societies: 

Washington  Citv,  July  9,  1837. 

President  of  the  New  York  Typographical  Society. 

Sir:  At  a  stated  meeting  of  the  Columbia  Typographical  Society  of  WaJi- 
ington,  held  on  the  7th  instant,  the  president  was  "requested  to  forward  a  copy 
of  our  constitution  and  by-laws  to  the  society  over  which  you  preside,  and  la 
request  a  reciprocation  of  favors  on  the  part  of  your  society." 

In  compliance  with  this  request,  I  take  pleasure  in  forwarding  our  consti- 
tution and  requesting  that  you  will  forward  us  a  copy  of  yours  in  return.  The 
object  of  transmitting  this  instrument  is,  to  open  a  correspondence  with  our 
brethren  of  New  York,  in  the  hope  that,  if  kept  up  between  the  societies,  it 
may  be  of  mutual  benefit.  Any  facts  or  information  that  may  have  that  tend- 
ency will  be  thankfully  received  on  our  part,  and  we  shall  not  fail  to  notify  you 
of  all  matters  which  may  be  of  moment,  or  likely  t"  prove  interesting  to  you. 

Within  the  covers  of  the  constitution  you  will  find  our  lint  of  prices,  anil 
the  names  of  all  the  members  of  our  society,  up  to  the  time  it  was  prime. I. 
This  latter  information  will  prove  interesting  to  some  of  our  brethren  of  your 
city,  if  there  shall  be  found  among  these  signers  of  our  constitution  the  names 
of  any  of  thrir  Mad*  It  naturally  gives  us  pleasure  to  procure  inform, 
of  the  companions  of  our  earlier  years,  and  to  learn,  after  a  long  separation, 
whether  they  are  yet  alive  or  whether  they  have  passed  that  bourn  from  which 
no  traveler  returns. 

This  communication,  and  the  constitution,  will  I*  handed  you  by  our  secre- 
tary, FraiK  vh"  i«  on  a  visit  N)  MOM  of  the  principal  Atlantic  cities, 
and  tO  l>ii  fritndl  nt  the  eastward.  Ilr  i.  recommended  to  your  favorable  re- 
gard, and  will  be  the  bearer  of  any  favor  you  may  wish  to  .m.l  aj  in  return. 

Very   rcupectfully.  sir.   I   have  llit    honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant. 

Win  101   Km.    is  . 
President  Co/nmom  ryfogrefAK-a/  StafagJ 

6l 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

societies,  though  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  New 
York  city  society  was  prevented  by  its  legislative  char- 
ter of  1818  from  embarking  in  such  a  project,  nor  is  it 
entirely  certain  that  the  Philadelphia  society  had  not,  as 
a  society,  lost  its  control  over  price  regulation.  Mr. 
Blaney's  plan  was  embodied  in  the  following: 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  from  this  society 
to  devise  means  to  form  a  connection  with  the  Philadelphia  and 
New  York  typographical  societies  for  the  support  of  prices  in 
each  city,  and  report  the  same  at  the  next  stated  meeting. 

The  resolution  was  tabled,  as  the  time  was  not  yet 
come  for  this.  Here  we  have  the  first  hint  (unless  it  be 
true  that  the  New  York  society  did  make  the  same  propo- 
sition to  Boston  in  1816)  of  a  grouping  of  printers'  organ- 
izations, such  as  was  accomplished  in  1836. 

From  1828  on,  the  scrutiny  of  applicants  for  member- 
ship, on  the  point  of  their  having  served  a  full  term  of 
apprenticeship,  became  more  searching  and  jealous. 

The  trouble  with  the  printer  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  Gen.  Duff  Green,  which  cemented  the  scattered 
societies  and  made  new  ones,  and  of  which  much  will  be 
said  later,  began  early  in  1829.  At  a  meeting  held  July 
4,  1829,  the  president  of  the  society  reported  that  he  had 
held  several  fruitless  conferences  with  and  had  six  let- 
ters from  "Mr.  Duff  Green  on  the  subject  of  a  reduction 
of  the  established  prices." 

At  the  meeting  of  February  7,  1829,  a  resolution  to 
have  the  society  incorporated  by  Congress  was  voted 
down  by  a  decisive  majority.  This  idea  of  incorporation 
was  always  associated  more  or  less  with  that  of  surren- 
dering control  over  wages,  and  the  time  for  that  had 
passed.  A  new  impetus  was  coming  to  organization — 
new  plans  forming,  a  new  opponent  arising,  who  in 
an  attempt  to  crush  was  destined  to  solidify  the  trade 
organizations. 

62     • 


The  Period   from   1830   to   1850 

The  fatal  mistake  of  the  early  societies  was  the  "free 
membership"  section  in  their  constitutions.  A  member 
who  paid  his  dues  for  a  certain  period — ten  years  in 
Washington,  ten  years  in  Baltimore,  and  twenty  in  Phil- 
adelphia, or  who  paid  a  lump  sum  equivalent  to  the  ac- 
cumulated dues  of  such  periods — became  a  free  member, 
entitled  to  all  the  benefits  of  the  societies  without  further 
payment.  When  this  maturing  period  arrived  the  society 
found  itself  with  a  list  of  non-paying  members  which 
acted  as  a  discouragement  to  new  members,  because  on 
the  latter  must  fall  the  entire  expense  of  the  organization 
while  the  "free  members"  got  most  of  the  benefits. 

The  societies  generally  ceased  to  exist  about  the  time 
the  first  list  of  free  members  appears.  Baltimore,  or- 
ganized in  1814  or  1815,  ceased  to  exist  in  1825  or  1826; 
Philadelphia,  organized  in  1802  (with  a  twenty-year 
paying  period  adopted  in  18 10),  disbanded  to  reorgan- 
ize on  another  basis  in  1831,  and  so  on.  The  reason  the 
Washington  society  did  not  go  down  under  the  baneful 
influence  of  this  provision  was  that  the  printing  business 
in  Washington  was  so  Unevenly  distributed.  When  Con- 
gress was  in  session  the  city  was  filled  with  itinerant 
printers  who  paid  their  dues  while  they  stayed,  but  few 
of  them  settled  down  so  as  to  ever  become  "free  mem- 
bers." This  influx  and  exodus  of  printers,  resulting  from 
sessional  work,  made  possible  the  preservation  of  the 
Columbia  Typographical  Society,  notwithstanding  this 
defect  in  its  early  constitution;  and  this  society,  by  the 
ation  of  its  minutes,  has  made  possible  a  fairly 
comprehensive  study  of  the  character  of  these  early  socie- 
ties, as  well  as  furnishing  a  fair  index,  through  its  corre- 
spondence, of  the  progress  <-f  organization  elsewhere. 

The   older    organizations,    almost    without    exception, 
called  themselves  societies.    The  new  organizations  were 

63 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

adopting  the  term  "association."  In  1830  the  New 
Orleans  Typographical  Association  was  organized,  as 
appears  from  a  notice  of  organization  sent  by  it  to  the 
Philadelphia  society.  In  1832  this  New  Orleans  asso- 
ciation issued  a  price  list  radically  increasing  the  scale 
of  wages ;  no  copy  of  this  list  has  been  found.  This 
organization  seems  to  have  collapsed  within  a  year  or 
two  and  was  reorganized,  or  another  of  the  same  name 
organized,  May  9,  1835. 

The  printers  of  New  York  city  were  becoming  dis- 
satisfied, and  a  strong  element  began  to  feel  that  the 
typographical  society,  hampered  as  it  was  with  legisla- 
tive restrictions,  was  not  sufficient  for  their  needs.  On 
November  19,  1830,  a  mass  meeting  of  printers  employed 
on  the  daily  papers  of  the  city  was  called,  and  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  passed : 

Resolved,  That  it  was  never  the  intention  of  the  printers  em- 
ployed on  the  morning  and  evening  papers  to  make  a  schism 
between  themselves  and  the  New  York  Typographical  Society 
(some  of  whom  are  members  of  that  society).  So  they  disclaim 
and  refute  the  many  insinuations  prepared  to  convey  that  idea. 

It  is  not  at  all  clear  that  the  old  society  attempted,  as 
an  organization,  to  check  the  move  to  organize  the  print- 
ers along  trade  lines;  and  it  is  certain  that  many  mem- 
bers of  the  old  society  became  members  of  the  new  when 
it  was  formed. 

The  formation  of  a  new  association  along  strictly  trade 
lines  occurred  June  17,  183 1.  A  price  list  was  issued,  for 
the  enforcement  of  which  the  association  seems  to  have 
become  immediately  involved  in  a  strike.  The  organiza- 
tion continued  in  existence  until  about  1 840.  It  should 
be  understood  that  its  organization  was  mainly  due  to 
the  compositors  on  daily  papers.  There  were  220  mem- 
bers in  1833. 

The  constitution   of    1833   was   prefaced   with   a  most 

64 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

remarkable  document,  called  "Introductory  Remarks." 
Probably  no  similar  statement  covering  the  period  will 
be  found  written  by  workmen  themselves.  They  give 
their  point  of  view  in  language  which,  to  put  it  mildly, 
must  be  considered  vigorous.  Some  of  the  conditions 
complained  of  were  local  to  New  York  city,  but  many  of 
their  grievances  were  general  in  the  trade,  and  especially 
that  of  what  would  now  be  called  child  labor,  out  of 
which  later  on  grew  the  apprenticeship  restrictions. 

Notwithstanding  its  length,  the  undoubted  historical 
value  of  this  document  warrants  its  complete  transcrip- 
tion here.  It  should  be  explained,  perhaps,  that  in  this, 
as  in  all  the  early  documents,  the  term  "printer"  is  often, 
though  not  exclusively,  used  to  denote?  the  employer,  or 
proprietor,  of  the  printing  establishment,  instead  of  the 
journeyman  or  compositor. 

INTRODUCTORY     REMARKS 

The  Typographical  Association  of  New  York  was  instituted 
on  the  17th  day  of  June,  1831.  It  may  not  be  deemed  improper 
to  state  some  of  the  causes  which  led  to  its  formation ;  and,  in 
doing  this,  it  will  be  necessary  to  revert  to  the  condition  of  the 
printing  business  for  some  years  past. 

In  the  year  1809  the  New  York  Typographical  Society  was 
formed,  for  the  purpose  of  sustaining  a  uniform  scale  of  prices, 
and  of  affording  pecuniary  relief  to  the  sick  and  distressed  of 
its  own  members,  their  widows  and  orphans.  This  institution 
has  continued  to  the  present  time;  but  the  principal  object  of 
its  first  formation  has  long  since  ceased  to  claim  any  part  of 
attention.  In  1 81 2,  war  occurring  between  this  country  and 
<  rreal  l'.ritain,  the  business  suffered  extremely,  and  continued  in 
a  depressed  state  until  181 5  or  1816,  when  it  was  found  neces- 
sary to  call  a  general  meeting  of  the  journeymen  in  the  *"ity,  to 
lake  into  consideration  t hi-  propriety  Of  revising  the  scale  of 
prices;  and  after  considerable  debate  U'twcen  employers  and 
employes,  a  scale  was  Agreed  Upon,  which  was  adopted  by  the 
New  York  Typographical  Society.  The  demands  of  the  work- 
men were  very  generally  acceded  to,  and  for  some  three  or  four 
wars  business  was  verv  brisk. 

65 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

In  the  year  1818  the  society  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of 
the  legislature,  and,  being  prohibited  by  the  terms  of  its  charter 
from  interfering  with  the  scale  of  prices,  it  became  merely  a 
mutual  benefit  institution. 

In  the  meantime,  the  seeds  of  declension  in  the  trade  were 
gradually  sown,  and  the  fruit  began  to  appear  in  various  ways. 
Some  printers  from  a  distance,  having  heard  that  business  was 
good,  and,  being  determined  to  obtain  it  at  all  hazards,  located 
'  themselves  among  us ;  and  to  secure  a  sufficient  quantity  of  work 
commenced  operations  on  terms  that  could  not  be  afforded,  if 
they  wished  to  obtain  a  fair  remuneration  for  their  labor,  or  act 
honestly  by  the  workman.  The  consequence  was,  that  while  a 
few  grew  rich  at  the  expense  of  the  journeymen,  old-established 
1  printers,  who  had  before  paid  honorable  prices,  were  obliged  to 

reduce  their  charges  for  work,  or  lose  much  of  their  business; 
and  as  their  receipts  were  diminished,  the  wages  of  the  journey- 
men were  by  degrees  reduced,  until,  instead  of  a  uniform  scale 
of  prices,  every  man  was  compelled  to  work  for  what  he  could 
obtain. 

Another  cause  of  depression  was  the  practice,  which  then 
prevailed,  and  has  continued  more  or  less  to  the  present  time, 
of  employing  runaway  or  dismissed  apprentices  for  a  small 
compensation.  These  were  called  two-thirds  men,  and  have 
always  proved  a  great  pest  to  the  profession.  Added  to  this, 
roller  boys,  having  gained  admission  to  the  interior  of  a  printing 
office,  have  in  a  short  time  found  their  way  from  the  rear  to 
the  front  of  the  press,  to  the  discharge  of  the  regular  pressman. 

The  trade,  also,  as  far  as  pressmen  are  concerned,  had  suf- 
fered extremely  by  the  applications  of  machinery  to  that  branch 
of  the  business ;  and  while  a  few  individuals  were  growing  rich, 
as  they  asserted,  for  the  benefit  of  the  public  at  large,  many 
who  had  spent  from  five  to  seven  years  of  the  flower  of  their 
lives  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  their  profession,  were  left 
without  employment,  or  were  obliged  to  resort  to  some  business 
with  which  they  were  unacquainted,  and  thus  constrained  to 
serve  a  sort  of  second  apprenticeship. 

Matters  continued  in  this  condition  for  a  number  of  years. 
Meantime  the  business  of  stereotyping  had  increased  to  a  great 
extent ;  and  the  numerous  improvements  in  the  art,  or  rather  the 
motto  of  multum  in  parvo  literally  reduced  to  practice,  ren- 

66 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

dered  it  every  year  more  and  more  difficult  for  compositors 
to  support  themselves  and  their  families.  To  the  disgrace  of 
some  employers,  every  advantage  was  taken  of  the  necessities 
of  the  workmen,  and  impositions  were  continually  practiced 
upon  them. 

Men,  however,  when  borne  down  by  oppression,  rise  in  their 
strength,  and  assert  their  rights.  The  journeymen  printers  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  from  a  sense  of  justice  to  themselves,  and 
those  employers  who  had  uniformly  paid  honorable  prices,  re- 
solved to  unite  as  an  association  for  the  purpose  of  elevating  the 
business  to  a  proper  level.  Numbers  of  them  were  engaged  on 
the  several  daily  newspapers  of  this  city  at  prices  deemed  suffi- 
cient when  there  was  little  labor  and  scarcely  any  competition, 
but  which  were  found  totally  inadequate  when  all  vied  with 
each  other  to  present  the  latest  news  to  their  readers.  To  ac- 
complish this,  the  workmen  were  almost  entirely  deprived  of 
their  rest  for  nights  together. 

Scarcely  any  employment  can  be  more  laborious  than  that  of 
publishing  a  daily  morning  newspaper.  Many  of  the  offices  are 
in  the  most  crowded  parts  of  the  city;  and,  not  having  been 
built  for  the  purpose,  are  illy  calculated  to  afford  a  good  circu- 
lation of  air,  or  what  is  next  in  importance,  good  light.  To  the 
injurious  effects  of  these  and  similar  causes,  many  of  the  most 
worthy  of  the  profession  have  fallen  victims ;  and  others,  after 
a  short  endurance,  have  found  their  faculties  so  impaired,  and 
their  constitutions  so  debilitated,  as  to  be  rendered  incapable  of 
undertaking  any  other  permanent  employment  for  their  future 
support.  It  requires  the  united  exercise  of  the  mental  and  bod- 
ily labor  of  the  persons  employed,  for  nearly  the  whole  night, 
and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  day ;  being  seldom  able  to 
allot  more  than  seven  hours  to  rest  and  refreshment.  To  be 
thus  confined  fur  such  a  length  of  time,  inhaling  the  stagnant 
air  of  a  printing  office,  is  sufficient  to  enervate  a  man  of  the 
most  vigorous  constitution. 

I'ihIit  .ill  these  circumstances,  a  general  meeting  of  the 
trade  was  called  about  the  ist  of  June,  1 83 1 ,  at  which  a  coin 
mittee  was  appointed  to  draw  up  a  just  and  equitable  scale  of 
prices.  The  committee  made  their  report  to  an  adjourned 
m. cting,  which  adopted  it  ;  and  on  the  17th  day  of  the 
same  month  the  Typographical  Association  of  New  York  was 

67 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

established,  and  a  constitution  and  by-laws  framed  for 
its  government. 

A  circular  to  the  employing  printers  was  forthwith  issued, 
covering  the  new  scale  of  prices,  and  respectfully  asking  them 
to  accede  to  it.  Most  of  them,  to  their  honor,  saw  the  justice 
of  the  demand,  and  promptly  awarded  the  wages  asked  for. 
There  were  some,  however,  both  among  the  book  offices  and 
daily  newspapers,  who  altogether  refused,  and  have  managed, 
from  that  time  to  the  present,  by  a  constant  change  of  work- 
men (for  no  honorable  journeyman,  after  a  knowledge  of  the 
facts,  would  remain  a  moment  in  such  degraded  employment), 
to  evade  the  demands  for  a  fair  compensation.  It  is  a  source 
of  consolation,  after  all,  that  the  expenses  of  those  establish- 
ments where  the  prices  are  not  paid  are  greater  than  those 
where  they  are,  owing  to  the  incompetency  and  dishonesty  of 
those  employed. 

Among  the  means  made  use  of  to  depress  the  business  by 
those  who  withhold  from  the  workmen  their  just  demands,  has 
been  advertising  in  several  of  the  newspapers  in  Scotland,  and 
elsewhere  in  Great  Britain,  that  a  great  opening  for  printers 
existed  in  New  York,  thereby  inducing  many  to  leave  the  com- 
forts of  home  in  the  old  country,  to  seek  for  a  precarious  sub- 
sistence on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Many,  to  their  regret,  can 
testify  of  the  truth  of  this  assertion;  and  the  feelings  of  the 
man,  by  whose  unprincipled  conduct  this  breaking  up  of  kin- 
dred and  subsequent  disappointment  in  obtaining  the  means  of 
support  have  happened,  are  not  to  be  envied.  Perhaps  the  day 
may  come  when  remorse,  like  a  subtle  poison,  may  lurk  about 
his  heart,  and  cause  him  to  do  an  act  of  justice  to  those  who 
have  been  swindled  by  his  deception. 

When  the  association  was  informed  of  the  means  taken  by 
unprincipled  men  to  injure  the  business,  a  circular  was  immedi- 
ately addressed  to  the  printers  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  and  dispatched  by  one  of  its  members. 
The  association  has  since  learned,  by  letters  from  Europe,  that 
the  appeal  has  had  an  extensive  circulation,  and  has  tended  in 
a  great  measure  to  counteract  the  evil  contemplated  by  the 
original  advertisements. 

Since  its  formation,  the  association  has  steadily  advanced 
in  strength  and  respectability,  and  has  repeatedly  been  called 
upon  to  settle  disputes  arising  between  employers  and  journey- 

68 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

men ;  and  it  is  gratifying,  that,  in  all  instances  where  it  has 
been  appealed  to,  its  decision  has  been  respected  and  acted  on 
by  the  parties  concerned. 

These  repeated  appeals,  in  cases  of  difficulty,  have  induced  it 
again  carefully  to  revise  the  scale  of  prices,  explaining  those 
points  which  were  before  involved  in  doubt,  and  amplifying 
othess,  so  that  no  other  construction  can  be  given  to  them  than 
the  true  one.  As  the  trade  has  for  a  long  time,  and  particularly 
since  the  introduction  of  stereotyping,  been  burdened  with  nu- 
merous grievances  and  vexations,  which  while  they  employed 
much  of  the  journeyman's  time,  were  never  paid  for,  these 
things  have  in  the  revised  scale  been  taken  into  consideration, 
and  a  proper  compensation  awarded.  In  doing  this,  however, 
proper  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  interest  of  the  employer ; 
for  if  any  of  the  vexations  spoken  of  arise  from  either  careless- 
ness or  the  want  of  skill  of  the  workmen,  it  shall  be  at  his  ex- 
pense. It  is  intended  that  the  revised  scale  of  prices  shall  be 
for  the  benefit  of  both  honorable  employers  and  journeymen 
who  know  their  business ;  but  shall  be  of  no  service  to'  those 
unfledged  apologies  for  humanity  who  obtrude  themselves  on  a 
profession  of  which  they  know  nothing,  and  to  which  they  can 
be  little  else  than  a  burden  and  a  disgrace. 

Many  of  the  latter  class  of  individuals  have  made  their  ap- 
pearance in  this  city,  in  consequence  of  advertisements  inserted 
in  papers  whose  proprietors  do  not  pay  the  prices ;  but  they  are 
found,  on  trial,  to  be  too  bad  even  for  such  infamous  uses. 
Some  of  them  are  runaway  apprentices ;  others  are  destitute 
not  only  of  honorable  feeling  but  of  all  knowledge  of  their 
business,  and  generally  trace  their  defects  to  tlie  want  of  proper 
instruction  from  their  matters.  The  consequence  of  the  good 
workman  is.  that  he  is  frequently  made  to  suffer  from  errors 
committed  by  these  pretender-. 

As  all  institutions,  in  their  Infancy,  are  liable  to  imperfec- 
tion, the  Typographical  Association  COnld  not  expect  to  be  ex- 
empt from  the  common  lot.  It  was  found  that  tin-  constitution 
under  which  it  has  hitherto  acted,  was  in  many  things  del 
ivc ;  and  it  was  deemed  proper  to  appoint  a  committee  to  re 
that  instrument.  TMl  has  been  done,  and  the  association,  after 
i  long  .ind  arduous  discussion,  adopted  the  constitution,  by  law- 
and  rules  of  order  published  in  the  following  pages. 

It   now  only   remains   for   the  member-  to  be    just   to  them- 

69 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

selves  and  the  printing  business  will  take  its  proper  stand  in  the 
community.  To  do  this  it  is  necessary  that  all  journeymen 
coming  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  association  should  become 
members,  and  strictly  abide  by  the  principles  of  the  constitution. 

December  6,  1834,  the  Columbia  Society  at  Washing- 
ton received  a  letter  from  the  New  York  Typographical 
Association  containing  a  list  of  the  "rat  offices,"  and  an- 
other of  the  individual  "rats"  in  the  city.  The  strike 
had  not  been  entirely  successful,  but  the.  association  re- 
covered and  seems  to  have  been  strong  enough  in  1835 
to  prevent  the  employment  of  non-union  printers  in  New 
York.  The  evidence  of  this,  such  as  it  is,  is  to  be  found 
in  the  minutes  of  the  Washington  society,  which  show 
that  September  26,  1835,  a  former  member  of  the  society, 
expelled  for  his  connection  with  the  strike  of  March, 
1835  (the  Duff  Green  strike),  plaintively  asks  to  be  rein- 
stated, his  principal  reason  being  that  he  wants  to  go  to 
New  York. 

"I  have,"  he  says  in  his  application,  "for  a  long  time 
past  wished  to  go  to  New  York,  but  I  can  not  procure 
employment  there  without  I  take  with  me  a  certificate 
from  this  society,  which,  of  course,  I  can  not  procure 
unless  the  society  will  reinstate  me  in  my  membership, 
which  I  now  most  respectfully  and  earnestly  request 
them  to  do." 

Some  doubt  about  the  association's  power  to  prevent 
employment  of  non-union  men  in  the  city  at  least  two 
years  later  is,  however,  suggested  by  the  impassioned 
address  of  June  29,  1837,  which  it  issued: 

To  the  Journeymen  Printers  of  New  York  City  and  Vicinity. 

Fellow  Craftsmen:  At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the 
Typographical  Association  of  New  York  city,  held  at  the  asso- 
ciation rooms  on  Saturday  evening,  June  24,  1 837,  informa- 
tion having  been  given  of  a  regularly  organized  "combination" 
on  the  part  of  certain  of  our  employers  to  take  advantage  of  the 

70 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

present  depressed  state  of  our  trade,  and  business  in  general,  in 
order  to  reduce  our  present  prices,  and  to  render  us,  if  possible, 
obedient  vassals  to  the  nod  of  the  oppressor,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  address  you  in  this  particular,  and  urge  you  to  a 
prompt  and  resolute  resistance. 

That  committee  is  of  opinion  that  the  time  has  now  arrived 
when  you  are  to  prove  to  the  world  one  of  two  things — either 
that  you  are  freemen  and  capable  of  understanding  and  main- 
taining your  rights ;  or  that  you  are  base  and  servile  sycophants, 
ready  and  willing  to  receive  whatever  compensation  and  terms 
your  employers  may  choose  to  allow. 

You  are  now  to  show  whether,  in  your  judgment,  your  em- 
ployers or  yourselves  possess  the  right  of  fixing  a  value  on  your 
labor.  If  there  yet  remains  one  spark  of  the  courage,  manhood 
and  determination  which  sustained  you  when  forming  the  pres- 
ent scale  of  prices,  let  the  employing  printers  of  New  York  and 
the  United  States,  see  that  it  still  exists,  and  can  be  easily 
fanned  to  a  flame;  let  them  see  that  the  insignificant  and  pal- 
try pittance  which  you  now  obtain  for  your  support  shall  not  be 
reduced  at  their  pleasure — that  for  them  to  grow  richer  you 
will  not  consent  to  become  poorer. 

That  a  pressure  exists,  and  that  it  is  more  difficult  for  all 
employers  to  procure  money  with  which  to  meet  expenses,  we 
are  all  aware,  but  why  should  your  wages  be  reduced  on  that 
account  ? 

The  prices  for  printing  advertisements  and  for  newspapers 
have  not  been  reduced. 

The  prices  that  are  now  paid  to  printers  are  no  more  than 
will  barely  support  them,  and  the  common  necessaries  of  life 
are  even  higher  than  when  your  present  scale  was  formed.  Then 
why  should  you  submit  to  a  reduction?  Why  be  the  passive 
minion  of  the  will  of  tyrants? 

The  committee  can  discover  no  reason  why  you  should,  and 
it  is  their  opinion  that  if  true  to  yourselves  you  will  not  be. 

Depend  upon  it,  that  if,  in  obedience  to  the  mandate  of 
grasping  avarice — if  because  your  employers  say  you  must,  you 
determine  to  yield,  and  go  to  work  for  less  than  the  scale  de- 
mands,  y«>u  will  not  only  over  yourselves  with  the  eonse.|uent 
odium,  but  you  will  necessarily  involve  yourselves  in  debt  from 
week  to  week  ;  fur  it  is  folly  to  suppose  that  if  your  wages  are 
once  reduced  your  employers  will  of  their  own  accord 

7' 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

them  again,  even  though  business  should  resume  its  accustomed 
course.  No,  having  accomplished  their  purposes,  and  brought 
you  in  submission  to  their  feet,  they  will  keep  you  there,  and  the 
iron  hand  of  oppression  will  be  laid  more  heavily  than  ever. 

Your  employer  knows  well,  that  without  constant  employ- 
ment, your  wages  are  not  sufficient  for  your  support,  and  those 
of  the  unholy  alliance  which  is  now  raising  its  hydra  head 
against  you,  are  no  doubt  impressed  with  the  belief,  that  by 
seizing  upon  the  present  period  of  depression  in  the  trade,  they 
may  compel  you  to  work  for  whatever  they  may  please  to  pay. 

The  committee  would  not  be  understood  to  include  all  em- 
ployers as  coming  under  their  just  reprehensions.  No,  thank 
Heavens,  there  are  honorable  exceptions,  there  are  employers 
who  have  an  eye  to  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  their  employes, 
their  reward  no  man  can  take  away,  for  it  consists  in  the  pleas- 
ing consciousness  of  an  exercise  of  a  measure  of  justice  and  the 
performance  of  noble  action. 

Our  criticism  applies  to  but  a  dishonorably  combined  few, 
whose  object  seems  to  be  to  shift  the  severity  of  the  times  from 
their  own  shoulders  to  the  shoulders  of  their  journeymen,  car- 
ing little  for  their  sufferings  so  that  they  escape — fattening  on 
the  profits  of  your  labor,  while  your  wives  and  children  are  de- 
nied many  of  the  common  necessaries  of  life. 

The  truth  is  your  employers  are  much  more  able  to  pay  the 
existing  prices  than  you  are  to  have  your  wages  reduced,  the 
pressure  operates  in  a  much  greater  degree  to  your  disadvantage 
than  to  theirs,  the  depreciated  "shinplasters"  of  the  banks, 
which  are  bought  up,  no  doubt,  with  considerable  profit  to  the 
purchasers,  are  palmed  off  upon  you  in  requital  for  your  toil,  as 
though  each  rag  was  worth  its  face  in  gold,  these  rags  you  must 
take,  though  on  every  dollar  you  get  for  your  labor  you  suffer 
a  heavy  loss.  Patiently  you  have  borne  all  this,  and  would  con- 
tinue still  to  bear  it ;  but  in  the  name  of  even-handed  justice, 
and  for  the  sake  of  Heaven,  your  wives  and  your  children,  let 
the  line  of  demarcation  be  here  drawn — say  to  the  overreaching 
oppressor,  Thus  far  shalt  thou  come,  but  no  farther. 

The  committee  are  well  convinced  that  the  chief  reason  the 
unprincipled  combination  of  your  employers  have  thus  dared  to 
invade  your  rights,  and  attempt  the  reduction  of  your  wages,  is 
because  of  a  rumored  want  of  the  union  spirit  among  your- 
selves.   Without  union  nothing  can  be  effected — with  it,  every- 

72 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

thing.  Come  forward,  then,  you  who  are  not  members  of  the 
association ;  and  join  in  putting  a  shoulder  to  the  wheel.  Sup- 
port the  association,  and  the  association  will  support  you. 
There  are  some  of  you  now  in  the  city  who  are  not  members, 
why  is  this?  You  all  receive  the  benefits  which  result  from  it. 
Why,  then,  do  you  not  join  it,  and  thereby  extend  its  benefits? 

The  committee  would  also  respectfully  impress  on  the  minds 
of  the  members  the  necessity  of  a  strict  attention  at  all  meetings 
of  the  association  and  a  firm  support  of  its  principles.  Let 
each  and  all  of  us  determine  upon  union,  strong  and  effectual 
union,  and  let  the  watchword  be,  The  prices  of  the  association 
must  and  shall  be  sustained.  Chas   a   Adams> 

H.  D.  Bristol, 
W.  H.  McCartenav, 
Geo.  Hatten, 
W.  N.  Rose, 

Committee. 

June  6,  1840,  it  sent  out  another  "rat  list,"  which  seems 
to  indicate  that  it  went  down  in  another  strike  during 
that  year,  and  was  followed  by  the  Franklin  Typograph- 
ical Association  of  1844,  which  will  be  referred  to  fur- 
ther on. 

The  Baltimore  Typographical  Society,  being  the  sec- 
ond of  the  name,  began  its  existence  November  26,  1831, 
with  25  original  members,  adding  24  more  names  to  its 
roll  within  a  month.  This  seems  to  have  been  about  all 
the  journeymen  printers  in  Baltimore,  as  during  the  next 
six  months,  or  up  to  June  30,  1832,  it  had  added  but 
5  members.  At  that  date  it  had  expelled  1,  and  5  had 
forfeited  membership.  The  constitution  and  scale  of 
prices  were  not  adopted  until  June  2,  1832.  This  or- 
ganization still  exlftl  as  Typographical  Union  No.  12 
and,  in  \t  t<>  tin-  Washington  Union,  is  tin-  oldest  existing 
trad.-  organization  among  tin-  printrrs,  it  being,  of  course, 

understood  that  while  the  Philadelphia  organization  ol 
1802.  and  that  of  N.«  York  of  1 8o<)  still  exist,  they  have 
long  since  ceased  to  be  labor  organizations. 

73 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

In  the  minutes  of  Columbia  Typographical  Society, 
under  date  of  February  3,  1832,  is  mentioned  a  communi- 
cation from  the  Typographical  Society  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  asking  for  the  Washington  list  of  prices,  and  an- 
nouncing the  organization  of  the  printers  in  Cincinnati. 

In  November,  1833,  the  Philadelphia  Typographical 
Association  was  formed,  the  society  of  1802  having  be- 
come a  purely  benevolent  institution  in  1831.  This  or- 
ganization immediately  opened  a  correspondence  with  all 
other  known  societies,  as  was  beginning  now  to  be  the 
custom,9  and  at  its  meeting  held  June  27,  1835,  passed 
the  following: 

Resolved,  That  an  advance  of  2.y2  cents  per  1,000  ems  be 
demanded  in  addition  to  our  present  scale  of  prices. 

Resolved,  That  work  by  the  week  in  book  and  job  offices  and 
on  afternoon  papers  be  $9  per  week  (10  hours  to  constitute  a 
day's  work)  and  20  cents  an  hour  for  overwork — morning  pa- 
pers to  be  charged  $10  per  week  where  they  work  by  the  week. 

•As  the  letter  from  the  new  Philadelphia  organization  to  the  older  one  in 
Washington  is  of  something  more  than  local  interest,  it  is  given  here. 

Philadelphia,  March  9,   1834. 

Sir:  I  am  induced  to  attempt  this  intrusion  on  your  attention  in  conse- 
quence of  a  resolution  of  the  Philadelphia  Typographical  Association,  authoriz- 
ing a  correspondence  to  be  established  with  the  typographical  trade  societies 
throughout  the  Union.  The  ostensible  object  of  this  scheme  is  to  elicit  and 
impart  authentic  intelligence  connected  with  the  interests  of  the  members  of 
our  common  profession,  and  it  is  hoped  the  imperfect  manner  in  which  the 
project  may  be  commenced  will  not  be  suffered  to  occasion  the  end  proposed 
to  be  disregarded. 

The  society  in  whose  name  these  paragraphs  are  penned  was  organized 
about  five  months  since.  Its  primary  and  paramount  intention  is  the  determina- 
tion and  support  of  adequate  wages  for  journeymen  printers.  That  it  must 
acknowledge  so  late  an  origin  may  appear  singular;  but  as  the  exposition  due 
this  point  might  possibly  demand  a  larger  space  than  is  allowable  at  present, 
it  is  proposed  (with  your  permission)  to  recur  to  it  at  proper  length  in  a  future 
communication. 

The  outlines  of  a  constitution  have  been  agreed  upon,  but  the  details  are 
still  undetermined.  A  scale  of  prices  is  also  under  revision,  copies  of  both 
which  will  be  forwarded  when  sufficiently  complete.  The  principles  of  associa- 
tion are  literal  and  definite;  the  eligibility  of  candidates  consisting  in  their  be- 
ing practical  printers,  not  less  than  21  years  of  age,  and  in  actual  connection 
with  the  business. 

As  respects  numerical  strength,  the  institution  may  be  called  feeble;  but  its 
originators  were  fully  aware  that  the  mental  climate  of  our  city  might  be 
found  rather  uncongenial  to   the  rapid  growth   of  such   a   scion  of  the   liberty 

74 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

This  association  seems  to  have  gone  out  of  existence 
in  1839  or  1840. 

Early  in  1834  the  Benevolent  Typographical  Society 
of  Richmond,  Va.,  was  formed,  and  on  March  1  issued  a 
letter  to  all  societies.  This  letter  is  here  reproduced,  not 
alone  because  of  its  value  in  describing  labor  conditions  in 
the  trade,  but  as  further  evidence  that  "benevolence"  was 
not  the  most  serious  purpose  of  these  organizations  even 
when  they  put  it  first  in  their  name. 

In  reading  the  statement  that  no  "rat"  could  obtain 
work  in  Richmond,  it  must  be  remembered  that  at  that 
time  "rat"  meant  a  man  working  below  the  scale,  and  not 
necessarily  that  a  non-member  of  the  society  could  not 
secure  employment. 

Richmond,  Va.,  March  1,  1834. 

Dear  Sir  :  The  journeymen  printers  in  this  city  have  re- 
cently formed  a  society.     Previous  to  the  formation  of  this 

tree;  and  though  they  have  not  as  yet  decided  cause  to  exult  in  the  result, 
there  is  certainly  no  cause  for  regret. 

Since  the  formation  of  this  association,  a  trades  union  has  been  commenced, 
and  which  now  embraces  a  majority*  of  the  mechanics'  societies  in  the  city. 
Its  present  objects  appear  rational  and  useful,  and  its  progress  thus  far  is  re- 
ported as  satisfactory. 

Business  with  us  is,  of  course,  dull;  indeed,  there  is  scarcely  a  volume  in 
progress  in  Philadelphia.  But  the  spring  is  dawning  upon  us,  in  whose  very 
name  there  is  relief;  and  since  men's  perverseness  can  not  mar  the  seasons 
or  derange  the  sublime  machinery  of  the  planet  on  whose  surface  their  mad 
pranks  are  played,  we  think  ourselves  warranted  in  looking  forward  to  better 
things — .in  the  solemn  determination  (I  would  hope)  that  our  next  passover 
shall  not  find  us  unprepared. 

Having  thus  endeavored  to  fulfil  my  instructions  as  far  as  is  practicable 
at  this  time.  I  have  now  to  request  that  this  sheet,  or  the  substance  of  its  con- 
tents, may  be  laid  before  your  society  at  your  earliest  convenience;  and  we 
shall  await  advices  of  the  order  taken  thereupon,  and  also  of  the  general  state 
of  affairs  at  Washington  in  the  typographical  department  with  equal  respect 
and  interest.  Wishing  you  the  perfect  consummation  of  your  best  wishes  and 
endeavors,  I  remain,  with  much  respect, 

Your*'  B    C   Ou. 

P.  S.  As  our  association  commits  its  correspondence  to  the  care  of  the 
vice-president,  any  communication',  iiitrn.lr.l  (or  ilir  institution  may  be  ad- 
dressed to  myself,  at  No.  My  MMbtftf  ■irret.  or  at  the  oAcc  of  the  Daily 
Chronicle.  Philadelphia.  II   C  O. 

Tut  President  or  thi  Columbia  TvrooaAmiCAL  Society. 

75 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

society  we  had  no  regular  prices.  The  highest  price  given  was 
25  cents  for  both  MS.  and  printed  copy.  On  the  1st  of  Feb- 
ruary of  the  present  year,  we  adopted  a  constitution  (a  copy  of 
which  I  herewith  communicate)  ;  together  with  by-laws  for  our 
government,  and  likewise  a  scale  of  prices.  This  scale  of  prices, 
as  you  will  perceive,  fixes  the  price  for  the  composition  of  MS. 
at  30  cents — that  for  print  at  28  cents — 5  cents  for  MS.  and 
3  for  print  more  than  the  highest  price  previously  given. 
There  was  no  alteration  made  in  the  price  for  presswork,  the 
wages  previously  given  being  generally  considered  sufficiently 
high — the  demand  for  pressmen  having  always  been  so  great  as 
to  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  the  employers  to  make  deductions 
in  that  branch. 

The  scale  of  prices  was  adopted  on  the  1st  of  February.  A 
resolution  passed  requiring  them  to  go  into  operation  on  the 
10th  of  that  month.  The  employers  were  furnished  with  a 
copy  of  the  list  of  prices  on  the  3d — very  short  notice.  When 
the  ioth  arrived,  the  employers,  without  a  single  exception, 
gave  the  wages  asked  for. 

Things  go  on  as  smoothly  under  the  new  arrangement  as  be- 
fore. All  the  printers  here,  with  the  exception  of  four  or  five, 
have  joined  the  society.  These,  however,  receive  the  wages 
fixed  by  the  society.  So  far  we  have  no  rats.  Before  the  society 
was  formed  we  did  have  a  few  who  did  not  receive  the  highest 
prices  then  given.  All  of  these  have  joined  the  society  and 
promised  to  receive,  in  future,  for  their  labor  no  less  than  the 
wages  fixed  by  our  scale  of  prices. 

I  deem  it  unnecessary  to  say  more  at  present  than  to  desire 
you  to  send  us  a  copy  of  your  constitution,  etc.,  that  we  may  see 
how  our  brethren  in  your  city  are  driving  on.  I  likewise  desire 
that  you  will  write  me  a  few  lines,  giving  a  history  of  the  origin 
and  progress  of  the  society  of  which  you  are  a  member,  and  to 
lay  this  communication  before  your  society  at  its  next  meeting, 
that  they  may  know  we  have  formed  a  society  here,  and  so  on. 
Communicate,  likewise,  if  you  please,  the  fact  of  the  existence 
of  our  society  to  as  many  societies  of  this  kind  as  you  may  know 
to  have  been  formed.  I  desire  this,  not  to  put  you  to  trouble, 
but  to  be  sure  of  giving  the  information  desired.  It  is  my  in- 
tention to  write  to  as  many  as  I  have  yet  heard  of.  If  you  will 
be  so  kind  as  to  comply  with  my  request  in  this  particular,  be 
pleased  not  to  omit  to  state  that  it  is  impossible  to  obtain  work 

76, 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

at  our  business  in  Richmond  as  a  rat,  so  as  to  save  those  whose 
intentions  were  to  make  the  attempt  the  trouble  and  expense  of 
the  voyage.  Respectfully, 

R.  S.  Redford, 
Corresponding  Secretary  Benevolent  Typographical  Society 
of  Richmond. 
N.  B. — I  should  like  to  hear  from  you  previous  to  the  next 
meeting  of  our  society,  which  takes  place  on  the  1st  Saturday  in 
April.  R.  S.  R. 

The  Corresponding  Secretary  Typographical  Society 
at  Washington. 

It  will  be  necessary  to  relate  the  trouble  that  the  Co- 
lumbia Typographical  Society  at  Washington  had  in 
1834  with  one  of  the  local  newspaper  proprietors,  Gen. 
Duff  Green,  who  was  also  printer  to  the  United  States 
Senate.  This  difficulty  drew  the  typographical  organi- 
zations of  the  country  into  closer  touch  than  anything 
before  had  done,  and  led  directly  to  the  national  organi- 
zation of  1836. 

The  apprentice  question  had  been  a  source  of  infinite 
trouble  to  the  societies  from  the  very  first.  From  time 
to  time  the  term  of  apprenticeship  had  been  lengthened 
by  various  societies,  increasing  it  from  three  to  four,  then 
from  four  to  five  years,  in  the  vain  hope  of  reducing  the 
competition  from  this  source.  But  there  was  no  effective 
means  of  preventing  apprentices  from  running  away,  and 
the  longer  apprenticeship  only  increased  the  temptation 
to  do  so,  hence  made  matters  worse.  True,  the  master 
could  legally  compel  the  return  of  a  runaway,  if  he  could 
find  him,  but  the  supply  of  new  apprentices  and  of  other 
runaways  willing  to  work  for  one-half  or  two-thirds  the 
established  price  f<>r  journeymen  made  it  unprofitable  to 
search  for  escaped  apprentices.  The  fact  that  a  run- 
away apprentice  could,  and  would,  be  so  employed  at 
rates  higher,  to  say  the  least,  than  his  apprentice  rates, 
operated  also  to  put  a  premium  on  running  awuv.      Ml 

77 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  the  early  societies  had  had  more  serious  trouble  with 
this  than  had  that  of  Washington,  which  was  exception- 
ally fortunate  in  many  ways.  In  1833,  however,  General 
Green  began  employing  "two-thirders"  on  his  paper,  the 
United  States  Telegraph,  and  later  introduced  a  large 
number  of  boys  as  apprentices  in  doing  the  government 
printing.  He  now  proposed  (1834)  to  establish  what  he 
called  the  Washington  Institute,  but  which  was  termed 
by  the  printers  "a  manual-labor  school."  In  this  insti- 
tute he  proposed  to  take  200  boys  each  year  and  teach 
them  the  printing  trade,  allowing  them  $2  a  week  each 
for  their  work,  which  $2  was  not,  however,  to  be  paid 
to  them,  but  kept  as  a  trust  fund  and  invested  by  their 
employer  for  such  of  them  as  should  remain  with  him 
the  full  period. 

The  first  intimation  of  the  excitement  which  this  mat- 
ter finally  caused  is  found  in  the  special  meeting  of  Jan- 
uary 11,  1834.  At  this  meeting  its  president  stated  that 
its  object  was  to  take  into  consideration  the  subject  of 
Gen.  Duff  Green's  speech  at  the  late  celebration  of  the 
Columbia  Typographical  Society,  and  to  adopt  such 
measures  as  would  more  effectually  protect  the  society 
against  his  plans,  if  attempted  to  be  carried  into  execu- 
tion, and  concluded  by  offering  the  following  preamble 
and  resolutions : 

Whereas  at  a  late  meeting  of  the  Columbia  Typographical 
Society,  Duff  Green,  editor  of  the  United  States  Telegraph, 
did  declare  that  he  intended  to  monopolize  all  the  work  that  was 
possible,  and  that  he  intended  to  employ  a  large  number  of 
children  to  take  the  place  of  the  journeymen  now  employed  by 
him,  and  that  he  wished  to  raise  up  a  respectable  class  of  men 
to  take  our  places ;  and 

Whereas  the  patronage  of  the  press  of  this  city  is  almost 
wholly  derived  from  the  government,  and  that  we  have  a  right, 
as  men,  to  participate  in  its  profits,  which  his  views,  if  carried 
out,  would  engross  to  himself ;  be  it 

78 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

Resolved,  That  the  Columbia  Typographical  Society  are 
desirous  of  adopting  such  measures  as  shall  be  advantageous  to 
the  employing  printers  in  this  city,  insure  their  own  rights,  and 
preserve  the  respectability  of  the  profession. 

Resolved,  That  we  look  upon  the  proposed  measure  of  Duff 
Green,  editor  of  the  United  States  Telegraph,  as  visionary  in  its 
final  results,  subversive  of  our  rights,  as  journeymen  printers, 
and  destructive  of  the  profession  to  which  we  belong; 

Therefore,  resolved,  That  a  committee  of  be  ap- 
pointed to  take  the  subject  into  consideration,  and  prepare  a 
report  of  their  deliberations,  which  when  they  have  completed, 
they  shall  submit  to  a  general  meeting  of  the  printers  of  this 
district,  to  be  called  by  them,  at  such  time  and  place,  as  they 
shall  deem  fit  and  proper. 

After  considerable  discussion,  Mr.  Freeland  offered 
the  following  as  a  substitute : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  society  that  the 
practice  which  has  lately  come  into  vogue,  of  employing  an  un- 
due number  of  apprentices,  is  destructive  of  the  rights  and  in- 
terests of  journeymen,  and  detrimental  to  employing  printers; 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed,  whose 
business  it  shall  be,  whenever  they  shall  think  it  necessary  to  do 
so,  to  call  a  general  meeting  of  the  printers  of  this  city  to  take 
the  subject  into  consideration. 

The  committee  at  this  time  reported  against  taking 
any  action  until  something  more  definite  was  evolved. 
Up  to  this  time  no  organization  of  printers  had  attempted 
to  restrict  the  number  of  apprentices.  In  nearly  every 
city  except  Washington  the  custom  of  employing  a  few 
journeymen  to  direct  the  work  of  many  so-called  ap- 
prentices was  firmly  established.  In  a  letter  to  the  Co- 
lumbia Typographical  Society  March  31,  1834,  Gen. 
Duff  Green  takes  the  position  that  any  objection  to  his 
"school  for  printers"  by  the  society  must  be  based  upon 
an  assumption  of  the  right  of  the  society  to  "regulate  the 
number  of  apprentices  which  I  may  think  proper  to  cm- 
ploy,  and  to  otherwise  interfere  so  as  to  defeat  the  end 
I  have  in  view." 

79 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

In  reply  the  society  denied  that  it  "assumes  the  right 
to  regulate  the  number  of  your  apprentices  or  that  of 
any  gentleman."  In  a  letter  dated  April  7,  1834,  General 
Green  says  to  the  society's  committee: 

Your  society  can  have  no  right  to  inquire  into  the  age  of  the 
persons  whom  I  employ.  *  *  *  But  if,  instead  of  employ- 
ing 50  journeymen,  I  find  it  to  my  interest  to  employ  but  10, 
any  attempt  on  your  part  to  enter  into  a  combination  to  drive 
those  10  out  of  my  employment,  without  I  would  give  employ- 
ment to  the  other  40,  would  be  an  offense  against  my  rights,  for 
which  the  laws  have  made  ample  provision,  and  which  it  would 
become  my  duty  to  enforce. 

An  elaborate  "prospectus  of  the  Washington  Institute" 
was  carried  on  the  first  page  of  Mr.  Green's  paper,  the 
Telegraph,  for  some  time,  acting  practically  as  an  adver- 
tisement for  boys  to  fill  his  school.  The  society  appointed 
another  committee  to  report  on  the  matter.  This  com- 
mittee was  of  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Green  would  be  able 
to  fill  his  school  (this  being  the  point  upon  which  the 
former  committee  had  advised  non-action)  and  recom- 
mended that  a  protest  be  formulated  and  given  as  wide  a 
circulation  as  the  prospectus  had  enjoyed.10  This  pro- 
test was  accordingly  issued,  and  sent  not  only  to  every 
printers'  society,  but  to  the  unorganized  printers  em- 
ployed on  the  principal  papers  throughout  the  United 
States.  In  addition  to  this  protest,  which  was  issued  by 
the  society,  as  such,  a  pamphlet  was  published  containing 


10  One  paragraph  of  the  committee's  report  is  here  given  as  indicative  of 
the  social  conditions: 

The  committee  have  understood,  also,  that  it  is  the  intention  of  Mr.  Green, 
in  organizing  his  school,  to  draw  a  portion  of  his  scholars  from  the  houses  of 
refuge  in  the  northern  cites.  Now,  although  the  committee  object  not  to  the 
character  of  any  boy,  when  it  is  affected  only  by  his  origin,  believing  that  when 
he  comes  to  man's  estate  he  must  stand  or  fall  by  his  individual  merit,  yet 
there  is  no  doubt,  from  the  facility  with  which  these  boys  may  be  obtained 
by  Mr.  Green,  the  society  will  have  a  delicate  and  difficult  matter  on  hand  in 
attempting  to  prevent  their  employment  in  this  school.  With  the  principals 
of  these  extensive  institutions,  the  specious  and  deceptive  arguments  of  the 
prospectus   will,   no   doubt,  have   powerful   weight  and   influence.     So    far,   then, 

80 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

the  proceedings  of  a  public  mass  meeting,  together  with  an 
"Address  to  the  people  of  the  United  States,"  emanating 
from  the  meeting  (such  addresses  were  common  in  those 
days),  the  expense  of  printing  the  pamphlet  being  met 
by  a  collection  taken  up  at  the  meeting.  The  Baltimore 
society  had  taken  action  on  the  subject  from  newspaper 
reports  and  sent  a  letter  to  the  Columbia  society  in  time 
to  incorporate  it  in  the  proceedings  of  the  public  meet- 
ing. The  protest  contained  an  appeal  to  journeymen 
printers  not  to  come  to  Washington  to  act  as  teachers 
in  the  proposed  school.  It  was  the  fear  of  this  that 
prompted  the  appointment  of  a  committee  of  seven,  un- 
der the  following  resolution,  adopted  March  7,  1834: 

Ordered,  That  a  committee  of  seven  members  be  appointed 
by  the  chair,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  confer  with  each  other, 
and  report  to  this  society,  at  their  next  meeting,  what,  in  their 
opinion*  would  be  the  most  proper  and  effectual  course  to  pur- 
sue to  bring  about  the  establishment  of  a  national  typographical 
society. 

Response  was  received  from  the  typographical  society 
at  Louisville,  Ky.,  enclosing  a  copy  of  its  constitution  and 
resolutions  against  "the  Duff  Green  school  for  printers," 
and  on  the  same  date  from  Charleston  (S.  C.)  Typo- 
graphical Society,  endorsing  protest  against  the  school. 
This  is  the  first  reference  found  to  these  societies.  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  responded,  and  later  other  southern  socic  • 
I  N -(-ember  13,  1834,  the  Philadelphia  association  notified 


at  the  success  of  the  projrrt  of   Mr.   C.rrcn  shall  depend  merely  on   the  attain* 

1    scholars,    it   is   likely    to   be   insured   by    the    readiness    with    »!■ 
doitbt,  tin-   priaeJpata  of  tli<)»r   houses  will  supply  him  with  the  Iniys  under   their 
charge.    The  oonmittM  <  >"  oonoalva  <>f  no  other  m>'<lc  »l  prertntiaf  0 
summation  than  l>v  djrealOttng  laoag  tln-sr  gentlemen  a  direct  refutation 
pnniiplfi   bid   down    in    the    prosper  tu*.     '•   '•  'n   n°  ••r«rrc   their    interest   to  aid 
Mr.  Green  In  his  schemes — they  look  only  to  the  welfare  of  their  chart*;  and. 
if    il    shall    appear    to    them    in    the    Mad,    «hotild    we    adopt    tin*   course,    as   it    no 
doul.t    will,   tli.it.    inMead    of   Ix-nrfilmg    the    hoys    for    who**    future    welfare   they 

.  bn  rwponilbla,  the  achtnw  n  will  be  more  ID 

blast   their   PfOtPOCta1   i«    Ufa.   b»   BOOTrtd   thev   will   not   he   instrumental   in    ji. Inu- 
tile eal  •  1  the  Washington  ln»tiiuic. 

8t 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  Washington  society  that  Gen.  Duff  Green  was  em- 
ploying printers  in  Philadelphia  and  elsewhere  "on  con- 
dition that  they  would  have  no  connection  with  the 
society,"  and  that  as  fast  as  he  secured  "strangers" 
"society  men"  were  being  discharged.  Matters  went 
from  bad  to  worse  until  a  strike  was  declared  against 
General  Green  March  14,  1835,  the  causes  alleged  being 
"against  the  employment  of  too  many  apprentices,"  for 
the  society's  scale  of  prices  (or  against  "two-thirders"), 
because  of  discrimination  against  "society  men,"  and  for 
the  discharge  of  the  foreman.  With  the  details  of  this 
long  strike  itself  we  have  nothing  to  do.  It  was,  how- 
ever, the  occasion  of  bringing  the  scattered  associations 
into  closer  touch  with  each  other.  For  the  first  time  in 
its  history  the  Washington  society  sent  out  a  "rat  cir- 
cular." Philadelphia  and  New  York  promised  to  re- 
strain their  members  from  accepting  employment  in  the 
Washington  establishment,  and  the  Philadelphia  associa- 
tion expelled  all  its  members  who  did  so.  Later  the 
Washington  society  asked  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Bal- 
timore and  Boston  for  a  list  of  all  "two-thirders"  and 
names  and  description  of  all  "rats"  in  those  cities.  This 
request  seems  to  have  been  ignored. 

October  14,  1835,  the  Washington  society  passed  the 
following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  society  having  hereto- 
fore determined  not  to  accept  employment  in  the  office  of  Duff 
Green,  do  still  adhere  to  that  resolution,  and  will  neither  'ac- 
cept employment  in  that  office,  nor  in  any  other  office  in  which 
any  hands  or  hand  employed  by  the  said  Green  since  the  28th 
of  March,  1835,  or  by  his  successor,  E.  R.  Gibson,  may  here- 
after be  employed,  until  the  obnoxious  individual  or  individuals 
be  discharged. 

This  sweeping  resolution,  exceedingly  radical  for  that 
day,  and  certainly  so  for  this  society,  was  forwarded  to 
all  other  societies  in  the  United  States  and  endorsed  by 

82 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

most  of  them,  thus  foreshadowing  the  action  of  the  na- 
tional convention  of  the  next  year  (1836),  making  "a 
rat"  so  declared  by  one  printers'  organization  to  be  con- 
sidered such  by  all. 

Two  other  societies  are  mentioned  in  1835  for  the  first 
time.  First,  the  Mississippi  Typographical  Association,  of 
Natchez,  which  sent  out  a  "rat  list"  as  a  result  of  a  strike 
September  19,  1835,  and  another  communication  Novem- 
ber 6;  and,  second,  the  New  Orleans  Typographical  Asso- 
ciation, organized  May  9,  1835,  indicating  that  the  society 
organized  there  in  1830  had  ceased  to  exist. 

In  June,  1835,  the  Franklin  Society,  of  Cincinnati,  had 
a  strike  against  a  reduction  of  wages  in  one  establishment. 
It  seems  that  "strangers"  were  brought  in  from  Pittsburgh 
and  elsewhere.  November  6,  1835,  the  Cincinnati  society 
sent  out  a  circular  calling  for  a  national  convention.  No 
copy  of  this  circular  has  been  found,  but  upon  its  re- 
ceipt the  Washington  society  appointed  a  committee  to 
report  on  the  subject.  This  report,  which  was  accepted 
and  issued  to  other  societies  as  a  call  for  the  convention, 
was  as  follows : 

Mr.  Wm.  Walters,  from  the  committee,  to  whom  was  re- 
ferred the  circular  from  the  Franklin  Typographical  Society  of 
Cincinnati,  proposing  a  National  Typographical  Society,  pre- 
sented the  following  report : 

Your  committee  have  carefully  read  the  report  and  resolu- 
tions of  the  Franklin  Typographical  Society,  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio. 

The  resolutions  propose — 

"First.  That  each  society  in  its  own  district  be  sustained 
by  all  others  in  the  prices  it  may  establish. 

"SECOND.  That  journeymen  bringing  certificates  of  mem- 
bership in  any  society,  of  good  standing'.  WCeifi  a  preference 
over  all  others  in  the  efforts  made  to  procure  them  employment. 

"Third.  That  r.its,  pronounced  Mich  by  one  society,  be  con- 
sidered as  such  by  all  other  KM  ictics." 

If  there  he  a  <  oiinnuuity  of  men,  whuh,  more  than  another, 

83 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

has  felt  the  necessity  of  a  closer  union  amongst  the  different 
typographical  societies  of  the  United  States,  it  is  our  own. 
During  the  two  last  years  the  society  and  many  of  its  members 
have  been  the  victims  of  the  most  unrelenting  persecution  and 
proscription.  Single  handed  they  have  encountered  the  force 
of  this  opposition,  for  although  one  or  two  societies  nobly 
cheered  our  efforts,  the  great  body  of  them  stood  aloof,  appar- 
ently idle  spectators  of  the  controversy.  Any  other  course, 
however,  could  scarcely  have  been  looked  for  from  them,  when 
we  consider  the  distance  which  separates  them  and  the  absence 
of  any  effective  bonds  of  union  between  them. 

A  close  examination  of  the  resolutions  proposed  by  the 
Franklin  Typographical  Society  has  convinced  your  committee 
that  they  do  not  go  far  enough.  Each  of  the  propositions  has 
been  in  [a]  degree,  and  is  now  enforced  by  almost  every  society 
in  the  Union.  There  is,  however,  no  obligation  to  uphold  them 
existing  amongst  any  of  the  societies,  and  our  own  experience 
teaches  us  that  the  declaration  we  have  all  made  "to  procure 
employment  for  a  member  of  the  society  in  preference  to  any 
other  person"  has  been  but  loosely  observed  ;  or,  to  use  the  more 
forcible  language  of  the  Franklin  Typographical  Society,  "the 
certificate  of  membership  ought  no  longer  to  procure  from  us  a 
mere  assent  of  the  good  standing  of  the  holder,  but  should  call 
forth  our  active  friendship  for  the  bearer — our  zealous  effort  to 
get  him  into  employment  in  preference  to  all  others." 

All  this  and  much  more  should  be  done;  and  the  question 
for  us  to  consider  is,  what  are  the  means  necessary  for  its  ac- 
complishment? What  additional  measures  are  necessary  in 
order  permanently,  not  merely  transiently,  to  assent  to  such 
regulations  amongst  the  different  typographical  societies  of  the 
United  States  as  shall  ensure  to  every  member  of  every  society 
a  proper  equivalent  for  his  labor,  and  a  good  prospect  of  con- 
stant employment  while  ever  he  shall  remain  within  the  pale  of 
the  honorable  members  of  the  craft  ? 

Deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  measure  your 
committee  are  about  to  propose,  in  order  to  accomplish  these 
most  desirable  results,  they  beg  leave  to  assure  the  society  that 
it  has  not  been  without  the  most  mature  reflection  that  they 
have  brought  forward  the  resolutions  which  are  appended,  and 
which  they  believe  will  alone  provide  a  remedy  sufficiently  am- 
ple for  the  widespread  evils  which  are  now  felt. 

84 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  different  typo- 
graphical societies  of  the  United  States  to  form  a  union  of  so- 
cieties, under  such  name  as  the  convention  to  be  held  for  that 
purpose  shall  designate. 

Resolved,  That  in  order  to  form  such  union,  a  convention 
be  held  in  the  city  of  Washington  on  the  3d  day  of  March  next, 
to  be  composed  of  three  delegates  from  every  typographical  so- 
ciety existing  in  the  United  States. 

Resolved,  That  the  convention  shall  have  power  to  draft  a 
constitution,  and  such  other  regulations  as  shall  be  thought 
proper  for  the  government  of  the  union,  which  constitution 
shall  be  submitted  to  the  local  societies  for  their  adoption ;  and 
whenever  two-thirds  of  the  local  societies  shall  agree  to  the 
said  constitution,  the  government  of  the  union  shall  be  consid- 
ered as  formed,  and  annual  meetings  take  place  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  the  power  now  possessed  by  the  different 
societies  to  regulate  the  prices  within  their  respective  limits 
shall  not  be  infringed  by  any  regulation  of  the  convention. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  forwarded  to 
every  typographical  society  in  the  United  States ;  and  that  such 
of  them  as  shall  agree  to  them,  be  requested  to  appoint  dele- 
gates, without  further  notice,  to  attend  the  convention. 

VVm.  Walters, 
Jas.  Brown, 
Wm.  W.  Curran. 

The  report  and  resolutions  having  been  read,  the  sec- 
ond resolution  was  amended  by  inserting  the  first  Mon- 
day of  June  as  the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  convention, 
and  as  amended  were  adopted  unanimously. 

Letters  approving  of  the  convention  and  promising  to 
Bend  delegates  were  received  from  Harrisburg  (P 
Typographical  Association,  August  26,  1836  (first  men- 
tion) ;  Baltimore,  July  30;  Nashville,  Tain.,  August  26; 
1'hiladrlphia,  August  27;  Cincinnati,  August  28;  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  October  14,  and  later  letters  along  the  same 
line  wttt  received  from  New  Orleans,  and  from  Mobile, 
Ala.  (first  mention).  New  Orleans  named  two  mem- 
bers of  the  Washington  society  and  asked  that  tiny  be 

85 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

permitted  to  act  as  proxy  delegates  from  New  Orleans, 
thus  inaugurating  from  the  very  start  that  system  of 
proxy  representation  that  has  many  times  since  so  nearly 
disrupted  organizations. 

October  14,  1836,  the  Washington  society  met  to  elect 
delegates  to  the  convention,  and  also  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  arrange  for  the  same,  since  it  was  to  be  held 
in  Washington.  At  the  meeting  the  society  decided  to 
"pay  all  the  expenses  of  the  National  Typographical  Con- 
vention." 

The  first  convention  of  the  National  Typographical 
Society  met  in  the  aldermen's  chamber,  city  hall,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  November  7,  1836,  the  session  lasting  five 
days.  Delegates  were  present  from  the  typographical 
societies  in  Baltimore,  New  York  city,  Washington,  Har- 
risburg,  Pa.,  Philadelphia,  and  by  proxy  from  New 
Orleans.  The  delegate  from  the  Philadelphia  associa- 
tion was  excluded  from  the  convention,  not  because  of 
any  objection  to  the  association,  but  because  the  Washing- 
ton society  succeeded  in  proving  that  the  delegate  himself 
was  one  of  the  men  that  had  worked  for  a  time  in  the 
Duff  Green  establishment  during  the  strike.  The  Phila- 
delphia association  evidently  was  not  aware  of  this 
when  it  elected  him,  as  he  was  immediately  expelled  by 
that  association. 

The  convention  was  welcomed  in  an  address  from  the 
mayor  of  the  city,  Hon.  Peter  Force,11  who  had  joined 
the  New  York  Typographical  Society  in  1812,  and  was 
its   president   in    181 5.     In    18 16   he  joined  the   Colum- 


11  Visitors  going  up  in  the  Washington  monument  may  see  carved  in  one  of 
its  largest  stones  the  name  "Peter  Force."  Students  of  industrial  history  pre- 
fer, however,  to  remember  him  by  a  monument  of  very  different  character.  Mr. 
Force  was  for  a  number  of  years  one  of  the  proprietors  of  a  job  printing  of- 
fice in  Washington.  Here  he  executed  many  of  the  "broadsides"  so  character- 
istic of  the  time,  and  here  were  printed  the  constitutions  of  many  civic  so- 
cieties of  all  kinds.  He  seems  to  have  had  a  keen  intuition  of  the  historical 
value   of  things,   and   early  began   a   collection   of  tracts,   broadsides,   constitu- 

86 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 


bia  Typographical  Society,  and  became  its  first  "free 
member"  in  1826. 

The  convention  adopted  a  constitution  and  issued  two 
addresses,  one  to  the  various  typographical  societies  in 
the  United  States,  the  other  to  the  printers  of  the  coun- 
try in  general. 

To  the  local  societies  the  convention  appealed  for  a 
closer  relation  one  with  the  other;  proposing  uniform 
regulations  regarding  apprentices ;  that  runaways  from 
one  office  should  not  be  permitted  to  work  in  any  other ; 
that  members  expelled  from  one  society  for  any  good 
cause  should  not  be  admitted  to  membership  by  any  other 
society ;  that  no  member  of  any  society  should  work  in 
any  printing  office  where  such  expelled  member  was  em- 
ployed until  he  was  reinstated  by  the  original  society ; 
there  was  to  be  an  exchange  of  "rat"  lists,  and,  most  - 
important  of  all,  the  societies  were  advised  to  open  their 
doors  to  membership  for  all  printers  then  working  at 
the  trade  as  journeymen,  whether  they  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship or  not ;  then  after  organizing  all  these,  put 
up  the  bars  and  require  a  six-year  apprenticeship.  There 
had  for  years  been  two  factions  in  the  societies — one, 
seeing  that  the  apprenticeship  requirements  were  creat- 
ing an  army  of  printers  sufficiently  large  to  do  all  the 
work,  outside  of  the  societies  because  of  ineligibility, 
wanted  temporarily  to  let  down  the  bars  and  organize 
the  trade,  and  then  increase  the  requirements;  the  other 
faction,  sticking  to  the  old  traditions,  sought  to  remedy 
the  evil  by  increasing  the  severity  of  apprenticeship.     It 

tioni,  etc.,  which  he  ultimately  gave  to  the  Library  of  Congress  a*  the  Force 
Collection  of  Tracta — a  veritable  gold  mine  of  industrial  information,  eapecially 
aa  relating  to  the  southern  state*.  In  those  days  tracts  and  "broadside*"  occu- 
pied relatively  the  position  of  magaiine  articles  and  newspaper  discussions  of 
today,  and  their  preservation  for  future  reference  was  of  utmost  importance. 
Mr.  Force  was  of  great  assistance  to  the  typographical  societies  as  an  em- 
ployer in  thrir  ■trutfidr  with  the  apprcntu-r  problem.  As  Indicated  in  the  tr,t 
he  waa  mayor  of  WashiitKion.  ami  was  employed  by  the  government  to  plan 
or  outline  a  system  for  a  government  printing  establishment 

87 


X 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

seems  that  the  societies  had  elected  delegates  to  the  con- 
vention from  the  more  radical  factions  in  nearly  every 
instance. 

A  notice  printed  on  the  cover  of  the  published  proceed- 
ings of  this  convention  of  1836,  and  dated  November 
26,  is  of  interest.     It  follows : 

Since  the  adjournment  of  the  convention  the  committee  on 
publication  have  learned  with  much  regret  that  two  attempts 
have  in  the  south  been  made  to  injure  the  journeymen.  They 
would,  therefore,  urge  upon  all  printers  in  every  city,  town  and 
village  where  no  society  exists  to  establish  one  as  soon  as  prac- 
ticable to  enable  them  to  be  represented  in  the  National  Typo- 
graphical Society  in  September  next. 

The  "two  attempts  to  injure  the  journeymen"  referred, 
no  doubt,  to  the  strike  in  Richmond,  Va.,  in  November, 
1836,  to  enforce  the  apprentice  section  of  the  local  con- 
stitution, and  to  the  fight  the  union  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  was 
making  against  that  printers'  Banquo,  Gen.  Duff  Green, 
who  had  taken  his  boys'  school  idea  with  him  and  gone 
to  South  Carolina  to  organize  "The  American  Literary 
Company."  The  Augusta  association  had  gotten  out  a 
circular  similar  to  the  Washington  society's  "protest," 
which  circular  was  printed  in  the  Washington  papers  at 
the  expense  of  the  local  society.  At  the  request  of  the 
Augusta  association  the  Washington  society  had  a  tran- 
script of  its  minutes,  and  all  documents  and  letters  rela- 
tive to  the  Duff  Green  matter,  made  and  forwarded  to 
the  former  organization — no  small  nor  inexpensive  task 
in  those  pre-typewriter  days. 

The  second  convention  of  the  National  Typographical 
Society  met  in  New  York  city  September  4,  1837,  with 
delegates  from  eight  societies  in  the  United  States,  and 
a  fraternal  delegate  from  Nova  Scotia,  who  was  seated 
with  full  powers,  predictive  of  admission  of  Canadian 
unions  into  the  National,  thus  forming  the  present  Inter- 


^u 


UMMMkWalk|iM.  I'  i 
PtTII  i  I  >R<  i 

<  >y.  iDis 
Mayor  ,<(   Wa.l.inmon.    I>    t 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

national  Typographical  Union  in  1869.  It  is  doubtful 
whether  the  proceedings  of  this  convention  were  ever 
printed.  No  copy  has  been  found  in  the  search  for  data 
for  this  report.  The  report  of  the  Washington  delegates 
will,  however,  give  an  idea  of  the  proceedings,  and  is 
here  transcribed  entire  from  the  minutes  of  that  society  : 

Washington,  January  6,  1838. 

The  delegates  appointed  by  the  Columbia  Typographical 
Society  to  attend  the  national  association,  which  vras  to  assem- 
ble in  the  city  of  New  York  on  the  4th  of  September,  1837,  beg 
leave  to  submit  the  following  report : 

That  your  delegates  have  been  prevented  from  making  a  re- 
port by  the  non-arrival  of  the  printed  proceedings  of  the  meet- 
ing, which  was  left  under  the  control  of  the  New  York  mem- 
bers. Although  we  have  received  a  letter  intimating  that  they 
would  be  soon  sent  on,  we  still  have  been  disappointed.  It  is  a 
matter  of  regret  to  us,  as  we  find  it  almost  impossible  to  direct 
your  attention  to  the  necessary  acts  which  require  your  immedi- 
ate co-operation ;  and  which  alone  can  enable  us  to  discharge 
our  task  satisfactorily  to  ourselves. 

That  your  delegation  arrived  in  New  York  on  the  second  of 
September,  and  were  notified  to  meet  at  the  sheriff's  room,  in 
the  city  hall,  on  the  4th,  which  was  kindly  granted  by  the  pub- 
lic authorities  of  said  city.  Eight  societies  being  represented, 
viz.,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Harrisburg,  Baltimore,  Cincin- 
nati, Mobile,  New  Orleans,  and  Washington.  The  meeting  was 
organized  by  calling  to  the  chair  one  of  this  society's  delegation, 
and  appointing  A.  I.  W.  Jackson,  of  Baltimore,  as  secretary. 
That  their  first  act  was  to  revise  the  constitution,  adopted  by 
the  convention  which  met  at  Washington  in  November,  1836. 
I  hat  after  a  labored  investigation  of  that  instrument,  they 
made  some  amendments,  in  Older  to  accord  with  the  views  and 
i  1  1st ructions  of  the  several  members.  That  they  continued  in 
session  till  Saturday,  the  9th,  inclusive,  when,  severally.  ha\ 
subscribed    the   new    constitution,    they   adjourned  ,   to 

meet  again  at    Pittsburgh,  next   September,   and   that   they   ■ 
then   invited,  ;md   attended   a   public  dinner   pven  l>v  the   N 
York  association,    in   courtesy   tO   ttM   members  of  the  national 
association 

89 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Yo,ur  delegates,  not  having  the  constitution  to  refer  to,  must, 
of  course,  be  excused  from  entering  into  a  detail  of  the  several 
articles ;  but  they  would  remark  that,  in  article  loth,  twenty-five 
per  cent  is  to  be  levied  of  the  different  societies,  annually,  by  a 
prescribed  rule,  to  defray  all  expenses  incurred  by  the  associa- 
tion ;  their  instructions  were  for  thirty  per  cent. 

Article  13  furnishes  the  mode  of  checking  the  practice  of 
employing  two-third  apprentices.  This  is  of  initial  importance 
to  the  whole  fraternity,  and  requires  consideration  commen- 
surate with  its  importance;  for  all  can  realize  the  complete 
prostration  which  such  a  custom  must  create.  The  proposed 
check,  adopted  by  the  association,  appears  as  simple  as  it  is  easy 
of  accomplishment,  if  judicious  measures  alone  be  pursued. 
This  plan  is  by  the  granting  to  travelers  the  "union  card,"  which 
was  introduced  into  the  convention's  constitution  at  Washing- 
ton. Many  duties  are  enjoined  on  local  societies,  which  must 
be  referred  by  you  to  committees,  to  mature  and  prescribe  a 
mode  of  operation  for  carrying  them  into  effect. 

Your  delegates  are  aware  that  the  society  will  look  for  an 
expression  of  their  opinion  as  to  the  utility  and  future  prospects 
of  the  association,  and,  therefore,  they  will  present  their  views 
in  as  brief  a  manner  as  possible.  From  all  they  could  learn 
from  their  intercourse  with  the  gentlemen  composing  the  as- 
sembly, they  are  of  the  belief  that  no  other  plan  could  be 
adopted  that  would  prove  so  efficacious  and  satisfactory  to  all 
concerned,  and  guard  the  craft  against  the  innovations  which 
are  daily  arising  to  drive  the  regular  and  good  workmen  out 
of  employment,  or  to  reduce  their  wages  to  the  standard  of 
the  cupidity  of  some  employers  who  forget  the  rights  of  their 
fellow-men. 

That  the  anticipated  prospects  of  the  association  may  be  evi- 
denced from  the  interest  taken  in  it  by  all  associations  in  the 
United  States  and  Nova  Scotia,  whose  delegate  was  admitted 
to  a  seat  during  the  discussions.  It  is  the  opinion  of  your  dele- 
gation, that  the  employer  and  the  journeymen  were  never  on 
such  amicable  terms  of  friendly  feelings  as  they  are  at  the 
moment,  which  certainly  is  ominous  of  our  success  in  this 
great  cause. 

In  closing  the  imperfect  report  they  have  made,  they  would 
congratulate  the  society  on  the  high  respect  in  which  they  are 
at  present  held  by  both  employers  and  journeymen,  as  well  in 

90 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

Washington  as  throughout  the  whole  country;  and  they  sin- 
cerely pray  this  band  of  union  may  never  be  severed  by 
any  untoward  circumstance,  originating  on  your  part.  They 
now  conclude  by  recommending  the  following  resolution  for 
adoption : 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  receive  the 
printed  proceedings  of  the  association,  and  to  report  on  their 
contents  as  soon  as  practicable,  or  on  any  matters  concerning 

said  association.  T  ^ 

James  Clephane, 

James  Handley. 

The  national  society  did  not  hold  a  convention  in  1838. 
In  August  of  that  year  the  following  announcement  ap- 
peared in  papers  in  most  of  the  cities  where  printers  were 
organized : 

National  Typographical   Society 

Meeting  postponed — The  undersigned,  officers  of  the  Na- 
tional Typographical  Association  composing  the  board  of  con- 
trol, at  the  earnest  solicitations  of  a  number  of  delegates  and 
societies  forming  said  association,  have,  after  mature  delibera- 
tion, resolved  on  a  postponement  of  the  next  meeting,  and 
hereby  give  this  public  notice  to  the  different  societies  of  print- 
ers attached  to  said  association,  as  well  as  those  desirous  of 
connecting  themselves  thereto,  that  the  next  meeting  of  the  Na- 
tional Typographical  Association  will  be  held  in  the  city  of 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  on  the  first  Monday  of  September,  1839,  at 
which  time  and  place  it  is  fondly  expected  the  representatives 
from  the  different  societies  will  be  in  attendance. 

A.   I.  W.  Jackson,  Baltimore,  President. 

William  Wellington.  Philadelphia, 

Recording  Secretary. 
Charles  Albert  Davis.  New  York, 

Corresponding  S 
Jamks  Clephane.  Washington, 

TrfOSW   ■  />' oar d  of  Control. 
August   10.  1838. 

Tin-  pobUahan  Of  newspaper*  throughout  the  Tinted  States 
will  roiiifr  a  l.ivor  on  tin-  eruft  in  general  by  gMnf  the  above 

nun,  ,■  ,,!!,•  m  t«o  in-H-rtiona. 

9' 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Whether  this  postponed  convention  ever  met  is  not 
known  and  may  well  be  doubted.  The  general  laws  for 
the  government  of  local  societies  appear  to  have  been 
promulgated  by  the  New  York  convention  of  1837. 
They  were  gotten  out  in  leaflet  form  by  the  Washington 
society  for  its  own  use,  as  follows : 

Columbia   Typographical    Society 

December  i,  1838. 

Resolved,  That  the  general  laws  recommended  by  the  Na- 
tional Typographical  Society  to  the  local  societies  for  their 
government  be  printed  for  the  use  of  the  members. 

W.  A.  Kennedy,  Secretary. 

GENERAL     LAWS 

Article  i.  Every  apprentice  shall  serve  until  he  be  21 
years  of  age ;  and  at  the  time  of  entering  as  an  apprentice  shall 
not  be  more  than  16  years  of  age;  and  every  boy  taken  as  an 
apprentice  shall  be  bound  to  his  employer  in  due  form  of  law. 

Article  2.  No  runaway  apprentice  shall  be  received  into 
any  office  in  the  United  States  attached  to  the  national  associa- 
tion, either  as  an  apprentice  or  journeyman. 

Article  3.  That  on  the  death  of  his  master,  or  if,  from 
any  cause,  the  office  wherein  he  was  indentured  shall  be  discon- 
tinued, he  may  be  taken  into  another  office,  and  be  regularly 
indentured  to  finish  the  term  of  his  apprenticeship. 

Article  4.  After  the  1st  day  of  January,  1844,  it  shall  not 
be  lawful  for  any  local  society  to  consider  any  application  for 
membership  unaccompanied  by  sufficient  proof  that  he  had 
served  the  period  of  five  years,  as  a  regularly  indentured  ap- 
prentice at  the  printing  business. 

Article  5.  That  after  the  1st  of  January,  1839,  it  shall 
not  be  lawful  for  any  local  society  to  permit  members  of  said 
society  to  work  in  any  office  where  boys  may  be  taken  as  ap- 
prentices to  the  printing  business,  to  serve  for  a  less  period  than 
five  years. 

Article  6.  The  local  societies  shall  have  the  power  to 
establish  such  tariff  of  prices  as  may  be  suitable  to  the  section 
of  country  in  which  they  may  be  located. 

92 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

Article  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  local  societies,  work- 
ing under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  national  association,  to  sustain 
each  other  in  their  list  of  prices  or  such  other  regulations  as 
they  may  adopt  for  their  government. 

Article  8.  That  all  local  societies  suspend  so  much  of 
their  constitutions  as  requires  a  term  of  apprenticeship  as  a 
qualification  for  membership ;  and  that  they  admit  all  who  are 
at  work  at  the  business  as  journeymen  so  soon  as  it  shall  be  as- 
certained that  the  proposed  regulations  of  the  association  upon 
this  subject  shall  be  adopted  by  two-thirds  of  the  societies. 

Article  9.  Any  person  presenting  his  union  card  from 
one  society,  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  national  association, 
to  another  society  under  the  same  jurisdiction,  and  paying  the 
monthly  dues  called  for  by  their  constitution,  shall  be  entitled 
to  the  trade  benefits  of  said  society. 

Article  10.  Local  societies  shall  recognize  but  two  classes 
of  printers — employers  and  journeymen — that  is,  persons  who 
carry  on  business  solely  as  employers  and  those  who  work 
as  journeymen,  in  the  manner  prescribed,  and  at  the  prices 
demanded  by  such  society. 

Article  ii.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  local  societies  to  have 
prepared  an  annual  report  of  their  condition,  showing  the  num- 
ber of  members  admitted  for  the  year  preceding ;  the  amount 
of  receipts  from  initiation,  dues,  and  fines ;  the  number  of  news- 
papers and  periodical  publications,  together  with  all  offices  of 
whatever  character,  under  the  immediate  control  of  practical 
printers,  at  the  time  of  making  such  reports ;  also,  those  under 
the  control  of  others  than  printers,  and  such  other  information 
as  may  be  in  possession  of  said  local  societies,  in  reference  to 
the  profession  generally ;  said  report  to  be  transmitted  to  the 
national  association  at  its  annual  meetings. 

Article  12.    That  the  societies  be  requested  to  forward  to 
the  national  association,  annually,  the  number,  as  near  as  may 
be  ascertained,  of  apprentices  in  the  district  of  country 
which  the  society  has  jurisdiction;  also,  of  all  the  journeymen 
— distinguishing  members  of  the  society  from  others 

\imicle  13.  That  men  pronounced  rats  by  one  society, 
shall  be  considered  such  by  all  others,  until  reinstated  by  said 

society. 

Article  14.  A  local  eodetyj  on  the  nspenslof)  or  expulsion 
of  a  member,  shall  give  information  to  all  other  societies  as 

93 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

soon  as  practicable,  and  make  annual  report  to  the  national 
association. 

Article  15.  That  it  be  made  obligatory  on  the  members  of 
the  respective  societies  to  solicit  all  printers  in  good  standing  to 
join  some  local  society. 

Article  16.  That  every  society  which  may  henceforth  be 
established,  transmit  the  title,  list  of  officers,  and  its  locality,  to 
the  corresponding  secretary  of  the  National  Typographical 
Association. 

Article  17.  The  above  regulations,  when  adopted  by  two- 
thirds  of  the  local  societies,  shall  become  binding  upon  the 
whole,  as  general  laws,  for  the  government  of  the  craft. 

To  return  now  to  affairs  of  the  local  societies,  the  Phil- 
adelphia Typographical  Association  sent  out  a  letter 
dated  June  16,  1834,  on  the  state  of  trade,  saying:  "For 
several  months  the  book  offices  have  not  had  work  enough 
to  employ  even  their  apprentices,  and  when  we  may  safe- 
ly anticipate  a  favorable  change  we  are  as  unable  to  say 
as  we  are  anxious  to  hear."  July  n,  1835,  the  same  as- 
sociation wrote  that  it  was  having  trouble  as  a  result  of 
"having  taken  measures  to  effect  an  advance  in  the  price 
of  our  labor;"  that  the  employers  were  advertising  in 
other  cities,  and  asked  the  Washington  society  to  "pre- 
vent that  influx  of  strangers  upon  which  the  employers12 
rely  in  connection  with  the  defection,  which,  in  a  small 
degree,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  they  have  effected  for  de- 
feating the  purposes  of  this  association."  Later,  August 
30,  1835,  tne  association  sent  out  a  circular  saying  the 
trouble  was  over.13 


13  It  may  be  of  interest  to  note  that  an  employing  printers'  association  was 
formed  just  before  this  in  Philadelphia,  it  being  organized  February  7,  1835. 
A  scale  of  prices  for  composition  and  presswork,  by  which  all  contracts  for 
such  work  were  made,  was  adopted  and  made  a  part  of  the  constitution.  Mem- 
bers violating  the  contract  scale  were  subject  to  fine  or  expulsion.  Evidently 
the  "Printers'  Company"  of  1794  had  ceased  to  exist. 

13  The  steam  press  was  beginning  to  alarm  the  pressmen,  and  curiously 
enough  they  proposed  at  first  to  meet  it  just  as,  in  after  years,  the  glass  work- 
ers' unions  and  the  coal  miners'  unions  proposed  to  meet  the  machine,  i.  e.,  by 
reducing  their  wages  for  hand  work  to  a  point  where  it  would  not  pay  the 
employers  to  install  steam  presses,  except  that  the  pressman  proposed  to  do  it 

94 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

August  6,  1836,  the  Nashville  (Tenn.)  Typographical 
Society  sent  out  its  revised  constitution  and  price  list. 
The  society  bound  itself  by  its  constitution  to  "co-operate 
with  the  National  Typographical  Society"  and  to  be  rep- 
resented in  its  convention.     This  society  had  thirty-five 

by  exactly  the  methods  they  opposed  when  applied  by  the  employers  to  type- 
setting— by  the  introduction  of  boys  into  the  business  through  a  subdivision  of 
labor.  A  resolution  was  passed  by  the  Washington  society  with  this  in  view 
October   14,   183s,  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of 
making  such  alterations  in  the  price  of  presswork  and  the  introduction  of  roll- 
ers and  roller  boys  as  will  enable  employers  to  have  their  work  done  as  cheap, 
better,  and  with  greater  certainty  by  hand  than  by  the  use  of  steam  or  power 
presses,  while  at  the  same  time  pressmen  will  be  able  to  make  as  good  wages, 
if  not  better  than  under  the  present  system. 

As  showing  the  attitude  of  the  early  printers  toward  machinery  the  two 
following  remarkable  letters  are  taken  from  the  minutes  of  the  Washington 
society : 

[Copy  of  a  letter  laid  before  the  society  by  a  member.] 

Warrenton,  Va.,  October  6,   1840. 

Dear  Sir:  Through  you  I  would  respectfully  inform  the  typographical  so- 
ciety of  Washington  that  I  have  invented  and  made  a  machine  for  setting  and 
distributing  type;  which  machine  is  now  in  complete  operation  in  this  place, 
and  will,  according  to  the  estimate  of  practical  printers,  do  the  work  of  four 
men;  the  cost  not  to  exceed  $ao.  Being  poor  myself,  my  object  is  to  realize 
something  like  a  compensation  for  my  time,  labor  and  ingenuity;  and  being 
aware  that  it  may  perhaps  conflict  with  the  interest  of  your  society.  I  have 
concluded  to  propose  to  sell  them  the  exclusive  right  for  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia. To  effect  this  object,  I  propose  that  your  society  deputize  some  one  to 
decide  upon  the  merits  of  the  same;  pledging  myself  to  let  them  have  it,  as  a 
body,  for  less  than  I  can  get  from  an  individual  proprietor. 

Let  me  hear  from  you  early,  or  by  the  society. 

Respectfully,  I.  D.  Hill. 

[ReplM 
Mr.  I.  D.  Hill.  Washington,  November  18,  1840. 

Sir:  In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  Columbia  Typographical  Society, 
I  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter,  apprising  it  of  your  invention  and  your 
desire  to  dispose  of  it  to  said  society.  And,  I  am  also  instructed  to  say,  that, 
while  they  wish  you  success  in  your  undertaking,  they  do  not  feel  themselves 
justified  in  offering  you  any  pecuniary  aid;  nor  do  they  feel  willing  to  abet 
in  bringing  into  operation  anything  Uiat  would  encroach  upon  the  rights  of 
those  who  have  given  years  of  labor  and  privation  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of 
a  business  which  they  had  reason  to  believe  would  yield  them  a  support  in 
after  life.  You  propose  to  distribute  and  set  type  by  machinery  I  Shade  of  the 
immortal  Faust,  thou  art  forrvrr  eclipsed.  Hut  .Mould  your  invention  prove 
beneficial  to  the  craft,  we  will  hail  you  as  a  benefactor.  Your  professions  of 
regard  for  this  society,  and  the  craft  at  large,  are  duly  appreciated. 

Yours  respectfully,  in  behalf  of  Columbia  Typographical  Society. 

David  II.  Hanlon, 
Corrupi>nJ\mg  S*crtl*y. 

95 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

members  in  1836,  and  the  "chapel"  system  was  firmly 
established  in  all  offices. 

During  1 836  a  letter  was  received  from  the  Typograph- 
ical Society  at  Columbia,  S.  C.  The  letter,  however,  does 
not  make  clear  whether  the  society  had  just  been  organ- 
ized or  not.  This  society  sent  out  a  "rat  list"  in  1842, 
and  seems  to  have  gone  down  in  a  strike  of  that  year. 

December  3,  1836,  the  Washington  society,  "owing  to 
the  advance  in  the  price  of  products  generally"  (by 
which  is  meant  the  cost  of  living)14  asked  for  "an  ad- 
vance of  about  10  per  cent  on  our  present  tariff  prices  for 
the  employing  printers  of  the  District,"  and  appointed  a 
committee  to  revise  the  scale  and  call  on  the  employers. 
January  7,  1837,  the  committee  reported  that  the  em- 
ployers had  agreed  to  the  new  scale,  and  it  was  ordered 
printed.  It  is  impossible  to  ignore  the  evidence  of  the 
slowness  of  the  world's  affairs  in  those  days  when  we  re- 
flect that  this  was  the  first  change  in  price  list  adopted 
by  the  society  since  the  original  one  of  181 5,  and  that 
was  but  a  schedule  of  prices  already  paid  and  had  been 
in  existence  for  several  years.  Wage  scales  that  last 
twenty-two  years  without  alteration  will  not  be  numer- 
ous in  this  century. 

February  4,  1837,  the  Typographical  Society  at  Lex- 
ington, Ky.,  issued  a  circular,  which,  like  the  one  from 
Columbia,  S.  C,  does  not  state  clearly  when  the  society 
was  formed. 

In  1838  the  St.  Louis  (Mo.)  Typographical  Associa- 
tion sent  out  a  protest  against  a  perpetual  "ratting"  of 
printers    who    had    conducted    themselves    honorably    in 

14  As  indicative  of  the  cost  of  living,  the  prices  quoted  from  the  central 
market  at  Washington,  D.  C,  September  18,  1837,  are  here  reproduced:  "Beef, 
from  6J4  to  12^  cents  per  pound;  corned  beef,  8  cents;  veal,  6%  to  10  cents; 
pork,  12  cents;  mutton,  6%  to  10  cents  per  pound;  lamb,  50  to  75  cents  per 
quarter;  ham,  14  cents  per  pound;  butter  20  to  25  cents;  butter,  print,  3ij4  to 
37J4  cents;  lard,  12^  cents  per  pound;  chickens,  $2  to  $3  per  dozen;  eggs,  15 
cents;  corn  (green),  12J4  cents  per  dozen;  potatoes,  50  cents  per  bushel;  sweet 
potatoes,  37x/i  cents  per  peck;  corn  meal,  $1.12^2  per  bushel;  rye  meal,  80 
cents  per  bushel." 

96 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

other  cities.  The  occasion  of  this  was  that  a  printer  who 
had  worked  in  the  Duff  Green  plant,  Washington,  D.  C, 
in  1836  or  1837,  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  obtained 
a  situation,  when  it  was  discovered  he  was  on  the  rat 
list  sent  out  from  Washington.  The  St.  Louis  society 
testified  that  the  man  had  "conducted  himself  honorably" 
in  St.  Louis  and  wanted  to  know  how  long  the  rat  list 
was  expected  to  last.  The  Washington  society  in  reply 
granted  its  permission  to  the  St.  Louis  association  to  ac- 
cept this  man  as  a  member,  and  annulled  its  rat  list  of 
1836. 

May  4,  1839,  the  Washington  society  adopted  the 
"chapel  system."  From  Louisville,  Ky.,  came  a  letter 
stating  that  the  Louisville  Typographical  Association 
was  formed  April  1,  1839.  "There  having  been  hereto- 
fore two  societies  in  this  city,  which  now  exist  no  more, 
we  have  organized  upon  entirely  different  lines."  Dur- 
ing the  year  several  societies  were  heard  from  for  the 
first  time,  some  only  recently  organized,  while  others  ap- 
pear to  have  been  in  existence  for  some  time.  Vicksburg, 
Miss.,  for  instance,  sent  out  a  "rat  list"  and  asked  for  an 
exchange  of  same;  Columbus,  Ohio,  was  first  heard  of 
July  6,  1839,  the  letter  not  being  preserved  in  the  min- 
utes. Detroit,  Mich.,  sent  out  a  strike  notice  stating  that 
the  association  had  been  compelled  to  strike  for  wages 
due  and  unpaid.  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  reported  that  an  or- 
ganization had  just  been  effected;  as  did  Frankfort,  Ky., 
and   Tallahassee,  Fla. 

The  most  important  event  <>f  this  year  (1839)1  how- 
ever, in  view  of  the  continued  apprenticeship  troubles, 
1  lie  action  of  the  New  Orleans  Typographical  Asso- 
ciation.  September  I,  1838,  this  organization  sent  out  a 
circular  Letter  notifying  all  societies  that  it  was  on  strike 
against  one  office  in  the  city,  that  of  David  Felt  &  Co. 
August  3.  183c),  it  sent  out  a  "rat  circular."  doubtless 
growing  out  of  the  same  difficulty.      In  its  constitution 

97 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

as  revised  September  14,  1839,  this  association  prohibits 
any  member  from  working  "on  any  English  daily  morn- 
ing paper,  on  which  any  apprentices  may  be  employed." 
January  8,  1840,  the  Boston  association  sent  letters  asking 
for  wage  scales  and  stating  it  was  making  a  list  of  wages 
paid  in  all  cities.  Jackson  (Miss.)  Typographical  As- 
sociation was  organized  in  1840.  The  collapse  of  the 
National  Society  disheartened  the  local  societies  and  gave 
the  "benefit"  faction,  or  the  "alimoners,"  as  they  were 
called,  the  floor  and  the  argument  for  a  year  or  two. 

April  4,  1840,  the  Mobile  (Ala.)  association,  and 
June  6  of  the  same  year  the  New  York  association,  each 
sent  out  "rat  circulars"  as  a  result  of  strikes  in  which 
both  organizations  seem  to  have  gotten  their  death  blow. 
Nowhere,  outside  of  New  Orleans,  was  the  apprentice 
trouble  settled  or  even  mollified,  and  even  there  it  was 
controlled  only  in  the  morning  newspaper  offices.  The 
Washington  society  was  permitting  special  exceptions  to 
its  apprentice  regulations;  and  in  Philadelphia,  society 
members  were  working  with  boys  and  "two-thirders"  un- 
til it  was  said  there  were  just  journeymen  enough  in  an 
office  to  tell  the  apprentices  what  to  do.  The  whole  sub- 
ject was  chaotic.  In  January,  1842,  the  Washington 
society  appointed  a  committee  to  go  over  the  entire  mat- 
ter. The  "alimoners"  had  a  majority  of  the  committee 
and  were  for  the  repeal  of  all  laws  attempting  to  regulate 
trade  affairs  of  this  kind.  The  minority  report  was  for 
strict  enforcement.  Taken  together,  these  reports  form 
a  most  important  document  on  the  subject.  Not  only  do  we 
get  here  an  inside  view  of  the  workings  of  the  two  fac- 
tions, but  we  get  a  view  of  the  situation  as  seen  by  those 
most  interested.    The  report  is  given  below : 

The  committee  appointed  upon  the  apprentice  regulations  at 
the  last  stated  meeting  submitted  the  two  following  reports, 
which  were  received. 

98 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

The  committee  of  the  Columbia  Typographical  Society,  to 
whom  the  following  resolution  was  referred,  viz. :  "Resolved, 
That  this  society  appoint  a  committee  to  inquire  into,  and  re- 
port upon,  the  expediency  of  either  modifying,  repealing  or 
more  rigidly  enforcing  the  apprentice  regulations  of  the  said 
society" — ask  permission  of  the  society  respectfully  to  present 
their  views  in  the  following  report : 

That  your  committee,  in  accordance  with  the  above  resolu- 
tion, have  duly  considered  the  matter  referred  to  them,  and 
given  to  it  that  attention  which  the  importance  of  the  subject 
demands.  That  your  committee  consider  the  above-named 
regulations  were  recommended  by  the  general  convention  of 
printers,  with  the  intention  (in  connection  with  other  meas- 
ures), to  unite  the  societies  of  the  different  cities  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  interests  of  the  craft ;  and  could  only  be  ben- 
eficial by  general  adoption.  That  such  has  not  been  the  case  is 
evident  to  every  one,  for  they  have  only  been  carried  out  by  one 
society  besides  this.  That,  as  said  project  of  union  has  totally 
failed  of  success,  this  society  is  under  no  obligations  to  other 
societies  to  enforce  said  regulations.  That  this  society,  itself, 
having  violated  the  regulations  in  the  case  of  the  boy  (Bailey) 
taken  into  the  office  of  Mr.  Allen,  and  failed  to  enforce  them 
in -numerous  other  instances  where  they  have  been  openly  vio- 
lated, can  not  now,  with  any  hope  of  success,  resolve  to  enforce 
them.  Can  this  society  demand  of  employers  an  adherence  to 
regulations  that  the  society  was  the  first  to  violate?  These  reg- 
ulations, by  mutual  agreement  between  them,  were  equally 
binding  upon  this  society  and  employers ;  but,  by  your  own  act, 
in  the  opinion  of  your  committee,  you  have  absolved  the  em- 
ployers from  all  obligation  to  adhere  to  them.  When  violations 
of  said  regulations  have  occurred,  and  been  reported  to  this  so- 
ciety, you  have,  more  than  once,  appointed  committees  to  confer 
with  the  employers  on  the  subject,  but  without  any  satisfactory 
Ktnlt  Some  have  promised  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  the 
society;  others  have  treated  you  with  OOPteaiptOOOl  silence,  and 
all  hive  continued  to  violate  the  apprentice  regulations,  as  long 
is  it  was  their  interest  to  <1"  so  I  hat.  in  the  opinion  of  v<>ur 
committee,  the  aforesaid  regulations  operate  in  favor  of  the 
l •mployer,  and  against  the  interests  of  the  journeymen:  the  long 
term  of  ipprenttaethip,  ;m<l  the  legll  power  given  to  the  master 
to  make  the  apprentice  serve  the  full  term  of  five  years,  cer- 

99 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tainly  offers  greater  inducements  to  employers  to  take  appren- 
tices, and  bring  them  in  competition  with  journeymen,  than  the 
old  system,  under  which — the  term  of  apprenticeship  depending 
altogether  on  the  will  of  the  boy,  the  master  possessing  no  legal 
power  to  detain  him — there  was  less  inducement  to  bring  ap- 
prentices in  competition  with  journeymen.  In  a  word,  the  reg- 
ulations, as  they  now  stand,  are  a  dead  letter,  and  as  long  as 
they  remain  in,  and  are  acknowledged  by,  this  society,  as  a  part 
of  its  constitution,  without,  at  the  same  time,  enforcing  them, 
they  are  a  disgrace  and  reproach  to  us.  That,  in  the  opinion  of 
your  committee,  it  is  inexpedient  to  modify  or  enforce  said  reg- 
ulations. That,  in  the  opinion  of  your  committee,  if  this  soci- 
ety, in  its  wisdom,  should  see  fit  to  repeal  the  said  regulations, 
it  will  settle  all  differences  now  existing  between  this  society 
and  employers  in  relation  to  apprentices,  prevent  future  colli- 
sions of  the  same  nature;  still  the  murmurs  and  dissatisfaction 
of  a  large  and  respectable  minority  of  this  society;  and  give 
peace  and  good  feelings  where  we  have  long  had  agitation  and 
angry  contention. 

In  conclusion,  your  committee  would  respectfully  recom- 
mend the  following  resolution  for  adoption,  and  ask  to  be  dis- 
charged from  the  further  consideration  of  the  subject : 

Resolved,  That  the  apprentice  regulations  of  the  Columbia 
Typographical  Society  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  repealed. 

C.   W.   C.   DUNNINGTON, 

John  T.  C.  Clark, 

Committee. 

A  minority  of  the  committee  of  the  Columbia  Typographical 
Society,  to  whom  was  referred  the  subject  of  a  repeal  or  modifi- 
cation of  the  apprentice  regulations  of  said  society  respectfully 
begs  leave  to  report : 

That  he  has  given  the  matter  his  most  serious  attention  and 
weighed  all  the  arguments  that  presented  themselves  to  his 
mind,  for  and  against  these  regulations,  in  the  calm  balance 
of  reflection.  For  the  repeal  of  the  regulations,  there  appear  to 
exist  the  following  reasons :  First,  because  the  regulations  were 
framed  to  meet  a  general  law  on  the  subject,  to  be  in  force  in 
all  cities  throughout  the  Union,  whereas  said  general  law  has 
only  been  complied  with  in  one  city  besides  this.  Second,  be- 
cause the  regulations  were  not  made  in  accordance  with  long- 
established  usage,  either  in  this  or  in  any  other  age  and  country, 

ioo 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

but  were  merely  got  up  as  an  experiment,  which  experiment  has 
failed  to  stand  the  test  of  five  years'  successful  application. 
Third,  because  this  society  has  itself  specially  authorized  an  in- 
fraction of  the  regulations  in  one  instance  and  not  promptly 
condemned  their  infraction  in  other  instances.  Fourth,  because  a 
very  respectable  minority  in  this  society,  in  number  and  char- 
acter, have  always  regarded  the  regulations  as  irregular,  and 
not  within  the  purview  of  the  society's  original  jurisdiction — a 
minority  which  has  sufficiently  increased  of  late  to  call  for  some 
concession,  or  else  the  most  convincing  arguments,  from  the 
majority. 

These  reasons  appear  to  be  of  such  weight  as  to  entitle  them 
to  great  consideration.  The  closing  part  of  the  last  season 
might  seem  to  many  particularly  cogent  as  regards  the  mere 
expediency  of  repeal,  from  the  fact  that  the  regulations  of  a 
society  of  operatives  can  scarcely  ever  be  beneficial  or  effective, 
unless  approved  by  two-thirds  of  those  who  are  to  carry  them 
into  effect.  The  undersigned  has  been  mindful  of  the  strength 
of  the  reasons  in  favor  of  repeal,  and  also  of  the  deduction 
which  may  be  naturally  drawn  from  the  closing  portion  of 
the  last ;  but  he  has  deemed  it  due  to  the  investigation  in 
which  he  is  engaged,  to  turn  to  the  other  side,  and  see  what 
reasons  may  be  offered  for  the  retention  and  maintenance  of 
these  regulations.  They  may  be  stated  as  follows:  First,  the 
regulations  prevent  a  too  rapid  multiplication  of  journeymen, 
by  withdrawing  from  parents  and  guardians  the  inducement  of 
putting  boys  to  the  business  ;is  a  temporary  stay  or  relief,  who, 
having  served  a  couple  of  yean,  Bit  turned  out  to  compete  with 
journeymen  of  more  mature  experience.  Second,  they  improve 
the  quality  of  such  apprentices  as  do  serve,  by  affording  them 
ample  time  to  learn  their  business,  a  complete  knowledge  of 
which  always  stimulates  them,  in  every  situation  in  life,  to  a 
regard  for  the  honor  of  the  craft.  Third,  masters  will  readily 
start  the  printing  business  with  apprentices  only,  when  they  can 
transfer  or  abandon  such  apprentices  at  will.  Fourth,  boys  who 
are  initiated  into  the  business  from  temporary  expediency,  be- 
sides excluding  journeymen  to  a  certain  extent,  while  scrv 
tag  their  apprenticeship,  frequently  return,  on  the  failure 
of  other  business,  ;it  :(  time  when  those  who  have  made  it  the 
business  of  their  lives  can  tcarcclv  procure  employment  .u  it — 
thereby  Increasing  the  general  distress  among  the  craft.     Fifth, 

IOI 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

this  society,  from  its  foundation  up  to  a  very  short  period  be- 
fore the  adoption  of  these  regulations,  showed  its  partiality  for 
long  apprenticeship  by  requiring  four  years  of  such  service  to 
be  one  of  the  constituent  qualifications  of  membership.  Sixth, 
the  small  number  of  apprentices  now,  in  this  city,  compared 
with  what  there  were  when  these  regulations  were  established, 
affords  the  most  irrefragable  evidence  of  the  efficacy  and  good 
result  of  the  regulations. 

The  undersigned,  after  such  a  hesitancy  as  is  involved  in  the 
foregoing  citation  of  the  merits  of  the  case,  has  concluded  to, 
and  does,  recommend  an  adherence  to  the  apprentice  regula- 
tions. He  believes  they  have  been  productive  of  much  good  to 
the  master,  the  journeyman,  and  the  apprentice :  to  the  master, 
by  increasing  his  net  profit  on  the  apprentice's  labor;  to  the 
journeyman,  by  limiting  the  number  of  his  competitors;  to  the 
apprentice,  by  affording  him  a  competent  experience;  and  to 
all,  through  an  amenity  and  congeniality  of  sentiment  engen- 
dered by  the  system.  He  thinks  that  their  repeal  would  be  but 
an  entering  wedge  to  split  and  divide  our  society  on  all  the 
regulations  which  it  has  established  for  the  general  welfare. 
He  also  believes  there  is  no  middle  ground.  Modification 
would  only  multiply  the  attacks  of  those  interested  in  repeal,  as 
well  as  the  enemies  of  the  society.  Special  instances  may  occur 
where  an  exception  to  the  regulations  will  be  necessary — such 
as  where  the  family  to  which  an  apprentice  belongs  is  removing 
from  one  section  of  country  to  another ;  but  in  such  special  in- 
stances the  undersigned  apprehends  a  vote  of  two-thirds  can 
readily  be  obtained  to  authorize  such  exception. 

In  conclusion,  the  undersigned  asks  that  the  committee  be 
discharged  from  the  further  consideration  of  the  subject. 

.    F.  Jefferson. 

Mr.  Delano  offered  the  following  resolution  : 
Resolved,    That    the    apprentice    regulations    be    enforced 
forthwith. 

For  which  Mr.  Drew  offered  the  following  as  a  sub- 
stitute : 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  vigilance  be  appointed,  to  con- 
sist of  one  member  of  this  society  in  each  office,  in  the  city,  to 
supervise  the  admission  of  apprentices  into  the  respective  offices 
in  which  the  members  of  the  committee  may  be  engaged;  and 

102 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

that,  on  the  admission  of  a  new  apprentice  into  an  office,  the 
committee  be  required  to  wait  upon  the  employer,  on  the  au- 
thority of  the  society,  and  inquire  whether  such  apprentice  has 
been  taken  in  accordance  with  the  regulations  of  this  society, 
and  to  report  the  same  to  the  society;  and  that  said  committee 
also  be  authorized  to  pursue  a  like  course  with  regard  to  those 
apprentices  who  are  now  working  in  offices  contrary  to  the 
rules  of  the  society. 

Nothing,  however,  came  of  it  at  this  time.  By  resolu- 
tion the  society  had  appointed  a  committee  November 
6,  1 841,  to  make  a  list  of  all  the  "journeymen  now  em- 
ployed in  the  several  offices  of  this  city,  designating  the 
number  that  are  members  of  this  society,  the  number 
that  have  been,  but  from  any  cause  have  ceased  to  be 
members,  and  the  number  that  have  never  been  attached 
to  the  society." 

April  2,  1842,  a  resolution  to  prohibit  members  from 
working  with  non-members  after  January  I,  1843,  was 
introduced,  this  being  the  first  attempt  in  Washington 
to  discriminate  against  merely  non-union  men  as  distin- 
guished, of  course,  from  "rats,"  or  men  working  under 
the  scale.  The  argument  of  the  resolution  is  identical 
with  that  used  against  the  non-union  man  today  : 

Whereas  experience  has  clearly  demonstrated  that  it  has 
been  only  by  the  formation  and  continuance  of  the  Columbia 
Typographical  Society  that  the  craft  have  been  enabled  to  at- 
tain their  present  prosperous  condition,  in  a  moral  and  pecu- 
niary point  of  view,  in  this  city ;  and 

Whereas  a  crisis  has  arrived  in  the  affairs  of  the  profession, 
which  calls  for  a  rally  of  all  members  of  the  craft  in  support 
of  the  constitution  and  regulations  of  the  society;  and  Ik! 
ing  that  all  who  work  at  the  business  in  this  city  are  benefited 
by  the  existence  of  said  society,  and  bound,  lx>th  by  honor  and 
interest,  to  contrihnte  to  its  support.     Therefore. 

Rrsolvi'J.  That  every  person  working  at  the  business  will 
be  required  to  make  application  to  join  this  society  within  one 
month  from  the  time  of  his  commencing  work  at  any  office  in 
this  ( ity,  at  1  regular  stated  meeting  of  the  society. 

103 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Resolved,  That  on  the  refusal  or  neglect  of  any  to  comply 
with  the  regulation  contained  in  the  foregoing  resolution,  or  in 
case  of  the  rejection  of  such  applicant,  the  members  of  this  so- 
ciety shall  cease  to  work  in  any  office  where  such  person  may  be 
employed. 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  resolution  go  into  effect  as  an 
amendment  to  the  constitution,  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  1843. 

As^  a  similar  resolution  was  introduced  in  1847,  this, 
if  passed  (the  minutes  do  not  show  whether  it  was  or 
not),  does  not  appear  to  have  been  very  effective,  but  is 
none  the  less  indicative  of  the  sentiment  of  the  time. 

In  New  York  city  early  in  1844  the  Franklin  Typo- 
graphical Association  had  been  founded  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  an  advance  in  wages.  The  scale,  which  was 
28  cents  per  1,000  ems  and  $1 1  a  week,  was  agreed  upon 
at  a  meeting  held  April  13,  1844,  to  take  effect  April 
15.  At  a  meeting  held  on  the  latter  date  the  following 
resolutions  were  passed : 

Whereas  the  Franklin  Typographical  Association  have 
designated  the  15th  day  of  April,  1844,  as  the  time  for  the  re- 
vised scale  of  prices  to  go  into  operation ;  and 

Whereas  it  is  necessary  for  the  association,  to  protect  those 
who  may  be  thrown  out  of  employment  in  consequence  thereof ; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  all  persons  who  may  be  thrown  out  of  em- 
ployment in  consequence  of  demanding  the  advance  designated 
in  the  scale,  be  requested  to  report  themselves  to  the  board  of 
management  at  Stoneal's  Hotel,  Fulton  street,  on  Monday, 
April  15,  1844,  between  the  hours  of  10  A.  m.  and  10  p.  m.  to 
receive  such  information,  instructions  and  assistance  as  circum- 
stances may  require. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  make 
arrangements  for  the  firing  a  salute  of  lOO  guns  on  Monday, 
April  15,  1844,  in  honor  of  the  large  number  of  the  generous 
and  liberal  employers  who  have  already  signified  their  willing- 
ness to  pay  the  new  scale. 

This  firing  of  guns  was  premature,  if  intended  as  a 
celebration    of   victory.      May    6,    1844,    the    association 

104 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

opened  reading  rooms  and  a  house  of  call  at  No.  109 
Nassau  street  for  the  use  of  all  the  journeymen  printers, 
and  where  "members  of  the  association  out  of  employ- 
ment are  requested  to  call  and  register  their  names  and 
addresses."  It  was,  in  fact,  a  "headquarters  of  the 
strikers,"  such  as  we  know  today.  Matters  grew  worse 
and  worse  for  the  association.  July  22  the  following 
"address"  was  issued : 

The  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Franklin  Typographical 
Association  having  been  duly  appointed  by  the  board  of  man- 
agers to  confer  with  certain  printers  concerning  prices,  respect- 
fully submits  the  following  report : 

Saturday  morning,  July  20,  I  called  on  John  F.  Trow,  the 
corporation  printer,  and  stated  to  him  that  I  had  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  association  to  inquire  of  him  if  there  was  any 
truth  in  the  rumor  that  he  was  about  to  reduce  prices  in  his 
book  office.  He  answered  me  very  haughtily,  "Suppose  there 
is?"  I  said  that  I  did  not  come  to  explain  why  he  should  not 
reduce  prices,  but  merely  to  ask  what  truth  there  was  in  the 
rumor.  Again  he  replied,  "Suppose  there  is?"  I  asked  him 
if  that  was  his  only  answer.  He  replied  that  he  acknowl- 
edged no  right  in  the  association  to  ask  him  questions;  that 
the  association  had  been  the  cause  of  difficulty  in  his  office, 
and  that  he  was  determined  to  "set  his  face  against"  this  or 
any  other  association  that  should  assume  the  right  of  dicta- 
tion as  to  what  men  should  receive  for  their  labor.  He  should 
"set  his  face  against  the  association."  He  held  that  he  had 
the  right  to  pay  what  he  pleased  for  work,  and  that  no  one 
had  a  right  to  say  a  word  in  the  matter;  and  he  was  "deter 
mined  to  set  liis  face  against  the  association." 

After  this  ebullition  of  superfluous  breath,  the  gentlemanly 
corporation  printer  set  his  back  against  me  and  I  walked  off. 

Printers  of  New  York!  have  you  no  interest  in  this  matter? 
A  portion  of  your  number,  by  great  exertion,  formed  an 
tion — upon  a  liberal  and  benevolent  plan — have  adopted  a  scale 
of  prices  to  which   these  very  nun  a< -ceded,  and   which  every 
honorable  employer  considers  fair  and  just. 

This  scale  of  prices  will  put  more  money  in  vour  pocket  in 
I  month  than  the  association  will  take  from  you  in  a  whole 

105 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

If  you  who  are  not  members  of  our  association  would  come 
up  and  join — if  you  would  help  yourselves  fight  your  own  bat- 
tles— we  might  give  such  answer  as  would  effectually  convince 
John  F.  Trow,  and  others  of  his  belief,  that  free  and  independ- 
ent men,  men  who  earn  an  honest  livelihood  by  the  sweat  of 
their  brow,  have  a  right  to  dictate  to  fellow-men — aye  though 
their  names  be  not  blazoned  six  several  times  in  gorgeousness 
of  gold  leaf  and  paint  upon  the  walls  of  a  four-story  building. 

But  if  the  mass  of  journeymen  printers  will  remain  idle  in 
this  business — if  they  will  shun  all  opportunity  for  benefiting 
themselves — then  they  must  submit  to  be  insolently  told  that 
they  have  no  right  to  ask  a  fair  return  for  their  labor,  that  they 
must  take  what  their  masters  choose  to  offer,  and  be  silent ;  they 
must  be  content  to  cringe  before  the  soulless  tyrant  who  by  any 
means  may  happen  to  possess  control  over  a  case  of  type  and  a 
rickety  press ;  they  must  be  content  to  live  or  die,  to  feast  or 
starve,  as  the  greed  and  avarice  of  the  employer  may  dictate. 

Fellow- journeymen  f  have  you  not  as  fair  a  right  to  sunlight 
and  shade,  to  air  and  existence  as  any  other  breathing  mortal? 
If  so,  then  protect  that  right,  for  it  is  in  danger.  The  men  who 
would  deprive  you  of  a  portion  of  your  hard-earned  wages, 
were  willing  for  their  own  interests  to  pay  the  scale  at  the  time 
of  its  adoption. 

Business  was  brisk  then,  work  was  plenty,  and  men  were  in 
demand.  Now  work  is  scarce,  and  for  that  reason  these  fellows 
would  cut  down  your  wages !  as  if  the  laborer  was  responsible 
for  the  decrease  of  business,  and  his  wife  and  children  must  be 
punished  and  starved  so  that  the  employer's  account  of  profits 
and  gain  may  foot  up  as  they  did  when  business  was  good.  Oh, 
charitaLle,  enlightened,  benevolent  logic  that  would  reduce  the 
compensation  for  work  because  work  is  scarce. 

In  view  of  these  circumstances,  we  call  upon  the  journeymen 
printers  of  New  York  to  come  up,  not  to  help  us  individually, 
nor  for  the  purpose  of  parade  or  display,  but  come  up  for  the 
benefit  of  yourselves,  for  your  Own  protection,  for  the  protec- 
tion of  your  wives  and  children — for  the  protection  of  their 
honor — for  the  protection  of  the  honor  and  the  dignity  of  la- 
bor, and  the  character  of  freemen ;  all  of  which  are  endangered 
by  the  illiberal,  selfish  and  unjust  actions  of  a  certain  number 
of  purse-proud  mortals.  T  F   Ottarson, 

Corresponding  Secretary. 
1 06 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

The  last  meeting  of  this  militant  association,  so  far  as 
can  be  learned,  was  held  December  21,  1844.  About 
this  time,  or  possibly  in  1843,  an  attempt  was  made  to 
found  a  national  secret  society,  to  be  composed  of  picked 
men  from  the  local  associations  in  all  cities,  and  to  be 
called  "The  Order  of  Faust."  The  move  was  started  in 
New  York  city,  and  it  is  said  that  such  of  the  leaders  as 
were  approached  in  Albany,  Washington,  Cincinnati,  Bos- 
ton and  Philadelphia  were  ready  to  join  and  to  found 
co-ordinate  branches. 

The  years  from  1844  t0  ^47  were  remarkable  for 
nothing  but  the  same  old  temporizing  struggle  over  ap- 
prentices, and  the  ever-swelling  army  of  "two-thirders" 
which  was  augmented  continuously  from  the  apprentices. 
In  1845,  in  Washington,  a  group  of  printers  forming  a 
committee  from  the  society  were  arrested  upon  a  charge 
of  "conspiracy,"  as  the  result  of  an  attempt  to  enforce 
the  society's  apprenticeship  regulations,  which  all  of  the 
employers  (including  those  causing  the  arrest)  had 
agreed  to  for  years,  but  which  nobody,  not  even  the  so- 
ciety, had  paid  much  attention  to.  The  extent  to  which 
apprentices  were  substituted  for  journeymen,  as  compared 
with  the  present  time,  can  be  best  realized  by  reference 
to  an  incident  in  Detroit,  Mich.  In  1846  the  apprentice 
struck  on  a  Detroit  newspaper,  and  publication  was  sus- 
pended for  two  days  because  there  were  not  journeymen 
enough  to  do  the  work.  November  22,  1847,  trie  Albany 
(N.  Y. )  association  sent  out  a  letter  stating  that  con- 
tractors had  taken  the  state  printing  at  17  cents  per  1 ,000 
ems,  and  were  hiring  boys  at  $3  a  week  to  do  the  work. 
The  next  year  the  Albany  Union  limited  the  number  of 
apprentices.  In  1847  the  Baltimore  association  adopted 
a  constitutional  amendment  limiting  apprentices  at  tin- 
ratio  of  one  apprentice  to  each  three  journeymen.  In 
the  convention  of  1850  the  Baltimore  delegates,  as  well 

107 


1 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

as  those  of  Albany,  urged  limitation,  and  referred  to 
that  of  their  own  unions,  but  without  mentioning  the 
ratio.  Mr.  H.  T.  Ogden,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  who  was 
a  delegate  to  the  convention  of  1850,  in  an  interview  for 
this  report,  kindly  supplied  this  important  information. 
Mr.  Ogden  went  to  Cincinnati  in  1847,  and  his  first  em- 
ployment was  in  a  job  office  where  there  were  three 
journeymen  and  five  boys,  called  apprentices,  but  were 
only  so  in  name.  Mr.  Ogden  thinks  that  was  about  the 
ratio  throughout  the  Middle  West  at  that  time.  Few 
offices  had  more  than  one  or  two  journeymen.  He  re- 
members that  in  the  best  office  in  Lexington,  Ky.,  in 
1836,  there  was  one  journeyman  and  five  apprentices  in 
the  news  composing  room  and  one  journeyman  and  one 
apprentice  in  the  jobroom.  In  1847  Mr.  Ogden  corre- 
sponded with  the  Baltimore  union  and  got  its  apprentice- 
ship limitation  rule,  which  was  adopted  by  the  Cincinnati 
Union  in  1848.  In  1849  there  seems  to  have  been  a  ri- 
valry between  the  radical  and  conservative  elements,  the 
former  wishing  further  to  restrict  apprentices  by  increas- 
ing the  ratio  to  I  to  4.  Mr.  Ogden  was  the  candidate  of 
the  "1  to  3"  party,  and  was  elected  president  of  the  union. 
In  1848  the  Typographical  Union  of  Boston  was  or- 
ganized. A  preliminary  meeting  to  discuss  organization 
was  held  December  8,  1848,  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Henry 
K.  Oliver,  who  later  became  the  first  chief  of  the  first 
bureau  of  the  statistics  of  labor.  Final  organization  was 
effected  December  16,  1848,  with  approximately  sixty 
members.  The  prices  paid  at  that  time  were  25  cents 
per  1,000  ems  to  first-class  journeymen  in  the  best  offices 
and  162-3  cents  to  "two-thirders,"  who  outnumbered  the 
journeymen  about  two  to  one.  The  union  issued  a  cir- 
cular in  December,  1848,  in  which  it  said: 

There  are  in  Boston  156  journeymen  working  12  hours  each 
day  and  7  days  each  week,  who  receive  on  an  average  of  $9.25 

108  / 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

per  week.  There  are  325  journeymen  working  10  hours  each 
day  and  6  days  each  week,  who  receive  on  an  average  of  $6  per 
week. 

The  scale  of  prices  demanded  by  the  union  in  1849 
was  28  cents  per  1,000  ems,  with  a  weekly  rate  of  $13  on 
morning  papers;  for  evening  and  semi-weekly  papers,  28 
cents  per  1,000  and  $10  weekly  rate.  Job  offices  and 
weekly  papers  paid  the  same  piece  rate,  or  $9  a  week 
on  weekly  rate;  time  work  was  20  cents  an  hour. 

The  Pittsburgh  (Pa.)  Typographical  Association  was 
formed  in  1849  and  issued  a  scale  of  prices.  This  union 
proposed  at  first  only  a  three-year  indentured  apprentice- 
ship for  all  boys  employed  in  offices;  but  in  1850  or  1851 
adopted  a  limitation  of  apprentices  at  "1  to  3."  The 
Boston  union  of  1848  tried  to  solve  its  problems  by  re- 
fusing to  admit  to  membership  any  who  had  not  served 
a  four-year  apprenticeship  and  had  recommendations  as 
a  good  printer.  It  is  difficult  to  see  how  this  would 
solve  the  problem  of  the  "two-thirder,"  who  was  con- 
tent to  remain  a  two-thirder  and  out  of  the  union,  how- 
ever, as  it  is  not  at  all  clear  that  members  refused  to 
work  with  non-union  men  at  first,  and  certainly  not  with 
non-union  men  who  claimed  to  be  only  apprentices,  as 
the  "two-thirders"  when  driven  to  defense  invariably 
did.  In  1849  the  Boston  union  had  a  long  and  bitter 
strike  to  enforce  its  new  scale. 

December  29,  1849,  a  meeting  attended  by  27  com- 
positors from  the  daily  newspaper  offices  was  held  in 
New  York  city  to  discuss  organization  and  the  prospects 
of  securing  a  uniform  scale  of  wages  throughout  the  city. 
This  was  accomplished  January  19,  1850,  by  the  organi- 
zation of  the  New  York  Typographical  Union  (now 
"Big  Six")   and  the  adoption  of  a  scale  calling  for  32 

eents  pet  i.(kk)  tins,  which  the  employers  ueeeded  to 
without  friction.     Il<>n    Horace  Graeley,  having  accepted 

109 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

an  invitation  to  serve,  was  elected  its  first  president; 
"working  cards"  with  his  signature  as  president  still 
exist  and  are  greatly  prized  by  their  owners.15 

A  typographical  union  existed  in  San  Francisco,  Cal., 
and  one  in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  in  1850;  but  whether  organ- 
ized in  that  year  or  not,  is  not  known.  The  San  Fran- 
cisco scale  of  wages  was  $5  a  day.  Likewise  the  print- 
ers of  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  those  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
report  organization  and  trouble  in  September,  1850, 
but  do  not  clearly  indicate  how  long  they  had  been 
organized. 

The  present  typographical  union  in  Philadelphia  was 
organized  August  10,  1850,  adopting  a  constitution  and 
by-laws  and  price  list.  This  constitution  limits  appren- 
tices, and  prohibits  its  members  from  working  with  "two- 


15  The  New  York  Tribune  of  January  21,  1850,  contains  the  following  notice 
of  the  organization  and  condensation  of  the  constitution  adopted: 

At  a  meeting  of  the  New  York  Printers'  Union  held  on  Saturday  evening, 
January  19,  1850,  the  following  officers  were  elected:  President,  Horace  Gree- 
ley; vice-president,  Edgar  H.  Rogers;  recording  secretary,  William  H.  Prindle; 
financial  secretary,  R.  Cunningham;  corresponding  secretary,  George  Johnson; 
treasurer,  Thomas  N.   Rooker. 

CONSTITUTION    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    PRINTERS'    UNION. 

The  objects  of  the  union  shall  be  the  maintenance  of  a  fair  rate  of  wages, 
the  assistance  and  encouragement  of  good  workmen,  the  support  of  members 
in  sickness  and  distress,  the  relief  of  deserving  printers  who  may  visit  our 
city  in  search  of  employment,  the  establishment  of  a  library  for  the  use  and 
instruction  of  members,  and  to  use  every  means  in  our  power  which  may  tend 
to  the  elevation  of  printers  in  the  scale  of  social  life. 

1.  The  officers  of  this  union  shall  consist  of  a  president,  vice-president,  a 
recording  secretary,  a  financial  secretary,  a  corresponding  secretary,  a  treas- 
urer, a  financial  committee  of  three  to  serve  one  year,  a  visiting  committee  of 
seven  to  serve  for  three  months,  a  relief  committee  of  five  to  serve  for  six 
months,  and  a  board  of  five  trustees  to  be  elected  annually. 

2.  The  regular  meetings  of  the  union  are  to  be  held  on  the  first  and  third 
Saturdays  of  each  month,  and  special  meetings  may  at  any  time  be  called,  at 
the  request  of  six  members,  signified  in  writing  to  the  president. 

3.  Eleven  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transacting  of 
business. 

v  4.  The  initiation  fee  is  $1,  and  application  for  admission  may  be  made 
through  any  member,  the  applicant  first  depositing  in  the  hands  of  the  financial 
secretary  the  sum  of  $1. 

5.  At  the  next  meeting  after  his  proposition  the  union  shall  take  his  re- 
quest into  consideration  and  it  shall  thereupon   be  balloted   for  by  ball  ballots, 

1 10 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

thirders."  The  union  was  immediately  involved  in  a 
strike.  September  18,  1 850,  there  were  425  members 
enrolled  and  30  journeymen  who  had  refused  to  join, 
but  were  not  working  below  the  scale.  September  2 1  the 
"vigilance  committee"  reported  55  "two-thirders"  and  60 
unbound  boys  in  the  printing  offices  of  the  city,  and  gave 
name  and  detailed  personal  description  of  each.  The 
strike  lasted  into  December,  when  the  committee  re- 
ported to  the  union  that  it  could  not  win  the  strike  with 
the  demands  as  they  then  stood,  recommending  the  re- 
peal of  the  limitation  on  apprentices,  that  bting  the  one 
demand  most  bitterly  opposed  by  employers,  and  the  one 
which  alienated  public  sentiment.  The  sections  of  the 
by-laws  limiting  apprentices  were  repealed,  as  the  union 


and  if  the  applicant  shall   receive  three-quarters  of  all  the   ballots,   he  shall  be 
entitled  tq  a  certificate  of  membership. 

6.  Any  printer  who  has  attained  the  age  of  21  years,  who  is  in  sound 
health,  and  of  good  moral  standing  in  society,  may  become  a  member  by  com- 
plying with  the   requirements  of  the  constitution. 

7.  Members  may  pay  their  dues  monthly  if  they  prefer  it,  and  should  the 
liabilities  of  the  union  in  consequence  of  benefits  to  sick  and  superannuated 
members  exceed  the  receipts  thereof,  then  three-quarters  of  the  members  pres- 
ent at  a  regular  meeting,  or  at  a  special  (in  which  not  less  than  twenty  mem- 
bers shall  form  a  quorum),  shall  have  power  to  lay  an  assessment  not  to  exceed 
the  sum  of  $2  in  any  one  year  upon  every  member  of  the  union  in  addition 
to  all  other  constitutional  dues. 

8.  In  addition  to  the  initiation  fee  of  $1,  the  sum  of  $6.50  per  annum  will 
be  required  from  each  member  as  dues,  payable  quarterly  on  the  first  Saturday 
of  April,  July,  October  and  January.* 

9.  Members  who  arc  rendered  unable  to  work  by  sickness  shall  receive 
the  sum  of  $4  per  week,  and  in  case  of  death  of  a  member's  wife,  $10.  In 
case  of  the  death  of  a  member  an  assessment  of  35  cents  upon  each  member 
will  be  made  for  defraying  the  funeral  expenses.  The  surplus,  if  any,  to  go 
into  the  general  fund. 

10.  No  member  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  any  benefits  until  he  shall  have 
been  •  member  one  year. 

11.  Whenever  a  new  member  is  proposed  a  committee  of  investigation  of 
the  members  shall  be  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  qualifications  of  the  candi- 
date and  report  in  writing  at  the  next  regular  meeting. 

u.  The  widows  and  orphans  of  meml>er«  who  are  qualified  at  the  time  of 
their  decease  shall,  upon  the  recommendation  of  a  committee  appointed  to  in- 
vestigate the  circumstances,  be  allowed  such  assistant**  as  the  union  may  front 
time  to  time 

1  J.  This  union  may  at  any  future  time  adopt  a  Kale  of  prices  for  the 
governance  of  tie  trade;  and  any  printer  who  may  be  working  for  le««  than 
such  scale  shall  not  be  considered  a  proper  person  to  bt  a  member  of  this  union. 

Ill 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

was  unable  by  strike  to  enforce  them.  September  28, 
1850,  the  New  York  union  issued  a  call  for  a  national 
convention,  Boston  and  Philadelphia  joining  in  the  call. 

To  summarize,  we  find  documentary  evidence  that  New 
York  city  had  an  organization,  probably  temporary,  in 
1786;  another  formed  in  1795  and  existing  until  late  in 
1797;  a  third  existing  from  1799  to  1804;  another  or- 
ganized in  1809,  and  existing  as  a  trade  organization  to 
1 81 8,  and  as  a  mutual  benefit  society  still  in  existence. 
Again,  in  183 1,  a  trade  organization  formed  principally 
by  newspape/  compositors,  and  existing  until  about  1840, 
the  exact  date  of  its  dissolution  not  being  known.  Again, 
in  1844,  an  organization  which  seems  to  have  continued 
only  from  April  to  the  last  of  December  of  that  year, 
and,  lastly,  the  present  union,  which  was  organized  in 
January,  1850. 

In  Philadelphia  the  printers  organized  in  1802,  con- 
tinuing as  a  trade  organization  with  benefit  features  un- 
til 1 83 1,  when  it  was  reorganized  as  a  purely  benefit 
society  and  as  such  still  exists;  another  association,  or- 
ganized in  1833,  lasted  until  1839  or  I840,  and  in  1850 
the  present  union  was  organized. 

In  Boston  the  evidence  of  an  organization  in  1803  is 
not  quite  conclusive;  one  organized  in  1809  lasted  until 
1826  (that  of  1822  being  a  non-trade- regulating  society)  ; 
another  in  1838,  the  date  of  the  dissolution  of  which  was 
not  ascertained,  and  the  present  union,  formed  in  1848. 

Baltimore,  in  18 14,  organized  a  society  which  existed 
until  1826,  the  present  union  having  been  organized  in 

1831. 

Washington  organized  in  181 5  the  society  which  still 
exists  as  Union  No.  101,  and  is  the  oldest  existing  union 
of  printers,  if  not  the  oldest  union  in  any  trade,  in  the 
United  States.  Albany,  N.  Y.,  had  an  organization  from 
1 81 5   to    1827,   another  in    1 847.      New   Orleans,   one  in 

112 


Early  Organizations  of  Printers 

1830,  which  must  have  collapsed  in  a  short  time,  as  an- 
other was  organized  in  1835,  existing  until  about  1845. 
The  present  union  was  formed  in  1852. 

Cincinnati  organized  in  1832  a  society  which  appears 
to  have  lasted  until  about  1840.  The  present  union  was 
organized  in  1846,  though  not,  of  course,  under  its  pres- 
ent charter,  as  all  charters  were  dated  by  the  National 
Union  and  then  reissued  and  dated  by  the  reorganized 
International,  which  was  not  done  until  1869.  Richmond, 
Va.,  and  Charleston,  S.  C,  appear  in  1834.  Louisville, 
Ky.,  had  an  organization  in  1834;  another  in  1839,  which 
seems  to  have  survived  until  1847.  1°  1835  1S  found  the 
first  mention  of  or  reports  from  organizations  in  Natchez, 
Miss.,  and  Nashville,  Tenn.  In  1836  the  first  record  is 
made  of  organizations  in  Harrisburg,  Pa. ;  Mobile,  Ala., 
and  Augusta,  Ga.  The  Columbia  (S.  C. )  society  was 
also  organized  in  1836,  the  society  existing  until  about 
1842.  An  organization  was  formed  in  Lexington,  Ky., 
in  1837.  St.  Louis  had  an  organization  in  1838,  which 
appears  to  have  been  in  existence  some  time  when  first 
heard  from  through  a  circular  letter  issued  by  it  protest- 
ing against  a  continuous  rat  list.  In  1839  first  mention 
is  noted  of  organizations  in  Frankfort,  Ky. ;  Rochester, 
N.  Y. ;  Tallahassee,  Fla. ;  Columbus,  Ohio;  Detroit,  Mich., 
and  Vicksburg,  Miss. 

Organizations  were  formed  in  Jackson,  Miss.,  in  1840; 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  in  1849;  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  in  1849  or 
1850;  Savannah,  Ga. ;  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  Trenton,  N. 
J.,  in  1850.  The  organization  in  Oregon  and  Washing- 
ton Territories  of  what  appears  to  have  been  a  delegate 
union  occurred  in  1853.  Lastly,  two  national  organiza- 
tions were  organized,  that  of  1836  and  that  of  1850, 
which  reorganized  in  1852  as  the  present  national  body 
<>!   1 » rint  its. 


113 


Conventions   1850    to   1912 


Conventions    1850,  1851,  1852 

National  Convention  of  Journeymen  Printers  of  the 

United  States,  Held  in  New  York,  December  2-5, 

1850,  Together  with  "An  Address/' 

THE,  first  national  convention  of  journeymen  print- 
ers of  the  United  States,  aside  from  the  conventions 
of  1836  and  1837,  was  held  in  New  York  city,  in  Decem- 
ber, i85Chf\The  membership  of  the  convention  comprised 
delegates  from  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland  and  Kentucky.  The  sessions  of  the  convention 
were  held  at  Stoneall's  Hotel  in  Fulton  street. 

Officers,  1850  —  A  temporary  organization  was  ef- 
fected, and  John  \V.  Peregoy,  of  Maryland,  was  elected 
president,  together  with  George  E.  Greene,  Kentucky, 
and  M.  C.  Brown,  Pennsylvania,  vice-presidents;  F.  J. 
Ottarson,  New  York,  and  John  Hartman,  New  Jersey, 
secretaries.  A  committee  of  seven  was  appointed  to  pre- 
pare and  present  business  for  the  transaction  of  the  con- 
vention. 

National  Executive  Committee  Created  —  The  first 
formative  act  of  the  convention  was  the  adoption  of  the 
following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  a  standing  national  executive  committee  of 
three  from  each  state  be  appointed  to  enforce  the  execution 
of  all  resolutions  of  this  convention  bearing  upon  the  differ- 
ent sections  here  represented;  to  gather  information  on  all 
matters  of  interest  to  the  trade;  to  report  the  same  quarterly 
to  the  different  unions,  and  to  the  next  convention  when  it 
assembles;  to  make  arrangements  for  the  assembling  of  the 
next  convention,  and  also  to  attend  to  whatever  else  the  con- 
vention may  direct,  during  the  interim  between  the  adjourn- 
ment of  this  and  the  assembling  of  the  next  convention. 

Formation  of  Local  Unions  —  After  the  creation  of  the 
executive  committee,  the  convention  adopted  the  foil 

'<: 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ing  resolution,  which  was  ordered  to  be  forwarded  to  the 
various  local  organizations  then  in  existence  throughout 
the  country : 

Resolved,  That  this  convention  recommend  to  our  brethren 
throughout  the  country  the  formation  of  unions  on  the  fol- 
lowing basis : 

First.  Regulation  and  adjustment  of  the  different  scales  of 
prices  so  as  not  to  conflict  with  each  other. 

Second.  Giving  traveling  certificates  to  their  members,  in 
good  standing,  to  be  legal  for  one  year,  which  shall  recom- 
mend the  holders  thereof  to  assistance  and  traveling  expenses 
from  the  union  in  any  city  or  town  where  they  can  not  obtain 
work;  provided  said  holders  have  done  nothing  in  the  mean- 
time, by  a  course  of  intemperance  or  otherwise,  to  disqualify 
them  from  the  same,  of  which  fact  the  national  executive 
committee  shall  notify  the  unions  or  societies  in  other  places. 

Third.  Keeping  a  registry  of  the  names  of  "rats"  and 
other  unworthy  members  of  the  trade,  and  description  of  their 
persons,  to  be  sent  to  every  union  or  society  in  the  country 
and  to  be  kept  by  each  union  for  reference. 

Fourth.  Receiving  no  stranger  as  a  member  of  any  union 
or  society  who  shall  not  produce  a  legal  certificate  of  member- 
ship from  the  society  or  union  of  the  place  to  which  he  belongs. 

Fifth.  Levying  a  monthly  contribution  upon  each  mem- 
ber sufficiently  large  to  enable  it  to  accumulate  within  two 
years  a  sum  equivalent  at  least  to  $10  for  each  member,  as  a 
reserve  fund,  in  view  of  their  being  compelled  to  quit  work 
in  vindication  of  their  rights. 

Sixth.  Establishing  the  right  of  any  sister  union  or  so- 
ciety to  call  upon  them  for  pecuniary  assistance,  if  necessary, 
to  the  amount  of  $1  from  each  member;  provided  that  all 
sums  thus  loaned  shall  be  repaid  in  monthly  installments,  equiv- 
alent to  at  least  five  per  cent  of  the  original  loan ;  the  first  in- 
stallment to  be  paid  within  one  month  after  the  difficulty  calling 
for  the  loan  shall  have  passed  away. 

Seventh.  Granting  certificates  from  one  union  to  enable 
the  members  thereof  to  become  attached  to  any  other,  with- 
out paying  an  entrance  fee;  provided  the  holder  intends  re- 
siding permanently  within  the  bounds  of  the  union  into  which 
he  seeks  admission.  t  » 

118 


Convention  at  New  York,  1850 

Apprentices  —  The  next  question  considered  by  the 
delegates  was  the  importance  of  limiting  the  number  of 
apprentices.  After  an  extended  debate,  participated  in  by 
nearly  all  of  those  present,  the  following  expression  of 
sentiment  by  the  convention  was  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  the  limiting  of  the  number  of  apprentices 
be  earnestly  recommended  to  the  different  unions  throughout 
the  country  for  their  adoption. 

The  convention  also  expressed  itself  in  favor  of  inden- 
turing apprentices  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  five  years, 
and  employing  printers  were  urgently  requested  to  adopt 
the  system. 

Contract  Printing  —  Another  subject  that  occupied 
considerable  time  during  the  session  of  the  convention 
was  the  matter  of  contract  printing  by  the  legislatures  of 
the  several  states  and  by  the  congress  of  the  nation.  The 
convention  was  divided  on  this  question,  but  finally  ex- 
pressed itself  as  being  opposed  to  the  system  so  univer- 
sally adopted  by  the  legislatures  of  the  different  states  of 
giving  out  the  printing  for  their  several  bodies,  by  con- 
tract, to  the  lowest  bidder,  believing  that  the  action  was 
repugnant  to  the  spirit  of  republican  institutions,  inas- 
much as  its  effect  was  to  degrade  labor  below  the  stand- 
ard of  its  merit  by  throwing  it  into  the  market  for  the 
competition  of  men  not  practical  printers,  who  had  neither 
the  character  nor  the  interests  of  the  trade  at  heart. 

The  convention  recommended  to  the  trade  at  large  to 
respectfully  protest,  in  formal  manner,  against  the  con- 
tract system  in  every  branch  of  public  work;  and  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  was  instructed  to  urge  upon  the  various 
unions  some  general  action  upon  this  subject. 

Government  Printing  Office  —  The  convention  also  de- 
clared itself  as  opposed  to  the  establishing  of  a  govern- 
ment printing  office,  believing  that  the  same  would  have  a 
tendency  to  politic. il  favoritism. 

119 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

As  a  means  of  handling  the  government  printing,  the 
following  method  was  proposed  and  referred  to  the  suc- 
ceeding convention : 

Resolved,  That  the  national  executive  committee  have 
power  to  correspond  with  the  several  unions,  which  are  or 
may  be  established,  on  the  subject  of  joint  stock  offices,'  and 
particularly  to  ascertain  from  such  unions  if  funds  can  be 
subscribed  by  the  members  thereof  in  an  amount  sufficient  to 
warrant  the  establishment  of  a  national  union  for  doing  the 
printing  of  the  United  States  government. 

National  Executive  Committee  Appointed,  1850  —  The 
national  executive  committee,  authorized  by  the  conven- 
tion, was  appointed  by  the  chairman,  as  follows : 

New  York  —  T.  J.  Walsh,  Albany;  Edwin  H.  Rogers, 
Peter  MacDonald,  New  York  city. 

Pennsylvania  —  R.  B.  Smyth,  John  F.  Keyser,  W.  B. 
Eckert,  Philadelphia. 

New  Jersey — Charles  Bechtel,  John  Hartman,  Will- 
iam Gillipsy,  Trenton. 

Maryland — M.  F.  Conway,  Frederick  Young,  John 
W.  Peregoy,  Baltimore. 

Kentucky — George  E.  Greene,  J.  L.  Gibbons,  Ray- 
mond Lynch,  Louisville. 

The  committee  elected  M.  F.  Conway,  of  Baltimore,  as 
chairman  of  the  national  executive  committee. 

The  convention  was  in  session  four  days  and  adjourned 
to  meet  at  Baltimore,  September  12,  1851. 

Address  to  Printers  —  The  following  address  was  is- 
sued for  general  circulation  among  the  printers  of  the 
country : 

Address  to  the  Journeymen  Printers 
of  the  United  States 

For  some  time  past  the  project  of  calling  together  a  na- 
tional convention  of  journeymen  printers  has  met  with  con- 
siderable attention  and  favor  from  the  trade  in  various  porr 

120 


H'lIN  W.  PEREGOY.  Ualtimomk 

I'rr-i.lcnl 
Flrtt   Nalf.n.il   ('i>n\riili»n    louinrymcn    I'mitci* 

December  •-$.  1850 


Convention  at  New  York,  1850 

tions  of  the  country.  Aware  of  this  fact,  and  partaking  also 
in  the  general  desire,  the  unions  of  New  York,  Philadelphia 
and  Boston,  about  a  month  since,  issued  a  circular,  requesting 
the  different  societies  throughout  the  country  to  send  dele- 
gates to  a  national  convention,  to  be  held  in  New  York,  on 
Monday,  December  2,  1850.  In  consequence  of  the  very  short 
space  of  time  intervening  between  the  receipt  of  the  circular 
and  the  meeting  of  the  convention,  but  five  states  have  sent 
delegates,  viz. :  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land and  Kentucky.  These  delegates  met  in  convention  at 
the  time  and  place  specified,  and,  through  their  committee, 
now  address  you. 

It  is  useless  for  us  to  disguise  from  ourselves  the  fact  that, 
under  the  present  arrangement  of  things,  there  exists  a  per- 
petual antagonism  between  labor  and  capital.  The  toilers  are 
involuntarily  pitted  against  the  employers;  one  side  striving 
to  sell  their  labor  for  as  much,  and  the  other  striving  to  buy 
it  for  as  little,  as  they  can.  In  this  war  of  interests,  labor, 
of  itself,  stands  no  chance.  The  power  is  all  on  the  other 
side.  Every  addition  to  the  number  of  laborers  in  the  market 
decreases  their  power;  while  the  power  of  capital  grows  in  a 
ratio  commensurate  with  the  increase  of  the  capital  itself.  On 
the  one  side,  the  greater  the  number  of  dollars,  the  greater  the 
ability  to  succeed  in  the  conflict ;  on  the  other,  the  greater  the 
number  of  laborers,  the  less  the  ability  to  succeed.  Add  to 
this  fact  that  wealth  accumulates,  on  the  one  side,  much  faster 
as  the  laborers  accumulate  on  the  other,  and  the  utter  impo- 
tency  of  unorganized  labor  in  a  warfare  against  capital  becomes 
manifest. 

To  remedy  the  many  disastrous  grievances  arising  from  this 
disparity  of  power,  combination  for  mutual  agreement  in  de- 
termining rates  of  wages  and  for  concert  of  action  in  main- 
taining them  has  been  resorted  to  in  many  trades,  and  prin- 
cipally in  our  own.  Its  success  has  abundantly  demonstrated 
its  utility.  Indeed,  while  the  present  wage  system  continues 
in  operation,  as  an  immediate  protection  from  prating  calami- 
ne, it  is  clearly  the  only  effective  means  which  labor  can 
adopt.  So  far  as  it  extends,  it  destroys  competition  in  the 
labor  market,  unites  tin-  working  people,  and  produces  a  sort 

of  equilibrium  In  the  power  of  the  confllctlnf  parties. 

This  being  the  ease,   it  appears  evident   that  an  extensive 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

organization,  embracing  the  whole  country,  would  secure  to 
our  own,  or  to  any  other  trade,  a  power  which  could  be  de- 
rived from  no  other  source.  The  delegates  here  assembled 
have  come  together  deeply  impressed  with  this  conviction. 
They  regard  such  an  organization  not  only  as  an  agent  of  im- 
mediate relief,  but  also  as  essential  to  the  ultimate  destruc- 
tion of  those  unnatural  relations  at  present  subsisting  between 
the  interests  of  the  employing  and  the  employed  classes.  All 
their  actions  have  accordingly  been  regulated  with  a  view  to 
the  establishment  of  such  an  organization.  They  have  rec- 
ommended the  formation  of  societies  in  all  the  cities  and  towns 
throughout  the  country.  They  have  rendered  it  obligatory 
upon  all  members  of  the  profession,  traveling  to  any  point 
embraced  in  the  representation  here,  for  work,  to  have  with 
them  certificates  of  membership  from  the  society  located  in  the 
place  from  which  they  come.  They  have  established  a  na- 
tional executive  committee  to  urge  the  enforcement  of  their 
recommendations  and  requirements.  They  have  also  instructed 
that  committee  to  use  its  utmost  exertions  to  have  a  full  repre- 
sentation of  the  whole  country  in  the  next  national  conven- 
tion, which  they  have  ordered  to  be  held  in  Baltimore,  on  the 
1 2th  day  of  next  September. 

The  members  of  the  convention  are  well  aware  that  to  se- 
cure the  adoption  of  the  measures  they  recommend  they  must 
recommend  those  alone  which  are  best  calculated  to  effect  the 
immediate  well-being  of  the  individual  members  of  the  trade. 
The  establishment  of  a  general  organization  must  be  effected 
upon  certain  principles.  In  proportion  as  the  advantages  of 
the  operation  of  those  principles  are  felt  and  observed,  the 
establishment  of  that  organization  will  be  rendered  certain  or 
doubtful.  The  principles,  therefore,  recommended  by  the 
convention,  upon  which  it  urges  the  formation  of  societies 
throughout  the  country,  are  such  as  can  not  fail  to  enlist  in 
their  favor  the  most  potent  considerations  of  self-interest. 
Among  them  are — 

First.  An  understanding  in  the  regulation  of  scales  of 
prices  in  different  localities,  so  that  those  in  one  place  may  not 
be  permitted  to  become  so  comparatively  high  as  to  induce 
work  to  be  sent  elsewhere. 

Second.  The  enforcement  of  the  principle  of  limiting  the 
number  of  apprentices,  by  which  measure  a  too  rapid  increase 

122 


Convention  at  New  York,  1850 

in  the  number  of  workmen,  too  little  care  in  the  selection  of 
boys  for  the  business,  and  the  employment  of  herds  of  half 
men  at  half  wages,  to  the  detriment  of  good  workmen,  will 
be  effectually  prevented. 

Third.  The  issuing  of  traveling  certificates,  by  which  the 
distresses  of  brother  craftsmen,  incurred  in  journeying  from 
one  place  to  another,  in  search  of  work,  may  be  relieved.  In 
this  we  have  one  of  those  means  of  attracting  and  attaching 
to  our  societies  men  who,  not  troubled  largely  with  abstract 
principles  of  strict  duty,  are  nevertheless  willing  to  become 
"repentant  prodigals"  for  the  sake  of  the  "fatted  calf."  Be- 
sides, it  is  eminently  calculated  to  produce  a  warmer  attach- 
ment on  the  part  of  superior  men,  inasmuch  as  it  will  bind 
them  in  the  ties  of  gratitude  and  in  the  luxurious  fellowship 
of  good  deeds. 

Fourth.  Measures  to  prevent  disgraced  members  0/  the 
profession  enjoying,  anywhere  in  the  United  States,  those 
privileges  which  belong  exclusively  to  honorable  printers.  They 
consist  in  keeping  a  registry  of  "rats,"  to  be  sent  by  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  to  every  union  in  the  country,  for  reference ; 
and  admitting  to  membership  no  stranger  who  does  not  produce 
evidence  of  his  having  been  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
society,  if  any  existed,  in  the  place  from  which  he  comes. 

Fifth.  The  gradual  collection  of  a  sum  of  money  by 
each  union  sufficient  to  enable  it  to  hold  out  successfully  against 
the  employers  in  the  event  of  a  contention  for  higher  wages. 

Sixth.  The  recognition  of  the  right  of  a  union  to  borrow 
from  any  other,  when  necessary,  a  sum  of  money  to  the  amount 
of  one  dollar  for  each  member  thereof,  to  be  repaid  in  a 
manner  prescribed.  This  is  intended,  in  conjunction  with 
other  measures  proposed,  to  strengthen  each  individual  society 
in  the  struggles  which  it  may  be  called  on  to  make,  from 
time  to  time,  against  unjust  employers.  Its  efficacy  needs  no 
explanation. 

Skvi  \  1  h.  Measures  for  the  attainment  of  several  other  ob- 
jects of  less  importance,  which  are  calculated  to  give  efficacy  t«> 
the  whole. 

Such  has  been  the  main  work  of  the  convention ;  and,  while 
the  members  thereof  arc  aware  that  it  is  but  the  comnn 
ment  of  an  undertaking  whirl),   fan   its  full  completion,  must 
necessarily  be  more  or  less  protractive.  they  look  with  confi- 

«3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

dence  to  those  who  shall  follow  them,  in  subsequent  conven- 
tions, to  conduct  it  to  a  successful  consummation. 

The  project  of  establishing  a  joint  stock  office  at  Washing- 
ton city  for  the  purpose  of  executing  the  printing  of  the  United 
States  government  was  introduced  into  the  convention;  but  its 
newness,  as  a  matter  of  practical  concern,  to  the  great  body 
of  journeymen  printers,  with  the  necessity  of  having  a  thor- 
ough deliberation  on  so  important  a  matter,  and  the  propriety 
of  delegates  being  elected  with  a  special  regard  to  its  consid- 
eration, prompted  its  reference  to  the  next  convention.  The 
practicability  of  the  working  people  employing  themselves,  and 
realizing  the  profits  of  their  own  labor,  there  can  be  no  doubt, 
might  be  illustrated  and  established  if  the  journeymen  print- 
ers of  the  United  States  would  resolve  to  try  the  experiment. 
In  fact,  our  Philadelphia  brethren  have  already,  to  a  great  ex- 
tent, .succeeded  in  an  effort  of  the  kind.  A  publishing  estab- 
lishment has  been  instituted  in  that  city  by  the  union  there ;  and 
thus  far  has  answered  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  its 
projectors  and  friends.  If  a  similar  concern,  on  a  large  scale, 
could  be  instituted  in  Washington,  a  similar  result  might  be 
reasonably  apprehended.  The  subject  is,  at  least,  well  worth 
a  full  and  deliberate  consideration,  and  may  be  regarded  as 
one  of  the  most  important  and  interesting  which  will  engage 
the  attention  of  the  next  convention. 

Combination  merely  to  fix  and  sustain  a  scale  of  prices  is 
of  minor  importance  compared  with  that  combination  which 
looks  to  an  ultimate  redemption  of  labor.  Scales  of  prices,  to 
keep  up  the  value  of  labor,  are  only  necessary  under  a  system 
which,  in  its  uninterrupted  operation,  gives  to  that  value  a 
continual  downward  tendency.  But  when  labor  determines  to 
sell  itself  no  longer  to  speculators,  but  to  become  its  own  em- 
ployer; to  own  and  enjoy  itself  and  the  fruit  thereof,  the  ne- 
cessity for  scales  of  prices  will  have  passed  away,  and  labor 
will  be  forever  rescued  from  the  control  of  the  capitalist.  It 
will  then  be  free,  fruitful,  honorable.  The  shackles  of  a  dis- 
astrous conventionalism  will  have  fallen  from  its  limbs ;  and  it 
will  appear  in  the  character  which  nature  designed  it  to  sus- 
tain. This  is  certainly  a  consummation  most  devoutly  to  be 
wished;  and  however  difficult  it  may  be  to  attain,  if  within 
the  range  of  possibility,  ought  to  constitute  the  great  end  to 
which  all  our  other  aims  and  efforts  should  be  made  subsidiary. 

124 


Convention  at  New  York,  1850 

The  journeymen  printers  of  the  United  States  are  earnestly 
invoked,  by  their  brethren  here,  to  employ  their  most  effective 
endeavors  in  the  prosecution  of  this  work.  Its  success  now 
rests  with  them;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  they  will  feel  the  full 
weight  of  the  responsibility.  We  beg  them  to  take  into  favor- 
able consideration  the  measures  we  have  recommended  for  their 
adoption.  We  beg  them  to  assist  the  national  executive  com- 
mittee by  every  possible  means  in  the  fulfillment  of  its  duties. 
We  beg  them  to  circulate  the  official  proceedings  of  this  con- 
vention (published  in  pamphlet  form  by  the  union  of  Phila- 
delphia) wherever  such  circulation  will  be  calculated  to  ex- 
cite an  interest  in  the  movement.  And  we  beg  them,  finally, 
to  send  a  full  representation  to  the  next  convention  from  every 
section  of  the  country.  They  owe  a  duty  which  they  are  thus 
called  upon  to  discharge,  not  only  to  us,  who  have  commenced 
in  this  movement — not  alone  to  themselves,  who  are  so  deeply 
interested  in  it — but  also  to  the  laborers  of  all  trades  and  voca- 
tions, who  are  anxiously  awaiting  the  development  of  some  sure 
plan  of  amelioration  which  they  can  all  adopt.  Public  opinion 
places  us  at  the  head  of  the  mechanical  professions.  Let  us  not 
belie  that  opinion  by  falling  behind  it.  Something  is  expected 
of  us,  and  when  the  next  convention  assembles,  let  its  numbers 
and  its  actions  justify  and  realize  the  public  expectation.  Let 
something  be  evolved  during  its  deliberations  which  will 
redound  to  the  benefit  of  our  own  trade,  and,  by  the  way  of 
example,  to  the  benefit  of  all  others. 

M.  F.  Conway, 
Geo.  E.  Greene, 
And.  J.  Atkinson, 
J.  S.  Nafew, 
Chas.  Bechtel, 
By  order  of  the  convention.  Committee. 

John  W.  Peregoy, 

President. 
F.  J.  Ottarsov,  Geo.  !'    Gri  i  m  . 

John   Hartman,  M.  C.  Brown 

Secrctiiri,'*;.  Vice- Presidents. 

New  Yor*,  December  7.  1850. 

Comment  on  Address  to  /'n'tifrrs — In  Mr.  Stewarts 
hist Miy  of  the     Karly  Organizations  of  Printers"  the  fol- 

125 


.History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

lowing  comment  is  made  on  the  foregoing  address  :  "It  is 
not  the  purpose  of  this  article  to  comment  on  the  docu- 
ments submitted,  but  as  this  address  would  be  considered 
extremely  radical  if  issued  by  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  today,  and  as  it  is  extremely  improbable 
that  anything  bordering  on  some  of  its  sentiments  could  be 
passed  in  that  organization,  it  is  but  fair  to  call  attention 
to  the  fact  that  the  lines  between  radicalism  and  a  pro- 
gressive conservatism  were  not  so  clearly  defined  or 
sharply  drawn  then  as  now.  An  attack  upon  the  wage 
system  of  industry  did  not  mean  then  what  it  means  now. 
Such  attacks  had  been  and  were  being  made  by  the  hu- 
manitarians of  that  day ;  and  Greeley,  Dana,  Alcott,  Tho- 
reau,  and  all  they  of  the  Brook  Farm  and  countless  other 
experiments,  were  decrying  the  wage  system  without  ex- 
citing anybody,  even  themselves.  Their  plan  of  estab- 
lishing co-operative  communities  and  groups,  like  the 
•  Brook'Farm  or  the  proposed  printing  office  to  do  the  gov- 
ernment printing,  'abolished  the  wage  system'  for  indi- 
viduals and  groups  of  individuals.  It  did  not  matter  that 
their  idea  was  to  extend  these  until  all  would  eventually 
be  in  some  group,  since  that  was  so  palpably  impossible 
or  infinitely  remote  in  time  that  it  was  a  perfectly  safe 
subject  for  discussion.  That  these  reflections  upon  the 
wage  system  in  those  days  did  not  mean  what-  the  same 
language  would  mean  today  is  shown  from  the  fact  that 
the  same  convention  unanimously  passed  a  resolution  op- 
posing a  government  printing  office.  There  was  nothing 
inconsistent  about  this  then,  for  the  theory  that  the  wage 
system  can  only  be  ultimately  abolished  for  all  by  the  final 
absorption  of  industries  by  organized  government  had  not 
been  definitely  formulated  by  any  school  of  thinkers  in 
this  country  at  that  time.  The  socialists  of  that  day  were 
St.  Simonites,  not  Bellamyites,  nor  yet  Carl  Marxians. 
Nevertheless,  it  is  well  to  note  that  the  history  of  the  typo- 

126 


Convention  at  Baltimore,  185 1 

graphical  union  is  marked  by  the  gradual  elimination  of 
general  propositions  from  its  councils;  the  progressively 
emphatic  tightening  of  the  lines  on  strictly  trade  matters. 
Its  strength  lies  largely  in  its  experience  and  the  long  line 
of  precedents  established,  which  enable  it  to  know  the  best 
thing  to  do  and  to  do  that  quickly  and  with  firmness.  It  is 
organized  not  vaguely  at  the  top  of  the  International 
alone,  nor  solely  by  the  more  compact  local  union ;  but  in 
every  union  printing  office  there  is  a  chapel,  or  office  or- 
ganization, and  its  discipline  and  control,  as  well  as  its 
attempt  to  adjust  grievances,  settle  troubles,  or  make 
agreements,  begins  at  the  chapel." 

Second  National  Convention  of  Journeymen  Printers, 
Held  in  Baltimore,  September  12-16,  1851 

The  second  national  convention  of  journeymen  print- 
ers assembled  in  Baltimore,  Friday,  September  12,  1851, 
in  accordance  with  the  call  of  the  national  executive  com- 
mittee appointed  the  year  previous.  Delegates  were  in 
attendance  from  eight  states,  as  follows:  New  York^ 
Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Kenfucky,  Vir- 
ginia, Ohio  and  New  Jersey. 

Officers,  1851  —  The  convention  was  temporarily  or- 
ganized by  the  selection  of  J.  L.  Gibbons,  Louisville,  as 
chairman,  and  M.  F.  Conway,  Baltimore,  and  A.  C.  Pool, 
Harrisburg,  as  secretaries.  After  the  adoption  of  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  credentials,  J.  L.  Gibbons, 
Louisville,  was  elected  president;  William  C.  Figncr, 
Philadelphia,  first  vice-president;  George  Wadham, 
Massachusetts,  second  vice-president;  J.  R.  Lewellen. 
Richmond,  third  vice-president;  W.  G.  Williams,  Cincin- 
nati, fourth  vice-president;  H.  A.  Guild,  New  York,  and 
M.  F.  Conway,  Baltimore,  secretaries. 

Permanent  Committees  —  Three  permanent  commit- 
tees  were  authorized— on   unfinished  business,  on   new 

127 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

business,  and  on  legislative  business,  together  with  a  com- 
mittee on  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the 
convention,  and  such  special  committees  as  were  deemed 
necessary  for  the  proper  and  prompt  transaction  of  the 
business  before  the  convention. 

Government  Printing  —  A  special  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  consider  matters  relating  to  government  print- 
ing, a  subject  left  over  from  the  previous  convention.  The 
committee  submitted  the  following  memorial,  which,  after 
much  debate,  was  adopted  by  the  convention : 

Memorial  of  the  National  Convention  of  Printers  to  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States 

We,  the  delegates  representing  the  typographical  associa- 
tions of  a  large  number  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
among  which  are  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Kentucky, 
Virginia,  Maryland,  Massachusetts  and  New  Jersey,  and,  as 
we  believe,  a  majority  of  the  remaining  states  of  this  confed- 
eracy, would  most  respectfully  ask  the  attention  of  your  hon- 
orable bodies,  to  consider — 

First.  That  in  view  of  the  past  difficulties  and  legislation  by 
congress,  growing  out  of  the  election  of  the  public  printer  in 
the  two  houses,  by  the  selection  of  inexperienced  or  party  men, 
and  on  that  account  only,  as  a  reward  for  partisan  services, 
for  the  performance  of  the  public  work;  and,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  doing  away,  to  a  great  degree,  with  the  annoyances 
complained  of  by  the  people's  representatives,  during  several 
of  the  last  successive  sessions,  that,  in  your  future  election  of 
the  public  printers,  you  will,  in  all  cases  where  competent, 
practical  printers,  and  those  who  have  not  served  a  regular 
apprenticeship  at  that  business  are  applicants,  give  your  deci- 
sion in  favor  of  the  former  by  the  enactment  of  a  permanent 
law  by  congress  to  that  effect — thus  settling  this  long-vexed 
question,  so  far  as  the  future  legislation  upon  the  subject  of 
the  public  printing  is  concerned. 

Second.  That  the  subject  to  which  we  refer — that  of  the 
public  printing — has  been  one  which  has  engaged  to  no  lim- 
ited extent  the  attention  of  all  classes,  in  the  various  sections 
of  the  country,  and  more  particularly  the  interests  we  repre- 

128 


Convention  at  Baltimore,  1851 

sent;  that  the  evil  of  which  we  complain  is  one  that  should 
be  settled  at  once  in  favor  of  those  who  labor,  by  every  reason 
of  justice,  so  that  labor  in  that  department  shall  be  placed 
in  the  position  to  which  it  is  entitled,  in  order  that  it  may  be 
in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  our  free,  liberal,  and  repub- 
lican institutions. 

Third.  That  it  must  be  apparent  to  the  honorable  repre- 
sentatives of  the  people  of  this  union  that  where  the  said  work 
is  apportioned  to  individuals  not  practically  qualified  to  per- 
form it,  that,  in  giving  the  work  to  the  former,  it  is  gross 
injustice  to  those  who  are  practically  qualified  for  the  per- 
formance of  that  duty — is  subversive  of  the  rights  of  labor,  and 
repugnant  to  the  character  of  our  republican  institutions. 

Fourth.  That  we  are  opposed,  for  the  most  manifest  rea- 
sons, to  the  giving  to  the  lowest  bidder  the  public  printing 
of  the  national  government,  whereby  a  system  of  auctioneering 
has  been  carried  on,  of  serious  injury  to  the  men  who  labor  at 
printing,  and  of  delay  in  the  prosecution  of  the  public  .business 
by  congress;  and  we  beg  to  urge,  most  respectfully,  upon  your 
honorable  bodies,  the  propriety,  in  the  selection  of  the  public 
printer,  that  congress,  in  giving  its  decisions  in  favor  of  that 
officer,  shall  so  decide  as,  that  a  committee  of  three  practical 
printers,  to  be  appointed  on  behalf  of  that  fraternity,  in 
conjunction  with  a  committee  to  be  appointed  in  behalf  of 
congress,  shall  fix  the  rates  at  which  the  said  printing  shall 
hereafter  be  done. 

Following  the  favorable  action  of  the  convention  on  the 
foregoing  memorial,  delegates  gave  further  expression  to 
their  views  on  the  subject  of  contract  labor  by  recom- 
Biending  to  all  unions  located  in  capital  cities,  where  pub- 
lic or  legislative  printing  is  done,  t<>  use  their  utmost 
endeavors,  by  petitions  to  their  respective  legislal 
bodies,  for  the  abolishment  of  the  contract  or  auctioneer- 
ing system  so  far  as  applied  to  the  public  business. 

National  Typographical  Union  Suggested — On  the 
third  day  of  the  convention  the  committee  on  new  busi- 
ness offered  the  following  report:  "That,  after  mature 
deliberation,  we  arc  fully  convinced  that  the  m<^t  practi- 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

cable  and  speedy  method  of  obtaining  the  various  objects 
sought  to  be  effected  for  the  relief  and  benefit  of  the  craft 
will  be  found  in  the  organization  of  a  national  printers' 
union,  which  shall  be  legislative  in  its  character.  We, 
therefore,  respectfully  recommend  the  appointment  of  a 
committee,  with  instructions  to  report  at  as  early  a  mo- 
ment as  possible,  for  the  purpose  of  drafting  a  constitution 
for  the  permanent  organization  and  government  of  a 
national  printers'  union." 

Committee  to  Frame  Constitution  Appointed  —  This 
report  was  adopted,  and  accordingly  a  committee  of  eight 
was  appointed  to  frame  a  constitution.  The  members  of 
the  committee  were  J.  B.  Smith,  Philadelphia;  James  H. 
Walford,  Richmond;  Charles  A.  Randall,  Massachusetts; 
R.  J.  Bruce,  Baltimore;  E.  H.  Rogers,  New  York; 
William  G.  Williams,  Cincinnati;  Charles  Bechtel,  New 
Jersey;  J.  L.  Gibbons,  Louisville.  This  committee  sub- 
mitted a  report  on  the  evening  of  the  following  day. 

The  name  given  the  organization  in  the  reported  con- 
stitution was  "The  Printers'  National  Union."  An  amend- 
ment was  offered,  and  carried,  to  call  the  organization  the 
"United  States  Printers'  Union,"  but  this  action  was  sub- 
sequently reconsidered,  and  it  was  decided  the  name 
should  be  the  "National  Typographical  Union." 

Subordinate  Unions  —  As  originally  reported,  the  con- 
stitution of  the  National  Union  recognized  "district"  and 
"state"  unions  as  subordinates;  but  when  the  question 
arose  as  to  whether  "state  unions"  should  be  represented 
in  the  national  body  in  the  same  ratio  as  "district  unions" 
there  seemed  to  be  a  great  diversity  of  opinion,  and  a 
lengthy  discussion  ensued,  when  a  proposition  was  made 
to  strike  out  "district"  and  "state  unions"  and  substitute 
"local  unions,"  and  another  to  insert  "subordinate  unions," 
which  latter  amendment  prevailed. 

Constitution   to    be   Ratified  —  The   constitution    as   a 

130 


Convention  at  Baltimore,  1851 

whole  was  adopted,  and  seemed  to  be  regarded  by  all  as 
highly  satisfactory.  It  was  signed  by  the  members  of  the 
convention,  and  was  subsequently  forwarded  to  the  dif- 
ferent typographical  unions  for  their  ratification.  As  soon 
as  the  unions  of  five  different  states  should  signify  their 
willingness  to  comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  con- 
stitution, the  national  executive  committee  was  directed  to 
issue  a  circular,  announcing  that  the  National  Typograph- 
ical Union  had  been  formed,  and  notify  all  unions  that 
the  first  session  of  the  National  Union  would  be  held  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on  the  first  Monday  of  May,  1852. 

Call  Issued  to  Form  National  Union  —  The  executive 
committee,  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  after  the  adjourn- 
ment, was  notified  by  more  than  the  requisite  number  of 
unions  of  their  ratification  and  adhesion  to  the  consti- 
tution of  the  National  Typographical  Union,  and  a  call 
was  accordingly  issued  in  due  time  by  the  committee  for 
the  assembling  of  the  union  at  Cincinnati,  on  the  first 
Monday  of  May,  1852. 

Constitution  Presented  for  Approval  —  The  constitu- 
tion and  schedule  follow: 

National  Typographical  Union 

We,  the  representatives  of  the  typographical  associa- 
tions of  the  states  of  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  New  York, 
Ohio,  Kentucky,  Virginia,  Massachusetts  and  New  Jersey, 
in  national  convention  assembled,  for  our  government, 
do  ordain  and  establish  the  following: 

CON- 1  m    HON 

A«Tlctt     1 

Sfxtion  I.    This  body  shall  be  known  by  the  name  of  "The 
National  Typographical  Union,"  and  shall  be  acknowledged, 
respected  and  obeyed  as  such  by  each  subordinate   union   in 
the  country.     It  -hall  possess  original  and  exclusive  jttrifdk 
tion  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  fellowship  of  the  craft  in 

I3« 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  United  States.  All  subordinate  unions  shall  assemble  un- 
der its  warrant,  and  derive  their  authority  from  it,  enabling 
them  to  make  all  necessary  local  laws  for  their  own  govern- 
ment. It  shall  be  the  ultimate  tribunal  to  which  all  matters 
of  general  importance  to  the  welfare  of  the  members  of  the 
different  unions  shall  be  referred,  and  its  decisions  thereon 
shall  be  final  and  conclusive.  To  it  shall  belong  the  power 
to  regulate,  fix  and  determine  the  customs  and  usages  in  re- 
gard to  all  matters  appertaining  to  the  craft.  It  shall  possess 
inherent  power  to  establish  subordinate  unions,  who  shall  always 
act  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  granted  by  authority  of  this  body. 

Article  II 

Section  I.  The  members  of  this  National  Union  shall  be 
composed  of  its  elective  officers  and  representatives  from  subor- 
dinate unions,  acting  under  legal,  unreclaimed  warrants  granted 
by  this  National  Union. 

Article  III 

Section  i..  The  elective  officers  shall  be  a  president,  two 
vice-presidents  (who  shall  be  chosen  from  different  states),  a 
recording  secretary,  a  corresponding  secretary,  and  a  treasurer — 
all  of  whom  shall  be  elected  annually,  by  ballot,  and  be  in- 
stalled and  enter  upon  the  duties  of  their  offices  at  the  termi- 
nation of  the  session  at  which  they  are  elected.  They  shall 
attend  each  meeting  of  the  National  Union  and  perform  such 
other  duties  as  may  be  enjoined  by  its  laws  and  regulations. 
No  officer,  who  is  not  also  a  representative,  shall  be  permitted 
to  vote,  except  the  president,  in  case  of  equal  division. 

Article  IV 

Section  i.  The  president  shall  preside  at  the  meetings  of 
the  National  Union,  preserve  order,  and  enforce  the  laws 
thereof.  He  shall  have  the  casting  vote  whenever  the  Na- 
tional Union  shall  be  equally  divided;  but  shall  not  vote  at 
other  times.  During  the  recess  of  this  National  Union,  he 
shall,  in  conjunction  with  the  vice-presidents,  have  a  general 
superintendence  over  the  interests  of  the  craft ;  and  make  re- 
port, immediately  upon  the  assembling  of  the  National  Union, 
of  his  acts  and  doings  in  relation  thereto.  He  shall  not  hold 
any  office  in  a  subordinate  union  while  acting  as  president  of 
the  National  Union. 

Sec.  2.    The  vice-presidents  shall  assist  the  president  in  the 

132 


Convention  at  Baltimore,  185 1 

discharge  of  his  duties,  and  shall  take  precedence  of  rank  in 
proportion  to  the  votes  received  in  the  election  of  each  (i.  e., 
the  officer  receiving  the  highest  number  of  votes  shall  rank  be- 
fore the  one  receiving  the  lower  number).'  In  the  absence  of 
the  president,  the  first  vice-president  shall  preside ;  and  in  the 
absence  of  both  the  president  and  the  first  vice-president,  the 
second  vice-president  shall  preside. 

Sec.  3.  The  recording  secretary  shall  make  a  just  and  true 
record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  National  Union,  in  a  book 
provided  for  that  purpose ;  keep  accounts  between  the  National 
Union  and  subordinates  under  its  jurisdiction;  read" all  peti- 
tions, reports  and  papers  to  be  laid  before  the  National  Union, 
and  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  from  time  to  time  be 
required  of  him. 

Sec.  4.  The  corresponding  secretary  shall  conduct  the  cor- 
respondence of  the  National  Union,  and  transact  such  business 
as  appertains  to  his  office.  Copies  of  all  communications  trans- 
mitted or  received  by  him  shall  be  laid  before  the  National 
Union. 

Sec.  5.  The  treasurer  shall  keep  the  moneys  of  the  National 
Union,  and  pay  all  orders  drawn  on  him  by  the  president  and 
attested  by  the  recording  secretary,  under  the  seal  of  the  Na- 
tional Union.  He  shall  lay  before  the  union  at  each  regular 
session  a  full  and  correct  statement  of  his  accounts,  and  before 
entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  give  such  security  as  the 
National  Union  may  require. 

Article  V 

Section  i.  Representatives  from  subordinate  unions  must 
be  actual  numbers,  in  good  standing.  They  must  be  elected 
by  the  body  they  represent  for  the  term  of  one  year,  and  fur- 
nished with  ;i  certificate  of  election. 

SEC.  2.  BftCih  subordinate  union  shall  be  entitled  to  three 
representatives  in  the  National  Union,  and  each  representative 
sh;ill  be  entitled  to  one  vote.  The  expenses  of  the  attendance 
of  said  representatives  shall  be  defrayed  by  the  unions  they 
respectively  represent. 

Am< 

Section  i.  The  National  Union  shall  meet  annually  on 
tin   first  Monday  In  May  at  such  place  as  shall  from  tunc  to 

time  be  determined  upon. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Article  VII 

Section  i.  The  revenue  of  the  National  Union  shall  be 
derived  as  follows:  For  a  warrant  for  a  subordinate  union, 
five  dollars,  and  five  per  cent  upon  the  total  receipts  of  subor- 
dinate unions. 

Article  VIII 

Section  i.  In  case  of  death,  resignation,  disqualification 
or  refusal  of  the  president-elect  to  serve,  the  duties  of  the 
office  for  the  remainder  of  the  term  shall  be  performed  by  the 
vice-presidents  in  the  order  designated  in  this  constitution.  And 
in  case  of  death,  resignation,  disqualification  or  refusal  of  the 
above  officers  to  serve,  then  a  president  pro  tern,  shall  be  elected. 
In  case  of  the  death,  resignation,  disqualification  or  refusal 
to  serve  of  any  officer,  the  presiding  officer  for  the  time 
being  shall  appoint  some  qualified  person  to  perform  the  duties 
until  the  next  regular  meeting  of  the  National  Union. 

Article  IX 

Section  I.  A  majority  of  the  representatives  of  the  several 
unions  under  the  jurisdiction  of  this  National  Union  shall  be 
necessary  to  form  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business. 
All  questions,  unless  otherwise  provided  for,  shall  be  decided 
by  a  majority  of  the  votes  given. 

Article  X 

Section  i.  General  laws  for  the  government  of  the  craft 
throughout  the  jurisdiction  of  this  National  Union  may  be 
enacted  and  enforced  by  this  body;  and  any  union  within  the 
jurisdiction  refusing  to  abide  by  its  laws  and  decisions  shall 
be  expelled.  The  National  Union  shall  also,  upon  the  request 
of  any  subordinate  union  under  its  jurisdiction,  establish  cere- 
monies of  initiation  into  the  ranks  of  such  subordinate. 

Sec.  2.  The  National  Union  shall  from  time  to  time  enact 
such  by-lawg  as  it  may  deem  necessary;  provided,  that  such 
by-laws  do  not  conflict  with  this  constitution. 

Sec.  3.  Any  alteration  or  amendment  of  this  constitution 
must  be  offered  to  the  National  Union  at  a  regular  session 
thereof,  and,  if  seconded,  it  shall  be  entered  on  the  minutes. 
At  the  next  stated  meeting  the  amendments  may  be  considered, 
and  if  agreed  to  by  two-thirds  of  the  votes  given,  shall  become 
part  of  the  constitution.  All  alterations  to  the  laws  of  the  Na- 
tional Union  shall  be  made  in  like  manner ;  and  no  law  of  a 

134 


Convention  at  Baltimore,  185 1 

general  application  shall  be  adopted  unless  submitted  and  en- 
tered upon  the  minutes  at  the  regular  session  previous  to  it* 
being  adopted. 

J.  L.  Gibbons,  Louisville,  Ky. ;  H.  A.  Guild,  E.  H.  Rogers, 
New  York;  Thos.  J.  Walsh,  Myron  H.  Rooker,  Albany. 
N.  Y.;  Wm.  Figner,  Wm.  B.  Eckert,  J.  B.  Smith,  Geo.  W. 
Jones,  John  H.  Fasy,  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  Alex.  W.  Rook, 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. ;  W.  J.  Irvin,  A.  G.  Pool,  Harrisburg. 
Geo.  Wadham,  Chas.  A.  Randall,  H.  H.  Boardman,  Boa- 
ton,  Mass.;  James  H.  Walford,  J.  Richard  Lewcllen,  Rich 
mond,  Va. ;  M.  F.  Conway,  Robert  J.  Bruce,  George  Ran- 
dell,  Washington  Ashton,  August  Donnelly,  Baltimore,  Md. ; 
W.  G.  Williams,  Henry  T.  Ogden,  Hiram  H.  Young.  Cin- 
cinnati; Charles  Bechtel,  J.  W.  Cassedy,  Trenton,  N.  J. 

Schedule 

First.  This  constitution,  being  adopted,  shall  be  signed  by 
the  members  of  this  convention,  published  by  its  authority,  and 
forwarded  by  the  national  executive  committee  to  the  different 
typographical  unions  and  associations  for  their  ratification. 

Second.  So  soon  as  the  unions  of  five  different  states  shall 
signify  to  the  executive  committee  their  willingness  to  comply 
with  the  principles  and  requisitions  of  the  constitution,  and 
accompany  the  same  with  the  regular  fee  of  five  dollars,  the 
said  executive  committee  shall  issue  their  circular,  announcing 
that  the  National  Typographical  Union  has  been  formed,  and 
request  all  subordinates,  who  have  ratified  the  constitution,  to 
elect  representatives  in  pursuance  of  its  provisions,  who  shall 
assemble  on  the  first  Monday  in  Mi  v.  1852,  in  the  city  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Third.  If  five  unions,  as  specified  above,  do  not  ratify  the 
convention  as  early  as  the  15th  day  of  May  next,  then  the 
national  executive  committee  shall  call  a  national  convrntkm, 
t<>  assemble  at  such  time  thereafter  SJ  thrv  m  their  judgment 
may  deem  proper,  to  be  held  in  tht  <  •«)*  where  the  first  leaaion 
of  the  National  Typographical  Union  would  have  been  held 
had  it  l>een  formed  as  above.     Also 

/tv./.  That  a  national  executive  committee  of  onr  from 
eai  h  typographical  presented  be  appointed  to  en- 

force the  execution  of  nil  resolutions  adopted  by  this  conven- 
tion, collect  information  on  all  ituitrr*  in  relation  to  the  trade* 
and  report  the  same  to  the  next  convention. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Resolved,  That  the  secretary  from  New  York  be  authorized 
and  required,  in  conjunction  with  the  national  executive  com- 
mittee, to  take  charge  of  the  proceedings  of  this  convention, 
together  with  the  "Address"  of  the  executive  committee,  and 
have  them  printed,  subject  to  orders  for  the  same  from  all  local 
typographical  associations,  or  societies,  at  a  price  to  be  fixed 
by  the  said  secretary. 

Resolved,  That  the  various  local  societies  be  earnestly  re- 
quested to  order,  for  circulation  in  their  respective  localities 
and  districts,  such  number  of  copies  of  the  above-mentioned 
proceedings  as  may  be  necessary  to  supply  all  newspapers  and 
printers  in  their  own  district,  or  elsewhere,  as  they  may  deem 
proper. 

Resolved,  That  the  officers  and  members  of  the  various  so- 
cieties throughout  the  country  are  hereby  requested  to  have 
the  proceedings/ of  this  convention,  or  an  outline  thereof,  pub- 
lished in  all  newspapers  within  the  circle  of  their  influence. 

National  Executive  Committee,  185 1  —  The  national 
executive  committee,  authorized  by  the  schedule  ap- 
pended to  the  constitution,  was  appointed  by  the  president, 
as  follows :  H.  T.  Ogden,  Cincinnati;  W.  B.  Eckert,  Phil- 
adelphia; H.  J.  Irvin,  Harrisburg;  A.  W.  Rook,  Pitts- 
burgh; C.  A.  Randall,  Boston;  M.  F.  Conway,  Baltimore; 
Charles  Bechtel,  Trenton;  Thomas  J.  Walsh,  Albany;  J. 
Richard  Lewelkn,  Richmond;  E.  H.  Rogers,  New  York; 
D.  P.  White,  Utica;  J.  L.  Gibbons,  Louisville. 

Third  National  Convention  of  Journeymen  Printers  and 
First  Annual  Session  of  the  National  Typograph- 
ical Union,  Held  in  Cincinnati,  May  3-6,  1852 

Officers,  1852  —  On  Monday,  May  3,  1852,  the  third 
national  convention  of  journeymen  printers  met  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  and  after  the  usual  formality  of  inspect- 
ing credentials  of  delegates  a  permanent  organization  was 
effected  by  the  election  of  M.  C.  Brown,  of  Philadelphia, 
as  president  of  the  convention,  together  with  S.  W. 
Wilder,    Boston,   first  vice-president;    E.    A.    Lewis,   St. 

136 


! 


\ 


J.  L.  CIUBONS,  Loumvillk 

I'irM.lriit 

Second   N»lion.il    (  min 11I1.UI    1«iiinr\tiiru    I'milo. 

Si  |t.  iiiIkt    I*  -  if..    1851 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1852 

Louis,  second  vice-president;  G.  B.  Seig,  Cincinnati,  re- 
cording secretary ;  W.  A.  Baker,  New  York,  correspond- 
ing secretary;  J.  S.  Nafew,  Albany,  treasurer. 

The  usual  committees  were  authorized  and  it  was 
decided  that  all  officers  of  the  previous  convention  be 
allowed  the  privilege  of  participating  in  the  proceedings 
of  the  body  without  the  right  of  voting. 

Organization  of  the  National  Typographical  Union  — 
The  question  whether  the  assembly  should  be  considered 
as  an  organized  national  typographical  union  or  as  a 
printers'  convention  was  finally  decided  by  the  passage  of 
a  resolution  to  the  effect  that  the  convention  would  accept 
and  adopt  the  constitution  tendered  by  the  national  con- 
vention at  its  last  session,  and  after  adopting  said  consti- 
tution the  members  of  the  convention  would  thereupon 
constitute  the  "National  Typographical  Union." 

The  constitution  under  which  it  was  proposed  to  organ- 
ize the  National  Typographical  Union,  having  been  re- 
ferred to  the  committee  on  permanent  organization, 
brought  forth  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  stipulations  of  the  late  national  conven- 
tion having  been  complied  with,  the  National  Typographical 
Union  is  hereby  declared  organized,  and  the  officers  of  the 
present  convention  be  and  they  are  hereby  declared  officers  of 
the  said  National  Union  for  the  time  being. 

Thus  it  appears  that  on  Wednesday,  May  5,  1852,  in 
the  city  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  the  National  Typographical 
Union  had  its  birth,  after  the  efforts  of  thru-  successive 
conventions  of  journeymen  printers  having  that  purpose 
in   view. 

Sunday  Work  —  The  first  action  of  the  National  Typo- 
graphical Union,  ;iv  §uch,  was  the  passage  of  a  resolution 
condemning  Sunday  work,  the  delegates  apparently  be- 
ing of  one  mind  cm  tin-  itibject — only  one  negative  vote 
having  been  cast  against  the  resolution. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Form  of  Charter  —  The  next  action  of  th'e  union  was 
the  adoption  of  a  form  of  charter  for  subordinate  unions : 

National     Typographical     Union 
To  all  whom'  it  may  concern: 

Know  Ye,  That  we,  the  National  Typographical  Union 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  have  granted,  and  do  grant, 
to  the  practical  printers  whose  names  are  hereto  annexed,  and 
their  associates,  this  Charter,  fully  constituting  them  a  Typo- 
graphical Society,  under  the  name  and  title  of 

Typographical  Union,  located  in with  full 

power  to  perform  all  the  duties  appertaining  to  the  same,  while 
they  shall  conform  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Na- 
tional Typographical  Union;  otherwise  this  Charter  may  be 
declared  null  and  void. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  caused  this  to  be  signed  by  our 
president  and  recording  secretary,  and  the  seal  of  the  National 

Typographical  Union  to  be  affixed  in  the ,  this 

day  of ,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 

,  President. 

.  . . ,  Recording  Secretary. 

By-laws  —  After  adopting  the  form  of  charter  as 
above,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  a  code  of 
by-laws  for  the  government  of  the  union. 

Assigning  Charter  Numbers — Satisfactory  evidence 
being  received  from  fourteen  subordinate  unions  that  they 
had  severally  ratified  the  published  constitution  and  sig- 
nified their  willingness  to  accept  and  abide  by  the  laws 
and  regulations  of  the  National  Typographical  Union,  the 
question  arose  as  to  which  union  should  be  honored  by 
the  first  charter,  and  it  was  unanimously  agreed  to  draw 
lots  for  numbers,  with  the  following  result :  Indianapolis, 
No.  i  ;  Philadelphia,  No.  2 ;  Cincinnati,  No.  3 ;  Albany, 
No.  4;  Columbus,  No.  5;  New  York,  No.  6;  Pittsburgh, 
No.  7;  St.  Louis,  No.  8;  Buffalo,  No.  9;  Louisville,  No. 
10;  Memphis,  No.  11 ;  Baltimore,  No.  12  ;  Boston,  No.  13  ; 
Harrisburg,  No.  14. 

138 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1852 

Public  Printing  —  That  the  matter  of  public  printing 
was  still  an  open  question  before  the  convention  is  evi- 
denced by  the  report  of  a  special  committee  on  a  national 
printing  office,  which  committee  proposed  the  presentation 
of  another  memorial  to  congress  on  that  subject.  After  a 
debate,  extending  over  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
fourth  day's  session,  the  subject  was  laid  on  the  table  by 
a  vote  of  14  to  11. 

Selecting  Convention  City  —  A  unique  method  was 
pursued  by  the  delegates  in  the  selection  of  a  convention 
city  for  the  following  year.  Several  subordinate  unions 
in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  aspired  for  the  honor  of  en- 
tertaining the  next  convention.  An  evidence  of  the  spirit 
which  prevailed  at  the  time  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  it 
was  determined  first  to  select  the  state  in  which  to  hold 
the  convention,  and  all  of  the  states  represented  were  then 
placed  in  nomination,  with  the  result  that  Pennsylvania 
was  chosen.  This  narrowed  the  selection  down  to  Phila- 
delphia, Pittsburgh  and  Harrisburg,  Pittsburgh  finally 
being  successful. 

First  Officers  National  Typographical  Union,  1852  — 
On  the  third  day  of  the  convention,  J.  S.  Nafew,  of 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  was  elected  president  for  the  ensuing  year, 
together  with  G.  E.  Greene,  Louisville,  first  vice-presi- 
dent; T.  G.  Forster,  St.  Louis,  second  vice-president; 
R.  R.  R.  Dumars,  Pittsburgh,  recording  secretary;  J.  M. 
McCreary,  Cincinnati,  corresponding  secretary ;  G.  H. 
Randcll,  Baltimore,  treasurer. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1852  —  On  motion,  it 
was  ordered  that  the  delegates  present  at  the  convention 
constitute  the  national  executive  committee. 

After  adjournment,  a  telegram  was  received  from  New 
Orleans  Union  saying  it  had  just  reorganized,  and  send- 
ing assurances  of  hearty  concurrence  in  all  measures  for 
the  welfare  of  the  craft. 

i.V) 


National   Typographical    Union 


Conventions   of  the 

National   Typographical    Union 

from    1853    to    1869 

(inclusive) 

THIS  chapter  will  include  the  conventions  held  at 
Pittsburgh,  in  1853;  Buffalo,  1854;  Memphis,  1855; 
Philadelphia,  1856;  New  Orleans,  1857;  Chicago,  1858; 
Boston,  1859;  Nashville,  i860;  New  York,  1862;  Cleve- 
land, 1863;  Louisville,  "1864;  Philadelphia,  1865;  Chi- 
cago, 1866;  Memphis,  1867;  Washington,  1868;  and 
Albany,  1869,  covering  the  administrations  of  Presidents 
J.  S.  Nafew,  Gerard  Stith,  Louis  Graham,  Charles  F. 
Town,  M.  C.  Brown,  William  Cuddy,  R.  C.  Smith,  J.  M. 
Farquhar,  Eugene  Vallette,  A.  M.  Carver,  Robert  E. 
Craig,  John  H.  Oberly  and  Robert  McKechnie. 

This  period  covers  the  history  of  the  National  Typo- 
graphical Union,  the  convention  at  Albany  in  1869  hav- 
ing adopted  an  amended  constitution  and  by-laws,  which 
changed  the  name  from  "National"  to  "International 
Typographical  Union,"  the  jurisdiction  of  the  organiza- 
tion having  been  extended  to  include  the  several  provinces 
of  Canada. 

Convention  at  Pittsburgh 

[I853] — The  second  annual  session  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union  was  held  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh, 
beginning  Monday,  May  2,  and  closing  Thursday,  May 
5,  1853.  The  convention  was  called  to  order  by  Thomas 
Gales  Forster,  of  St.  Louis,  second  vice-president. 
dent  John  S.  Nafew  and  the  first  vice-president,  G.  E. 
(.nene,  being  absent.  In  addition  U)  thi  fotirtMfl  unions 
which  originally  formed  the  National  Typographical 
Union,   charters   had   been    issued    during   the   year   to 

143 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Rochester  No.  15;  Chicago  No.  16;  New  Orleans  No.  17, 
and  Detroit  No.  18.  Delegates  were  present  from  all 
subordinate  unions  except  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  and  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio. 

New  York  Co-operative  Union  —  The  first  important 
business  before  the  convention  was  a  petition  signed  by 
386  book  and  job  printers  of  New  York  city  asking  for  a 
charter  from  the  National  Typographical  Union,  in  order 
to  legalize  the  existence  of  the  New  York  Printers'  Co- 
operative Union  in  that  city,  it  being  urged  that  New 
York  Union  No.  6,  as  existing  at  that  time,  was  not  a 
fair  exponent  of  the  vie'ws  of  the  printers  of  that  city,  as 
it  did  not  number  in  its  membership  one-tenth  of  the 
workmen,  and  that  nine-tenths  of  this  one-tenth  were  em- 
ployed on  newspapers  and  could  not  pay  that  attention  to 
the  wants  of  the  majority — the  book  and  job  hands — that 
their  circumstances  required. 

It  was  complained  that  No.  6,  by  incorporating  in  its 
constitution  a  benevolent  feature,  largely  enhanced  the 
initiation  fee  and  amount  of  dues,  thus  keeping  the  great 
majority  of  the  petitioners  from  joining  its  ranks.  The 
petitioners  also  set  forth  their  belief  that  it  would  be  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  trade  that  two  unions  should  ex- 
ist in  the  city  of  New  York,  claiming  that  a  large  majority 
of  the  workmen  in  that  city  had  no  protection.  A  delegate 
from  the  Co-operative  Union  was  unanimously  admitted 
to  a  seat  in  the  convention  pending  the  consideration  of 
the  petition.  After  an  exhaustive  debate,  which  occu- 
pied much  of  the  time  of  the  convention,  the  National 
Union  disposed  of  the  question  by  adopting  the  following 
resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  owing  to  the  intimate  connection  between 
all  branches  of  the  printing  business  it  is  the  opinion  of  the 
National  Typographical  Union  that  two  subordinate  unions 
can  not  exist  advantageously  in  the  same  city. 

144 


JOHN  S.  NAFEW,  Albamv 

President  National  Typographical  1'iii.m 

May  s,   1851  -  May  5.   i8$j 


Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1853 

Resolved,  That  the  prayer  of  the  New  York  Co-operative 
Union  can  not  be  granted,  and  that  it  is  recommended  to  New 
York  Typographical  Union  to  adopt  such  measures  as  it  may 
deem  best  to  effect  a  more  perfect  organization  and  concilia- 
tion of  the  craft  in  that  city. 

Official  Organ  —  A  proposition  was  introduced  to  ar- 
range for  the  establishment  of  an  official  organ,  devoted 
to  the  interests  of  the  craft,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Na- 
tional Typographical  Union,  but  no  definite  action  was 
taken,  the  matter  being  held  over  for  consideration  at  the 
next  session. 

Protest  from  Baltimore  —  A  vigorous  protest  was  pre- 
sented by  the  delegate  from  Baltimore  against  the  action 
of  the  National  Union  at  its  Cincinnati  convention  in  as- 
signing to  Baltimore  the  number  "12"  for  its  charter.  It 
was  claimed  that  as  Baltimore  Union  was  organized  in 
1 83 1,  and  had  remained  in  active  existence  ever  since, 
it  was  entitled  to  "No.  1,"  which  had  been  assigned  to 
Indianapolis.  The  convention  refused  to  change  the 
numbers  as  originally  assigned  and  the  delegate  from 
Baltimore  withdrew,  but  afterward  resumed  his  seat  and 
took  part  in  the  proceedings. 

The  protest  filed  by  the  delegate  from  Baltimore  on 
behalf  of  his  union  was  as  follows: 

Baltimore  Typographical  Society,  which  I  have  the  honor 
to  represent,  desires,  through  its  representative  to  the  present 
National  Union,  to  respectfully  and  formally  protest  against 
the  assignment  of  No.  12  for  their  charter.  Its  members  con- 
sider, in  their  collective  capacity,  that  their  society  is  entitled, 
not  alone  from  their  present  organization,  but  from  the  fact 
that  they  claim  to  he  the  oldest  co-operative  association  repie 
Muted  in  the  National  Typographical  Union  (it  having  been 
formed  in  November,  1831,  end  remained  in  acti\<-  <-\i^ 
eyet  lince),  their  just  right  to  charter  No.  I.  which  was 
assigned  to  Indianapolis,  Intl.,  that  society  having  forfeited 
iN  <  l.iim  to  that  portion  by  its  refusal  or  failure  to  have  a 
representative  on  this  tloor. 

M5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

They  deem  it  unnecessary  to  enter  into  detail  as  to  the  jus- 
tice of  their  claim,  as  they  ^conceive  that  such  must  be  per- 
fectly apparent  to  the  minds  of  the  members  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union,  without  entering  into  an  elaborate  state- 
ment of  the  reasons  which  govern  them  in  making  this  protest. 
In  conclusion,  they  trust  that  the  assignment  of  charter  No. 
I,  asked  for  by  the  body,  be  granted. 

Unique  Treasurer's  Report  —  The  report  of  the  treas- 
urer submitted  to  the  convention  at  Pittsburgh  is  indeed 
an  interesting  document,  when  compared  with  the  receipts 
and  expenditures  of  the  organization  at  the  present  day. 
The  total  receipts  for  the  year  amounted  to  $70,  and  the 
total  expenditures,  as  per  order  of  the  previous  conven- 
tion, were  $25,  which  would  have  left  a  balance  in  the 
treasury  of  $45  but  for  the  fact  that  among  the  receipts 
was  a  counterfeit  five-dollar  bill  on  the  Merchants'  Bank, 
of  Wheeling,  Va.,  which  left  a  balance  of  genuine  money, 
according  to  the  report,  of  $40  only. 

Membership  for  Trade  Protection  —  The  early  typo- 
graphical societies,  having  been  founded  and  sustained 
chiefly  for  "beneficiary"  purposes,  it  was  found  that  this 
system  was  still  retained  by  many  subordinate  unions  to 
the  exclusion  of  many  printers  who  desired  membership 
for  trade  protection  only.  To  remedy  this  matter  the 
convention  adopted  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  this  National  Typographical  Union  require 
of  such  of  its  subordinates  as  yet  retain  the  "beneficiary  sys- 
tem" to  alter  their  rules  so  as  to  admit  to  their  fellowship 
such  members  of  the  craft  who  wish  to  be  admitted  for  trade 
protection  merely. 

Death  of  John  W.  Peregoy  —  During  the  progress  of 
the  convention,  President  Stith  called  the  attention  of  the 
delegates  to  the  fact  that  John  W.  Peregoy,  president  of 
the  first  printers'  national  convention,  held  at  New  York 
in  December,  1850,  had  recently  deceased.  Delegate  Ran- 
dell,  of  Baltimore,  addressed  the  convention. 

146 


Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1853 

Mr.  President,  the  melancholy  duty  devolves  upon  me  of 
announcing  to  this  body  the  death  of  my  late  associate  and 
colleague  in  the  Baltimore  Typographical  Society,  and  late 
president  of  the  first  national  printers'  convention.  Sir,  the 
relations  existing  between  the  deceased  and  myself,  apart  from 
the  position  he  occupied  in  this  body,  renders  the  task  still 
more  painful  to  me.  We  entered  as  co-laborers  in  the  good 
cause,  members  of  our  subordinate  union,  upon  the  same  night, 
January  2J,  1838,  and  an  uninterrupted  friendship  character- 
ized our  intercourse  until  the  day  of  his  death.  Three  times 
did  our  body  confer  the  post  of  presiding  officer  upon  him,  as 
an  evidence  of  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  us  in 
that  city;  and  while  holding  that  position  he  was  summoned 
from  among  us  by  death.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  was 
exemplary  in  a  high  degree,  and  possessed  the  undivided  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  had  intercourse.  No 
man  was  more  universally  beloved  among  his  associates,  whether 
in  the  private  social  circle  or  in  his  public  capacity  as  president 
of  our  body.  I  trust,  therefore,  I  may  be  pardoned  if  I  have 
obtruded  upon  the  privilege  assigned  me  in  thus  referring  to 
these  minute  acts  in  his  career. 

The  convention  then  adopted  the  following  resolutions 
offered  by  Mr.  Randell : 

Whereas  it  has  pleased  an  all-wise  Providence  to  remove 
from  the  midst  of  his  usefulness  upon  earth  one  who  was 
identified  with  the  craft  in  all  that  concerned  its  welfare,  John 
Willis  Peregoy,  the  first  president  of  the  first  national  con- 
vention of  printers,  assembled  in  New  York  ;  and 

Whereas  such  was  the  estimation  in  which .  he  was  held 
by  his  co-laborers  in  the  "art  preservative  of  all  arts,"  by  his 
suavity  of  manner,  not  less  than  the  noble  stand  which  he  ever 
occupied  for  the  good  of  the  fraternity,  of  which  he  was  a 
member,  in  every  section  of  our  country;  and 

Whereas  it  is  due,  not  less  to  his  private  worth  than  to 
his  public  capacity  in  this  body,  that  some  expression  of  our 
condolence  should  be  made;  therefore, 

Resolved.  That  wc  have  learned,   with   the  most   profound 

">w,  of  the  loss  which  this  |>odv  lias  sustained  by  the  death 
of  John  Willis  Peregoy,  who  departed  this  life  at  Baltimore 
on  the  25th  of  January,  1853. 

U7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Resolved,  That  the  representatives  to  this  union  wear  the 
usual  badge  of  mourning  for  thirty  days. 

Resolved j  That  the  foregoing  expression  of  our  regard  for 
the  memory  of  the  deceased  be  signed  by  the  officers  and  com- 
municated to  his  family,  and  also  to  the  Baltimore  Typo- 
graphical Union;  and  that  the  same  be  entered  upon  our 
minutes. 

Sunday  Labor  —  The  following  resolutions  dealing 
with  the  question  of  Sunday  labor  were  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  the  recent  stand  taken  by  Louisville  Typo- 
graphical Union  in  endeavoring  to  perpetuate  and  continue  in 
force  an  arrangement  abolishing  Sunday  labor,  voluntarily 
entered  into  between  the  employers  and  that  body,  was  a 
moral  and  eminently  just  position,  and  is  entitled  to  the  ap- 
probation of  all  classes  of  our  community. 

Resolved,  That  if  the  designs  of  the  Louisville  union  were 
thwarted  by  the  treachery  of  any  of  its  members,  or  the  viola- 
tion of  the  obligation  of  proprietors  of  newspapers,  such  per- 
sons deserve  the  condemnation  of  all  who  desire  to  see  so 
slavish  and  immoral  a  system  abolished. 

Deaths  of  Illustrious  Statesmen  —  The  following  reso- 
lutions, which  elicited  some  discussion  as  to  the  propriety 
of  their  adoption  by  the  union,  were  finally  passed  on  a 
division  by  a  vote  of  16  ayes,  7  noes : 

Resolved,  That  this  National  Typographical  Union,  in  com- 
mon with  their  fellow  citizens  throughout  the  country,  and  the 
lovers  of  freedom  wherever  to  be  found,  deeply  lament  the 
loss  of  our  three  illustrious  statesmen — Clay,  Calhoun  and 
Webster. 

Resolved,  That  this  National  Typographical  Union  also 
mourn  the  death  of  the  vice-president  of  the  United  States, 
Col.  William  R.  King. 

Free  Use  of  Telegraph  Lines  —  On  the  morning  of  the 
second  day  of  the  convention  the  secretary  read  a  com- 
munication from  Cleveland,  tendering  the  free  use  of  the 
"House"  and  the  "Lake  Erie"  telegraph  lines,  and  also 
one  from  the  "National  Lines"  in  Pittsburgh,  to  the 
union,  which  were  accepted  with  thanks. 

148 


Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1853 

Charters  and  Traveling  Cards — In  the  report  of  Re- 
cording Secretary  Dumars  the  following  interesting  para- 
graph is  found :  "Among  the  last  resolutions  adopted  by 
the  National  Union  at  its  convention  in  Cincinnati,  last 
year,  was  one  authorizing  myself,  in  connection  with  my 
colleague,  Mr.  Kinkead,  to  have  engraved  a  suitable 
charter,  to  be  furnished  to  such  unions  as  had  complied, 
and  to  all  others  which  might  comply,  with  the  requisi- 
tions of  the  constitution  and  by-laws  in  reference  to  ap- 
plications for  charters.  The  same  committee  was  also  au- 
thorized to  have  engraved  or  printed  a  'union  card,'  to 
be  furnished  to  subordinate  unions  and  by  them  to  any  of 
their  members  who  might  wish  to  travel  or  change  their 
locations.  But  the  late  period  at  which  the  proceedings  of 
the  session  of  the  National  Union  at  Cincinnati  were  pub- 
lished prevented  me  from  calling  the  attention  of  the  sub- 
ordinate unions,  in  time,  to  a  resolution  passed  at  that 
session  authorizing  me  to  draw  upon  them  quarterly  for 
the  amount  of  their  percentage.  That  resolution  was 
adopted  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  the  committee  on 
charters  and  cards  to  raise  funds  to  pay  the  expenses  ©f 
getting  up  said  charters  and  cards;  but,  receiving  no 
money,  they  did  not  feel  authorized  to  run  into  debt,  with 
no  prospect  of  getting  out  of  it  in  a  reasonable  space  of 
time.  I  feel  assured,  had  the  proceedings. of  the  session  of 
the  National  Union  at  Cincinnati  been  promptly  pub- 
lished, I  would  have  had  the  satisfaction,  long  before 
this,  of  having  forwarded,  to  the  various  unions  entitled, 
their  charters;  and  to  have  also  induced  a  large  number 
of  new  unions  to  organize,  whose  charter  feet,  united  with 
their  percentage,  would  have  greatly  augmented  the  re- 
ceipts of  the  National  Union.  Another  source  <>f  revenue 
w.is  also  cut  "fT  by  the  failure  of  the  lecretariei  of  the  late 
session  of  the  National  Union  to  discharge  their  duty. 
Had  the  committee  been   enabled  to  have  secured  the 

1  »<) 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

prompt  engraving  or  printing  of  the  union  card,  and  sup- 
plied the  subordinate  unions  with  such  number  of  copies 
as  might  have  been  desired,  a  considerable  amount  of 
money  would  have  been  raised  from  this  source  alone." 

Password,  Grip,  Secret  Signs,  etc.  —  The  report  of  a 
special  committee  appointed  to  consider  the-  advisability 
of  using  a  national  password,  reported  the  following,  re- 
questing its  adoption  as  an  amendment  to  the  by-laws : 

Article  VII.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  of  the 
National  Typographical  Union,  at  intervals  of  three  months, 
commencing  with  the  month  of  June,  to  communicate  to  the 
presidents  and  vice-presidents  of  the  different  unions  having 
charters  from  this  union,  a  national  password,  to  be  given  to 
all  members  of  their  union  in  good  standing  at  the  time  of 
taking  out  their  cards ;  and  in  the  case  of  the  death  or  inability 
of  the  president,  then  the  duty  to  devolve  on  the  first  vice- 
president,  and  in  the  event  of  the  inability  of  the  first  vice- 
president,  this  duty  to  devolve  on  the  second  vice-president. 

The  following  resolution  from  Chicago  Union  was 
referred  to  a  special  committee  on  secret  organization : 

Resolved,  That  the  representatives  from  this  union  to  the 
National  Typographical  Union,  to  be  held  in  Pittsburgh  on  the 
first  Monday  in  May  next,  be  instructed  to  cast  their  vote  for, 
and  use  their  influence  to  secure,  the  adoption  by  that  union 
of  a  practical  system  of  secret  signs,  grips,  passwords,  etc.,  for 
the  use  and  benefit  of  all  members,  good  and  true,  of  subordi- 
nate unions  under-  the  jurisdiction  of  the  National  Union. 

Both  the  proposed  amendment  to  the  by-laws  and  the 
above  resolution  were  defeated. 

General  Laws  —  At  this  convention  was  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  the  present  general  laws  of  the  union.  Fol- 
lowing is  the  first  general  law  adopted  by  the  National 
Typographical  Union : 

No  union  shall  admit  as  a  member  any  person  who  comes 
from  a  place  where  a  union  existed  at  the  time  of  his  leaving 
unless  he  can  produce  a  duly  attested  certificate  of  member- 
-ship  from  said  union ;  and  any  person  admitted  by  such  certifi- 

150 


Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1853 

cate  shall  be  exempt  from  the  payment  of  the  usual  initiation 
fee ;  but  shall  be  required  to  pay  the  regular  monthly  dues  from 
the  date  of  his  admission:  Provided,  however,  That  an  appli- 
cant for  membership,  without  a  certificate,  shall  be  allowed 
the  privilege  of  giving  a  statement,  in  writing,  of  reasons 
why  he  should  be  admitted,  which  statement,  if  satisfactory 
to  the  union,  shall  entitle  the  application  of  such  person  to 
consideration. 

First  Traveling  Card  —  The  convention  adopted  the 
following  form  of  certificate  of  membership: 

This  is  to  certify  that  the  bearer  hereof,  whose  signature 
appears  on  the  margin  of  this  certificate,  is  a  member  in  good 

standing  of    Typographical   Union   No , 

State  of  ,  and  is  entitled  to  the  confidence,  friend- 
ship and  good  offices  of  all  unions  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  National  Typographical  Union. 

Given  under  our  hands  and  the  seal  of  the  union,  at , 

this day  of 18.  .. 

,  President. 

Secretory. 

Opposed  to  Strikes  —  The  following  resolution  was 
agreed  to  with  but  three  dissenting  votes: 

Resolved,  That  the  National  Union  regards  as  injudicious  a 
frequent  resort  to  strikes  on  the  part  of  journeymen  on  any  mis- 
understanding occurring  between  them  and  their  emplo\ 
believing  that  in  most  cases  all  such  differences  can  be  settled 
satisfactorily  by  other  and  more  amicable  means ;  and  that  a 
strike  should  be  resorted  to  only  when  all  such  means  fail. 

Scale  of  Prices —  During  the  progress  of  the  conven- 
tion the  president  proposed  the  following  question  to  the 
delegates :  "Is  the  bill  of  prices  properly  a  part  of  the  by- 
laws of  the  subordinate  unions?"  The  answer  of  the  con- 
vention was  that  the  question  was  one  that  should  be  left 
entirely  to  the  discretion  of  subordinate  unions. 

Measurement  of  Type  —  Through  a  special  committee 
appointed  for  that  purpose,  the  union  adopted  a  minimum 

tandard"    for    the    measurement    of    type,    as    folloW8: 

181 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Agate,  15  ems  to  the  alphabet;  nonpareil,  14;  minion  and 
brevier,  13  ;  bourgeois  to  pica,  inclusive,  12. 

Seal  —  The  first  design  of  a  seal  for  the  National  Typo- 
graphical Union  was  authorized  and  the  style  and  char- 
acter of  design  were  entrusted  to  the  delegates  from  Buf- 
falo and  Rochester,  N.  Y.  The  credit,  however,  of  the 
design  is  due  to  H.  H.  Whitcomb,  secretary-treasurer 
from  1854  till  1857.  The  first  seal  was  executed  in  the 
summer  of  1853. 

Officers,  1853  —  Gerard  Stith,  of  New  Orleans,  was 
elected  president  for,  the  ensuing  year,  together  with 
Andrew  McCoubrey,  Boston,  first  vice-president;  F.  A. 
Albaugh,  New  York,  second  vice-president;  H.  H. 
Whitcomb,  Buffalo,  recording  secretary ;  James  P.  Wood- 
bury, Chicago,  corresponding  secretary;  M.  C.  Brown, 
Philadelphia,  treasurer. 

No  reference  is  made  to  the  national  executive  com- 
mittee in  the  proceedings  of  this  convention. 

Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  was  chosen  as  the  meeting  place  for  the 
convention  of  1854. 

Convention    at    Buffalo 

[1854]  —  The  third  annual  session  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  in  Buffalo,  N. 
¥.,  on  Monday,  May  I,  1854.  In  point  of  delegates  pres- 
ent and  subordinate  unions  represented,  this  convention 
made  a  poor  showing,  such  important  cities  as  Indian- 
apolis, Albany,  Columbus,  St.  Louis,  Baltimore  and  Har- 
risburg  not  being  represented. 

President  Stith  was  unable  to  attend  the  convention  and 
Lewis  Graham,  of  New  Orleans,  was  elected  president 
pro  tern,  and  presided  over  the  sessions  of  the  convention, 
which  lasted  three  days. 

New  York  Co-operative  Union  —  The  time  of  the  con- 
vention was  largely  occupied  by  a  discussion  of  another 

152 


GERARD  -  1 1  ill.   Niw   Omjum 
Nut   National  Ty|M>ur«|ihicnl  UalM 
Ml]    <,.    ||  .  i       M..v    ••.    l|f4 


Convention  at  Buffalo,  1854 

petition  for  a  charter  from  the  Co-operative  Union  of 
New  York  city.  It  was  finally  determined  that  the  Na- 
tional Typographical  Union  record  itself  in  favor  of  a 
principle  never  to  recognize  more  than  one  union  in  each 
city.  The  warring  unions  in  New  York  were  urged  to 
bury  their  differences  and  combine  under  one  charter. 

Offices  of  Secretary  and  Treasurer  Combined  —  The 
offices  of  recording  secretary  and  treasurer  were  com- 
bined, in  order  to  facilitate  the  transaction  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union's  business,  and  it  was  also  deter- 
mined to  elect  officers  at  the  beginning  of  each  annual 
convention,  instead  of  at  the  close,  experience  having 
proved  that  many  officers,  not  being  returned  as  delegates 
by  the  subordinate  unions  to  which  they  belonged,  did 
not  feel  able  to  stand  the  expense  of  attending  the  con- 
vention on  their  own  responsibility. 

Female  Labor  in  Composing  Rooms —  Delegate  Bond, 
of  Detroit,  presented  the  following  memorial  from  De- 
troit Union  in  relation  to  the  employment  of  females  in 
printing  offices,  which  was  referred  to  the  committee  on 
subordinate  unions: 

At  the  April  meeting  of  the  Detroit  Typographical  Union 
No.  18,  it  was  decided  by  nearly  a  unanimous  vote,  after  some 
discussion,  to  refer  the  subject  of  the  introduction  and  con- 
tinued employment  o£  females  within  its  jurisdiction  to  the 
National  Union,  they  wishing  for  its  full  and  explicit  view  or 
decision.  Their  representatives  were  instructed,  by  its  elective 
body,  to  urge  the  expediency  and  adoption  of  some  den- 
incisure  to  guide  and  sustain  any  subordinate  union  in  what- 
ever just  and  proper  course  a  majority  of  its  members  may 
think  fit  to  pursue  against  this  injurious  invasion  by  which 
employers  wished  to  set  aside  fair  Usage  and  compensation. 
We  trust,  therefore,  that  this  body,  as  now  assembled,  will  give 
some  expression,  or  adopt  some  conclusive  rule,  on  which  all 
subordinates  throughout  the  United  States  can  act,  should  thev 
think  it  advisable,  at  any  time,  without  further  reference  to  the 
National   I'nion. 

153 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

In  view  of  the  above,  which  we  trust  will  meet  the  sincere 
concurrence  of  the  National  body,  as  pertaining  to  the  gen- 
eral welfare  of  our  organization  in  the  United  States,  of  which 
we  are  a  part,  we  would  urge  the  adoption  of  the  best  means 
of  discountenancing  and  preventing  if  possible  an  evil  which, 
if  allowed,  will  eventually  impair  the  prosperity  and  efficiency 
of  subordinate  unions,  thereby  affecting  the  National  Union, 
as  the  innovators  can  never,  under  our  present  system,  become 
co-operators  in  the  organization  by  which  we  endeavor  to  es- 
tablish fair  usages  throughout  the  Union.  We  ask  a  decided 
action  at  the  present  session  in  this  matter. 

The  committee  to  which  the  memorial  was  referred  was 
divided  in  opinion  regarding  the  proper  recommendation 
to  be  made  to  the  convention.  A  majority  of  the  commit- 
tee entertained  the  belief  that  the  employment  of  females 
as  compositors  would  never  become  general,  or  so  exten- 
sive as  to  affect  the  trade  materially,  and  were  of  the 
opinion  that  subordinate  unions  should  dispose  of  the 
matter  in  a  way  to  best  suit  their  several  localities.  The 
minority  report  recognized  the  right  of  females  to  any 
employment  to  which  they  might  be  fitted,  and  with  this 
expression  of  opinion  it  was  recommended  that  all  legis- 
lation on  the  subject  be  left  in  the  hands  of  subordinate 
unions,  with  power  to  act  in  such  manner  as  their  wisdom 
might  direct. 

Neither  the  majority  nor  the  minority  reports  found 
favor  with  a  majority  of  the  delegates.  After  a  pro- 
longed discussion,  and  the  consideration  of  numerous 
amendments,  it  was  finally  ordered  "that  this  union  will 
not  encourage,  by  its  acts,  the  employment  of  females  as 
compositors." 

Membership,  Traveling  Cards,  Seal,  Charter  —  The 
secretary  summarized  the  transactions  of  his  office  during 
the  year,  and  in  addition  to  his  financial  statement  re- 
ported a  total  membership  of  1,512.  It  also  appeared  in 
the  report  that  439  members  had  been  expelled. 

154 


Convention  at  Buffalo,  1854 

At  the  last  session  of  the  National  Union,  the  secretary- 
elect  was  instructed  to  act  in  concert  with  the  Buffalo  and 
Rochester  delegations  in  getting  up  and  issuing  a  certificate 
of  membership,  a  seal  for  the  National  Union  and  a  charter 
for  subordinate  unions.  During  the  year  which  has  elapsed,  I 
have  issued  the  certificate  and  adopted  a  seal.  The  charter  is 
nearly  ready  and  will  be  sent  on  to  the  subordinate  unions  at 
as  early  a  day  as  possible.  In  relation  to  the  certificate,  a  mo- 
tion was  adopted  to  print  1,000  cards.  Upon  reflection,  this 
seemed  too  small  a  number,  and  I  decided  to  get  2,400  printed, 
by  which  I  might  be  able  to  supply  all  unions  with  a  sufficient 
number  to  last  for  more  than  one  year.  I  have  now  on  hand 
but  600.  In  the  month  of  July  last,  I  had  printed  and  sent 
to  all  subordinate  unions,  a'  circular  informing  them  that  the 
certificates  were  ready  for  circulation,  at  the  cost  of  $5  per 
hundred. — Secretary's  report. 

Official  Organ  —  A  proposition  to  establish  an  official 
organ,  left  over  from  the  previous  convention,  was  dis- 
cussed at  some  length  but  no  definite  action  was  had. 
Several  minor  amendments  and  a  few  additions  were 
made  to  the  general  laws. 

General  Laws  —  It  appears  that  at  this  particular  pe- 
riod in  the  history  of  the  National  Union  it  was  not 
clearly  understood  that  the  general  laws  were  binding  on 
subordinate  unions.  Gradually,  however,  all  doubt  as  to 
these  laws  being  effective  was  cleared  away  and  they  have 
since  been  accepted  by  subordinate  unions  as  binding. 

(  hnrtcrs  Issued — Charters  were  issued  to  Klmira  No. 
19  and  Nashville  No.  20. 

/•'.xrcutivi-  Ciniiniittce,  1854  —  The  president  appointed 
the  following  national  executive  committee:  Kugene 
Vallette,  Philadelphia;  Augustus  Donnelly,  Cincinn 
Thomas  J.  Walsh,  New  York;  Con.  Duscnberv.  1 
burgh;  W.  I".  Rogers,  Buffalo;  I.ouis  I..  Burke.  I  «>uis- 
villc;  William  T.  Yancey.  Memphis;  Andrew  McCoubrcy, 
Bo  ton  ;  O.  A.  Stafford,  Chicago;  Henry  Starkey,  Detroit ; 
William  H.  BMlcH,  Rochester;  O.  R.  Burdick.  I  luut.i 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Officers,  1854  —  Lewis  Graham,  New  Orleans,  who 
had  presided  over  the  sessions  of  the  convention  as  presi- 
dent pro  tem.,  was  elected  president  for  the  ensuing  term, 
together  with  Con.  Dusenbery,  Pittsburgh,  first  vice-presi- 
dent; Charles  F.  Town,  New  York,  second  vice-president; 
H.  H.  Whitcomb,  Buffalo,  secretary-treasurer;  William 
T.  Yancey,  Memphis,  corresponding  secretary. 

Memphis,  Tenn.,  was  chosen  as  the  meeting  place  for 
the  convention  of  1855. 

Convention    at    Memphis 

LI^55]  —  The  fourth  annual  session  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  by  Second 
Vice-President  Charles  F.  Town  on  Monday,  May  7, 
1855,  in  Memphis,  Tenn. 

In  the  number  of  delegates  present  and  unions  repre- 
sented this  convention  was  even  smaller  than  the  preced- 
ing one.  The  depressed  condition  of  the  trade  throughout 
the  country  was  offered  as  a  reason  for  the  small  attend- 
ance. It  was  noticeable,  however,  that  those  unions  that 
had  not  been  represented  in  the  Buffalo  convention  the 
year  previous  did  not  send  representatives  to  Memphis, 
and  the  real  reason,  perhaps,  for  their  non-representation, 
was  the  demoralized  condition  of  the  various  locals  them- 
selves. Delegates  were  present  from  Philadelphia,  Cin- 
cinnati, New  York,  Buffalo,  Louisville,  Memphis,  Boston, 
Chicago,  New  Orleans,  Detroit  and  Nashville.  Among 
the  unions  not  represented  were  Indianapolis,  Albany, 
Columbus,  Pittsburgh,  St.  Louis,  Baltimore,  Harrisburg 
and  Elmira.  San  Francisco  No.  21  and  Dubuque  No.  22 
had  been  granted  charters  during  the  year  but  were  not 
represented  at  the  convention. 

Lewis  Graham,  president,  and  the  first  vice-president 
were  not  in  attendance  at  the  convention  and  the  first  ses- 
sion was  called  to  order  by  Charles  F.  Town,  of  New 

156 


Convention  at  Memphis,  1855 

York,  second  vice-president,  who  presided  during  the 
week  and  who  was  elected  president  for  the  ensuing  term. 

President's  Report  —  President  Graham,  although  un- 
able to  attend  the  Memphis  convention,  forwarded  his 
annual  report  by  mail.  The  president  said  that  the  bene- 
ficial influences  of  the  National  Typographical  Union  had 
already  been  felt  and  appreciated,  and  though  but  in  its 
infancy,  its  progress  had  met  with  great  obstacles,  yet  it 
was  destined  to  concentrate  within  its  orbit  the  whole 
trade  of  the  union,  elevate  to  a  proper  standard  and  har- 
monize the  discordant  elements  of  which  it  was  composed. 

Duties  of  Executive  Committee  —  The  president  also 
said  that  he  was  unable  to  report  upon  the  condition  of 
trade  throughout  the  country  for  lack  of  proper  informa- 
tion. On  this  subject  the  president  said:  "I  regret  this 
very  much,  because  I  conceive  it  to  be  the  particular  duty 
of  the  president  to  report  at  the  commencement  of  each 
session,  not  only  upon  the  general  state  of  trade,  but  upon 
all  transactions  that  may  have  occurred  in  different  lo- 
calities whereby  the  interest  of  the  trade  is  affected.  As 
this  duty  can  not  be  performed  without  some  assistance,  I 
would  suggest  that  the  present  plan  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee be  so  remodeled  as  to  make  it  the  duty  of  the  presi- 
dent to  appoint  one  member  from  each  union  represented 
to  form  a  committee,  which  shall  report  to  him,  semi- 
annually and  annually,  the  state  of  trade  in  their  respec- 
ter localities  together  with  all  other  matters  that  may 
occur  affecting  the  same;  these  reports  to  be  embodied  in 
that  of  the  president  and  become  part  and  parcel  of  the 
proceedings.  In  the  event  of  the  removal  of  a  member  of 
that  committee  from  the  locality  for  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed, the  president  «»f  that  union  should  be  empowered 
to  lil!  the  vacancy.  You  will  thus  perceive  that,  at  the 
commencement  of  each  term,  itich  information  will  be 
laid  before  you  as  can  not  fail  to  exhibit  a  true  state  of 

'57 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  trade  in  the  different  localities  of  the  country  for  the 
twelve  months  preceding,  and  enable  you  more  effectually 
to  take  such  measures  as  circumstances  may  require. 

Permanent  Convention  City  —  "I  would  also  call  your 
attention  to  a  subject  which,  if  permitted  to  exist,  is  des- 
tined, sooner  or  later,  in  my  opinion,  to  detract  much  of 
the  interest  that  is  now  felt  for  the  National  Union,  and 
retard,  in  great  measure,  by  the  consequent  slim  attend- 
ance of  representatives,  the  accomplishment  of  the  objects 
we  have  in  view.  I  refer  to  the  present  system  of  remov- 
ing the  National  Union,  every  year,  from  point  to  point, 
irrespective  of  the  benefits  to  accrue  therefrom,  or  the 
inconvenience  and  expense  the  great  body  of  the  subor- 
dinate unions  will  be  subjected  to  when  desirous  of  being 
fully  represented.  Under  the  convention  system,  this  plan 
was  probably  essential  to  enlist  the  feelings  of  the  differ- 
ent sections  of  the  country,  and  no  doubt  contributed  much 
toward  accomplishing  one  of  the  objects  contemplated  by 
those  who  so  nobly  begun  this  work — the  permanent  or- 
ganization of  a  national  body.  This  object  having  been 
attained,  the  same  reasons  no  longer  exist  to  continue  this 
system,  as  we  now  number  unions  from  every  city  of  im- 
portance in  the  country,  besides  having  given  each  section 
of  the  country  the  benefit  derived  from  a  location  of  the 
National  Typographical  Union  in  their  midst.  I  would 
therefore  suggest  for  your  serious  consideration  that 
proper  measures  be  taken  to  secure  the  permanent  loca- 
tion of  the  National  Union  at  some  point  central  and 
equally  accessible  to  the  great  body  of  the  subordinate 
unions.  Your  own  judgment  will  dictate  to  you  the  imT 
portance  of  such  a  movement,  for  only  upon  an  equal 
representation  and  a  full  knowledge  of  the  wants  of  dif- 
ferent sections  of  the  country  can  you  determine  correctly 
upon  such  measures  as  will  redound  to  the  general  good." 

The  recommendation  of  President  Graham  to  establish 

158 


Convention  at  Memphis,  1855 

a  permanent  headquarters  was  fully  discussed  and  a  reso- 
lution that  "the  National  Typographical  Union  shall  con- 
vene permanently  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  May,  biennially, 
in  the  city  of  Washington,  D.  C,"  was  laid  on  the  table. 
The  further  recommendation  of  President  Graham  that 
the  president  appoint  one  member  from  each  union  rep- 
resented at  the  conventions  to  constitute  the  national 
executive  committee  was  concurred  in. 

Public  Printing  —  The  national  printing  office  question 
was  again  before  the  convention,  but  this  time  assumed 
a  different  shape.  A  proposition  was  made  to  establish  a 
national  printing  office  upon  a  joint-stock  plan,  each  sub- 
ordinate union  purchasing  its  proportion  of  stock,  with 
the  understanding  that  the  plant  would  begin  operations 
as  soon  as  $10,000  was  raised.  The  plant  was  to  be  man- 
aged by  a  board  of  trustees  appointed  by  the  National 
Typographical  Union,  and  the  net  proceeds,  if  any,  were 
to  be  divided  pro  rata  among  the  contributing  unions. 
Following  the  custom  that  seemed  to  prevail  in  the  early 
days  of  the  organization,  whenever  a  question  of  impor- 
tance divided  the  convention,  it  was  postponed  to  the  next 
ion.    That  was  the  fate  of  this  proposition. 

Ritual  —  A  special  committee  was  appointed  to  ex- 
amine a  ritual  which  had  been  adopted  by  Cincinnati 
Typographical  Union.  After  duly  considering  the  sub- 
ject the  committee  reported  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  with  a  view  of  creating  a  stronger  bond  of 
brotherhood  among  the  craft  and  giving  more  interest  to  the 
meeting!  of  subordinate  unions,  this  National  Union,  in  com- 
pliance with  section  I,  article  x,  of  the  constitution,  hereby 
approves  the  ritual  prepared  by  Cincinnati  Typographical 
Union  No.  3,  embodying  opening,  initiatory,  installation  and 
doting  ceremonies,  etc..  rod  would  recognize  its  adoption  by 
any  subordinate  union  that  may  deem  it  conducive  to  their 
prosperity  and  harmony  or  be  impressed  that  it  will  enhance 
the  interest  of  their  meetings. 

159 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

The  consideration  of  the  resolution  was  made  a  special 
order  of  business  for  the  following  day,  when  the  report 
of  the  committee  was  adopted,  with  the  following  pro- 
viso :  "That  the  National  Union  disapprove  of  the  adop- 
tion of  any  oath  or  ritual  for  initiation  of  members  other 
than  such  as  may  be  legal  and  in  accordance  with  the 
usages  of  public  bodies." 

Proprietor  Members  —  An  appeal  case  from  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  involving  the  question  of  proprietor  membership 
was  disposed  of  by  the  adoption  of  a  resolution  to  the 
effect  that  it  was  a  matter  for  the  exclusive  consideration 
of  subordinate  unions,  to  be  acted  upon  as  they  deemed 
expedient  and  conducive  to  their  welfare. 

Executive  Committee,  1855  —  The  president  appointed 
the  following  national  executive  committee:  Henry  G. 
Fisher,  Philadelphia ;  Augustus  Donnelly,  Cincinnati ; 
Charles  W.  Colburn,  New  York;  James  E.  Fox,  Buffalo; 
James  S.  Gilbert,  Louisville;  J.  W.  Smith,  Memphis; 
Thomas  R.  Shepard,  Boston ;  E.  S.  Davis,  Chicago ;  Lewis 
Graham,  New  Orleans,  and  Travis  Winham,  Nashville. 

Officers,  1855  —  Charles  F.  Town,  New  York,  was 
elected  president  for  the  ensuing  term,  together  with 
Francis  C.  Still,  Boston,  first  vice-president;  Augustus 
Donnelly,  Cincinnati,  second  vice-president;  H.  H.  Whit- 
comb,  Buffalo,  secretary-treasurer,  and  S.  Harris,  New 
Orleans,  corresponding  secretary. 

After  being  in  session  three  days,  the  convention  ad- 
journed to  meet  in  Philadelphia,  May,  1856. 

Convention    at    Philadelphia 

[1856]  —  The  fifth  annual  convention  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union  began  its  sessions  at  Philadelphia, 
May  5,  1856.  Like  the  two  preceding  conventions,  this 
meeting  was  marked  by  a  slim  attendance  of  delegates 
and  the  small  number  of  unions  represented. 

160 


LEWIS  GRAHAM.  New  OtUUNt 
I  rut  National  Typographical  Union 
May  a,  1854  -  May  7.  »*SS 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1856 

Perhaps  the  most  important  work  of  this  convention 
was  the  collating  and  harmonizing  of  the  constitution  and 
by-laws  of  the  union.  A  special  committee  was  appointed 
for  this  purpose,  which  presented  a  report  to  the  conven- 
tion on  the  third  day  that  met  with  general  favor,  only  a 
few  minor  amendments  to  the  document  as  presented 
being  passed. 

Pressmen  —  The  question  of  admitting  pressmen  to 
membership  in  the  union  was  brought  to  the  attention  of 
the  convention  through  a  communication  from  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  from  a  pressman  in  that  city.  This  communication 
is  thought  to  be  worthy  of  reproduction : 

Memphis,  Tenn.,  April  20,  1S56. 
To  the  National  Typographical  Union. 

Gentlemen  :  I  desire  to  place  your  honorable  body  in  pos- 
session of  some  facts  in  regard  to  an  action1  of  the  Memphis 
Union,  which  I  believe  to  be  wholly  unjust,  inasmuch  as  by  its 
action  power  pressmen  have  been  cut  off  from  all  participa- 
tion in  this  union,  and  are  not,  as  in  other  cities,  recognized  or 
protected  by  it.  I  conceive  this  course,  upon  the  part  of  this 
union,  to  be  unwise  and  unjust  for  several  considerations,  which 
I  will  endeavor,  in  my  humble  way,  to  explain. 

If  I  am  not  mistaken  in  my  understanding  of  the  original 
aims  and  intentions  of  those  who  first  conceived  the  forma- 
tion, and  assisted  to  establish  upon  a  firm  foundation,  the  Na- 
tional Typographical  Union,  it  was  brought  into  existence  frith 
the  view  of  raising  a  bulwark  for  the  defense-  and  mutual  pro- 
tection of  each  and  every  part  of  the  printing  business;  and  as 
the  aforesaid  action  leaves  one  department  exposed  to  the 
abuses  which  must  inevitably  arise  whenever  any  portion  of 
this  business  is  left  at  the  mercy  of  unprincipled  employers  and 

diehonorable  primers,  1  can  not  help  believing  that  tins  union, 

in   its  proceedings  in   regard   to  pressmen,   has  acted   contran 
to  the  established  laws  and  usages  of  the  National   I'nion. 

As   the  mailer   now  stands  a  pressman  who  has  Ir-vh   pub 
lislied   throughout    tin-  country  l'\    anv  subordinate  union   in.iv 
come  to   Memplrs  .mil  work  alongtkLi  of  honorable  men.  and 
no  notice  must  be  taken  of  it.     If  this  is  not  a  palpable  in 

l6l 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

fringement  upon  the  original  proposition  of  your  honorable 
body,  1.  am  free  to  confess  I  deem  it  woefully  deficient.  If 
the  National  Union  will  sanction  or  permit  some  of  her  subor- 
dinates to  compel  pressmen  to  join  their  union,  or  the  printers 
refuse  to  work  with  those  who  refuse,  and  at  the  same  time 
permit  others  to  exclude  them  from  any  participation  whatever, 
I  am  much  mistaken  in  the  good  sense  of  those  who  compose  this 
union ;  for,  by  such  a  course  as  this  the  pressman  who  abandons 
a  good  situation  in  some  other  city,  for  the  purpose  of  protect- 
ing compositors  from  some  abuse  of  an  employer,  may  be  de- 
prived of  another  by  the  same  dishonorable  fellow  who  took 
his  place  but  a  few  months  previous,  and  for  which  he  was 
branded  by  the  union  as  a  deep-dyed  and  uncompromising  rat. 
I  will  here  state  for  the  information  of  the  National  Union 
that  this  has,  to  some  extent,  already  been  the  case. 

I  feel  a  deep  conviction  that  if  the  National  Union  sanc- 
tions the  course  about  to  be  taken  by  some  of  her  subordinates, 
the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  she  will  see  her  strength  fast 
declining,  for  only  by  a  strict  adherence  to  the  old  motto — 
"United  we  stand,  divided  we  fall" — can  we  expect  to  suc- 
ceed. It  requires  the  united  co-operation  of  every  branch  of 
our  profession  to  uphold  and  maintain  our  rights — knowing 
them,  we  must  maintain  them.  Through  a  wise  and  judicious 
management  the  institution  of  printers'  unions  will  ultimately 
redound  to  the  advancement  of  our  profession,  but,  like  all 
other  magnificent  superstructures,  if  abused  by  the  great  head 
in  its  failure  to  govern  all  of  the  parts  wisely,  by  throwing  its 
protecting  arm  around  all  alike,  it  must  finally  droop  and  die.. 
And,  as  the  great  head  of  this  institution,  you  should  guard 
well  against  any  and  all  attempts  at  abuse;  and  reposing  con- 
fidence in  you  to  do  this,  I  humbly  ask  for  a  calm  and  delib- 
erate investigation  of  this  matter,  and  a  speedy  removal  of  the 
cause  of  complaint. 

All  of  which  is  most  respectfully  submitted. 

A.  T.  Norton.,  Power  Pressman, 

Eagle  and  Enquirer  Office. 

This  communication  caused  considerable  debate  in  the 
convention,  and  it  was  contended  by  several  delegates  that 
no  practical  printer  could  be  reasonably  excluded  from 
the  union,  if  fair,  whether  working  as  a  power  pressman 

162 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1856 

or  otherwise,  except  that  a  person  merely  understanding 
that  portion  of  the  business  would  scarcely  be  considered 
a  printer  and  his  exclusion  would  be  very  proper.  It  was 
finally  decided  by  the  convention,  however,  that  the  mat- 
ter was  one  that  should  be  discretionary  with  subordinate 
unions. 

Government  Printing  Office  —  A  special  committee  on 
government  printing  office,  to  which  had  been  referred 
several  propositions,  including  a  resolution  of  Cincinnati 
Typographical  Union  in  favor  of  the  establishment  by 
congress  of  a  government  printing  plant,  reported  for 
adoption  resolutions  to  the  effect  that  the  National  Typo- 
graphical Union  considered  the  establishment  by  congress 
of  a  government  printing  office  the  most  practical  method 
of  abolishing  the  contract  system  and  the  notorious  abuses 
and  effects  incident  thereto.  It  was  further  held  that  the 
establishment  of  a  government  printing  office,  while  con- 
ducive to  the  public  interests,  would  also  tend  to  the 
elevation  of  all  classes  of  labor  by  creating  an  honorable 
relation  between  the  printer  and  the  government  that 
would  serve  as  an  example  and  criterion  to  individual 
employers. 

The  recommendations  contained  in  the  resolutions  were 
concurred  in  by  the  convention  and  it  was  urged  upon 
subordinate  unions  that  they  get  up  petitions  to  congress 
in  favor  of  a  government  printing  office  and  have  the 
same  signed  extensively  by  all  classes  of  citizens  and  pre- 
sented by  the  representatives  of  their  respective  districts. 

At  the  same  session  of  the  convention  at  which  the  reso- 
lutions above  referred  to  were  adopted,  after  the  transac- 
tion of  other  busings,  a  motion  was  passed  again  t<>  take 
up  the  report  of  the  special  committee  on  government 
printing  office,  when  it  mu  ordered  that  the  majority  re- 
port of  the  committee  appointed  at  the  previous  coin. -n- 
tion  to  consider  the  matter  be  adopted.    After  a  brief 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

discussion,   the   motion   prevailed.     The   majority   report 
referred  to  was  as  follows : 

Resolved^  That  this  union  recommend  to  the  various  subor- 
dinate unions  the  propriety  of  establishing  a  fund  by  sub- 
scription on  the  part  of  the  individual  members  of  each  union 
for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  national  printing  office,  upon 
a  joint  stock  principle,  each  union  paying  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  of  stock  subscribed  for;  said  establishment  to  go  into 
operation  so  soon  as  $10,000  shall  be  raised,  which  shall  be 
placed  in  the  hands  of  trustees  of  this  National  Union,  to  be 
selected  for  that  purpose,  the  net  proceeds  thereof  to  be  period- 
ically divided,  pro  rata,  among  the  several  unions  so  subscribing, 
so  soon  as  this  National  Union  shall  deem  the  undertaking 
firmly  established. 

Charters  —  Returns — Of  the  twenty-three  unions 
chartered  up  to  the  time  of  holding  this  convention,  eleven 
failed  to  make  any  returns  for  the  year.  Indianapolis, 
Albany,  Columbus,  Pittsburgh,  St.  Louis,  Baltimore, 
Detroit,  Elmira,  San  Francisco,  Dubuque  and  Milwaukee 
failed  to  send  delegates  to  the  convention.  Baton  Rouge 
was  granted  a  charter  and  St.  Louis  Union  appears  from 
the  record  to  have  been  rechartered,  the  organization 
not  having  paid  its  per  capita  tax  for  two  years  preceding. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1856  —  The  president 
appointed  the  following  national  executive  committee  for 
the  ensuing  term :  William  B.  Eckert,  Philadelphia ;  R. 
B.  Hardy,  Cincinnati;  T.  J.  Walsh,  New  York;  New- 
comb,  Buffalo;  J.  H.  Blackstone,  Louisville;  J.  E.  Yancey, 
Memphis;  William  Graham,  Boston;  William  J.  Irvin, 
Harrisburg;  H.  M.  Biden,  Rochester;  B.  C.  Sanford, 
Chicago;  Thomas  F.  Hedges,  New  Orleans;  William 
S.  Bond,  Detroit;  L.  Collins,  Nashville;  James  Risk,  San 
Francisco. 

Officers,  18 56  —  M.  C.  Brown,  of  Philadelphia,  was 
elected  president,  together  with  B.  C.  Sanford,  Chicago, 
first  vice-president;  Thomas  F.   Hedges,   New  Orleans, 

164 


Convention  at  New  Orleans,  1857 

second  vice-president;  J.  H.  Blackstone,  Louisville,  cor- 
responding secretary,  and  H.  H.  Whitcomb,  Memphis, 
secretary-treasurer. 

Convention   at   New   Orleans 

P^y] —  The  convention  at  New  Orleans  was  unique  in 
two  respects.  In  point  of  duration  the  sessions  extended 
over  a  period  of  six  days,  but  in  number  of  unions  repre- 
sented and  delegates  present  it  fell  below  any  preceding 
convention  of  the  National  Union.  In  the  absence  of  the 
president  and  first  vice-president,  Thomas  F.  Hedges,  of 
New  Orleans,  second  vice-president,  called  the  meeting 
to  order. 

The  report  of  the  committee  on  credentials  showed  the 
fact  that  nine  unions  were  represented  by  twelve  dele- 
gates. During  the  week,  however,  delegates  arrived  and 
were  given  seats  in  the  convention  representing  Peters- 
burg, Mobile  and  Galveston,  which  jurisdictions  were 
granted  charters  by  the  convention. 

Non-Member  Delegates  —  The  first  proposition  of  im- 
portance which  came  before  the  convention  involved  the 
right  of  a  delegate  to  represent  a  subordinate  union  of 
which  he  was  not  a  member.  It  was  finally  determined 
tli.it  any  member  in  good  standing,  appearing  with  proper 
credentials  from  a  subordinate  union,  was  entitled  to  a 
seat  in  the  convention,  without  giving  consideration  to  the 
fact  that  he  was  not  a  member  of  that  particular  local 
union. 

Union  Printers-  Home  SuggtsUd — A  communication 
was  received  from  National  Committeeman  Hond,  of 
Detroit,  who,  being  unable  to  attend  the  e«<n\  enti<>n, 
presented  a  statement  dealing  with  many  subjects  of  inter- 
to  the  craft  at  that  time.  According  to  this  statement, 
Detroit  Union  had  given  serious  consideration  to  the 
establishment  of  a  union  printers  home,  or  asylum,  for 

165 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

those  members  who  had  grown  old  in  the  art.  It  was 
pointed  out  that  England  had  an  institution  of  this  kind 
in  active  operation  and  attention  was  called  to  the  possi- 
bilities of  such  an  institution  in  this  country.  It  was  pro- 
posed to  petition  congress  for  a  land  grant  sufficient  for  a 
site,  with  the  alternative  of  appealing  to  the  members  of 
subordinate  unions  for  a  sufficient  sum  to  purchase  one  or 
more  sections  of  land  in  a  convenient  and  pleasant  local- 
ity, it  being  planned  to  allot  small  plots  of  ground  to  old 
printers  having  families,  incapable  themselves  of  further 
gaining  a  livelihood  at  the  business ;  also  to  build  an  asy- 
lum for  those  not  having  families.  Thus  it  may  be  seen 
that  at  the  New  Orleans  convention,  in  1857,  *ne  ^rs^ 
proposition  to  establish  a  home  for  superannuated  printers 
was  suggested  by  the  representative  of  Detroit  Union. 
While  the  convention  gave  serious  consideration  to  the 
subject,  nothing  tangible  resulted. 

Baltimore  Union  Rechartered  —  It  appears  from  the 
minutes  of  the  New  Orleans  convention  that  the  absence 
of  representation  from  Baltimore  Union  for  the  preceding 
three  years  was  not  altogether  due  to  resentment  felt  by 
that  body  against  the  action  of  the  Cincinnati  convention 
in  allotting  charter  No.  12  to  Baltimore.  A  delegate  from 
Baltimore  appeared  before  the  convention  asking  that  the 
union  in  that  city  be  rechartered.  In  addressing  the  con- 
vention on  this  subject,  the  delegate  said  that  a  majority 
of  the  members  of  Baltimore  Union  had  felt  aggrieved  at 
some  of  the  actions  and  decisions  of  the  National  Union, 
and  also  for  seeming  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  officials  of 
the  National  body  in  not  furnishing  the  properly  signed 
and  attested  charter  form  at  the  time  the  application  was 
made  and  the  warrant  granted.  For  these  reasons  Balti- 
more Union  had  determined  to  sever  its  connection  with 
the  parent  body.  In  carrying  out  this  resolution  all  com- 
munications received  from  the  secretary  of  the  National 

166 


Convention  at  New  Orleans,  1857 

Union  had  been  laid  on  the  table.  With  this  explanation, 
after  a  brief  debate,  the  request  of  Baltimore  Union  was 
complied  with  by  the  convention  and  a  new  charter  was 
ordered  issued  with  the  old  number.  That  the  complaint 
by  Baltimore  Union  of  negligence  on  the  part  of  the  sec- 
retary of  the  National  body  was,  perhaps,  not  without 
sufficient  reason,  is  evidenced  by  a  communication  from 
Providence  Typographical  Union  to  the  effect  that  the 
sum  of  $5  had  been  forwarded  to  the  address  of  the  sec- 
retary of  the  National  Union  in  order  that  the  Providence 
society  might  effect  its  affiliation.  The  communication 
said  that  no  response  had  been  received  from  the  secretary 
of  the  National  Union  regarding  the  application  for  a 
charter,  although  much  trouble  had  been  taken  to  find  the 
whereabouts  of  that  official.  A  communication  from  Bos- 
ton Typographical  Union  also  complained  that  that  body 
had  been  unable  to  obtain  acknowledgment  from  the 
National  secretary  of  moneys  forwarded,  and  answers 
to  various  communications  from  Boston  had  not  been 
received.  The  members  of  Boston  Union  seriously  con- 
sidered withdrawing  from  the  National  Union  on  this 
account. 

The  committee  to  which  the  communications  from  Bal- 
timore and  Providence  was  referred  failed  to  fix  the  blame 
for  the  confusion  complained  of,  attributing  the  unfor- 
tunate condition  to  the  fact  that  the  moneys  forwarded 
had  not  been  registered  and  that  no  record  could  be  ob- 
tained of  the  communications  sent,  the  secretary  denying 
that  he  had  received  any  of  them. 

Biennial  Conventions  —  A  proposition  changing  the 
custom  of  annual  conventions  so  that  the  meetings  of  the 
National  body  should  be  held  biennially  was  defeated,  as 
was  a  proposition  to  hold  all  convrntions  of  the  National 
body  in  the  same  city. 

Unique  Invitation  —  A  communication  from  the  New 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Orleans  fire  department,  unique  in  its  character,  was  laid 
before  the  convention  by  the  president,  as  follows : 

Fireman's  Charitable  Association, 

New  Orleans,  May  9,  1857. 
To  the  President  and  Delegates  of  the  National  Typographical 
Union. 

Gentlemen  :  Allow  me  to  invite  you  to  be  present  and 
witness  a  public  trial  of  the  steam  fire  engine  Young  America, 
to  take  place  tomorrow  (Sunday)  morning,  10th  instant,  at  9 
o'clock,  at  the  levee,  foot  of  Canal  street. 

Trusting  you  will  accept,  I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 
Yours,  etc., 

David  Bradbury, 
First  Assistant  Engineer,  N.  0.  Fire  Department. 
Allow  me  to  join  Mr.  Bradbury  in  the  above  invitation. 

James  Beggs, 
Treasurer  N.  0.  Fire  Department. 

The  invitation  was  accepted  and  the  secretary  directed 
to  acknowledge  its  receipt  and  return  the  thanks  of  the 
National  body  for  the  courtesy  extended. 

Co-operative  Union  Disbanded  —  A  communication 
was  received  from  the  secretary  of  New  York  Typograph- 
ical Union  No.  6  to  the  effect  that  the  Co-operative  Union 
of  that  city  had  disbanded  and  that  its  membership  had 
merged  into  No.  6. 

Separate  Branches  —  The  first  attempt  in  the  history 
of  the  organization  to  separate  the  different  branches  of 
the  craft  was  defeated  by  a  unanimous  vote,  the  proposi- 
tion coming  up  in  the  report  of  the  committee  on  unfin- 
ished business,  which  proposed  three  divisions  of  the 
union — newspaper,  book  and  job,  and  press  work.  The 
final  expression  of  the  convention  on  this  subject  was  con- 
tained in  a  brief  resolution  to  the  effect  that  the  National 
Union  recognized  in  the  typographical  profession  two 
classes  only,  viz. :  compositors  and  pressmen. 

Joint  Stock  Printing  Plant  —  The  proposition  to  estab- 

168 


<  *£ft  ^SS^t 


\i    «     BROWN,  Puubwiu 

President  Third  National  (onvrnii.ni  JlWIIHJlMU  I'huuk 

May  3.  i8$j 

I'm, i, lent  National  Typographical  Union 

May  5.   i8$6-  May  4.   1857 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1858 

lish  a  fund  by  subscription  for  the  purpose  of  establish- 
ing, on  a  joint  stock  basis,  a  national  printing  plant,  hav- 
ing in  view  the  execution  of  the  printing  of  the  national 
government,  was  disposed  of  by  the  adoption  of  a  resolu- 
tion that  it  would  be  inexpedient  for  the  National  Union 
to  act  in  the  matter. 

Official  Organ  —  A  proposition  to  have  created,  un- 
der the  auspices  of  the  National  Union,  a  monthly  journal 
representing  the  printing  interests  was  negatived  by  the 
convention  because  of  the  opinion  that  the  establishment 
of  such  a  journal  should  be  left  to  private  enterprise — 
that  it  would  be  impolitic  for  the  National  Union  to  en- 
gage in  any  business  enterprise,  but  that  it  would  be 
proper  to  countenance  and  support  such  a  journal  when 
established  by  individuals. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1857  —  The  president 
appointed  the  national  executive  committee,  as  follows: 
L.  Graham,  New  Orleans;  Samuel  Sloan,  New  York; 
Gerard  Stith,  Petersburg;  John  S.  Toof,  Memphis;  Eu- 
gene H.  Munday,  Philadelphia;  M.  C.  Misener,  Chicago; 
James  Aikens,  jr.,  Mobile;  Charles  B.  Cox,  Louisville; 
A.  W.  Hyatt,  Baton  Rouge;  J.  Miner,  Galveston;  Henry 
Barnes,  Cincinnati ;  George  A.  Brawncr,  Baltimore. 

Officers,  1857  —  William  Cuddy,  of  St.  Louis,  was 
elected  president  for  the  ensuing  term,  together  with  M. 
C  Misener,  Chicago,  first  vice-president;  Eugene  H. 
Munday,  Philadelphia,  second  vice-president;  H.  H. 
Whitcomb,  New  Orleans,  secretary-treasurer;  A.  YV. 
Hyatt,  Baton  Rouge,  corresponding  secretary. 

Chicago  was  chosen  as  the  convention  city  for  1858. 

Convention   at   Chicago 

[1858]  —  The  seventh  annual  o>n\ention  of  the  Na- 
tional Typographical  Union,  which  opened  its  sessions  in 

Cliiia^o,  May  3,  1 8 5 S ,  in  point  of  unions  represented  ami 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

number  of  delegates  present,  was  a  decided  improvement 
over  the  several  preceding  conventions.  The  convention 
was  called  to  order  by  President  William  Cuddy,  who 
congratulated  the  delegates  upon  the  strong  spirit  of  unity 
manifested  during  the  year  and  the  many  applications  for 
charters  by  newly-organized  unions  in  all  parts  of  the 
country.  He  called  particular  attention  to  his  fears  that 
the  suspension  of  extensive  business  operations  and  the 
many  blighting  effects  of  the  panic  through  which  the 
country  had  passed  would  tend  to  lessen  the  attendance  at 
the  sessions,  when,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  convention  was 
the  largest  in  the  history  of  the  organization. 

President's  Address —  In  conclusion,  President  Cuddy 
said: 

We  meet,  gentlemen,  after  a  season  of  financial  disaster  such 
as  the  world  may  not  see  again  for  half  a  century — a  crisis, 
springing  up  in  the  commercial  center  of  this  flourishing  con- 
tinent, from  causes  which  few  can  explain,  and  spreading  its 
devastating  influences  to  the  most  remote  cities  of  the  civilized 
world.  Though  its  results  have  been  fatal  to  the  prospects  of 
many,  yet  it  has  tended  to  impress  other  nations  with  a  full  sense 
of  the  important  position  America  occupies  in  the  commercial 
affairs  of  the  universe. 

How  consoling  it  is  that  the  early  spring  blooms  in  with 
promises  of  a  summer  of  bountiful  prosperity.  How  cheerfully 
we  greet  the  tidings  that  the  "panic  cloud,"  which  darkened  the 
minds  and  cramped  the  means  of  many  in  our  profession,  has 
vanished,  and  the  half-filled  composing  room  and  idle  press  are 
again  bustling  forward  with  all  their  wonted  activity. 

It  must  be  a  source  of  gratification  to  every  printer  in  the 
land  that  our  National  Union  has  reached  its  seventh  annual 
convention  under  such  favorable  auspices;  that  the  predictions 
of  its  early  opponents — who  formed  false  apprehensions  of  its 
real  object — were  groundless,  and  that  the  obstinacy  which 
characterized  their  first  opposition  has  been  replaced  by  a  hearty 
acquiescence  in  most  of  our  progressive  efforts.  Let  us  hope 
that  the  same  harmonious  concert  of  action  which  has  charac- 
terized every  previous  session  may  prevail  with  us  at  this  time, 
giving  additional  weight  to  the  results  of  our  deliberations. 
170 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1858 

That,  unlike  some  turbulent  political  conventions,  where  fac- 
tion meets  faction  with  threats  of  dissolution  or  secession — or 
mind  grapples  with  mind  for  the  accomplishment  of  sinister 
purposes — every  convocation  of  our  National  Union  has  added 
a  new  link  to  the  bond  of  unity  that  knits  us  together  as  a  typo- 
graphical brotherhood.  Let  us  endeavor  to  prove  that  the 
platform  of  principles,  on  which  a  national  union  of  printers 
was  founded,  is  wide  enough  to  embrace  the  interests  of  both 
operative  and  capitalist — that  those  interests  are  identical,  and 
best  promoted  (as  experience  has  taught)  by  conciliatory  meas- 
ures. Indeed,  the  aim  of  our  national  and  all  subordinate 
unions  may  be  condensed  into  a  few  words :  The  social,  intel- 
lectual and  moral  elevation  of  our  profession,  the  maintenance 
of  a  fair  and  honorable  standard  of  remuneration — in  a  word, 
to  make  the  man  a  better  printer,  the  printer  a  better  man. 
To  welcome  every  improvement  or  invention  that  renders  our 
art  more  valuable  or  instructive — to  realize  and  render  truthful 
the  poet's  glowing  idea,  who  regards  the  press  as 

That  mightiest  of  the  mighty  means 
On  which   the   arm  of  progress  leans. 

The  world  has  hailed  it  as  such,  and  how  important  it  is 
that  all  identified  with  that  press  should  possess  the  requisite 
qualifications — either  as  thinkers,  whose  opinions  guide  the 
masses,  or  as  printers,  the  mouthpiece  through  which  knowl- 
edge is  heralded  to  the  world. 

A  great  statesman  of  the  eighteenth  century  very  wisely 
observed,  when  speaking  of  national  prosperity:  "There  are 
three  things  which  make  a  nation  great  and  prosperous — a  fer- 
tile soil,  busy  workshops,  and  easy  conveyance  for  man  and 
commodities  from  place  to  place."  Had  that  wise  man  lived  in 
our  day,  and  in  this  republic,  how  imperfect  would  be  his  Idet 
of  national  greatness  if  he  omitted  to  add.  "knowledge  and 
freedom  of  the  press."  Without  them,  no  republic  is  safe;  with 
them,  no  absolute  monarchy  can  exist. 

Secretary-Treasurer  Removed — It  had  been  found 
necessary  during  the  year  for  the  president  to 
from  office  the  secretary-treasurer,  on  charges  of  neglect 
of  duty.  Lewis  Graham,  of  New  Orleans,  was  appointed 
t"  fill  the  unexpired  term  His  report  to  the  convention 
showed  that  the  business  ..f  the  olVue,  when  he  took  up  the 

171 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

work  of  secretary-treasurer,  was  in  a  deplorable  condition. 
It  was  discovered  that  Petersburg,  Va. ;  Providence,  R.  I. ; 
Columbia,  S.  C. ;  St.  Paul,  Minn. ;  Montgomery,  Ala. , 
Peoria,  111. ;  Baltimore,  Md. ;  Mobile,  Ala.,  and  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  had  complied  with  the  requirement's  and  had 
applied  for  charters,  but  in  each  case  no  charter  had 
been  issued  nor  had  the  secretary-treasurer  in  any  way 
accounted  for  the  moneys  received  on  account  of  these 
applications.  By  action  of  the  convention,  on  recom- 
mendation of  its  finance  committee,  charters  were  ordered 
to  be  issued  to  the  above-named  unions  and  an  investiga- 
tion was  ordered  into  the  affairs  of  the  late  secretary- 
treasurer.    A  charter  was  also  issued  to  Evansville,  Ind. 

Pressmen  Organized  —  The  first  recorded  effort  to  or- 
ganize the  pressmen  was  through  a  resolution  adopted  on 
the  second  day  of  the  convention,  recommending  to  sub- 
ordinate unions  throughout  the  country  to  encourage  the 
pressmen  to  unite  with  them  in  membership,  the  latter  be- 
ing regarded  at  that  time  as  "printers"  by  the  National 
Union. 

Country  Unions  —  A  proposition  to  organize  country 
unions  by  districts  was  negatived. 

Subordinate  Unions  Advised  to  be  Cautious  —  The  fol- 
lowing resolutions,  admonishing  subordinate  unions  to 
exercise  caution  before  taking  any  position  from  which 
they  might  be  compelled  to  recede,  were  offered  by  Dele- 
gate Lynch,  of  Louisville : 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  all  unions  calmly  to  consider 
the  justice  of  their  demands  and  the  probability  of  their  being 
acceded  to  before  they  take  any  position,  to  recede  from  which 
would  at  least  humble  their  pride,  if  it  were  not  attended  with 
more  serious  consequences. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  unjust  for  unions  to  make  changes  and 
accompany  them  with  demands  for  immediate  compliance  on 
the  part  of  employers. 

After  considering  the  resolutions  as  in  committee  of 

172 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1858 

the  whole,  the  following  substitute  was  adopted  by  the 
convention  : 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  all  subordinate  unions 
fairly  and  calmly  to  consider  the  justice  of  their  demands  before 
they  order  a  strike  and  let  not  too  hasty  legislation  control  their 
deliberations. 

Rats —  That  the  subject  of  "rats"  and  "ratting"  has 
ever  been  a  lively  one  is  evidenced  throughout  the  union's 
history  by  numerous  resolutions  presented  at  many  con- 
ventions. Unique  in  this  respect  was  a  resolution  passed 
at  the  seventh  annual  session  to  the  effect  that,  in  view  of 
the  proneness  of  human  nature  to  exercise  irresponsible 
power  in  too  rigorous  a  manner,  the  National  Union  ad- 
vised each  union  subordinate  to  its  authority  to  exhaust 
all  persuasive  and  mild  measures  previous  to  the  ultimate 
resort  of  "ratting"  any  member  of  the  craft.  It  was  also 
urged  upon  subordinate  unions  to  adopt  a  system  of  fines, 
proportioned  to  the  acts  of  derelict  members,  which  might 
lead  to  a  reclamation  of  the  offenders.  It  was  set  forth 
that  it  can  not  be  to  the  interest  of  subordinate  unions,  nor 
to  the  trade  at  large,  to  act  vengefully  in  cases  where 
timely  acts  of  mercy  may  have  the  doubly  good  effect  of 
strengthening  the  organization  and  restoring  an  erring 
man  to  his  proper  position. 

Public  Printing  —  Although  the  convention  at  New 
Orleans  had  apparently  settled  the  proposition  suggesting 
the  establishment  of  a  national  printing  bureau,  the  Chi- 
cago convention  took  the  question  in  hand  and  passed  a 

lut i. ui  instructing  the  executive  committee  to  prep 
and  present  to  congress  a  memorial  asking  that  body  to 
p.iss  a  bill  for  the  establishment  of  a  national  printing  bu- 
11  an,  and  the  executive  committee  u.i^  t'urtlier  authori 
to  append  to  said  memorial  the  names  of  all  members  in 
good  standing  in  the  several  subordinate  unions  at  the 
time  <>|'  presrntatinn. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Protecting  the  Industry  —  Copyright  Law  —  As  an 
evidence  that  the  printers  have  ever  been  alert  in  protect- 
ing that  industry,  and  have  always  been  the  first  craft  to 
point  out  the  dangers  to  the  welfare  of  those  engaged 
either  as  employers  or  as  employes  in  the  trade,  the  min- 
utes of  the  seventh  annual  convention  show  by  the  adop- 
tion of  a  resolution  demanding  the  passage  by  congress 
of  an  international  copyright  law ;  also  it  was  pointed  out 
at  that  time  that,  in  order  to  secure  to  future  generations 
an  elevated  and  pure  literature,  some  check  should  be 
devised  to  arrest  the  great  influx  of  foreign  works  of  an 
unworthy  character. 

Versatility  of  the  Printer  —  As  further  evidence  that 
the  early  day  printer  could  turn  from  the  consideration 
of  questions  of  broad  national  importance  to  the  little 
things  that  affected  the  craft,  it  was  stated  on  the  floor  of 
the  convention  that  it  had  become  customary  for  steam- 
boats on  the  Mississippi  river  to  carry  their  own  printing 
offices  and  it  was  thought  desirable  to  make  some  provi- 
sion for  them,  as  the  laws  of  no  local  union  could  apply 
to  them.  It  was  finally  determined  that  the  subordinate 
unions  of  Louisville,  St.  Louis,  Memphis  and  New  Or- 
leans agree  upon  a  uniform  scale  of  prices  for  work  done 
by  printers  on  the  steamboats  running  on  the  Ohio,  Mis- 
souri and  Mississippi  rivers,  and  that  the  united  action 
of  these  unions  should  be  sanctioned  by  the  National 
Union  as  full  power  and  authority  regulating  all  matters 
pertaining  thereto. 

Traveling  Cards  —  More  stringent  regulations  to  se- 
cure the  establishment  of  a  uniform  system  in  the  matter 
of  granting  withdrawal  certificates,  and  the  recognition 
of  the  same,  were  passed  at  this  session.  The  custom  that 
prevails  at  the  present  time  was  established  firmly  upon 
the  amended  law,  adopted  by  the  seventh  annual  conven- 
tion, which  provided  that  no  union  should  admit  as  a 

174 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1858 

member  any  person  who  came  from  a  place  where  a  union 
existed  at  the  time  of  his  leaving  unless  he  could  produce 
a  duly  attested  certificate  of  membership  from  said  union, 
and  that  any  person  admitted  by  such  certificate  should 
be  exempt  from  the  usual  initiation  fee. 

Slawson's  History  —  The  convention,  by  formal  resolu- 
tion, deemed  it  advisable  to  have  printed  an  abbreviated 
history  of  the  organization,  and  directed  that  Mr.  Sam 
Slawson,  of  Chicago,  a  well-known  member  of  the  union, 
be  solicited  to  prepare  and  furnish  the  publishing  com- 
mittee with  such  a  history.  Mr.  Slawson's  brief  mono- 
graph appears  as  an  appendix  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
seventh  annual  convention. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1858 —  The  president 
appointed  the  national  executive  committee,  as  follows : 
William  Cuddy,  St.  Louis,  chairman;  W.  B.  Eckert, 
Philadelphia;  W.  A.  Baker,  Cincinnati;  Lysander  B. 
Young,  New  York;  Peter  Baxter,  Buffalo;  Raymond 
Lynch,  Louisville;  J.  R.  McKee,  Memphis;  James  Stites, 
Baltimore;  H.  W.  Harrington,  Boston;  A.  M.  Talley, 
Chicago;  W.  R.  Skelton,  New  Orleans;  W.  Graham,  De- 
troit; J.  L.  Kirby,  Nashville;  E.  M.  Newcomb,  Dubuque; 
J.  M.  Farquhar,  Petersburg;  VV.  T.  Cocke,  Mobile;  J.  M. 
Culver,  St.  Paul;  J.  S.  Thompson,  Providence;  C.  Barney, 
Davenport;  VV.  B.  Whiffin,  Peoria. 

Officers,  1858  —  Robert  C.  Smith,  of  Philadelphia,  was 
elected  president  for  the  ensuing  year,  together  with  Will- 
iam R.  Skelton,  New  Orleans,  first  vice-president;  M. 
Dempsey,  Detroit,  second  vice-president ;  George  W. 
Smith,  New  York,  secretary-treasurer;  K.  K.  Warren, 
ille,  corresponding  secretary. 

Boston  was  chosen  as  the  eity  to  entertain  the  eighth 
annual  convention,  in  May,  1859. 

Toast:  The  National  Typographical  Union  —  During 
the  progress  of  the  convention  the  delegates  were  guests 

175 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

at  a  banquet  tendered  by  Chicago  Typographical  Union, 
at  which  President  Robert  C.  Smith  responded  to  the 
toast,  "The  National  Typographical  Union — the  citadel 
of  our  strength  and  the  source  of  our  great  prosperity." 
By  order  of  the  convention,  President  Smith's  response  to 
the  toast  was  ordered  to  be  printed  as  an  appendix  to  the 
proceedings. 

President  Smith  said,  in  part : 

Mr.  President  :  Many  who  have  no  association  with  us  are 
prepared  to  say  that  the  National  Typographical  Union  has  too 
much  power — it  is  somewhat  tyrannical.  Let  me  say  to  all  such, 
if  they  will  take  the  trouble  to  examine  our  proceedings,  from 
our  organization  to  the  present  time,  they  will  find  that  we  are 
the  great  conservative  element  between  our  subordinates  and  all 
employing  them.  It  is  our  only  wish  that  the  art  preservative 
shall  proceed  in  the  even  tenor  of  its  way,  and  that  the  rights 
of  capital  as  well  as  labor  shall  be  properly  respected.  It  is 
our  wish  to  so  legislate  that  strikes  shall  never  occur.  It  is  our 
hope  to  so  soften  the  asperities  of  weak  human  nature  that  the 
employer  as  well  as  the  employe  shall  so  harmonize  in  feeling 
that  their  interests  shall  always  be  identical.  But  enough  of 
this,  Mr.  President. 

The  better  society  becomes  acquainted  with  us  the  more  our 
efforts  will  be  appreciated. 

When  I  look  around  me,  Mr.  President,  and  see  the  great 
strides  which  the  art  preservative  has  taken  since  Dr.  Faust  took 
his  first  impressions  upon  a  few  wooden  blocks,  and  compare  it 
with  "Hoe's  eight-cylinder,"  which  gives  us  twenty  thousand 
impressions  in  an  hour,  I  open  my  eyes  in  amazement  and  say, 
"What  next?"  Why,  sir,  if  you  had  said  to  our  Puritan  fathers, 
only  a  few  years  ago,  that  we  in  Chicago  tonight  could  have 
talked  to  them  in  Connecticut,  and  received  an  answer,  they 
would  have  burnt  you  at  the  stake  for  witchcraft.  And  when  I 
answer  the  question,  "What  next?"  I  can  only  answer,  sir,  I  am 
prepared  for  almost  anything  within  man's  comprehension.  And 
now  let  me,  in  turn,  ask  you  what  has  produced  these  wonderful, 
these  astounding  results?  And  you  will  have  to  answer  me, 
it  is  the  "art  preservative  of  all  arts."  It  is,  in  fact,  the 
"press" — the  mighty  lever  which  has  pressed  forward  the  march 

176 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1858 

of  mind  and  intelligence  to  such  perfection  that  we  are  almost 
prepared  to  believe  the  world  will,  in  turn,  be  bound  with  rail- 
roads and  telegraph  wires.  But  it  is  not  worth  while  to  spec- 
ulate. We  have  so  much  of  reality  to  astonish  us  that  we  can 
only  look  on  and  wonder  at  the  rapid  strides,  which  the  march 
of  improvement  is  constantly  making;  but  all,  Mr.  President, 
through  the  intelligence  derived  from  the  almost  magical  effect 
of  our  newspaper  press.  It  is  the  principal  medium  through 
which  all  general  results  are  matured,  and  their  wonder  brought 
to  light.    Well  might  the  poet  exclaim : 

Glorious   Art!    thy   children   hail   thee! 

Tyrants  only  are  thy  foes; 
Freedom's  Day  Star!   naught  shall  pale  thee; 

Dark    was    Earth    till    Printing    rose! 

What  would  have  been  the  effect  if  there  had  been  no  union 
of  the  original  settlers  of  this  great  republic  can  be  more 
readily  imagined  than  described.  And  I  might  refer  to  the 
many  great  deeds  that  have  been  accomplished  only  by  union 
and  harmony  of  action,  but  I  will  not  trespass  upon  your  time. 
You  all  know  the  old  adage,  "A  house  divided  against  itself 
can  not  stand,"  and  allow  us  to  adopt  the  maxim  of  the  hero  of 
New  Orleans,  "In  union  there  is  strength." 

And  now,  Mr.  President,  one  word  to  the  ladies  about  union. 
Let  me  urge  upon  them  the  propriety  of  advocating  union  by  all 
honorable  means.  It  is  the  bond  which  man  gives  to  society  for 
the  faithful  performance  of  his  duty  as  a  good  citizen.  By 
drawing  us  into  the  bonds  of  the  union,  you  give  a  guarantee 
that  you  will  make  of  us  better  citizens,  and,  nine  cases  out  of 
ten,  much  better  men.  It  is  your  smiles,  ladies,  that  encout 
us  to  push  forward  and  endeavor  to  do  such  deeds  as  will  meet 
your  approval.  Do  not  let  the  icy  chill  of  apathy  fall  upon  our 
efforts  to  make  ourselves  good  union  men,  but  look  approvingly 
upon  all  that  commends  itself  to  your  good  judgment  and  our 
work  will  have  been  accomplished.  It  is  to  you  tint  tOCJet] 
Indebted  foi  the  refinement,  as  well  as  the  accomplishments  of 
the  age.  The  influence  that  you  exercise  over  rough,  uncouth 
man,  is  almost  as  Ljrcat  in  your  sphere  as  tin-  pi  liffusing 

knowledge.  Would  that  the  ladies  properly  appreciated  their 
sphere  m|'  ;m  tion  ami  enCOUTaged  us  in  all  the  good  works 
we  undertake;  hut.  above  all.  ladies,  let  mc  ask  vou  to  look 
approvingly  upon  the  effort* 'of  our  "National  Typographical 

177 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Union"  and  it  will  be  the  citadel  of  our  strength  and  the  source 
of  prosperity  indeed. 

Convention    at   Boston 

[1859]  —  When  the  eighth  annual  session  of  the  Na- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  in  Boston, 
on  Monday,  May  2,  1859,  tne  president,  Robert  C.  Smith, 
of  Philadelphia,  addressed  the  delegates  at  length,  con- 
gratulating the  organization  on  the  fact  that  during  the 
year  the  officers  of  the  union  had  succeeded  in  straight- 
ening out  the  tangled  affairs  of  the  secretary-treasurer's 
office.  It  was  reported  that  the  charters  formerly  ordered 
to  be  granted  to  Providence,  Baltimore,  Petersburg,  Co- 
lumbia (S.  C),  St.  Paul,  Montgomery,  Mobile,  Peoria, 
Davenport  and  Evansville  had  been  issued.  In  addition, 
a  charter  was  granted  to  Lecompton,  Kan.,  and  also  the 
charter  of  Indianapolis  No.  1  was  issued  during  the  year. 
It  appeared  that  the  charter  to  which  Indianapolis  was 
originally  entitled  had  never  been  received.  Jackson, 
Miss.,  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  also 
applied  for  and  received  charters. 

Critical  Period  —  That  the  National  Union  was  still 
passing  through  a  critical  stage  in  its  history,  however,  is 
apparent  from  the  fact  that  no  returns  were  received  at 
this  convention  from  Albany,  Columbus,  Harrisburg, 
Rochester,  Elmira,  San  Francisco,  Dubuque,  Milwaukee, 
Madison,  Petersburg,  Galveston,  St.  Paul,  and  Lecompton. 

First  President  to  be  Re-elected  —  For  the  first  time  in 
the  history  of  the  organization,  the  president  was  re- 
elected for  a  second  term,  this  action  being  taken  over 
the  vigorous  protest  of  the  incumbent,  Robert  C.  Smith, 
of  Philadelphia. 

Pittsburgh  Rechartered — Pittsburgh  Typographical 
Union  No.  7,  having  forfeited  its  charter,  again  made  ap- 
plication for  membership  and,'  upon  the  recommendation 

178 


Convention  at  Boston,  1859 

of  President  Smith,  it  was  voted  that  the  old  charter  be 
reissued  to  No.  7. 

Baton  Rouge  Charter  Surrendered  —  It  is  shown  by 
the  record  that  Baton  Rouge  Typographical  Union  sur- 
rendered its  charter  on  October  10,  1858.  It  was  reported 
that  through  the  alleged  treachery  of  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  the  union's  members  the  organization  had  been  re- 
duced to  but  a  fraction  more  than  sufficient  to  constitute 
a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business,  and  owing  to  the 
conditions  then  obtaining  in  Baton  Rouge  a  majority  of 
those  remaining  in  good  standing  were  compelled  to  leave 
the  city  in  search  of  employment.  The  union  accordingly 
passed  a  resolution  dissolving  the  organization  and  or- 
dered that  the  funds  in  the  treasury  be  forwarded  to  the 
secretary-treasurer  of  the  National  Union.  The  members 
accused  of  treachery  afterward  entered  vigorous  denial  of 
the  accusation. 

Official  Organ  —  Again  the  question  of  establishing  an 
official  organ  for  the  National  Union  was  brought  before 
the  convention  and  referred  to  a  special  committee.  It 
was  reported  that  there  was  a  paper  in  New  York  city, 
"The  Printer,"  devoted  exclusively  to  the  interests  of  the 
craft.  It  was  finally  determined  to  make  arrangements 
with  this  publication  to  print  such  articles  or  items  of 
news  as  might  be  considered  of  general  interest  to  the 
membership. 

Pioneer  Organization  to  Consider  Tuberculosis  —  That 
the  typographical  union  has  been  a  pioneer  in  the  trade 
union  movement  and  has  also  taken  an  advanced  position 
on  many  subjects  that  arc  now  occupying  the  attention  of 
the  public  is  again  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  the  conven- 
tion of  1859  gave  serious  consideration  to  the  exposure  of 
its  members  to  diseases  of  the  respiratory  organs.  A  com- 
munication was  received  from  G.  H.  Snclling,  dated 
Beaton,  May  5,  1859,  which  is  reproduced  herewith, 

179 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Allow  me  to  call  your  attention  to  the  paragraph  which  I 
have  marked  in  the  accompanying  memorial,  in  which  allusion 
is  made  to  the  exposure  of  letter-press  printers  to  diseases  of  the 
respiratory  organs,  from  the  limited  space  of  the  apartments 
in  which  their  work  is  carried  on. 

It  would  hardly  be  necessary  to  refer  to  any  particular  class 
of  citizens  for  an  illustration  of  the  need  of  such  a  relief ;  but 
there  is  one  class,  perhaps  the  most  numerous,  in  proportion  to 
population,  in  Boston,  of  any  city  on  the  globe,  a  class,  on 
which,  more  than  any  other,  the  great  interests  and  necessities 
of  a  civilized  society  constantly  depends;  a  class,  too,  that  has 
furnished  to  society  so  many  of  its  most  honored  guides  and 
benefactors;  that  class  is  the  letter-press  printers.  The  nature 
of  their  avocation  requires,  as  an  indispensable  condition,  that 
they  should  work  in  numbers,  and  in  apartments  of  limited 
area.  This  necessary  exposure  to  the  evil  effects  of  confined  air, 
makes  such  a  place  of  healthful  resort  for  relief  and  recreation 
as  the  Common  now  offers  an  incalculable  advantage  to  them. 
To  show  to  what  degree  this  class  is  exposed,  from  the  nature 
of  their  calling,  to  diseases  of  the  respiratory  organs,  it  may  be 
stated  that,  in  his  testimony  before  a  late  sanitary  commission 
in  England,  Dr.  Guy,  an  eminent  physician,  asserted  that  out 
of  104  letter-press  printers  who  worked  in  apartments  in  which 
there  was  less  than  an  average  of  500  cubic  feet  of  air  to  each 
man,  twelve  and  a  half  per  cent  were  affected  with  spitting 
of  blood. 

I  do  not,  of  course,  mean  to  ask  your  consideration  to  the 
local  question,  upon  which  this  allusion  is  brought  to  bear, 
otherwise  than  by  the  general  remark  that  the  exposure  alluded 
to  makes  such  places  of  healthful  resort  as  the  Boston  Common 
now  is,  and  as  New  York  and  Philadelphia  are  about  to  secure 
for  themselves,  of  imperative  necessity  to  the  class  whom  you 
represent.  But  it  seems  to  me,  that  no  subject  of  greater  prac- 
tical importance  could  come  before ,  the  deliberation  of  your 
body  than  the  expediency  of  providing  more  space  and  ventila- 
tion than  is  now  generally  allowed  in  printing  establishments, 
both  on  the  ground  of  health  and  comfort  of  operatives,  and  the 
efficiency  of  their  productive  agency. 

In  the  course  of  the  few  hours  which  I  spent  in  the  office  in 
which  this  memorial  was  printed,  while  waiting  for  and  examin- 
ing proofs,  I  was  made  to  realize  by  personal  experience,  and 

180 


Convention  at  Boston,  1859 

the  testimony  of  several  of  the  gentlemen  at  work  in  the  estab- 
lishment with  whom  I  conversed,  the  deleterious  effect  of  this 
confined  air  on  the  system;  and  I  have,  therefore,  felt  com- 
pelled to  make  this  direct  appeal  to  your  body,  in  addition  to 
that  which  is  made  through  the  public,  in  this  memorial. 

I  have  alluded  in  the  memorial  to  the  result  of  Dr.  Guys 
inquiry  among  104  printers,  who  had  but  500  cubic  feet  of  air 
to  breathe  to  each  man,  which  was,  that  twelve  and  a  half  per 
cent  were  affected  with  the  most  decisive  consumptive  symptoms. 
I  could  have  add«d  that  this  same  investigator  found  another 
group  of  1 01  men  who  had  more  than  600  feet  of  air  to  breathe, 
and  their  liability  to  consumption  was  reduced  to  a  little  less 
than  four  per  cent. 

Contracts  Favored  —  That  the  present  day  policy  of 
the  typographical  union  regarding  contracts  between  the 
employers  and  the  employed  is  based  upon  sound  business 
principles  and  established  upon  precedent  is  disclosed  by 
the  discussion  of  a  resolution  brought  before  the  Boston 
convention,  in  1859,  to  the  effect  that  the  National  Typo- 
graphical Union  fully  appreciated  the  conduct  of  those 
proprietors  and  managers  of  printing  establishments . 
throughout  the  United  States  who  had  assisted  in  estab- 
lishing and  maintaining  fair  rates  of  compensation  to 
journeymen  printers.  A  delegate  to  the  convention  took 
occasion  to  read  from  an  editorial  in  the  Atlas  and  Daily 
B(  e,  referring  particularly  to  contracts.  He  said  that  in 
Philadelphia  there  never  had  been  a  scale  of  pri. 
adopted  without  first  having  invited  a  conference  with 
the  employers.  Another  delegate  took  occasion  to  voice 
approval  of  the  contract  system  and  belief  in  living  up  to 
the  terms  of  such  instruments. 

Public  Printing  Political  Conditions — A  commit- 
tee appointed  to  consider  the  unfinished  busim  vcr 
('mm    the    previous    convention    explained    that    the   only 

proposition  laid  before  it  wai  the  executive  committee's 
report  in  regard  t.»  the  establishing  of  1  national  printing 

bureau    at    Washington,    which    they    bad    examined,   to- 

l8l 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

gether  with  a  large  number  of  letters  which  passed  be- 
tween the  different  members.  That  the  convention  had 
again  determined  to  let  the  subject  of  the  government 
printing  office  alone  was  evidenced  by  a  debate  following 
the  report  of  the  committee. 

That  political  conditions  during  that  period  of  our  na- 
tional history  were  not  altogether  unlike  some  conditions 
complained  of  at  the  present  time  may  be  seen  by  a  re- 
view of  the  discussion  of  the  committee's  report.  A  dele- 
gate from  New  York  remarked  that  as  the  first  memorial 
sent  to  congress  by  the  convention  which  met  at  Balti- 
more in  1 85 1  had  never  been  heard  from,  he  could  not 
see  the  object  of  continuing  the  discussion  of  the  subject 
and  thought  the  matter  had  better  be  tabled  at  once,  con- 
tending that  nothing  practical  could  be  effected  without 
proper  men  and  sufficient  means  to  back  up  a  memorial. 
Another  delegate  said  he  thought  it  useless  for  any  one 
to  tap  at  the  doors  of  congress  for  anything  unless  ready 
to  do  the  bidding  of  the  ruling  party  in  whatever  it  might 
require.  The  project,  he  said,  was  originated  at  a  time 
when  men  were  partially  honest,  but  that  day  had  passed, 
and  politicians  then  were  intriguing  all  the  time,  not  to 
build  up  any  branch  of  industry,  but  to  put  money  into 
their  own  pockets.  The  delegate  moved  that  all  papers 
relating  to  the  matter  be  laid  upon  the  table,  and  the 
motion  prevailed. 

Providence  Union's  Charter  Stolen  —  A  communication 
was  received  from  Providence  Typographical  Union, 
through  its  delegate  to  the  convention,  to  the  effect  that 
the  union's  charter  had  been  stolen  from  their  meeting 
hall,  by  some  person  or  persons  unknown,  and  requesting 
that  the  National  Union  issue  another  charter  to  Provi- 
dence bearing  the  same  number  as  the  former  one.  The 
delegate  from  Providence  said  that  the  union  had  offered 
a  reward  for  the  conviction  of  the  thief  but  had  not  suc- 

182 


Convention  at  Boston,  1859 

ceeded  in  detecting  him.  He  also  said  that  the  union  in 
Providence  was  stronger  than  ever  before  and  that  the 
thief,  if  he  expected  to  break  up  the  union  by  stealing  the 
charter,  had  probably  learned  by  that  time  that  he  had 
fallen  wide  of  the  mark.  It  was  ordered  that  Providence 
Union  be  furnished  with  a  new  charter,  bearing  the  old 
number,  upon  payment  of  the  usual  charter  fee. 

Head  of  Franklin  on  Traveling  Card  —  Delegate 
Charles  W.  Colburn,  New  York,  offered  a  resolution  to 
the  effect  that  the  recording  secretary  and  treasurer  be 
instructed  to  procure  a  new  traveling  card  instead  of  the 
one  then  in  use  and  that  the  head  .of  Franklin  be  omitted 
from  the  card.  The  committee  on  new  business,  to  which 
the  resolution  was  referred,  submitted  a  report,  saying 
that  it  could  see  no  reason  why  the  traveling  card  should 
be  changed,  and  recommended  that  the  resolution  be  re- 
jected. An  inquiry  having  been  raised  as  to  why  the  head 
of  Franklin  should  be  omitted,  the  author  of  the  resolu- 
tion said  that  while  he  venerated  Franklin  as  a  philoso- 
pher, statesman  and  patriot,  it  seemed  to  him  that  as  a 
printer  he  did  not  favor  and  act  in  accordance  with  the 
principles  which  the  typographical  union  was  organized 
to  support.  This  statement  caused  an  animated  discussion 
and  the  ayes  and  noes  were  finally  called  for  on  the  adop- 
tion of  the  report  and  the  rejection  of  the  resolution.  The 
resolution  was  lost  by  a  vote  of  24  ayes,  2  noes. 

Proprietor  Members  —  Delegate  Lord,  of  Providence, 
offered  the  following  resolution  : 

Whereas  in  view  of  the  fact  that  a  more  intimate  associa- 
tion of  proprietors  and  journeymen  will  tend  to  a  better  appre- 
ciation of  each  other's  merits,  ideas  and  opinions,  and  will  also 
promote  harmony  l>ctwccn  them  ;  therefore 

Resolved,  Thai  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  National  Typograph- 
ical lrnion  that  the  admission  of  proprietors  into  unions  is 
Itrlctly  in  accordance  with  the  purposes  for  which  they  are 
formed. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Delegate  Colburn,  of  New  York,  offered  an  amend- 
ment inserting  the  words  "who  are  practical  printers" 
after  the  word  "proprietors."  An  animated  discussion 
ensued,  participated  in  by  many  of  the  delegates.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  debate,  the  following  substitute  was 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  15  ayes,  10  noes: 

The  National  Union  recommends  to  subordinate  unions  the 
admission  of  such  proprietors  as  may  be  practical  printers  and 
may  be  desirous  of  becoming  members. 

Secretary-Treasurer  Resigns — It  was  reported  to  the 
convention  by  President  Smith  that  shortly  after  the  ad- 
journment of  the  Chicago  convention  Secretary-Treasurer 
George  W.  Smith,  New  York,  had  resigned  the  office,  be- 
cause of  leaving  the  country,  and  that  Thomas  J.  Walsh, 
of  New  York,  had  been  appointed  by  the  president  to  fill 
the  vacancy.  Secretary  Walsh,' in  a  brief  report  to  the 
convention,  said  that  he  had  assumed  the  office  of  secre- 
tary-treasurer under  circumstances  which  rendered  an  im- 
mediate attention  to  duties  of  vital  importance  to  the 
interests  of  the  union,  that  he  had  at  once  applied  him- 
self to  the  removal  of  the  causes  of  complaint  of  various 
subordinate  unions,  and  that,  in  conjunction  with  the 
president,  he  had  issued  charters  to  those  unions  that  had 
filed  complaints  of  neglect  at  the  previous  convention  and 
also  had  furnished  all  subordinate  unions  with  printed 
proceedings  of  the  Chicago  session. 

National  Executive  Committee,  i8$g  —  The  president 
appointed  the  national  executive  committee,  as  follows : 

J.  W.  Brewer,  Indianapolis;  W.  B.  Eckert,  Philadelphia;  George  W.  Col- 
by, Cincinnati;  Henry  M.  Failing,  New  York;  Alexander  P.  Callow,  Pitts- 
burgh; John  L.  Bittinger,  St.  Louis;  A.' W.  Hilton,  Buffalo;  Raymond  Lynch, 
Louisville;  Lyman  B.  Gill,  Memphis;  James  Kelly,  Baltimore;  Charles  H. 
Woodwell,  Boston;  Cyrus  B.  Langley,  Chicago;  George  M.  Brisbin,  New 
Orleans;  Robert  Grieve,  Detroit;  R.  H.  Barry,  Nashville;  E.  M.  Newcomb, 
Dubuque;  W.  T.  Cocke,  Mobile;  W.  B.  Whiffin,  Peoria;  J.  M.  Culver,  St. 
Paul;  Milo  Barrett,  Montgomery;  C.  Bonney,  Davenport;  Jabez  Lord,  Provi- 
dence; J.  C.  Morgan,  Columbia,  S.  C. ;  L.  B.  Smith,  Evansville;  J.  L.  Power, 
Jackson,   Miss.;  W.  G.   Flinn,   Savannah;  L.  J.  Bates,  Grand  Rapids. 


ROBU  I    I      SMI  III.  I'ttn  m.i  i  run 

r  il  Typographical  Union 

M  k]   .1.  i8$»-  May  7.  i860 


Convention  at  Nashville,  i860 

Officers,  1859  —  Robert  C.  Smith,  of  Philadelphia,  was 
re-elected  president,  together  with  Milo  Barrett,  Mont- 
gomery, Ala.,  first  vice-president;  George  W.  Colby, 
Cincinnati,  second  vice-president;  Thomas  J.  Walsh, 
New  York,  secretary-treasurer;  George  M.  Brisbin,  New 
Orleans,  corresponding  secretary. 

After  being  in  session  five  days  the  convention  ad- 
journed to  meet  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  May,  i860. 

Convention   at   Nashville 

[1860-1861]  —  When  the  ninth  annual  convention  as- 
sembled in  the  State  Capitol  building  in  Nashville,  Tenn., 
on  Monday,  May  7,  i860,  the  delegates  present  were 
privileged  to  listen  to  an  address  by  President  Robert  C. 
Smith,  of  Philadelphia,  together  with  a  written  report  by 
the  same  officer,  covering  in  detail  the  transactions  of  his 
office  during  the  preceding  twelve  months.  Mr.  Smith's 
report  was  the  first  attempt  by  a  president  of  the  National 
Union  to  cover  in  a  thorough  and  practical  manner  the 
business  of  the  organization  transacted  during  his  term 
of  office.  It  may  be  well  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that 
the  country  at  that  time  was  convulsed  over  the  questions 
that  finally  culminated  in  the  civil  war.  That  those  ques- 
tions in  no  way  affected  the  integrity  of  the  National 
Union  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  delegates  were  in 
attendance  from  all  sections  of  the  country,  and  that  at 
no  point  throughout  the  Mssioni  of  the  convention  is  it 
recorded  that  any  proposition  having  to  do  with  political 
conditions  was  presented  for  consideration. 

President's  Address  —  In  his  address  to  the  convention. 
President  Smith  said,  in  part  : 

While  our  great  and  glorious  country  is  being  convulsed  by 
the  reckless  and  heedless-  like  .»  ship  upon  the  ocean,  tossed  to 
and  fro  by  the  rough  waves  of  dissension,  and  the  furious  bfl 
lows  of  distraction — our  noble  craft,  by  the  influence  of  the 

185 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

divine  and  all-powerful  Goodness,  again  majestically  glides 
into  port  upon  the  calm  and  placid  waters  of  harmony  and  good 
will.  You  are  again  brought  together — from  the  north,  from 
the  south,  from  the  east,  and  from  the  west — not  to  agitate  or 
distract,  but  to  compare  and  examine  the  wants  of  the  different 
sections,  and  to  propose  and  carry  out  only  such'  measures  as 
will  the  more  fully  cement  our  union — the  National  Typo- 
graphical Union — into  one  solid  compact.  Let  prudence  be 
your  guide,  and  your  actions  be  stamped  with  wisdom. 

The  past  year  has  been  one  of  continual  agitation  and  dis- 
trust, thereby  disturbing  the  channels  of  trade  and  the  elements 
of  prosperity;  and,  of  course,  the  "Art  Preservative,"  like  all 
others,  has  felt  their  depressing  effects ;  but  it  affords  me  great 
pleasure  in  being  able  to  say  that  at  the  present  time,  the  busi- 
ness is  in  a  healthy  condition. 

You  are  well  aware  that  there  has  been  a  great  revulsion  in 
the  different  departments  of  labor  within  the  past  two  years, 
and  it  has  tended  to  the  elevation  and  bettering  the  condition  of 
the  working  classes.  One  year  ago  I  told  you  the  eyes  of  every 
mechanic  in  the  land  were  turned  toward  Boston,  and  their 
hopes  were  centered  in  your  success.  You  have  been  the  pioneers 
in  this  great  moral  and  social  reform  which  is  being  wrought 
in  our  land ;  and  you  are  the  instruments,  in  the  hands  of  a 
wise  and  beneficent  Creator,  to  bring  about  this  great  blessing. 
The  intelligence  which  has  been  entrusted  to  you  is  intended 
for  a  good  purpose.  Do  not  bury  the  talents  which  have  been 
given  you,  but  let  your  light  so  shine  that  those  who  need  it 
may  profit  thereby.  You  are  now  fulfilling  a  great  mission ; 
therefore,  all  your  acts  should  be  marked  with  that  caution  and 
foresight  which  always  guide  aright. 

After  reviewing  the  proceedings  of  the  first  convention 
of  printers,  held  in  1850,  and  of  the  succeeding  conven- 
tions till  the  ninth  annual  session  of  the  National  Union, 
President  Smith  concluded : 

When  I  look  over  the  past,  and  see  the  trials  and  difficulties 
which  our  organization  has  had  to  pass  through,  I  stand  struck 
with  awe  at  the  great  and  mighty  power  which  has  said,  "In 
the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  bread" — thereby  stamping 
labor  with  dignity  and  honor — and  confess  myself  astonished 
at  the  rapid  strides  of  progress  which  have  marked  its  career  un- 

186 


Convention  at  Nashville,  i860 

til  it  stands  today  upon  as  firm  a  basis  as  this  magnificent  struc- 
ture, which  it  has  pleased  our  Nashville  friends  to  honor  us 
by  allowing  our  session  to  be  held  in  its  splendid  halls;  and 
its  bonds  of  unity  are  cemented  as  strongly  as  the  blocks  of 
granite  which  compose  its  stately  grandeur.  Having  been 
founded  upon  a  solid  groundwork,  and  anchored  to  the  firm 
foundation  of  justice,  it  has  not  been  affected  by  the  rough 
waves  of  time  and  circumstances,  but  its  course  has  been  stead- 
ily forward,  until  it  has  reached  a  magnitude  of  which  we 
may  all  well  be  proud.  It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union,  whilst  laboring  to  elevate  ourselves 
in  the  scale  of  society,  to  convince  the  capitalist  that  we  have 
also  been  endeavoring  to  promote  his  interest,  thereby  as- 
similating, as  far  as  in  our  power,  the  employer  and  the  em- 
ployed, and  making  their  interests  blend  in  perfect  harmony. 
How  we  have  succeeded  in  our  efforts  has  been  made  manifest 
by  the  large  number  of  employers  throughout  the  country  asso- 
ciating themselves  with  us. 

Union's  Lack  of  Authority  —  Charters — During  this 
period  in  the  history  of  the  National  Typographical 
Union  it  is  apparent  that  the  chief  troubles  of  the 
organization  were  accountable  to  the  lack  of  authority 
granted  the  parent  body  to  enable  it  properly  to  transact 
the  business  for  which  it  was  created.  The  absence  of  a 
headquarters  office,  the  fact  that  the  officers  of  the  organi- 
zation resided  at  distant  places  and  the  laxity  of  local 
officers  in  giving  attention  to  their  official  duties  seem  to 
have  been  the  cause  of  much  misunderstanding  and  fric- 
tion. In  spite  of  this  condition  of  affairs,  during  the  year 
1859  charters  were  issued  to  St.  Joseph,  Mo.;  Augusta. 
Ga. ;  Minneapolis,  Minn. ;  Charleston,  S.  C. ;  Los  Angeles, 
Cal. ;  Leavenworth,  Kan. ;  Sacramento,  Cal. ;  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  and  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Baton  Rouge  Charter  Reissued  —  Through  the  activ- 
ity of  President  Smith  and  his  associates  in  office,  charters 
were  rdssucd  to  Milwaukee.  Wit.,  Columbus,  Ohio,  and 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  the  ictory  condition  at  Raton 

187 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Rouge  received  a  thorough  investigation,  it  developing 
that  the  National  Union  at  its  previous  session  had 
taken  action  in  the  matter  without  full  knowledge  of  all 
the  facts  in  the  case,  and  upon  the  recommendation  of 
the  committee  on  subordinate  unions  it  was  ordered  that 
the  officers  of  the  National  Union  be  directed  to  recharter 
Baton  Rouge  Union  and  to  restore  all  books,  papers,  doc- 
uments, money  or  any  other  property  in  their  hands 
belonging  to  that  union. 

Columbia  Typographical  Society  Refuses  Charter  — 
An  effort  was  made  by  President  Smith  to  induce  Colum- 
bia Typographical  Society,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  to  apply 
for  a  charter  from  the  National  Union.  In  this  he  was  un- 
successful, and,  in  reply  to  the  communication  forwarded 
to  Columbia  Society,  under  date  of  April  14,  i860,  the 
following  communication  was  received  from  the  president : 

Yours  of  the  10th  instant  was  received,  and  I  would  state 
that  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Columbia  Typographical  So- 
ciety the  whole  matter  in  relation  to  uniting  with  the  National 
Typographical  Union  was  indefinitely  postponed. 

I  will  avail  myself  of  the  present  opportunity  to  state  briefly 
one  or  two  of  the  objections  that  exist  against  our  uniting  with 
the  National  Typographical  Union  and,  in  doing  so,  I  may 
safely  add  that  I  believe  I  but  reflect  the  sentiments  of  a  very 
large  majority  of  the  resident  members  of  the  Columbia  Typo- 
graphical Society.  We  pride  ourselves  upon  the  antiquity  of  our 
organization,  dating  back,  as  we  do,  nearly  half  a  century ;  and 
at  the  present  time  claim  to  be  one  of  the  oldest,  if  not  the  old- 
est, typographical  society  in  existence  in  this  country.  Were  we 
to  unite  with  the  national  body,  we  would,  necessarily,  have  to 
abandon  our  present  title  and  organic  laws,  and  remodel  our 
whole  structure  to  conform  to  the  constitution  of  the  National 
Union,  and  take  our  position'  in  that  body  as  Union  No.  — . 
To  this  yielding  up  of  our  present  independence,  the  founders 
and  many  of  the  older  members  of  the  society  seriously  object, 
as  they  are  averse,  in  toto,  to  obliterate  the  ancient  landmarks  of 
its  early  existence  and  institution. 

Besides,  we  have  a  large  free-member  list  who  have  ful- 


Convention  at  Nashville,  i860 

filled  their  contract  with  the  society  as  contributors  for  eleven 
years,  and  thus,  by  our  uniting  with  the  National  Union,  wc 
would  violate  our  part  of  the  compact  which  we  are  bound 
constitutionally  and  in  honor  to  fulfill,  as  they  would  of  neces- 
sity again  have  to  become  contributing  members — an  act  of 
injustice  which  could  not  and  would  not  be  tolerated. 

It  has  been  urged  that  a  specific  act  might  be  passed  in  our 
favor,  so  that  we  might  still  preserve  our  present  name  and  or- 
ganization. This  we  do  not  ask;  and,  even  were  it  acceded  to, 
it  would  be  an  act  of  injustice  toward  other  unions,  for  would 
they  not  of  right  be  entitled  to  the  same  privileges?  and  would 
they  not  demand  them?  And  what  would  be  the  consequence? 
I  need  not  answer. 

We  shall  continue  to  respect  the  National  Union,  only  re- 
gretting that  we  can  not,  in  justice  to  the  older  members  of  our 
society,  become  one  of  the  great  family,  but  sincerely  hope  that 
a  reciprocity  of  good  feeling  will  ever  prevail  for  the  common 
good  of  our  fraternity. 

Authority  to  Organize  Dual  Union  in  Washington  — 
In  view  of  the  action  of  Columbia  Typographical  Society 
in  refusing  to  apply  for  a  charter  under  the  National 
Union,  it  was  ordered  by  the  convention  that  the  president 
be  fully  empowered  to  grant  a  charter  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  subordinate  union  in  that  city  independent  of  the 
old  society.  The  committee  on  new  business,  which  had 
the  matter  under  consideration,  submitted  the  following 
statement,  which  was  affirmed  by  the  convention : 

In  the  letter  received  from  the  president  of  the  Columbia 
Society  your  committee  fail  to  discover  any  argument  justify- 
ing that  society  in  remaining  outside  of  our  national  organiza- 
tion.  The  points  urged  are,  briefly,  that  Columbia  Si 
the  oldest   in   the  country,   having  certain  organic  laws  which 
would  be  obliterated  by  a  connection  with  this  national  socii  • 
that  tlu  y  pride  themselves  upon  their  agCJ  and  object  to  being 
set  down  as  Union  No.  — ;  that  they  have  certain  members  who  - 
are  exempt   from  dues,  and  who  would  or  might  be  compelled 

1  to  become  contributing  members.     \^wx  committee  1 

not  sec  that  Columbia  Union,  bv  becoming  subordinate  to  our 
national  organisation,  necemrfly  loses  her  position  as  the  oldest 

is., 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

society  of  the  character  in  this  country,  or  that  they  need  neces- 
sarily abrogate  their  organic  laws.  Certainly,  if  their  interests 
are  identical  with  those  of  the  craft  generally,  and  the  object 
sought  to  be  obtained  by  their  organization  is  the  moral  and 
social  elevation  of  the  craft  within  their  jurisdiction,  their  or- 
ganic laws  and  ancient  landmarks  can  not  be  so  dissimilar  but 
that  the  necessary  modifications  can  be  made  without  impairing 
their  strength  or  lessening  their  validity.  And  as  the  National 
Typographical  Union  does  not  fix  the  amount  nor  the  mode  of 
raising  revenue  in  subordinate  unions,  the  Columbia  Society,  if 
granted  a  charter  by  the  National  Typographical  Union,  would 
have  full  jurisdiction  over,  and  could  fully  protect  such  mem- 
bers as  have,  from  the  action  of  their  union,  become  life  mem- 
bers of  that  society.  Therefore,  while  your  committee  think  it 
advisable  that  all  proper  action  should  be  taken  to  conciliate 
independent  organizations  and  that  it  would  be  proper  to  notify 
all  independent  societies  of  any  application  for  a  charter  of  a 
subordinate  union  to  be  located  in  the  same  place,  and  to  wait 
a  reasonable  time  for  said  independent  society  to  place  them- 
selves under  the  jurisdiction  of  this  National  Typographical 
Union,  we  can  see  no  reason  why  a  charter  should  not  be 
granted  upon  proper  application. 

Jurisdiction  Over  Canadian  Unions  Proposed  —  In  his 
annual  report  President  Smith  called  to  the  attention  of 
the  delegates  the  difficulties  that  frequently  occurred  in 
regard  to  the  admission  of  members  by  card  from  Ca- 
nadian unions,  and  spoke  of  the  bad  feeling  engendered  in 
some  instances  through  lack  of  perfect  understanding  and 
concerted  action.  Illustrating  the  conditions  that  existed 
at  that  time,  the  president  reproduced  a  letter  from  New 
Orleans  Typographical  Union  making  inquiry  as  to  the 
correct  procedure  to  be  followed  by  subordinate  unions. 
The  letter  was  as  follows : 

New  Orleans,  December  <,  1859. 
Mr.  R.  C.  Smith. 

Dear  Sir  :  At  a  meeting  of  the  New  Orleans  Typograph- 
ical Union,  yesterday,  a  card,  issued  by  an  association  in  Hamil- 
ton, and  likewise  one  from  Toronto,  were  tendered  to  this  union 


190 


Convention  at  Nashville,  i860 

by  the  bearers,  to  admit  them  to  membership.  It  was  stated  that 
the  cards  could  not  be  accepted  otherwise  than  as  evidence  of 
good  standing,  etc.,  and  that  the  holders  would  have  to  go 
through  the  usual  form  of  application,  payment  of  initiation 
fee,  etc.  In  opposition  it  was  stated  that  cards  issued  in  Canada 
were  accepted  in  New  York  and  other  northern  cities,  and  that 
by  resolution  of  the  Toronto  Typographical  Society  all  cards 
issued  by  the  unions  in  the  United  States. were  accepted,  and  en- 
titled the  holders  to  become  members  on  deposit.  The  cards 
were  then  referred  to  a  committee.  Being  one  of  said  commit- 
tee, I  am  requested  to  write  you  for  information  on  the  subject 
of  the  interchange  of  cards ;  if  you  are  cognizant  of  the  fact  of 
interchanges  being  made,  and  if  they  are  consistent  with  the 
constitution?  or  can  unions  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
National  Union  make  their  own  laws  in  regard  to  the  matter 
of  interchange,  or  if  the  National  Union  ever  did  anything  in 
the  premises  ? 

Our  next  meeting  takes  place  in  January,  when  the  com- 
mittee will  have  to  report.   Please  answer  accordingly. 

I  am,  sir,  with  due  respect,  yours, 

W.  H.  Lewis. 

Bulletin  Job  Office. 

President  Smith  replied  as  follows : 

Philadelphia,  December  14,  1859. 
//'.  //.  Levrif't  Esq. 

Dear  Sir  :  Yours  of  the  5th  has  just  been  received,  and  in 
answer  to  the  numerous  queries  propounded  in  regard  to  the 
accepting  of  cards  issued  by  the  Canada  societies  in  northern 
cities,  I  will  say  that  I  have  no  knowledge  whatever  of  their 
luing  received  in  any  other  manner  than  as  a  recommendation, 
or,  in  other  words,  conclusive  proof  of  the  fitness  of  those 
presenting  then  t"  become  memberi  of  the  union  upon  the 
payment  of  the  regular  initiation  fee. 

When  the  constitution  of  the  National  Union  was  first 
adopted  it  \v;is  so  framed  as  to  include  only  those  unions  within 
tlu-  limits  of  tin-  United  State!  :  ind  at  the  third  annual  session 
of  the  National  Typographical  Union  the  following  resolution 

was  adopted  : 

■  Krsolvt-iL  That  the  National  Typographical  Union  suggest 
to  the  different   Itlbordinate  unions  the  propriety  of  adopting 

tot 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

some  plan  by  which  an  interchange  of  cards  may  be  had  with 
unions  located  in  Canada." 

Under  that  provision  and  the  proviso  to  rule  3  of  the  dis- 
cipline, adopted  at  a  subsequent  session,  the  subordinate  unions 
could  have  made  what  arrangements  they  pleased  in  relation 
to  cards  issued  by  the  Canada  unions;  but,  to  the  best  of  my 
knowledge,  the  National  Union  never  received  any  notice  that 
either  the  subordinate,  unions  or  the  Canada  societies  availed 
themselves  of  the  advantages  of  those  provisions;  and  at  the 
fifth  annual  session  of  the  National  Union  the  constitution  was 
so  amended  as  to  include  the  Canada  societies  within  the  juris- 
diction of  the  National  Typographical  Union,  if  they  desired 
so  to  associate  themselves.  But  they  did  not  apply  for  a  charter 
from  the  National  Union  and  at  the  subsequent  session  it  was 
stricken  out.  My  opinion  is  that  you  would  violate  the  first 
great  fundamental  law  of  the  National  Typographical  Union 
were  you  to  receive  the  cards  in  any  other  manner  than  as  a 
recommendation  of  honorable  standing  of  the  parties  present- 
ing them,  charging  your  regular  initiation  fee,  etc.  If  the 
Toronto,  or  any  other  society  in  Canada,  receive  the  National 
Union  cards,  no  notice  of  such  action  has  ever  been  presented 
to  the  officers  of  the  National  Union. 

Hoping  that  my  answers  may  prove  satisfactory,  and  that 
all  will  be  arranged  on  strict  union  principles,  I  remain, 

Yours,  truly  and  fraternally, 

R.  C.  Smith, 
President  National  Typographical  Union. 

Aside  from  the  passage  of  a  brief  resolution  at  a  previ- 
ous convention,  no  definite  action  had  been  taken  by  the 
National  Union  toward  amalgamation  with  Canadian 
unions.  In  response  to  a  recommendation  of  the  president 
that  some  definite  understanding  be  had  in  the  matter,  the 
convention  adopted  the  following  resolution,  offered  by 
Jacob  H.  Gallinger,  a  delegate  from  Cincinnati : 

Resolved,  That  the  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union  be  instructed  to  open  a  correspondence 
with  the  unions  in  the  provinces  of  Canada,  Nova  Scotia,  and 
New  Brunswick,  with  a  view  of  bringing  them  under  the  juris- 
diction of  this  National  Union,  and  extending  to  them  a  part  or 

192 


Convention  at  Nashville,  i860 

all  of  the  privileges  now  extended  to  subordinate  unions  in  the 
United  States;  the  result  of  said  correspondence  to  be  laid 
before  the  next  meeting  of  this  body. 

In  making  its  report  to  the  convention  on  the  Gallinger 
resolution,  the  committee  on  new  business,  to  which  the 
resolution  had  been  referred,  said  : 

Several  considerations  influence  this  conclusion.  It  will,  if 
we  succeed  in  bringing  these  unions  under  our  jurisdiction, 
strengthen  both  our  numbers  and  our  finances ;  it  will  do  away 
with  the  difficulties  that  now  exist  in  regard  to  the  exchange  of 
cards  between  unions  in  those  countries  and  the  United  States, 
and  it  will  be  the  means  of  strengthening  the  bonds  of  fellow- 
ship and  good  feeling  that  should  exist  between  ourselves  and 
our  sister  countries. 

San  Francisco  Charter  Preserved  —  That  President 
Smith  was  largely  instrumental  in  influencing  San  Fran- 
cisco Union  to  retain  its  charter  will  be  seen  from  the 
following  excerpt  from  his  report: 

Since  I  have  been  in  my  present  position,  I  have  written  sev- 
eral communications  to  San  Francisco;  and,  on  the  15th  of 
September  last,  wrote  them  that  if  it  were  not  <hat  their  cards 
come  this  way  once  in  a  while  we  would  not  know  a  union  ex- 
isted in  California.  I  told  them  it  would  be  a  great  gratification 
to  the  meeting  at  Nashville  to  have  a  representative  present ; 
but,  if  that  pleasure  should  be  denied,  they  could  at  least  send 
a  report  with  their  percentage  due  the  National  Union ;  if  they 
would  do  that,  and  elect,  in  their  union,  some  person  at  Nash- 
ville to  represent  them,  they  would  be  hailed  as  the  returned 
prodigal,  ami  help  to  cement  the  links  which  are  fast  girdling 
this  continent  into  one  indissoluble  chain  of  unions,  working 
immense  benefit  to  the  printers  throughout  the  entire  country. 
I  tuhl  them  thai  their  cards  were  still  received  and  that  they 
ought  to  make  a  strong  effort  to  he  represented  by  prow,  if 
they  were  not  prepared  to  send  a  delegate. 

Acting  on  the  advice  contained  in  the  communication 

received  by  ncisco  from  the  president,  that  union 

made  immediate  arrangements   to   place   itself   in   good 

ding  and  was  represented  at  the  Nashville  convention 

m 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

by  two  delegates.  Other  delinquent  unions  were  strongly 
urged  again  to  place  themselves  under  the  banner  of  the 
National  Union,  and  no  small  credit  is  due  President 
Smith  for  the  fact  that  many  of  our  subordinate  unions 
today  still  retain  their  original  charters  through  the  vig- 
orous policy  pursued  by  that  official. 

Charters  Revoked  —  Upon  recommendation  of  the 
committee  on  subordinate  unions,  the  charters  of  Harris- 
burg,  Rochester,  Elmira,  Madison  and  Lecompton  were 
revoked,  the  latter  union  not  having  paid  its  charter  fee 
and  the  others  having  failed  for  two  successive  annual 
conventions  to  send  representatives  or  reports  to  the 
National  Union.  Davenport  Union  also  surrendered  its 
charter,  owing  to  numerous  local  difficulties,  the  most 
important  of  which  were  financial  embarrassment,  the 
suspension  of  some  plants,  the  curtailment  of  others 
and  a  considerable  reduction  in  the  number  of  printers 
employed. 

Per  Capita  Tax  —  On  recommendation  of  its  finance 
committee,  the*  revenue  laws  of  the  National  Union  were 
amended  to  require  a  per  capita  tax  of  25  cents  a  year  on 
each  member  in  good  standing,  payable  on  the  1st  day  of 
April. 

Brooklyn's  Charter  —  A  vexed  question  arose  in  the 
convention  over  an  application  for  a  charter  from  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  which  was  finally  determined  by  adopting  a 
recommendation  of  the  committee  on  subordinate  unions 
that  a  charter  be  granted  to  Brooklyn  whenever  proper 
application  was  made,  with  the  understanding  that  mem- 
bers working  in  New  York  should  be  considered  as  in 
the  jurisdiction  of  New  York,  notwithstanding  a  residence 
in  Brooklyn,  and  vice  versa. 

At  the  close  of  the  sixth  day's  session  the  union  ad- 
journed to  meet  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  May,  1861.   ( 

National     Executive     Committee,      i860- 1 861  —  The 

194 


Convention  at  New  York,  1862 

president  appointed  the  national  executive  committee,  as 
follows : 

William  Madigan,  Boston;  W.  H.  Meridith,  Indianapolis;  N.  S.  Hales, 
Philadelphia;  John  Collins,  Cincinnati;  II.  M.  Failing,  New  York;  T.  W. 
Wright,  Pittsburgh;  Sam  Slawson,  St.  Louis;  Peter  Baxter,  Buffalo;  James 
R.  Watts,  Louisville;  S.  P.  Bassett,  Memphis;  William  Floyd,  Baltimore;  J, 
K.  Conklin,  Chicago;  E.  A.  Patterson,  New  Orleans;  William  Graham,  De- 
troit; W.  T.  T.  Ott,  Nashville;  Tames  Risk,  Kureka_(San  Francisco);  E.  M. 
Newcomb,  Dubuque;  J.  W.  Barry,  Petersburg;  S.  A.  Yager,  Mobile;  W.  B. 
Whiffin,  Peoria;  J.  M.  Dugan,  St.  Paul;  A.  G.  Smallfield,  Montgomery;  Jabez 
Lord,  Providence;  I.  C.  Morgan,  Columbia,  S.  C. ;  J.  L.  Power,  Jackson,  Miss.; 
W.  G.  Flinn,  Savannah;  L.  J.  Bates,  Grand  Rapids;  James  Tracy,  St.  Joseph; 
John  T.  King,  Augusta;  D.  L.  Payne,  Minneapolis;  R.  E.  Patterson,  Charles 
ton;  C.  R.  Conway,  Los  Angeles;  J.  J.  Clarkson,  Leavenworth;  David  Norris, 
Sacramento;   E.   L.   Winham,   New  Haven;   John  Henry,   Atlanta. 

Officers,  1860-1861 — John  M.  Farquhar,  of  Chicago, 
was  elected  president,  together  with  William  Madigan, 
Boston,  first  vice-president;  S.  P.  Bassett,  Memphis, 
second  vice-president;  Thomas  J.  Walsh,  New  York, 
secretary-treasurer;  I.  C.  Morgan,  Columbia,  S.  C, 
corresponding  secretary. 

Convention   at   New   York 

[1862] — Although  the  convention  at  Nashville,  in 
i860,  selected  the  city  of  New  York  as  the  meeting  place 
for  the  tenth  annual  convention,  to  be  held  in  May,  1861, 
the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  in  that  year  prevented  the 
annual  gathering,  and  it  was  not  until  a  year  later,  Mon- 
day, May  5,  1862,  that  the  delegates  to  the  tenth  annual 
convention  assembled  in  regular  session.  Thirty-three 
delegates  were  present  from  seventeen  subordinate  unions, 
all  lying  north  of  the  Ohio  river  and  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

Postponing  Tenth  Session  —  Civil  Wm  Pitied  —  In 
order  that  this  history  may  record  tin-  <  ison  for 

postponing  tin  tenth  session,  the  following  excerpt  from 
the  report  of  President  Farquhar  is  quoted: 

I  can  net  well,  in  words,  minnuinicatc  to  you  the  pleasure  I 
feci  at  again  meeting  the  representatives  of  our  mboffdinata 

'05 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

unions  in  national  council ;  and  the  more  is  that  pleasure 
heightened  when,  in  viewing  by  retrospect  the  present  troubled 
condition  of  our  once  happy  and  peaceful  republic,  the  crippled 
finances  and  lessening  in  numercial  strength  your  various  local 
organizations  have  suffered  during  the  war,  and  the  discourag- 
ing and  disorganizing  influences  which  have,  by  one  or  more 
local  unions,  been  used  in  attempting  to  prevent  this  assembling 
of  the  National  body,  I  am  today  permitted  again  to  welcome 
in  convention  well-filled  delegations  from  widespread  districts. 

When  I  entered  upon  the  honorable  duties  of  president  at 
the  Nashville  session,  I  found  our  national  organization  pros- 
perous, well  regulated,  and  in  all  features  of  its  strength  well 
sustaining  the  high  position  it  had  gained  years  before  as  the 
leading  body  in  the  ranks  of  skilled  mechanic  labor.  During  the 
succeeding  year,  your  national  officers  used  all  laudable  ambi- 
tion in  increasing  the  union's  usefulness,  perfecting  minor 
details  in  its  management,  and  drawing  within  the  circle  of  its 
authority  new  and  reliable  local  societies.  The  good  success 
attending  our  efforts  in  this  respect  will  be  readily  seen  in  the 
report  your  able  secretary  will  furnish,  and  I  am  pleased  to 
announce  the  fact  that  all  these  new  acquisitions  to  our  strength 
still  remain  firm  in  their  support  of  national  craft  interests. 

Toward  the  expected  close  of  my  term  of  service,  and  fol- 
lowing the  publication  of  the  customary  circular  calling 
together  the  National  Union,  I  was  astonished  and  pained  to 
learn  that  three  of  the  national  officers,  and  a  committee  of  the 
New  York  Typographical  Union,  entertaining,  to  my  mind, 
causeless  fears  that  the  then  coming  May  session,  if  held  during 
the  existence  of  hostilities  between  the  two  great  sections  of  our 
country,  would  distract  the  craft,  destroy  the  union's  nation- 
ality, or  be  too  thinly  attended  to  be  "respectable,"  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  a  postponement  was  imperatively  necessary  and 
the  national  secretary  telegraphed  to  me,  asking  my  acquiescence 
with  such  a  proposition.  I  immediately  answered  that  I  would 
not  accede  to  their  request  under  any  circumstances ;  that  to  do 
so  would  be  unconstitutional  on  my  part,  and  that  I  would  re- 
spect my  oath  of  office,  come  what  may.  Notwithstanding  this 
positive  refusal,  within  two  days  following  my  answer,  the 
wires  of  the  Associated  Press  carried  to  all  parts  of  the  country 
an  official  announcement  from  Secretary  Walsh  stating  that  the 

196 


Convention  at  New  York,  1862 

session  had  been  postponed  by  the  "National  Board  of  Officers." 
On  the  day  following  1  used  the  same  means  of  publicity  to  re- 
affirm the  annual  call,  coupled  with  the  earnestly  expressed 
hope  that  all  delegates  desiring  the  upholding  of  our  national 
constitution  should  meet  in  New  York  on  the  day  named  in  the 
call.  But,  notwithstanding  the  most  strenuous  efforts  on  my 
part  to  secure  a  quorum,  through  both  postal  and  telegraphic 
appliances,  I  was  reluctantly  forced  to  agree  to  a  postpone- 
ment, and  published  the  fact  in  time  to  save  the  great  majority 
of  unions  from  unnecessary  expense  and  doubt. 

It  will  be  seen  that  a  serious  difference  of  opinion  ex- 
isted between  the  president  and  the  other  officers  of  the 
National  Union  as  to  the  constitutionality  of  the  action 
taken. 

Postponement  of  Convention  of  1861  Justified — Dur- 
ing the  consideration  of  the  report  of- the  special  commit- 
tee on  the  president's  annual  report,  Secretary-Treasurer 
Walsh  justified  the  action  of  Vice-Presidents  Madigan 
and  Bassett,  and  himself,  by  quoting  the  law,  which  said : 
"During  the  recess  of  this  National  Union,  he  (the  presi- 
dent) shall,  in  conjunction  with  the  vice-presidents,  have 
a  general  superintendence  over  the  interests  of  the  craft." 

Secretary  Walsh  maintained  that  owing  to  the  intense 
excitement  prevailing  at  that  time  in  New  York  city,  and 
throughout  the  country,  from  the  unfortunate  issues  pend- 
ing and  the  threatening  friction  apparent,  rendered  it 
prudent,  if  not  essential  to  the  welfare  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union,  that  its  convention  should  be  post- 
poned, lie  held  that  it  seemed  strange  that  any  member 
<>f  the  national  body  failed  to  sec  the  impropriety  of  call- 
ing together  delegates  from  all  parts  of  the  country  at 
Itich  a  time,  when  it  was  known  that  many  unions  which 
desired  to  be  represented  could  not  be  He  stated  that  his 
position  as  secretary-treasurer  gave  him  opportunities  to 
know  the  sentiment  of  the  members  of  subordinate  unions 

197 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  he  claimed  that  the  postponement  was  sanctioned  by 
four-fifths  of  the  printers  of  the  United  States.  He  also 
maintained  that  the  best  proof  of  this  could  be  found  in 
the  evidence  of  the  president  himself,  who  was  compelled 
to  admit  that,  although  he  made  every  effort  to  have  the 
convention  take  place,  he  did  not  receive  sufficient  en- 
couragement from  subordinate  unions  to  warrant  him  in 
adhering  to  his  purpose. 

Postponement  Criticised  —  That  delegates  to  the  con- 
vention were  far  from  satisfied  with  the  action  of  their 
officers  in  postponing  the  convention  of  1861  is  manifested 
by  their  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions: 

Resolved,  That  the  postponement  of  the  National  session  of 
1 86 1  was  an  unconstitutional  act,  and  although  this  body  does 
not  entertain  a  doubt  of  the  good  intention  of  the  officers  who 
caused  the  postponement,  still  we  can  not  pass  it  by  without 
this  expression  of  our  disapprobation,  to  the  end  that  similar 
occurrences  in  the  future  may  be  avoided. 

Resolved,  That  the  president  be  and  is  hereby  instructed  to 
prepare  for  circulation  among  the  subordinate  unions  in  the 
southern  states  (as  soon  as  facilities  for  communication  with 
them  are  afforded)  a  circular  letter,  setting  forth  that  the 
National  body  still  regards  them  as  being  members  thereof,  and 
assuring  them  of  our  continued  good  will  and  fellowship,  and 
urging  upon  them  to  maintain  their  former  relations  with  the 
National  Typographical  Union. 

Per  Capita  Tax  for  1861  Remitted  —  In  order  to 
straighten  out  discrepancies  in  the  financial  affairs  of  the 
National  Union,  caused  by  the  postponement  of  its  tenth 
annual  convention,  it  was  ordered  that  the  per  capita  tax 
for  the  year  1861  be  remitted. 

No  General  Legislation  —  Very  few  propositions  were 
presented,  for  the  consideration  of  delegates  at  this  con- 
vention and  no  legislation  of  a  general  character  was 
passed  worthy  of  record. 

198 


Convention  at  New  York,  1862 

Charters  Issued,  Reissued  and  Surrendered —  In  spite 
of  the  unsettled  conditions  prevailing,  charters  were  is- 
sued during  the  period  of  1860-61  to  Denver,  Colo. ;  Bur- 
lington, Iowa ;  Omaha,  Neb. ;  Troy,  N.  Y. ;  Cleveland, 
Ohio ;  Raleigh,  N.  C. ;  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  Stockton,  Cal. 
Charters  were  reissued  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.  Charters  were  also  given  to  Galveston,  Tex., 
and  Madison,  Wis.,  to  which  they  were  previously  enti- 
tled. The  charter  issued  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  on  July  26,  i860, 
was  surrendered  on  February  8,  1861. 

Canadian  Unions  —  At  the  Nashville  session  of  i860 
the  secretary-treasurer  was  instructed  to  open  correspond- 
ence with  the  unions  in  the  provinces  of  Canada,  with  a 
view  of  bringing  them  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Na- 
tional Union.  The  secretary-treasurer,  in  his  report,  con- 
veyed the  information  that  during  the  year  letters  had 
been  forwarded  to  all  unions  in  the  Canadian  provinces 
where  it  was  possible  to  learn  of  their  existence,  but  his 
efforts  had  elicited  no  responses.  It  was  thought  that  the 
organization  in  Toronto  at  that  time  was  the  only  union 
in  Canada  possessing  any  degree  of  practical  vitality.  It 
was  learned  also  that  some  few  of  the  subordinate  unions 
had  adopted  a  rule  to  receive  traveling  cards  from  such 
unions  outside  the  jurisdiction  of  the  National  Union  as 
had  a  similar  reciprocal  rule. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1862  —  The  minutes  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  convention  contain  no  reference  to 
the  appointment  of  a  national  executive  committee. 

Officers,  1862 —  John  M.  Farquhar  was  re-elected 
president  for  the  ensuing  term,  together  with  William  A. 
Montgomery,  Boston,  first  vice-president;  Janus  H. 
Walker,  Detroit,  second  vice-president;  Thomas  J.  Walsh, 
New  York,  secretary-treasurer;  Theodore  Naglc,  St. 
Louis,  corresponding  secretary. 

199 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Cleveland,  Ohio,  was  selected  as  the  convention  city  for 
1863. 

Convention    at    Cleveland 

[1863] — That  the  National  Union  was  held  together 
by  a  rather  slender  cord  at  this  time  is  evidenced  by  the 
fact  that  when  the  eleventh  convention  assembled  in 
the  city  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  on  Monday,  May  4,  1863, 
only  one  of  the  officers,  the  secretary-treasurer,  was  in 
attendance.  President  Farquhar,  both  vice-presidents,  and 
the  corresponding  secretary  were  absent.  The  first  session 
of  the  convention  was  called  to  order  by  the  secretary- 
treasurer.  Thirty-three  delegates,  representing  twenty- 
three  unions,  were  present,  none  of  the  southern  unions 
being  represented.  The  convention  immediately  proceeded 
to  the  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  term.  Eugene 
Vallette,  Philadelphia,  was  elected  president,  Secretary- 
Treasurer  Walsh  was  re-elected  and  the  other  vacancies 
were  filled. 

Resignation  of  President  Farquhar — In  submitting 
his  report  to  the  convention,  the  secretary-treasurer 
transmitted  certain  correspondence,  including  a  letter  of 
resignation  of  President  Farquhar,  addressed  to  the  vice- 
president,  under  date  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  4, 
1862.   The  letter  is  reproduced  herewith  in  full: 

Finding  it  impossible,  under  present  circumstances,  to  at- 
tend to  the  duties  of  president  of  the  National  Typographical 
Union,  or  even  attend  the  coming  session  at  Cleveland,  I  resign 
to  you,  as  my  constitutional  successor,  the  position  of  president, 
and  at  as  early  a  time  as  I  can  procure  leave  of  absence  from 
my  regiment  I  will  transfer  to  your  keeping  all  books  and 
papers  belonging  to  the  executive  office.  Properly,  I  should 
have  taken  this  step  some  months  ago,  but  until  lately  I  cher- 
ished the  hope  that  I  would  gain  a  position  in  the  army  which 
would  assign  me  to  a  stated  locality,  and  leave  sufficient  time 
at  my  disposal  to  conduct  the  official  correspondence.  Defeated 
in  that  object,  and  seeing  nothing  but  hard  and  dangerous  work 

200 


1   , 

u 

;    1 

\  I 
1    K 

'  ! 

lo||\    M     I-AKUUHAK.  Oiicaoo 
'*- t»t  N.iii.m.il    I  v|">«i«|ihir«l  Union 
May  7,  i860 -May  4.  1863 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  1863 

ahead  in  the  battlefield  for  months  to  come,  I  therefore  resign 
the  high  position  to  which  I  was  elected  three  years  ago  in  this 
city,  and  I  do  so  with  the  consolation  that  the  National  gavel 
passes  into  worthy  hands. 

Permit  me  to  suggest  that  in  Secretary  Walsh  and  Mr.  Gor- 
man, chairman  of  the  executive  committee,  you  will  find  able 
counselors  in  all  craft  matters,  and  particularly  from  the  for- 
mer you  can  learn,  should  I  not  be  permitted  again  to  communi- 
cate with  you  before  the  coming  session,  the  exact  condition  of 
the  national  organization  during  the  year,  and  mayhap  he  will 
suggest  to  you  valuable  points  to  be  embodied  in  your  report. 

Be  pleased,  my  dear  sir,  to  have  the  fact  of  this  resignation 
published  as  early  as  possible  among  the  subordinate  unions, 
but  you  can  not  adequately  convey,  however  much  it  might  be 
my  desire,  the  heart  pangs  I  feel  at  thus  parting  from  old,  true 
friends  and  pleasant  associations.  For  years  I  have  cherished 
the  sterling  principles  underlying  our  proud  and  noble  National 
structure  of  associated  skilled  labor  as  sacredly  as  I  have  my 
religious  faith,  and  to  part  thus  abruptly  from  tried  and  true 
craft  associates  causes  a  heart  wound  which  an  early  return  to 
the  charmed  circle  alone  can  heal. 

May  you  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  full  delegations  at 
the  May  session  in  Cleveland,  and  may  God  prosper  all  true 
craftsmen  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  our  land  are 
the  parting  wishes  of  your  obedient  servant,  etc. 

Interesting  Letter  from  New  Orleans  —  Another  inter- 
esting document  contained  in  the  minutes  of  this  session 
was  a  letter  received  from  the  secretary  of  New  Orleans 
Typographical  Union.  Although  there  is  nothing  in  the 
minutes  showing  why  this  letter  was  written,  the  presump- 
tion is  that  Secretary-Treasurer  Walsh  had  found  some 
means  of  communicating  with  New  Orleans  and  it  is  pre- 
sumed that  this  letter  was  a  reply  to  the  communication 
ordered  to  be  forwarded  to  unions  of  the  south  by  the 
terms  of  the  resolution  passed  at  the  New  York  session 
The  letter  follows  : 

I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  yours  of  the 
6th  nit.,  and  t<>  state,  in  reply,  that  after  having  mboittod  it 

JO  1 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

to  the  president,  officers,  and  several  members  of  our  union,  I 
was  instructed  to  inform  you  that,  owing  to  the  present  unhappy 
state  of  our  national  affairs,  it  is  utterly  impracticable,  nay, 
impossible,  to  comply  with  the  resolution  referred  to  in  your 
letter. 

With  a  sincere  desire  and  a  fervent  hope  that  better  days 
may  yet  be  vouchsafed  to  this  unhappy  land,  I  have  the  honor 
to  be,  etc. 

Laws  —  No  changes  of  consequence  in  the  union's  laws 
were  attempted  by  the  delegates  to  this  convention.  Aside 
from  the  routine  work  necessary,  only  one  or  two  incidents 
appear  in  the  minutes  worthy  of  record.  The  services  of 
"The  Printer"  as  an  organ  for  the  publication  of  official 
reports,  etc.,  was  dispensed  with,  and  it  was  ordered  that 
each  subordinate  union  should  prepare,  semi-annually,  a 
list  of  its  officers  and  members  in  good  standing,  together 
with  those  suspended  or  expelled,  and  the  applicants  re- 
jected, and  forward  same  to  the  secretary-treasurer  and 
furnish  each  subordinate  union  with  a  copy. 

Paper  Trust  —  An  incident  unique  in  the  early  history 
of  the  organization  was  the  passage  of  a  resolution  of  pro- 
test against  the  action  of  the  paper  combination,  so-called, 
of  the  country  for  raising  the  price  of  paper.  That  trust 
methods,  so  much  complained  of  at  the  present  time,  were 
not  unknown  in  this  early  period  is  shown  by  the  resolu- 
tion quoted  herewith : 

Resolved,  That  we,  in  common  with  others  who  have  suffered 
the  exorbitant  and  unjust  rates  to  which  the  paper  combina- 
tion of  the  country  has  raised  the  price  of  that  article,  recognize 
for  this  unparalleled  advance  no  proper  cause  and  no  just 
foundation,  and  that  its  results  can  not  be  other  than  ruinous. 

Resolved,  That  we,  as  a  National  body,  earnestly  petition 
congress  to  remove  from  the  importation  of  paper  and  the 
chemicals  used  in  its  manufacture  the  duty  now  charged  and 
regulated  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States. 

Unique  Communication  —  A  communication,  unique 
in  the  history  of  the  union,  a  parallel  to  which  will  per- 

202 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  1863 

haps  never  again  appear  in  the  minutes  of  the  organiza- 
tion, is  herewith  reproduced : 

Western  Union  Telegraph  Office, 

,  Cleveland,  May  2,  1863. 

A/r.  7.  A.  Spencer. 

Permit  me  to  offer  to  the  National  Typographical  conven- 
tion, through  you,  the  use  of  this  company's  lines  for  the 
transaction  of  the  business -of  the  convention  and  the  family 
correspondence  of  the  delegates  during  the  session  of  the  con- 
vention in  this  city.  Respectfully  yours, 

G.  W.  Van  Duzer. 

Organization  Work  —  While  no  reports  are  available 
regarding  activity  in  union  affairs  covering  a  large  area 
of  the  country,  it  is  evident  that  in  those  sections  remote 
from  the  actual  fighting  zone  organization  work  was  car- 
ried on  with  vigor.  Charters  were  issued  in  1862  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio;  Portland,  Ore.;  Quincy,  111.;  Springfield,  111.; 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  and  the  charter  of  Davenport,  Iowa, 
reissued.  At  the  opening  of  the  Cleveland  convention, 
sixty-one  charters  in  all  had  been  issued  by  the  National 
Typographical  Union. 

Proprietor  Membership  in  Portland  (Ore.)  Union  —  A 
communication  from  Albert  M.  Snyder,  of  Portland 
(Ore.)  Union,  reciting  a  difficulty  between  himself  and 
that  union,  was  presented  to  the  convention  in  the  shape 
of  an  appeal.  The  substance  of  the  communication  was 
as  follows: 

Mr.  Snyder,  who  was  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Port- 
land Evening  Commercial,  was,  at  the  organization  of 
Portland  Union,  elected  its  president,  but  subsequently  a 
question  arose  as  to  whether  a  proprietor  could  legally  be 
a  member  of  the  union.  A  committee  was  appointed  by 
Mr.  Snyder,  as  president,  to  examine  the  constitution  and 
report  whether  any  such  prohibitive  clause  existed  therein. 
Of  this  committee,  Mr.  Bail,  a  printer  from  San  Fran- 
cisco, was  chairman.    After  the  committee  had  prepared 

*>3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union  . 

its  report,  Mr.  Bail  called  a  meeting  of  the  union,  which 
meeting  was  pronounced  by  Mr.  Snyder  as  illegal,  not 
having  been  called  by  the  president  of  the  union.  At  this 
meeting  the  report  of  the  committee,  which  had  decided 
that  proprietors  could  not  be  members,  was  adopted.  Mr. 
Snyder  concluded  his  communication  with  the  following 
paragraph : 

"Bail  and  another  printer  by  the  name  of  Crowell,  an- 
other San  Francisco  printer,  combined  their  heads  to- 
gether, organized  an  association,  ignored  the  old  one  and 
all  former  acts;  elected  new  officers,  president  and  all; 
appointed  a  committee  to  settle  up  the  business  of  the  old 
concern;  took  the  old  constitution,  called  it  their  own,  and 
an  organization  under  your  charter.  These  they  had  in 
their  possession  and  still  hold.  To  all  this  I  remonstrated, 
but  to  no  use.  They  said  I  was  in  the  minority  and  must 
yield." 

Mr.  Snyder  still  claimed  to  be  president  of  Portland 
Union,  and  asked  the  convention  to  decide  who  was  right 
in  the  matter.  The  committee  on  appeals,  to  which  the 
communication  was  referred,  reported  to  the  convention 
that  it  was  of  the  opinion  that  the  parties  holding  the 
charter  granted  by  the  National  Union  had  acted  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  laws  and  were  entitled  to  be  recognized 
as  the  subordinate  union  existing  in  Portland,  and  the 
convention  endorsed  this  opinion  of  its  committee. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1863 — The  president 
appointed  the  national  executive  committee  for  the  ensu- 
ing year,  as  follows : 

M.  H.  Halpin,  Indianapolis;  William  B.  Eckert,  Philadelphia;  John  Collins, 
Cincinnati;  G.  W.  Quackenbush,  Albany;  Samuel  Bradford,  Columbus;  Charles 
Bertrand,  New  York;  G.  M.  Irwin,  Pittsburgh;  Nathaniel  Griffin,  St.  Louis; 
A.  Z.  Reeves,  Buffalo;  A.  S.  Kierolf,  Louisville;  Frederick  Young,  Baltimore; 
James  Cox,  Boston;  G.  W.  Osier,  Harrisburg;  William  T.  Kennedy,  Rochester; 
Isaac  D.  George,  Chicago;  F.  D.  Ross,  Detroit;  John  McComb,  San  Francisco; 
DeWitt  C  Northrup,  Milwaukee;  William  W.  Bird,  Madison;  Charles  H. 
Wright,  Peoria;  T.  D.  Eagal,  Davenport;  Edward  A.  Wilcox,  Providence; 
G.    W.   Howland,    Grand    Rapids;    A.   W.    Hamilton,    Leavenworth;    George    N. 

204 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1864 

Parker,  Sacramento;  Henry  B.  Stiles,  New  Haven;  H.  W.  Clendenin,  Burling- 
ton; T.  A.  Stow,  Cleveland;  J.  J.  Walsh,  Syracuse;  William  Harper,  Stockton, 
Cal. ;  E.  Lindsley,  Dayton;  R.  D.  Campbell,  Springfield,  111.;  John  L.  Jones, 
Cambridge. 

Officers,  1863  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  term  were 
elected  as  follows :  Eugene  Vallette,  Philadelphia,  presi- 
dent; G.  McK.  Luken,  St.  Louis,  first  vice-president;  J.  A. 
Spencer,  Cleveland,  •  second  vice-president;  Thomas  J. 
Walsh,  New  York,  secretary-treasurer;  William  F. 
Moore,  Detroit,  corresponding  secretary. 

For  the  purpose,  evidently,  of  placing  the  next  conven- 
tion as  near  to  the  jurisdictions  of  the  southern  unions  as 
possible,  the  delegates,  after  a  spirited  contest,  by  a  close 
vote  selected  Louisville,  Ky.,  as  the  meeting  place  for 
1864. 

Convention    at   Louisville 

[1864] — A  very  creditable  gathering  of  delegates  as- 
sembled at  the  twelfth  convention,  which  opened  in  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  Monday,  May  2,  1864.  In  the  absence  of 
President  Vallette,  of  Philadelphia,  Vice-President  Luken 
called  the  meeting  to  order. 

Charters  Issued  and  Reissued  —  A  letter  from  the  re- 
tiring president  was  received,  briefly  recounting  the  busi- 
ness transacted  through  his  office  during  the  year.  It 
contained  the  information  that  charters  had  been  issued 
to  Utica,  N.  Y. ;  Toledo,  Ohio;  Lafayette,  Ind. ;  Virginia 
City,  Nev. ;  Oswego,  N.  Y. ;  Lockport,  N.  Y. ;  Keokuk, 
Iowa;  Bingfaamton,  X.  Y. ;  Lancaster,  Pa.;  Trenton,  X. 
J.;  Hartford,  Conn.;  Lawrence,  Kan.;  Cairo,  III.,  and 
Portland,  Me.  In  addition  to  the  above,  charters  were 
reissued  to  Memphis,  Trim..  Tn>\  .  V  Y  .  and  St. 
Joseph,  Mo. 

Official  Organ  —  Reversing  the  action  of  the  Cleveland 
convention  in  discontinuing  "The  Printer"  as  the  official 
organ  of  the  Xational  Typographical  Union,  a  resolution 

*>5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

was  passed  again  recognizing  that  publication  as  the  or- 
gan of  the  national  body,  and  urging  upon  subordinate 
unions  that  every  effort  be  made  to  give  the  paper  liberal 
support.  Mr.  Greason,  editor  of  "The  Printer,"  was 
granted  the  privilege  of  the  floor  and  spoke  of  the  early 
inception  of  the  paper  and  of  its  career  as  the  organ  of  the 
printers  of  the  United  States.  He  gave  some  statistics 
showing  the  scanty  fare  upon  which  it  had  subsisted  and 
suggested  that  from  the  intelligent  class  it  represented  it 
had  been  expected  that  its  support  would  have  been  sec- 
ond to  no  respectable  journal  in  the  country.  He  stated 
that' the  subject  matter  of  its  columns  did  not,  perhaps, 
come  up  to  the  expectations  of  a  certain  class  of  printers, 
but  in  very  many  instances  these  same  printers,  who 
heaped  denunciations  upon  the  devoted  head  of  its  pub- 
lisher, were  persons  who  seldom,  if  ever,  contributed 
toward  its  support. 

Interchange  of  Cards  With  Foreign  Unions  —  The 
question  of  interchange  of  cards,  or  certificates  of  mem- 
bership, between  unions  of  the  United  States  and  those  of 
Canada  again  occupied  the  time  of  the  convention  and  it 
was  ordered  that  the  National  Union  recommend  that  all 
subordinate  unions  receive  into  membership  persons  pre- 
senting cards  from  typographical  unions  or  societies  in 
foreign  countries  whenever  said  unions  would  officially 
notify  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  National  Union  that 
they  would  receive  cards  from  unions  subordinate  to  the 
National  Union  in  like  manner. 

Unique  Letter  'from  Portland  (Ore.)  Union  —  The 
corresponding  secretary,  William  F.  Moore,  submitted  an 
interesting  report  covering  the  business  transacted 
through  his  office  during  the  year.  A  paragraph  con- 
cerning the  welfare  of  Portland  (Ore.)  Union  contains 
an  excerpt  from  a  letter  from  the  secretary  of  that  union. 
It  is  quoted  herewith  :     "There  is  an  apology  due  your 

206 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1864 

honorable  body  from  this  union,  and  perhaps  something 
more  than  an  apology,  for  our  neglect  in  not  sending  a 
report  previous  to  your  last  annual  meeting.  Since  the 
organization  of  this  union,  we  have  been  in  a  very  un- 
settled condition,  owing  to  the  gold  discovered  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  this  state  and  Washington  Terri- 
tory. Members  have  been  continually  leaving  and  we 
have  had  much  difficulty  in  getting  together  a  quorum, 
not  from  any  lack  of  true  union  sentiment  but  owing 
entirely  to  the  natural  migratory  propensities  of  journey- 
men printers  generally  and  those  on  the  coast  partic- 
ularly. We  most  sincerely  beg  of  you  to  consider  these 
facts  and  very  humbly  request  absolution  for  this  first 
neglect  of  duty.  Publishers  within  this  city  have,  with- 
out exception,  complied  with  the  regulations  and  scale  of 
prices  adopted  by  us,  and  printers  throughout  the  state 
are  governed  by  the  action  of  this  union." 

Proofreaders  —  Delegate  Clark,  of  St.  Louis,  offered 
the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  concerning  proof- 
readers and  proposing  to  regulate  their  wages : 

Whereas  proofreading,  an  essential  branch  of  the  typo- 
graphical art,  having,  in  the  growth  in  the  publishing  business, 
become  of  sufficient  importance  to  justify  the  employment  in 
many  offices  of  one  or  more  proofreaders,  who  are,  or  ought  to 
be,  practical  printers,  and 

Whereas  the  neglect  or  omission  of  the  National  and 
subordinate  typographical  unions  to  recognize  said  class  of 
printers  and  regulate  their  wages  is  resulting  in  evils  which  call 
for  speedy  correction,  therefore 

lie  it  resolved,  That  proofreaders,  being  printers,  arc  justly 
entitled  to  the  rights  and  privileges  extended  to  their  brethren 
employed  in  other  branches  of  the  trait. 

Resolved,  That  all  the  subordinate  unions  within  the  juris- 
diction of  this  body  are  recommended  to  include  in  their  scales 
of  prices  the  rate  of  compensation  of  proofreaders. 

The  committee  t<>  which  the  above  resolutions  were 
referred   reported  that  it   found  considerable  difference 

207 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  opinion  and  usage  existing  in  various  jurisdictions 
regarding  the  employment  of  proofreaders  and  recom- 
mended that  any  legislation  on  the  subject  that  was  nec- 
essary should  be  left  to  subordinate  unions,  believing  that 
in  doing  so  better  results  would  be  accomplished  than  by 
any  action  the  National  Typographical  Union  might  take. 
This  opinion  was  concurred  in  by  the  convention. 

Associated  Press  Monopoly  —  Delegate  Kierolf,  Louis- 
ville, offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  the  monopoly  of  the  telegraphic  dispatches, 
extended  by  resolution  of  the  Associated  Press  of  New  York  to 
certain  newspapers  of  the  country,  is  hurtful  to  the  interests  of 
the  craft  and  acts  as  a  direct  infringement  of  the  liberty  of 
the  press.  We,  therefore,  appeal  to  the  Associated  Press  to 
reconsider  its  action. 

Uniform  Constitution  for  Subordinate  Unions  —  A 
special  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  drafting 
a  uniform  constitution  for  the  use  of  all  subordinate 
unions  transmitted  a  document  which  met  with  the  ap- 
proval of  the  convention,  and  it  was  ordered  that  final 
consideration  of  same  should  be  deferred  until  the  next 
session  of  the  National  Union,  for  the  purpose  of  allowing 
subordinate  unions  to  instruct  their  delegates  in  relation 
thereto,  it  being  understood  that  the  membership,  in 
voting  upon  the  proposed  uniform  constitution,  adopt  or 
reject  the  principle  involved. 

Printing  Proceedings  of  1862  and  186 J  —  Several 
communications  were  received  by  the  convention,  and 
numerous  complaints  were  made  by  the  delegates,  show- 
ing that  much  dissatisfaction  existed  because  of  the  fact 
that  the  proceedings  of  the  conventions  of  the  National 
Union  at  New  York  in  1862  and  in  Cleveland  in  1863 
had  not  been  published.  The  fact  was  brought  out  during 
a  discussion  of  the  matter  that  the  secretary-treasurer  had 
not  published  the  proceedings  because  of  a  lack  of  funds. 

208 


X 


§■ 


I 


"\ 


\ 


I  I  liKNK   VALLETTE.  Philaokim.m 

I'roidcnt  Notional  Ty|>ographiral  Union 

May  4,  1863-  May  a.  1864 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1864 

It  was  ordered  that  the  minutes  of  the  two  preceding  con- 
ventions be  abridged  and  published  in  connection  with  the 
full  proceedings  of  the  1864  session,  and  that,  in  the 
event  of  a  lack  of  funds  in  the  treasury  to  print  the  de- 
layed proceedings,  the  president  was  authorized  to  levy 
an  assessment  upon  subordinate  unions  sufficient  to  cover 
the  expense. 

Chartering  Stereotypers'  Unions  —  A  resolution  pre- 
sented on  behalf  of  St.  Louis  Union  called  the  attention 
of  the  National  body  to  a  desire  on  the  part  of  stereotype 
workers  to  either  join  subordinate  unions  or  to  establish 
co-operative  uniohs  in  order  to  regulate  their  scales  of 
prices.  The  matter  was  disposed  of  by  the  adoption  of 
a  resolution  that  the  National  Union  deem  it  inexpedient 
to  charter  co-operative  unions,  but  recommending  that 
subordinate  unions  admit  stereotypers  into  their  organiza- 
tions in  the  usual  manner  on  proper  application. 

Conditional  Membership  —  The  first  attempt  on  the 
part  of  the  National  Union  at  practical  organization  work 
in  country  districts  was  the  action  of  the  Louisville  con- 
vention in  adopting  a  "conditional  membership"  card. 
While  the  real  purpose  for  the  promotion  of  the  proposi- 
tion is  not  disclosed  by  the  minutes  of  the  convention,  it 
is  apparent  from  the  nature  of  the  committee's  report  on 
the  subject  that  the  use  of  the  country  printer  as  a  strike- 
breaker had  impressed  the  union's  membership  with  tin- 
importance  of  adopting  some  measure  to  arrest  the  prac- 
tice. An  elaborate  system  was  outlined,  embodying  the 
creation  of  districts  by  states  ;m<l  sections  of  the  country, 
and  providing  for  the  icrvicei  of  district  canvassers. 

Working  Cards  —  The  custom  of  issuing  working 
Is  and  permits  was  inaugurated  at  the  Louisville  con- 
vention 

Delinquent  Southern  Unions  —  The  financial  report 
for  the  year  showed  that  the  unions  of  New  Orleans,  La.; 

aoo 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Elmira,  N.  Y. ;  Petersburg,  Va. ;  Mobile,  Ala.;  Galveston, 
Tex.  j  St.  Paul,  Minn. ;  Montgomery,  Ala. ;  Columbia,  S. 
C. ;  Evansville,  Ind. ;  Lecompton,  Kan.;  Jackson,  Miss.; 
Savannah,  Augusta  and  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  Minneapolis, 
Minn.;  Davenport,  Iowa;  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  Raleigh, 
N.  C,  had  failed  to  report  for  two  years  or  longer.  In 
considering  the  delinquency  of  the  above-named  unions, 
it  was  ordered  that  all  of  the  southern  unions  not  hav- 
ing access  to  the  National  Union  be  exempted  from 
the  penalty  of  forfeiture  of  charter.  The  other  unions 
enumerated  were  dropped. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1864  —  The  president 
announced  the  national  executive  committee  for  the  ensu- 
ing year,  as  follows : 

E.  W.  Halford,  Indianapolis;  William  B.  Eckert,  Philadelphia;  E.  F.  Big- 
ler,  Cincinnati;  G.  W.  Quackenbush,  Albany;  J.  C.  Coleman,  Columbus,  Ohio 
Charles  B.  Smith,  New  York;  T.  W.  Wright,  Pittsburg;  George  Clark,  St 
Louis;  Peter  Baxter,  Buffalo;  John  J.  Roberts,  Louisville;  Charles  Wilson 
Memphis;  W.  L.  Barton,  Baltimore;  John  Gorman,  Boston;  G.  W.  Ostler 
Harrisburg;  Thomas  Gliddon,  Rochester;  R.  V.  Shurly,  Chicago;  James  H 
Walker,  Detroit;  J.  J.  McDaniel,  Nashville;  David  Norris,  Eureka  (San  Fran 
cisco);  J.  J.  Lambert,  Dubuque;  Joseph  Endale,  Milwaukee;  L.  O.  Smith 
Madison;  E.  M.  Broughton,  Peoria;  Jabez  Lord,  Providence;  L.  D.  Hatch 
Grand  Rapids;  Thomas  H.  Hail,  St.  Joseph;  L.  W.  Emery,  Leavenworth;  J 
P.  Olmstead,  Sacramento;  S.  H.  Harris,  New  Haven;  O.  G.  Howland,  Den 
ver;  W.  E.  Woodward,  Burlington;  Ben  VanDeusen,  Troy;  J.  A.  Spencer 
Cleveland;  D.  H.  Berdine,  Syracuse;  W.  W.  Barnes,  Stockton;  E.  Lindsley 
Dayton;  Tom  J.  Heirs,  Quincy;  W.  S.  Davis,  Springfield;  John  L.  Jones 
Cambridge;  Joseph  Ball,  Utica;  F.  J.  Oblinger,  Toledo;  D.  A.  James,  Lafay 
ette;  James  W.  Scott,  Virginia,  Nev. ;  George  W.  Blair,  Oswego;  L.  M.  Mor 
ton,  Lockport;  Thomas  H.  Westcott,  Keokuk;  John  L.  Burtis,  Binghamton 
William  B.  Strong,  Lancaster;  James  Devine,  Trenton;  George  L.  Coburn 
Hartford;  C.  A.  Ferris,  Lawrence,  Kan.;  H.  M.  Kutchin,  Cairo;  Daniel  Ham 
blen,    Portland,    Me. 

Officers,  1864  —  A.  M.  Carver,  Cincinnati,  was  elected 
president  for  the  ensuing  term,  together  with  W.  L.  Fair- 
child,  Philadelphia,  first  vice-president;  Charles  B. 
Smith,  New  York,  second  vice-president;  William  F. 
Moore,  Detroit,  secretary-treasurer;  Malcolm  G.  Mason, 
St.  Louis,  corresponding  secretary. 

After  passing  various  resolutions  of  thanks,  the  time  of 
meeting  was  changed  from  the  first  Monday  in  May  to  the 

210 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1865 

first  Monday  in  June  and  the  convention  adjourned  to 
meet  in  Philadelphia  the  following  year. 

Convention    at   Philadelphia 

[1865] — When  the  thirteenth  convention  of  the 
National  Typographical  Union  assembled  under  the  lib- 
erty bell  in  Independence  Hall,  Philadelphia,  on  Monday, 
June  5,  1865,  it  marked  the  most  pretentious  gathering  of 
delegates  in  the  history  of  the  organization  up  to  that 
time.  Fifty-five  delegates,  representing  thirty-seven  sub- 
ordinate unions,  presented  credentials  at  the  opening  of 
the  first  session.  During  the  week  additional  delegates 
representing  remote  constituencies  were  seated.  Twenty- 
two  ex-delegates,  members  of  Philadelphia  Typograph- 
ical Union,  being  duly  certified  by  the  officers,  under  sec- 
tion 2,  article  It,  of  the  constitution,  were  admitted  as 
delegates  to  the  convention,  without  the  right  to  vote. 

Officers,  1865  —  Election  of  officers  was  the  first  busi- 
ness under  the  rule.  Robert  E.  Craig,  of  St.  Louis,  was 
elected  president  and  William  F.  Moore,  of  Detroit,  was 
re-elected  secretary-treasurer,  together  with  William 
Knollin,  Boston,  first  vice-president;  Hugh  J.  Durboro, 
Philadelphia,  second  vice-president;  John  C.  Frary,  In- 
dianapolis, corresponding  secretary. 

The  retiring  president,  A.  M.  Carver,  submitted  a  brief 
but  interesting  report,  dwelling  particularly  upon  the 
"conditional  membership"  measure,  adopted  at  the  prc\i- 
008  session  in  the  hope  of  drawing  country  printers  within 
the  scope  of  union  influence.  He  called  attention  to  the 
fact  that  only  five  unions  had  applied  for  "conditional 
mnnlx-rship"  certificate  during  tin-  yetr.  it  wai  appar- 
ent that  very  few  unions  really  understood  the  proposed 
tem,  and  to  a  certain  extent  they  seemed  to  look  upon 
its  workings  as  problematical.  The  catisr  in  many  in- 
stances arose  from  the  fact  that  the  extent  tit  territory 

til 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

embraced  in  the  "districts"  was  too  large.  There  was  also 
a  manifest  hesitancy  displayed  by  those  unions  having  the 
largest  number  of  members  in  a  district  to  elect  a  "dis- 
trict canvasser,"  and  other  unions  having  less  numbers 
held  back  for  the  larger  and  more  prosperous  jurisdic- 
tions to  take  the  initiative  steps.  The  delegates,  however, 
were  imbued  with  a  fixed  determination  to  make  further 
effort  in  the  direction  of  organizing  country  printers, 
and  to  this  end  the  law  was  modified  so  that  each  sub- 
ordinate union  was  expected  to  cover  the  territory  imme- 
diately surrounding  its  jurisdiction,  the  "district"  plan 
being  done  away  with. 

Charters  Issued,  Reissued  and  Surrendered  —  The 
secretary-treasurer  reported  having  issued  charters  dur- 
ing the  year  to  Terre  Haute  and  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  and 
to  Erie,  Pa.  The  charter  of  Denver  (Colo.)  Union  No. 
49  was  reissued  on  April  23,  1865,  the  secretary-treas- 
urer reporting  to  the  convention  that  Denver  Union  had 
encountered  serious  embarrassment  during  the  year  1864, 
the  building  in  which  their  meetings  were  held  being 
swept  away  during  a  flood,  carrying  with  it  the  charter, 
books,  documents  and  everything,  except  the  membership, 
which  constituted  a  union.  Cleveland  Union  surrendered 
its  charter  after  a  disastrous  strike  in  that  city.  The  sec- 
retary also  reported  that  no  word  had  reached  him  dur- 
ing the  year  from  any  of  the  southern  unions  mentioned 
in  the  Louisville  report. 

Canadian  Unions  —  A  proposition  to  extend  the  juris- 
diction of  the  National  Union  to  cover  the  several  unions 
in  Canada  was  received  with  favor  and  a  resolution  was 
passed  directing  the  corresponding  secretary  to  urge  upon 
the  existing  societies  of  printers  in  Canada  the  expedi- 
ency of  sending  delegates  to  and  becoming  members  of 
the  National  Typographical  Union ;  also  requesting  them 
to  adopt  the  plan  of  issuing  "conditional  membership" 

212 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1865 

cards.  Section  I,  article  1,  of  the  constitution  was 
amended  in  such  manner  as  to  permit  the  National  Union 
to  extend  its  jurisdiction  to  cover  the  British  provinces. 

Eight-Hour  Day —  The  first  suggestion  of  an  eight- 
hour  workday  appears  in  the  form  of  a  resolution  offered 
at  the  Philadelphia  convention,  stipulating  that  on  and 
after  May  I,  1866,  eight  hours  should  constitute  a  day's 
work,  and  subordinate  unions  were  requested  to  so  amend 
their  constitutions  and  scales  of  prices.  Delegates  were  in- 
structed to  place  before  their  respective  local  unions  the 
eight-hour  resolution  and  subordinate  unions  were  re- 
quested to  instruct  their  delegates  as  to  the  disposition  of 
the  matter  by  the  next  national  convention. 

Death  of  President  Lincoln  —  Resolutions  upon  the 
death  of  President  Lincoln  were  adopted,  as  follows: 

Whereas  in  the  hour  of  its  triumph  and  its  joy  the  nation 
has  been  called  to  mourn  the  violent  death  of  its  beloved  chief 
magistrate,  Abraham  Lincoln ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  in  this  national  calamity  we  have  lost  an 
eminent  representative  of  the  people,  whose  life  is  an  instructive 
and  encouraging  example  to  the  workingmen  of  America. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  his  foul  and  malicious  murder  as 
a  traitorous  and  barbarous  act,  unparalleled  in  the  calendar  of 
crime,  cowardly  and  treacherously  perpetrated,  and  abhorrent 
to  the  feelings  of  every  true  and  loyal  citizen  of  the  republic. 

Resolved,  That  we  deeply  sympathize  with  the  bereaved 
family  of  the  deceased,  and  would  add  our  share  of  heartfelt 
grief  to  that  of  the  sorrowing  nation.  % 

Resolved,  That  while  we  deplore  and  lament  the  loss  to  the 
nation  and  to  tin  world  of  such  a  pure  patriot  and  wise  ruler  as 
Abraham  Lincoln,  we  rejoice  thai  his  constitutional  mi<  icssor 
is  also  a  true  representative  of  the  people,  a  firm  and  consistent 
vindicator  of  his  former  position  in  the  ranks  of  workingmen. 
and  a  fearless  advocate  of  the  rights  of  labor,  which  he  has 
dignified  and  ennobled  by  his  life  of  toil  and 

Columbia  Typographical  Socttiy  —  A  communication 
was  received  from  Washington,  1).  t\,  Inviting  the  Na- 

213 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tional  Union  to  hold  its  next  convention  in  that  city. 
Much  opposition  to  accepting  the  invitation  developed 
among  the  delegates  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  Co- 
lumbia Typographical  Society  had  refused  to  apply  for 
a  charter  from  the  National  Union.  The  invitation  was 
not  accepted. 

Distinguished  Visitors — Several  distinguished  visitors 
attended  the  sessions  of  the  convention,  among  them  be- 
ing General  Pritchard  and  Brigadier  General  Horatio 
Sickles,  who  addressed  the  delegates  briefly. 

First  Fraternal  Visitor  —  President  Sylvis,  of  the  Na- 
tional Iron  Molders'  Union,  was  also  a  visitor,  being  the 
first  representative  of  a  bona  fide  trade  union  to  visit  the 
National  Union  during  a  convention. 

Boston's  Per  Capita  Tax  —  Upon  recommendation  of 
the  committee  on  returns,  the  per  capita  tax  of  Boston 
Union  for  the  year  1864  was  remitted,  it  being  explained 
that  Boston  had  been  embarrassed  by  the  treasurer  of 
that  union  defaulting  with  its  funds. 

Unique  Toasts  —  During  the  week,  Philadelphia  Typo- 
graphical Union  carried  out  an  elaborate  program  of  en- 
tertainment for  the  delegates,  one  feature  of  which  was 
a  banquet,  an  account  of  which  appears  as  an  appendix 
to  the  proceedings  of  the  convention,  and  includes  thirteen 
toasts  and  responses,  unique  among  which  are  the  fol- 
lowing: 

The  Public  Press — The  bulwark  of  a  free  people,  and  the 
truest  safeguard  of  constitutional  liberty.  Untrammeled,  the 
friend  of  freedom;  unrestrained,  the  foe  of  tyrants. 

The  Book  Trade — The  ballast  of  our  bark.  The  step  be- 
tween mediocrity  and  power,  leading  us  gently  from  the  ordi- 
nary walks  and  callings  of  life  to  the  higher  and  purer 
atmosphere  and  inspirations  of  the  arts  and  sciences. 

The  Printing  Office — The  poor  man's  college.  Its  alumni 
are  remembered  with  generous  pride.  Gutenberg,  Caxton, 
Manutius,  Robertson  and  Franklin  in  the  past,  and  Cameron, 

214 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1866 

Colfax,  Dix,  Dufrees,  Forney,  Geary,  Logan  and  others  of  the 
present  age,  have  earned  the  plaudits  of  mankind,  to  whose  ad- 
vancement the  labors  of  their  lives  have  been  earnestly  and 
manfully  dedicated. 

The  Ladies — The  angels  who  guide  us  from  the  cradle  to 
the  grave.  May  we  deserve  their  smiles,  merit  their  caresses,  and 
be  followed  always  by  their  best  and  most  blessed  benedictions. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1865  —  The  executive 
committee  for  the  ensuing  year  was  appointed  by  the 
president,  as  follows : 

J.  C.  Frary,  Indianapolis;  John  M.  Perry,  Philadelphia;  John  Collins,  Cin- 
cinnati; Franklin  S.  Burrell,  Albany;  B.  F.  Lincoln,  Columbus;  M.  B.  Pitts, 
New  York;  John  D.  Stewart,  Pittsburgh;  Theodore  Nagel,  St.  Louis;  Richard 
B.  Lyon,  Buffalo;  Wallace  D.  Egbert,  Louisville;  B.  N.  Cutting,  Memphis; 
John  Cox,  Baltimore;  Alexander  Troup,  Boston;  C.  F.  Coates,  Harrisburg; 
G.  S.  C.  Shell  in  inc.  Rochester;  H.  D.  Adams,  Chicago;  William  Buchanan, 
New  Orleans;  Mark  H.  Marsh,  Detroit;  W.  A.  Solomon,  Nashville;  David 
Norris,  Eureka  (San  Francisco);  J.  J.  Lambert,  Dubuque;  Joseph  Endale,  Mil- 
waukee; L.  O.  Smith,  Madison;  E.  M.  Broughton,  Peoria;  Jabez  Lord,  Provi- 
dence; L.  D.  Hatch,  Grand  Rapids;  Thomas  H.  Hall,  St.  Joseph;  H.  A. 
Crowell,  Leavenworth;  W.  J.  Passett,  Sacramento;  W.  H.  Peckman,  New 
Haven;  O.  G.  I  lowland,  Denver;  W.  E.  Woodward,  Burlington;  Walter  J. 
Donnelly,  Troy;  D.  H.  Berdine,  Syracuse;  W.  W.  Barnes,  Stockton;  E. 
Lindsley,  Dayton;  W.  W.  Prescott,  Quincy;  W.  G.  Kercheval,  Springfield; 
Theodore  G.  Wadman,  Cambridge;  W.  O.  Vincent,  Utica;  C.  E.  Parrish,  To- 
ledo; Louis  R.  Thompson,  Lafayette;  C.  M.  S.  Millard,  Virginia  City,  Nev.; 
George  W.  Blair,  Oswego;  L.  M.  Morton,  Lockport;  Thomas  H.  Westcott, 
Keokuk;  John  L.  Burt  is,  Binghamton;  S.  F.  Shindle,  Lancaster;  John  Briest. 
Trenton;  G.  Willis  Williams,  Hartford;  C.  A.  Ferris.  Lawrence,  Kan.;  H.  N. 
Kutchin,  Cairo;  Daniel  Hamlin.  Portland,  Me.;  F.  P.  Spears,  Terre  Haute; 
L.    R.    Wentworth,    Eric;    Harvey    Wells,    Fort   Wayne. 

Chicago  was  selected  as  the  meeting  place  for  the  con- 
vention of  1866. 

Convention    at   Chicago 

[1866] — The  fourteenth  convention  of  the  National 
Union  assembled  in  the  rooms  of  the  Stock  Kxchangc, 
55  Dearborn  street,  Chicago,  Monday,  June  4,  1866. 
Seventy-one  delegate  n  presenting  forty-four  unions 
were  in  attendance,  a  number  of  the  southern  locals  hav- 
ing again  affiliated  with  the  National  body. 

Officers,  1866 —  According  to  the  custom  prevailing 
at  that  time,  the  first  business  was  tin-  election  of  office  re. 

215 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

John  H.  Oberly,  of  Cairo,  111.,  was  elected  president,  and 
Alexander  Troup,  of  Boston,  succeeded  to  the  office  of 
secretary-treasurer.  James  Risk,  of  Mobile,  was  chosen 
first  vice-president;  J.  T.  Davis,  jr.,  New  York,  second 
vice-president;  M.  J.  Divine,  Savannah,  corresponding 
secretary. 

President's  Address — President  Oberly,  on  assuming 
the  responsibilities  of  his  office,  said : 

I  hope  and  have  no  doubt  our  session  here  will  be  harmoni- 
ous and  result  in  the  good  and  benefit  of  our  trade.  We  have 
assembled  together,  not  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  con- 
spiracy against  any  industrial  interest  of  the  country,  but  to 
protect  ourselves  in  our  just  rights.  Believing  that  labor  has 
the  right  to  determine  its  price,  we  insist  upon  the  general 
recognition  of  the  principle,  and  will  legislate  to  that  end. 
Our  interests  we  recognize  as  identical  with  those  of  the  em- 
ploying classes,  and  all  our  acts  will  therefore  look  as  much  to 
their  benefit  as  to  our  own. 

I  congratulate  you,  delegates,  upon  the  prosperity  of  the 
union.  Never  before  were  we  so  strong  as  at  present.  Long  ago 
a  dark  cloud  (which  I  will  not  more  particularly  mention)  ap- 
peared above  the  political  horizon  in  the  north,  and  another, 
dark  and  ominous,  rose  in  the  south.  Gathering  volume,  they 
filled  the  sky  with  darkness,  and  their  shadows  fell  upon  the 
land,  creating  fear  and  strife,  and  blotting  out  the  sunshine  of 
prosperity  which  made  it  great  and  glorious.  After  a  while 
they  met,  and  a  storm  of  war  deluged  the  country  with  blood, 
and  almost  accomplished  the  destruction  of  the  government. 
During  the  civil  strife  our  organization  suffered,  too.  In  the 
south,  one  union  after  another  absolved  itself  from  allegiance 
to  our  constitution  and  seceded  from  the  national  organization. 
But  when  the  sunshine  of  peace  had  dispelled  the  clouds  of  civil 
strife  and  rested  upon  the  land,  beautiful,  like  a  smile  on  the 
face  of  woman,  the  southern  unions  returned.  One  after  an- 
other the  most  of  them  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  National 
Union  and  expressed  their  willingness  to  submit  to  the  condi- 
tions of  our  constitution.  They  were  admitted.  We  imposed  no 
conditions  upon  them.  The  door  was  open  and  the  host  stood 
on  the  threshold  welcoming  the  returning  prodigals.    The  good 

216 


A.   M.  CARVER,  Cincinnati 

Practical  National  Typographical  Union 

May  j,  1864 -June  6.  186$ 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1866 

effects  of  this  wise  policy  are  shown  in  the  unity  and  enthusi- 
asm manifested  here  today.  We  have  delegates  from  many  of 
the  seceded  unions  present  in  this  body,  all  of  them  more 
heartily  devoted  to  the  National  Union  than  ever  before.  Our 
reconstruction  is  complete.  United  thus,  never  again  to  be 
sundered,  let  us  hope,  we  will  go  on  prospering  and  to  prosper. 

Ex-delegates  —  Under  the  provisions  of  the  constitu- 
tion, it  was  ordered  that  all  ex-delegates  desirous  of 
participating  in  the  proceedings  of  the  convention  leave 
their  names  with  the  recording  secretary,  with  the  pro- 
viso that  they  were  in  good  standing  in  their  respective 
unions. 

President's  Report  —  Charters  —  The  retiring  presi- 
dent submitted  a  report  of  the  business  transactions  of 
his  office  during  the  year  and  referred  feelingly  to  the 
fact  that  a  number  of  unions  located  in  some  of  the 
southern  states  that  had  severed  their  connection  with 
the  National  body  during  the  war  had  again  affiliated 
and  were  represented  in  the  convention  by  delegates. 

The  president  also  reported  that  a  larger  number  of 
charters  had  been  issued  during  the  fiscal  year  than  were 
ever  granted  before  in  a  like  period,  showing  a  state  of 
prosperity  unprecedented  in  the  history  of  the%organiza- 
tion.  Two  of  the  charters  had  been  issued  to  Canadian 
unions,  under  the  authority  granted  by  the  previous  con- 
vention. The  complete  list  of  charters  issued  follows : 
Wheeling,  W.  Va. ;  Kansas  City,  Mo. ;  Reading,  Pa. ; 
Wilmington,  N.  C. ;  Alexandria,  Va. ;  Macon,  Ga. ;  St. 
John,  New  Brunswick;  Norfolk,  Va. ;  Houston,  TV 
Hannibal,  Mo.;  Chattanooga,  Tenn. ;  Richmond.  V.i  ; 
Toronto,  Canada.  Charters  were  reissued  to  Omaha. 
Neb.;  Columbia,  S.  C. ;  Augusta  and  Savannah,  Ga.,  and 
Peoria,   111. 

Southern  Unions  —  That  the  fourteenth  conven- 
tion  at   Chicago    ITtl    in^trununtal    in    ri rating  a    spirit 

217 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  unity  throughout  the  entire  craft  is  manifest  by  the 
fact  that  the  delegates  at  every  opportunity  throughout 
the  sessions  did  not  hesitate  to  emphasize  that  it  was  the 
desire  of  the  National  body  again  to  embrace  within  its 
membership  all  of  the  old  southern  unions. 

Secretary-Treasurer  Moore,  in  his  report,  referred  to 
the  reconstruction  of  the  southern  unions  in  the  follow- 
ing language,  which  is  typical  of  the  sentiment  existing 
at  the  convention : 

•  Since  our  last  annual  meeting,  also,  the  war,  with  all  its 
dread  realities,  its  strife  and  sectional  differences,  has  closed. 
Peace  has  once  more  spread  its  balmy  wings  over  our  land.  The 
feuds  and  animosities  engendered  through  the  four  years'  strife 
are  fast  giving  way  to  amity  and  friendship  in  the  reconstruc- 
tion of  the  social  relations  which  have  heretofore  existed 
between  the  members  of  our  organization.  North  and  south 
alike  are  once  again  imbued  with  the  same  spirit  of  unity.  The 
typographical  unions  of  the  south,  shattered,  wrecked,  and 
many  of  them  almost  blotted  out  of  existence  by  the  terrible 
havoc  of  war,  through  the  encouragement  of  their  more  fortu- 
nate brethren  of  the  north  are  gathering  up  the  remaining 
fragments,  and  one  after  another  taking  their  old  positions  in 
the  ranks,  while  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  is  reached  out 
across  the  bloody  border  in  search  of  old-time  associations  and 
friendship!.  From  amid  the  dying  embers  of  this  sectional 
strife  of  a  few  months  since  the  almost  unanimous  expression  of 
our  southern  brethren  is,  as  they  reach  me  from  sunny  Texas : 
"We  desire  to  see  our  grand  object  attained,  and  that  is,  har- 
mony and  good  feeling  among  printers,  north  and  south." 

A  resolution  was  passed,  upon  a  recommendation  con- 
tained in  the  report  of  the  committee  on  subordinate 
unions,  that  the  per  capita  tax  due  from  the  southern 
unions  for  any  period  from  1861  to  March,  1865,  be 
remitted  upon  the  request  of  any  of  said  unions. 

Conditional  Membership  —  Referring  to  the  "condi- 
tional membership"  scheme,  the  secretary-treasurer 
reported  that  it  was  still  somewhat  in  the  background. 

218 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1866 

It  did  not,  apparently,  receive  that  consideration  at  the 
hands  of  the  subordinate  unions  it  deserved.  Notwith- 
standing the  important  modifications  made  at  the  last 
convention  permitting  each  union  an  opportunity  to  test 
the  question  within  its  own  jurisdiction,  the  desired  re- 
sults had  not  been  produced.  That  something  was  lacking 
to  instill  into  the  measure  the  vitality  and  usefulness 
which  was  expected  from  it  was  evident.  It  is  apparent 
that  the  project  failed  because  it  was  left  to  be  carried 
out  by  "each  member."  The  original  scheme  of  financing 
"district  canvassers"  was  a  failure  and  it  was  strongly 
urged  that  a  National  fund  be  created  to  carry  on  the 
work  of  organization. 

No  Important  Legislation  —  Very  little  legislation  of 
a  general  character  was  enacted  by  the  convention.  The 
practice  of  allowing  ex-delegates  the  right  of  a  seat  in 
conventions,  with  a  voice,  but  without  a  vote,  was  ampli- 
fied to  exclude  them  from  holding  office. 

Official  Organ  —  The  "Printers  Circular,"  published 
at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  by  R.  S.  Menamin,  was  designated 
as  the  official  organ  of  the  craft,  and  recommended  to 
subordinate  unions  for  their  use.  No  mention  is  made 
of  the  former  official  organ,  "The  Printer,"  and  no  reason 
given  for  making  the  change. 

Original  Names  on  Charters  —  A  number  of  requests 
were  received  from  subordinate  unions,  through  their 
delegates,  asking  permission  to  erase  from  their  charters 
tin  names  of  certain  members.  Philadelphia  Union  had 
taken  such  action  in  the  case  of  one  of  its  members. 
While  the  convention  sustained  the  action  in  this  instance, 
the  chair  ruled  that  the  names  on  the  charters  should 
not  be  inter  lend  with.  Tin-  division  was  not  contested, 
and  the  delegates  asking  to  erase  names  from  charters 
withdrew  their  motions 

Charters   and    Membership-    \mety-onc  unions    had 

•  21 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

been  chartered  at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year,  according 
to  the  secretary's  report,  and  the  membership  in  good 
standing  reported  to  the  convention  was  4,013. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1866 — The  president 
appointed  the  national  executive  committee  for  the  ensu- 
ing term,  as  follows : 

W.  F.  Gilkison,  Indianapolis;  William  Turner,  Philadelphia;  Jules  J. 
Montagnier,  Cincinnati;  F.  S.  Burrell,  Albany;  Theodore  S.  Conklin,  New 
York;  T.  A.  Armstrong,  Pittsburgh;  H.  J.  Bockrath,  St.  Louis;  R.  B.  Lyon, 
Buffalo;  John  King,  Louisville;  Charles  Wilson,  Memphis;  A.  H.  Brooks,  Bos- 
ton; John  M.  Toe,  Harrisburg;  J.  S.  Thompson,  Chicago;  Gerard  Stith,  New 
Orleans;  William  F.  Moore,  Detroit;  James  J.  McDaniel,  Nashville;  Arminius 
Kerns,  Dubuque;  Joseph  Yewdale,  Milwaukee;  James  Risk,  Mobile;  L.  C. 
Swingle,  Galveston;  E.  M.  Broughton,  Peoria;  J.  E.  Elliott,  Montgomery, 
Ala.;  William  H.  Barbour,  Providence;  H.  N.  Emlyn,  Columbia,  S.  C. ;  M.  J. 
Divine,  Savannah;  W.  S.  Bittinger,  St.  Joseph;  R.  H.  Boughton,  Leavenworth; 
B.  F.  Huntly,  Sacramento;  G.  W.  Martin,  Atlanta;  F.  P.  Snyder,  Burling- 
ton; O.  B.  Smith,  Troy;  Henry  C.  Thompson,  Syracuse;  T.  J.  Heirs,  Quincy; 
N.  B.  Walker,  Springfield;  John  Gorman,  Cambridge;  James  Cooley,  Utica; 
James  A.  Boyd,  Toledo;  L.  R.  Thompson,  Lafayette;  Edward  Sheffield,  Vir- 
ginia City,  Nev. ;  E.  L.  Chapin,  Oswego;  James  M.  Culver,  Keokuk;  Walter 
Keiffer,  Lancaster;  John  Briest,  Trenton;  William  Goodnough,  Hartford;  C. 
A.  Ferris,  Lawrence,  Kan.;  D.  L.  Barton,  Cairo;  Stewart  A.  Strout,  Portland, 
Me.;  George  Whitman,  Erie;  I.  W.  Campbell,  Fort  Wayne;  D.  C.  Hotchkiss, 
Wheeling;  R.  C.  Gould,  Kansas  City;  G.  W.  White,  Alexandria;  James  H. 
Smith,  Macon;  John  Mitchell,  St.  John,  N.  B.;  H.  C.  Treakle,  Norfolk;  Will 
Lambert,  Houston;  John  T.   Vannerson,   Richmond;   Richard  Coleman,   Toronto. 

The  convention  adjourned  on  the  afternoon  of  the  fifth 
day  to  meet  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  June  3,   1867. 

Convention    at   Memphis 

[1867]  —  When  the  fifteenth  session  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union  assembled  in  the  rooms  of  the 
chamber  of  commerce  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  June  3,  1867, 
the  delegates  and  visitors  assembled  were  privileged 
to  listen  to  an  eloquent  discourse  by  President  John  H. 
Oberly.  Mr.  Oberly  so  clearly  defined  the  purposes  of 
the  trade  union  movement  that  a  few  paragraphs  from 
his  address  are  reproduced  here: 

You  have  assembled  together  for  the  purpose  of  legislating 
in  the  interests  of  the  members  of  the  trade  to  which  you  be- 
long ;  and  I  think  I  only  do  justice  to  the  motives  that  induced 
you  to  attend  this  session  of  the  National  Union  when  I  assert 

220 


Convention  at  Memphis,  1867 

my  belief  that  you  have  no  other  object  in  view  than  the  laud- 
able one  of  desiring  to  improve  your  own  condition  and  that 
of  youi*  fellow  workmen. 

In  pursuing  this  object,  you  must  endeavor,  first,  to  establish 
rules  which  will  regulate  the  intercourse  of  members  of  the 
union  with  each  other,  and  secondly,  to  harmonize  the  relations 
that  must  necessarily  exist  between  those  who  buy  and  those 
who  sell  the  labor  which  is  employed  in  the  printing  office. 

If  there  is  among  you  a  man  who  has  given  too  much  weight 
to  the  assertion,  too  often  made,  by  either  ignorant  or  designing 
men,  that  capital  and  labor  are  now  engaged  in  a  life  and  death 
struggle,  in  which  one  or  the  other  must  go  down,  I  regret  the 
fact,  since  no  man  who  can  not  rise  above  the  spirit  of  selfish- 
ness which  teaches  that  our  own  aggrandizement  is  to  be  sought 
at  the  expense  of  the  men  to  whom  the  labor  we  own  is  sold  for 
wages  ought  to  have  a  seat  in  this  union.  All  our  legislation 
should  be  based  upon  the  broad  principle  that  to  be  true  to  our- 
selves we  must  not  be  unjust  to  any  one. 

President's  Report  —  After  the  conclusion  of  the  open- 
ing ceremonies  and  the  adoption  of  the  report  of  the 
committee  on  credentials,  the  president  presented  his 
annual  report.  This  document  was  more  comprehensive 
than  any  paper  of  its  kind  ever  submitted  to  a  convention 
of  the  National  Union  during  previous  gatherings. 

New  Constitution,  etc. — As  preliminary  to  offering 
for  consideration  a  new  constitution  for  the  National 
Union,  a  uniform  constitution  for  subordinate  union-  ami 
an  act  to  create  a  National  fund,  the  president  said  that 
his  observation  of  the  operations  of  the  National  Union 
had  convinced  him  that  it  was  not  as  perfect  as  it  should 
l)i  ;  that  it  failed  to  secure  the  objects  for  which  it  was 
instituted.  He  believed  in  the  establishment  of  an  or- 
ganisation from  which  all  subordinate  unions  should 
derive  their  power  and  authority;  in  fait,  the  creation  of 
a  legislative  body  among  the  printers  of  North  Auurua 
the  purpose  of  which  should  be  to  enact  laws,  defining. 
regulating  and  determining  the  usages  and  customs  apper- 

221 


( 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

taining  to  the  relations  of  members  of  the  subordinate 
unions  to  each  other  while  in  the  pursuance  of  their  duties 
as  printers  and  members  of  the  typographical  union ;  the 
inauguration  of  a  tribunal  having  authority  to  decide  all 
questions  of  difference  between  the  members  of  a  sub- 
ordinate union  and  the  union,  and  between  subordinate 
unions. 

Local  Autonomy  —  President  Oberly  asserted  that  no 
person  who  had  given  any  thought  to  the  subject  could 
claim  that  these  objects  had  thus  far  been  accomplished 
by  the  National  Union.  He  pointed  out  that  subordinate 
unions  did  not  derive  from  the  National  Union  all  of 
their  powers  and  authority.  On  the  contrary,  they  per- 
mitted the  National  Union  to  exercise  such  functions  of 
sovereignty  as  they  pleased.  The  National  Union  as 
then  constituted  was  not  a  legislature  that  could  define 
customs  which  should  obtain  among  union  printers  in 
their  professional  relations.  As  an  appellant  tribunal 
it  did  have  some  authority,  but  its  decisions  were  not 
always  treated  with  respect  by  subordinate  unions. 

Traveling  Cards  —  The  traveling  card  system  was  the 
only  feature  that  in  any  great  degree  had  a  tendency 
to  bind  together  union  printers  with  the  bonds  of  fra- 
ternal communion  and  friendly  alliance.  The  president 
further  asserted  that  the  only  business  of  importance 
which  had  been  transacted  by  the  National  Union  at  its 
annual  sessions  was  the  decision  of  appeals  from  sub- 
ordinate unions.  In  proof  of  this  assertion,  attention  was 
directed  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Chicago  session  of  1866. 

New  Constitution — In  order  to  remedy  the  defects 
in  the  National  Union,  four  separate  recommendations 
were  made,  as  follows : 

1.  That  a  more  perfect  constitution  be  substituted  for  the 
constitution  now  in  force. 

2.  That  a  constitution  for  subordinate  unions  be  adopted. 

222 


Convention  at  Memphis,  1867 

3.  That  a  law  be  enacted  creating  a  National  Union  fund. 

4.  That  a  law  be  enacted  establishing  a  newspaper  organ 
for  the  Typographical  Union. 

In  order  to  assist  the  convention  in  giving  consideration 
to  the  above  recommendations,  President  Oberly  sub- 
mitted an  entire  new  constitution  for  the  National  Union, 
together  with  a  proposed  uniform  constitution  for  sub- 
ordinate unions  and  a  proposition  termed  "An  act  creating 
a  National  Union  fund." 

The  president's  report,  together  with  the  documents 
submitted,  after  being  duly  referred  and  reported  out  of 
committee,  were  considered  by  the  union  in  committee 
of  the  whole,  with  the  result  that  the  proposed  new  con- 
stitution, with  a  few  minor  amendments,  was  adopted  by 
the  convention. 

Protest  Against  New  Constitution  —  At  the  time  the 
vote  was  announced,  on  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitu- 
tion, a  protest  was  filed  by  the  delegate  from  Savannah 
against  the  legality  of  the  action.  The  point  was  ratted 
that  section  3,  article  x,  of  the  old  constitution  provided 
that  alterations  or  amendments  could  only  be  considered 
when  proposed  at  one  annual  meeting  and  laid  over  until 
the  next  convention.  This  protest  was  endorsed  by 
delegates  from  New  Orleans,  Atlanta,  Cincinnati,  Mobile, 
Quincy,  Chicago,  Lafayette  and  Philadelphia. 

Uniform  Constitution  —  National  Fund  —  The  pro- 
posed uniform  constitution  for  subordinate  unions,  to- 
gether with  the  proposition  to  create  a   National   fund, 

■  ived  the  approval  of  a  substantial  majority  of  the 
delegates  and  were  referred  to  subordinate  unions  for 
ratification  or  rejection,  with  the  und< -r-t.mding  that  the 
president,  upon  being  notified  that  .1  majority  of  the  local 
unions  had  ratified  either  or  both  of  the  propositions. 
ihotlld  ImQ€  I  proi  Lunation  declaring  them  in  full  force 
.md  effect. 

2*3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

For  the  purpose,  apparently,  of  getting  an  expression 
of  opinion  from  the  entire  membership  regarding  the 
propositions  submitted,  it  was  ordered  that  all  subordinate 
unions  failing  to  make  report  before  a  certain  fixed  date 
should  be  recorded  in  the  affirmative.  This  action,  it 
was  thought,  would  arouse  interest  in  the  propositions 
and  thus  all  affiliated  locals  would  vote. 

Among  the  important  changes  in  the  new  constitution 
was  the  assumption  of  complete  jurisdiction  over  all 
typographical  unions  by  the  National  Union,  with  full 
power  to  control  its  own  affairs,  whether  administrative, 
executive  or  financial,  and  reserve  unto  itself  authority 
to  decide  all  matters  of  general  importance  to  the  welfare 
of  printers  and  to  settle  all  questions  of  difference  between 
subordinate  unions  and  between  members  thereof. 

Name  Changed  —  The  name  of  the  organization  was 
changed  to  "The  National  Typographical  Union  of  North 
America." 

Functions  of  Delegates  —  The  new  constitution  clearly 
defined  the  functions  of  a  delegate,  among  which  was 
the  right  to  appoint,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
officers  of  the  subordinate  union  to  which  he  was  attached, 
a  member  of  that  or  any  other  union  to  represent  him  at 
the  annual  convention  of  the  National  Union,  this  repre- 
sentative to  possess  all  the  rights  of  a  delegate  except  the 
right  to  hold  office. 

Elective  Officers  —  The  elective  officers  provided  for 
by  the  new  constitution  were  a  president,  vice-president, 
and  secretary-treasurer,  the  office  of  second  vice-president 
and  corresponding  secretary  being  dispensed  with ;  and 
it  was  further  provided  that  the  election  of  officers  be 
held  on  the  last  day  of  the  session  instead  of  the  first 
day,  and  that  any  member,  in  good  standing,  of  the 
National  Union  should  be  eligible  to  any  office.  [An  in- 
consistency will  be  noticed  in  the  provisions  of  the  new 

224 


a 


■ 


.'• 


ROBERT  k.  <  uu»..  It.  uVi» 

President  National  Ty|H)«ra|iliiral  Cni..n 
Jtlllr   6.    iHf.<      Jtmr    4,    1866 


Convention  at  Memphis,  1867 

constitution  regarding  eligibility  of  members  to  hold 
office.     See  preceding  paragraph.] 

Form  of  Charter  —  The  form  of  charter  was  amplified 
to  correspond  with  the  added  authority  assumed  by  the 
National  body  over  its  subordinates  and  the  per  capita 
tax  was  increased  to  5  cents  per  month  on  each  member 
of  the  subordinate  unions. 

Columbia  Union  Receives  Charter — In  addition  to 
covering  in  detail  the  business  that  had  passed  through 
his  office  during  the  fiscal  year,  the  president  reported 
that,  through  correspondence,  Columbia  Typographical 
Society  of  Washington,  D.  C,  had  applied  for  and  re- 
ceived a  charter  from  the  National  Union. 

The  report  of  the  secretary-treasurer  also  was  a  very 
comprehensive  document.  The  committee  to  which  the 
report  was  referred  complimented  the  secretary-treasurer 
on  the  thorough  manner  in  which  the  business  of  his  office 
had  been  conducted,  but  made  a  recommendation,  which 
was  adopted  by  the  convention,  that  in  future  any  sug- 
gestions regarding  legislation  offered  by  the  secretary- 
treasurer  should  be  communicated  to  the  president  and 
incorporated  by  the  latter  in  his  report. 

Charter  $  Issued  and  Reissued — Charters  were  issued 
during  the  year  to  Little  Rock,  Ark. ;  Poughkeepsie,  N. 
Y. ;  Allentown,  Pa. ;  Helena,  Mont. ;  Selma,  Ala. ;  Mont- 
real, Can. ;  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Jackson,  Mich. ;  Norwich, 
Conn.,  and  Washington,  D.  C.  The  charter  of  Peters- 
burg (Va.)  Union  was  reissued  on  November  28,  1866. 

/'•legates  Sit  7>/v —  An  incident  of  the  convention 
was  an  announcement  by  the  speeial  committee,  to  which 
MTU  referred  tin-  president's  report  and  accompanying 
documents,  to  the  effect  that  it  was  impossible  to  procure 
enough  printers  to  set  the  type  necessary  in  order  that  the 
report  might  appear  in  the  minutes  of  the  ti  1  -t  day's  pro- 
ceedings, and,  on  motion,  the  contention  adjourned  to 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

allow  the  delegates  to  proceed  to  the  different  offices  and 
set  up  the  report. 

Minor  Legislation  —  Minor  legislation  by  the  conven- 
tion included  the  remitting  of  per  capita  tax  of  several 
unions  and  the  adoption  of  a  resolution  granting  six 
months  further  time  to  certain  delinquent  unions.  The 
president  was  instructed  to  open  correspondence  with 
foreign  typographical  unions  with  a  view  to  the  establish- 
ment of  international  regulations.  A  resolution  favoring 
the  eight-hour  day  was  adopted. 

Female  Labor — In  the  matter  of  female  labor,  the 
convention  decided  that  the  National  Union  should  not 
interfere,  holding  that  the  question  was  entirely  of  a  local 
character  and  should  be  settled  by  subordinate  unions. 

Washington,  D.  C,  was  chosen  as  the  city  in  which 
to  hold  the  next  convention. 

Officers,  1867  —  Under  the  terms  of  the  new  consti- 
tution, on  the  last  day  of  the  convention  officers  for  the 
ensuing  year  were  elected,  as  follows :  President,  John 
H.  Oberly,  Cairo,  111.,  re-elected;  vice-president,  D.  C. 
Morris,  Memphis,  re-elected,  and  secretary-treasurer, 
Alexander  Troup,  New  York,  re-elected. 

National  Executive  Committee  —  Under  the  terms  of 
the  new  constitution,  the  national  executive  committee 
was  done  away  with,  the  functions  of  that  committee 
having  been  turned  over  to  the  delegates,  who  were  in- 
structed to  act  in  the  same  general  capacity  that  previously 
had  occupied  the  attention  of  the  executive  committee. 

Convention   at   Washington 

[1868]  —  The  sixteenth  convention  of  the  National 
Union  assembled  in  Washington,  D.  C,  on  the  1st  day 
of  June,  1868,  under  unusual  conditions.  The  Mem- 
phis convention,  having  adopted  the  new  constitution 
under  which  its  sessions  had  been  adjourned,  the  gath- 

226 


Convention  at  Washington,  1868 

ering  at  Washington,  by  natural  order  of  procedure, 
should  have  been  called  together  under  the  provisions  of 
the  same  constitution.  It  appears,  however,  that  the 
protest  filed  at  the  Memphis  convention  by  those  dele- 
gates who  believed  that  the  vote  by  which  the  new  con- 
stitution had  been  adopted  was  illegal  had  taken  on  such 
proportions  after  the  adjournment  of  the  convention  that 
the  officers  of  the  National  Union,  fearing  serious  com- 
plications, and  the  possible  disintegration  of  the  Na- 
tional organization,  refrained  from  carrying  out  the 
provisions  of  the  new  constitution,  and  by  mutual  consent 
it  was  agreed  that  the  Washington  convention  should  be 
called  to  order  and  proceed  under  the  provisions  of  the 
old  constitution.  No  objection  was  offered  to  this  course. 
The  report  of  the  committee  on  credentials  showed 
delegates  present  at  the  opening  session  from  sixty-four 
subordinate  unions. 
J  Rejecting  New  Constitution  —  After  accepting  the 
report  of  this  committee  and  the  appointment  of  conven- 
tion officers,  President  Oberly  submitted  an  exhaustive 
report  covering  all  the  many  questions  that  had  agitated 
the  membership  during  the  past  year,  chief  among  which 
was  the  new  constitution  and  the  proposed  uniform  con- 
stitution for  subordinate  unions  and  the  act  creating  a 
National  fund.    President  Oberly  said,  in  part : 

During  the  past  official  year  the  good  and  welfare  of  our 
organization  have  been  seriously  compromised  by  the  contro- 
versy which  grew  out  of  the  action  of  the  last  session  of  this 
union;  and,  to  a  great  extent,  the  efforts  of  the  officers  of  the 
national  organization  have  been,  hy  the  still  prevailing  dissen- 
sion, rendered  almost  null  and  void,  in  so  far  as  they  were 
directed  toward  securing  harmony  and  creating  a  desire  for 
united  action  among  the  members  of  the  Typographical  t'nion 
fraternity.  But,  in  justice  to  myself  and  to  Secretary  Troup.  I 
desire  here  to  State  that  we  both  looked  with  regret  at  the  strife 
and  have  endeavored  with  not  indifferent  success,  I  believe,  to 

227 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

resist  all  advice  which  counseled  us  not  to  withold  our  hands 
from  the  conflict.  In  this  spirit  of  conciliation,  I  now  approach 
the  duty  imposed  upon  me  by  the  National  Union — the  duty  of 
recommending  to  your  consideration  certain  subjects  which,  in 
my  opinion,  relate  to  the  good  and  welfare  of  this  union  and 
its  subordinates. 

How  Can  the  Non-union  Printers  be  Organized? — From 
data,  reliable  as  any  I  can  command,  I  am  led  to  the  belief 
that  not  half  the  journeymen  printers  in  the  United  States  and 
the  Canadas  are  members  of  the  union.  This  evil  is  becoming 
less  formidable  as  time  goes  by,  and  I  am  confident  that  some 
plan  may  be  devised  by  which  the  great  majority  of  non-union 
printers  within  our  jurisdiction  may  be  induced  to  give  faithful 
adherence  to  the  union.  I  am  the  more  confident  in  this  belief 
since  I  have  learned  the  important  fact  that  during  the  two 
years  of  my  presidency,  in  which  the  affairs  of  the  office  of 
secretary  and  treasurer  were  superintended  with  what  I  feel 
compelled  to  call  remarkable  energy  and  discretion  by  Mr. 
Troup,  the  number  on  the  roll  of  our  membership  has  been 
doubled,  and  we  can  now  show  a  list  of  over  7,000  names. 
This  work  has,  however,  been  done  more  imperfectly  than  it 
should  have  been,  the  officers  of  this  union  not  having  had  the 
advice  of  the  National  body  on  the  subject.  Without  suggest- 
ing a  plan  of  organization,  I,  therefore,  call  this  subject  to  your 
attention. 

General  Amnesty — While  it  is  our  duty  to  endeavor,  in  every 
possible  honorable  way,  to  secure  to  our  organization  the  mem- 
bership of  men  who  have  never  belonged  to  it,  but  who  have 
never  worked  under  the  scale,  I  believe  we  should,  also,  at  all 
times  endeavor  to  reclaim  those  printers  who,  in  a  moment  of 
impulse  or  an  hour  when  want  compelled  the  surrender  of  their 
honor,  have  been  unfaithful  to  their  union  obligations ;  and  to 
this  end  I  recommend  the  proclamation  by  this  body  of  a  gen- 
eral amnesty,  to  be  granted  upon  such  conditions  as  the  union 
may  deem  necessary. 

Strikes — During  the  past  year  printers'  strikes  have  occurred 
in  Detroit,  Nashville,  Galveston,  Omaha,  Selma  and  Brooklyn ; 
and  "difficulties"  in  New  York,  Memphis,  Pittsburgh,  and  other 
places.  All  the  strikes  were  disastrous ;  and  all  the  "difficul- 
ties," except  the  one  in  Memphis,  were,  to  the  unions  engaged 
in  them,  expensive  luxuries.    The  failure  of  the  strikes  can  be 

228 


Convention  at  Washington,  1868 

traced  to  a  lack  of  funds  to  sustain  them.  Brooklyn  Union,  for 
instance,  while  New  York  could  give  it  money,  sustained  itself 
until  it  obtained  funds  from  Albany  and  Montreal.  Its  appeal 
for  aid  to  Philadelphia,  its  neighbor,  resulted  in  a  refusal,  a 
law  of  that  union  requiring  a  unanimous  vote  to  appropriate 
money  which  the  friends  of  fellowship  in  the  craft  could  not 
obtain.  Eight  weeks  after  the  downfall  of  the  Brooklyn  union, 
Cincinnati  and  New  Orleans  answered  the  call  for  aid  by  send- 
ing money,  which  was  refunded.  Not  another  of  the. subordi- 
nates sent  a  cent.  This  "plain,  unvarnished  tale"  proves  to  my 
mind  conclusively  that  the  establishment  of  a  National  fund  is 
an  absolute  necessity ;  and  the  fact  that  Memphis  Union  se- 
cured success  against  a  formidable  combination,  without  money, 
does  not  weaken  this  conviction.  Memphis  Union  made  muscle 
answer  all  the  purposes  of  money ;  but  muscle  is  not  as  potent 
as  legal-tender  outside  of  the  Bluff  City. 

The  Legislation  of  the  Last  Session — At  the  Memphis  ses- 
sion, 1867,  a  constitution  for  the  subordinate  unions  and  an  act 
entitled  "An  act  creating  a  National  fund"  were  adopted^ 
These  instruments  were  to  be  of  binding  force  on  and  after 
November  1st,  1867,  in  the  event  of  a  majority  of  the  subor- 
dinates ratifying  them  before  that  date,  it  being  expressly  de- 
clared by  this  union  that  all  those  subordinates  not  returning 
their  votes  on  or  before  the  day  named  were  to  be  counted  as 
having  ratified.  On>  November  I,  1867,  105  unions  held 
charters  unrevoked  by  this  body.  Twenty-three  of  these  re- 
turned votes,  refusing  to  ratify,  leaving  seventy-two  in  favor 
Of  ratification.  After  the  1st  of  November  other  unions  re- 
corded their  votes  against  the  measure ;  but  subordinates  which 
refused  to  ratify,  all  told,  numbered,  so  far  as  my  information 
extends,  only  thirty-three.  These  Statement!  being  farts,  it  may 
DC  matter  for  surprise  my  determination  not  to  make  proclama- 
tion of  the  ratification  of  the  measures,  but  to  refer  them  to  this 
session  of  the  National  Union  for  your  consideration.  This 
determination  was  arrived  at  in  eonsequeuee  of  fear  on  my  part 
that  an  attempt  to  enforce  the  measures  would  result  in  the  dis- 
integration of  the  Typographical  Union  organintioaj  a  fear 
1  i.\  the  very  emphatic  language  of  protestation  used  by 

the  unions  which  do  not  favor  either  a  uniform  constant 
I  fund  law.    As  these  unions   (among  them  Cincinnati,   Phila- 
delphia and  New  Orleans  Unions)  are  strong  ami  influential, 

■fQ 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  were  apparently  anxious  to  enter  the  arena  of  controversy  if 
their  wishes  were  not  complied  with,  and  being  unwilling  to  en- 
gage in  the  conflict  to  which  invitation  had  been  extended,  I 
came  to  the  determination  that  it  was  my  duty  to  refer  the  cause 
of  dissatisfaction  in  these  subordinates  to  the  calm  consideration 
of  this  honorable  body. 

The  entire  matter  of  the  new  constitution,  the  proposed 
uniform  constitution  for  subordinate  unions,  and  the  act 
creating  a  defense  fund,  were  considered  by  the  conven- 
tion as  in  committee  of  the  whole  and  were  finally  dis- 
posed of,  so  far  as  this  convention  was  concerned,  by  the 
adoption  of  the  following  resolution,  as  amended: 

Resolved,  That  the  several  instruments  known  as  the  consti- 
tution of  the  International  Typographical  Union  of  North 
America,  and  the  uniform  constitution  for  subordinate  unions 
be  considered  as  having  been  regularly  offered  at  this  session, 
and  that  the  same  be  spread  upon  the  minutes  and  lie  over 
for  action  at  the  next  annual  session,  in  conformity  with  the 
provisions  of  existing  laws. 

Change  of  Name  —  The  amendment  covered  the  sub- 
stitution of  the  word  "International"  in  place  of  "Na- 
tional," so  that  the  new  instrument,  if  adopted,  would 
be  the  "Constitution  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  of  North  America."  The  vote  on  the  resolution 
was  practically  unanimous,  seventy  delegates  being 
recorded  in  the  affirmative  and  but  three  in  the  negative. 

Secretary-Treasurer's  Report  —  The  report  of  the 
secretary -treasurer  dealt  largely  with  the  financial  affairs 
of  the  organization  and  the  efforts  made  to  straighten 
out  the  affairs  of  delinquent  unions. 

Charters  Issued,  Reissued  and  Surrendered  —  Charters 
were  issued  during  the  year  to  Ottawa,  Ont. ;  Newark, 
N.  J. ;  New  Albany,  Ind. ;  Vicksburg,  Miss. ;  Easton,  Pa. ; 
Hudson  County,  N.  J. ;  Virginia  City,  Mont. ;  Newbern, 
N.  C. ;  Newburgh,  N.  Y. ;  Knoxville,  Tenn. ;  Scranton,  Pa. ; 
and  Atchison,  Kan.    Charters  were  reissued  to  Cleveland, 

230 


Convention  at  Washington,  1868 

Ohio,  and  Charleston,  S.  C.     Omaha,  Neb. ;  Selma,  Ala., 
and  Brooklyn,  N.  Y..  disbanded  during  the  year. 

Convict  Labor  —  Eight  Hours  —  Copyright  Law  — 
The  action  of  the  legislature  of  the  state  of  New  York  in 
annulling  an  agreement  giving  printing  contracts  to 
state  prisons,  to  be  performed  by  convicts,  was  com- 
mended by  the  National  Union,  and  a  resolution  demand- 
ing that  eight  hours  should  constitute  a  day's  work  in 
all  government  shops,  navy  yards,  etc.,  received  favorable 
consideration.  The  enactment  of  an  international  copy- 
right law  received  attention  at  the  hands  of  delegates, 
it  being  the  prevailing  opinion  at  the  time  that  the  pass- 
age of  such  a  law  would  place  the  publishing  business  of 
the  country  in  the  control  of  a  few  houses,  in  so  far  as 
the  works  of  foreign  authors  were  concerned,  and  would 
be  destructive  of  the  larger  interests  engaged  in  the  pub- 
lication of  those  works  in  popular  form  and  at  prices  that 
put  them  within  the  reach  of  the  masses  of  the  people. 

High  Cost  of  Living  —  Delegate  A.  T.  Cavis,  Colum- 
bia Typographical  Union  No.  101,  appointed  at  the 
previous  session  to  inquire  into  the  causes  of  the  high 
prices  of  the  necessities  of  life,  made  the  following  report, 
which  was  adopted  by  the  convention : 

Washington,  June  1,  1868. 
To  the  National  Typographical  Union  of  North  America. 

At  the  fifteenth  annual  session  of  the  National  Typograph- 
ical Union  a  resolution  was  adopted  raising  a  committee  to 
Inquire  into  the  causes  of  the  Ugh  prices  prevailing  for  all 
the  necessaries  of  life,  and  the  consequent  unrrinuiuT.il ive  rates 
of  wages,  and  asking  the  suggestion  of  1  remedy  therefor. 

The  undersigned,  having  been  appointed  said  committee, 
respectfully  reports: 

At  the  time  this  lubjed  was  Introduced  it  was  thought  the 
Inquiry  might  not  only  very  properly  be  instituted,  hut  that 
its  discussion  could  he  conducted  in  such  temper  and  manner 
•is  not  to  trench  on  party  politics — a  result  most  desirable  if  any 

231 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

good  to  workingmen  is  to  result  or  any  impressive  effect  is  de- 
signed upon  the  minds  of  the  great  producing  classes  of  the 
country. 

Closer  scrutiny  of  the  subject,  however,  has  satisfied  the  un- 
dersigned that  the  time  has  not  yet  arrived  for  a  full  and  free 
discussion  of  these  matters,  although  the  evils  complained  of, 
and  everywhere  existing,  are  still  bearing  with  heavy  hand  upon 
every  man  whose  daily  toil  supplies  his  daily  wants. 

To  discharge  this  duty  faithfully,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
undersigned,  the  forms  of  the  public  debt,  expanded  national 
paper  currency,  taxation,  direct  and  indirect,  the  banking  system, 
and  suspension  of  specie  payments,  collections  of  the  revenues, 
appropriations  for  the  public  service,  the  land  system — in  short, 
the  entire  financial  legislation  of  the  country,  must  be  brought 
under  review. 

That  such  a  number  of  subjects  can  be  discussed  with  hope 
of  unity  of  thought  and  conclusion  in  a  body  like  this  is  not  to 
be  expected,  composed,  as  it  is,  of  representatives  from  all  parts 
of  the  country,  and  holding  different  opinions  on  all  these 
topics. 

As,  therefore,  no  practical  good  can  issue  from  the  further 
consideration  of  the  subject,  the  undersigned  prefers  to  leave 
the  order  unexecuted,  rather  than,  at  this  juncture  in  working- 
men's  affairs  and  national  politics,  risk  the  introduction  into 
this  body  of  matters  on  which  some  unity  of  opinion  can  not 
be  secured,  when  so  many  subjects  vital  to  each  delegate  and 
the  unions  here  represented  claim  attention. 

With  these  reasons  for  the  non-performance  of  the  duty,  the 
undersigned  respectfully  asks  to  be  discharged  from  the  further 
consideration  of  the  subject.    Respectfully  submitted, 

A.  T.   Cavis. 

Visit  to  United  States  Capitol — On  the  third  day  of 
the  session  a  communication  was  received  from  Speaker 
Colfax  of  the  house  of  representatives,  enclosing  a  note 
from  General  Michler,  custodian  of  the  capitol  building, 
stating  that  the  dome  of  the  capitol  would  be  lighted  up 
at  8:30  o'clock  p.  M.,  in  honor  of  the  delegates  and 
visitors,  and  inviting  the  union  as  a  body  to  visit  and 
inspect  the  capitol.     The  invitation  was  accepted  and  a 

232 


[OHM   II    OBIRLY,  I  Mao.  III. 

Irni  National  Typographical  fin-n 
Junr   ^.   i860     June    I,    1H08 


Convention  at  Washington,  1868 

recess  was  declared  to  permit  delegates  and  their  friends 
to  inspect  the  building. 

National  Labor  Union  —  Albert  H.  Brown,  who  had 
been  chosen  at  the  previous  convention  to  represent  the 
National  Union  at  the  session  of  the  National  Labor 
Union,  held  at  Chicago  in  1867,  submitted  a  compre- 
hensive report  of  the  proceedings  of  that  body,  following 
which,  in  compliance  with  a  written  request  from  the 
National  Labor  Union,  President  McKechnie  and  former 
Secretary  Troup  were  chosen  to  represent  the  National 
Typographical  Union  in  said  body  at  its  next  annual 
gathering. 

Artemus  Ward  Memorial  —  At  the  previous  session  of 
the  National  Union  a  resolution  had  been  adopted  recom- 
mending that  a  popular  subscription  be  raised  through 
subordinate  unions  for  the  purpose  of  creating  a  fund  to 
erect  a  monument  in  honor  of  the  memory  of  Charles  F. 
Browne  (Artemus  Ward).  Approximately  $1,000- was 
raised.  It  was  ordered  that  the  officers  consult  with  the 
mother  of  Artemus  Ward  and  with  Horace  Greeley,  his 
executor,  and  report  to  the  next  convention  some  accept- 
able   plan  for  the  disposition  of  the  fund. 

Amnesty  —  A  proposition  to  extend  a  general  amnesty 
to  all  non-union  printers,  and  the  matter  of  organization 
work  was  left  in  the  hands  of  the  officers,  with  power 
to  act. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1868  —  The  president 
announced  the  national  executive  committee  for  the 
ensuing  year,  as  follows: 

William  nodenlinmer.  Indianapolis;  John   W.   Wharton.   Philadelphia. 
Vaughan,    (  iiu  iimiii;    XboaM   Willard.    Albany;    Willum    H.    Paul.   I'nlumbua; 
John    Vincc-nt.    Nrw    York;    J<>lin    l.niiirhrry,    ritulmmh;    DftvM     I      lln.!.- 
Louia;   W.    II.    lT.ithn»t..ii.    Hull..!-.     I      i  .     1 

IfaapMlJ    Willi.im    II.    Iltt.hcock.    Hallimorr;    Will;  lohn 

Frrutwon.    IlarrMiuric    S.iiiiik  I    I'.    I'ini.i.    t  MMfO!    William    llruhin.    New 

Icann;    John    M<  Vicar,    Datrofej    I      I      M.l'mirl,    Na.hntlr;    I     V     ltr..»n.    San 

I..   I'.   Itrtmrr,   Dtboqot]   Jo— ph  II  '.»aukrr;  T.  E.  OwtM, 

burg;  Jatnca  F.   Ki»k.   Mobile;  John  II.  Stouer.  G«tvc«ti>:.  vjcr, 

«33 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Peoria;  M.  T.  Lamar,  Montgomery,  Ala.;  E.  A.  Willcox,  Providence;  James  T. 
Wells,  Columbia,  S.  C;  H.  M.  Fairchild,  Evansville;  J.  McGill,  Jackson,  Miss.; 
Thomas  P.  Vale,  Savannah;  J.  N.  Davis,  Grand  Rapids;  H.  C.  Patchen,  St. 
Joseph;  L.  P.  Ashby,  Augusta;  J.  D.  Parry,  Charleston,  S.  C;  J.  W.  Dick- 
inson, Leavenworth;  G.  N.  Parker,  Sacramento;  Samuel  H.  Harris,  New 
Haven;  T.  C.  Wilkinson,  Atlanta;  H.  M.  Hullett,  Denver;  A.  Coburn,  Burling- 
ton; Ezra  Stillman,  Troy;  J.  J.  Smith,  Cleveland;  J.  C.  Marcom,  Raleigh; 
Lewis  H.  Edgar,  Syracuse;  S.  J.  Rigler,  Dayton;  R.  S.  Russell,  Quincy; 
William  Cochran,  Springfield;  Edmund  Miles,  Cambridge;  A.  S.  Clover,  Utica; 
Charles  Coughling,  Toledo;  Harry  C.  Smith,  Lafayette;  S.  C.  Leonard,  Washoe, 
Nev.;  George  W.  Blair,  Oswego;  G.  P.  Penfold,  Lockport;  F.  Kemper,  Lan- 
caster; Charles  B.  Yard,  Trenton;  Robert  Quinn,  Hartford;  S.  H.  Dodge, 
Lawrence,  Kan.;  William  Morrin,  Cairo;  C.  H.  Ford,  Portland,  Me.;  John  M. 
Glazier,  Erie;  J.  W.  Campbell,  Fort  Wayne;  William  F.  Hamilton,  Wheeling; 
W.  Lea,  Kansas  City;  Louis  E.  Hough,  Alexandria;  Charles  Pritchard,  Macon; 
W.  A.  Edwards,  Norfolk;  James  W.  Golledge,  Houston;  J.  J.  Garver,  Hanni- 
bal; John  T.  Vannerson,  Richmond;  Joseph  Benson,  Toronto;  W.  B.  Calhoun, 
Little  Rock;  J.  S.  Schepmoes,  Poughkeepsie;  Carl  B.  Zander,  Allentown;  J.  H. 
Morrison,  Helena,  Mont.;  P.  A.  Crossby,  Montreal;  James  S.  DeLand,  Jackson, 
Mich.;  Amos  B.  Cranston,  Norwich;  John  S.  Judd,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  C.  W. 
Mitchell,  Ottawa;  Samuel  Toombes,  Newark;  G.  H.  Knapp,  New  Albany; 
George  W.  Rodgers,  Vicksburg;  T.  B.  Strickland,  Easton;  William  Davison, 
Hudson  County,  N.  J.;  D.  S.  Stanley,  Virginia  City,  Nev.;  G.  E.  Allen,  New- 
bern,  N.  C;  William  Mclntire,  Newburgh,  N.  Y.;  J.  W.  Mills,  Knoxville, 
Tenn. ;   Robert  Holmes,   Scranton. 

Officers,  1868  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were 
elected  as  follows :  Robert  McKechnie,  New  York,  presi- 
dent; Gerard  Stith,  New  Orleans,  first  vice-president; 
George  W.  McDonald,  Chicago,  second  vice-president; 
John  Collins,  Cincinnati,  secretary-treasurer;  William 
Turner,    Philadelphia,    corresponding   secretary. 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  was  chosen  as  the  meeting  place  for 
the  convention  of  1869. 

Convention   at   Albany 

[1869] — Passing  of  the  National  Typographical 
Union  —  New  Constitution  —  The  convention  of  1869, 
held  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  marked  the  passing  of  the  National 
Typographical  Union.  This  convention  adopted  the 
new  constitution  offered  by  former  President  Oberly, 
although  the  instrument  as  finally  accepted  was  modified 
in  many  respects  in  order  to  comply  with  the  sentiment 
prevailing  at  that  time,  which  permitted  subordinate 
unions  to  enjoy,  practically,  local  autonomy. 

234' 


Convention  at  Albany,  1869 

Women's  Unions  —  The  new  constitution  provided 
that  female  printers  might  be  granted  charters  in  any  city 
where  the  application  was  approved  by  the  subordinate 
union  of  male  members.  It  was  provided,  however,  that 
female  organizations  should  be  subject  to  the  same  restric- 
tions in  regard  to  scales  of  prices  as  male  unions  estab- 
lished within  the  jurisdiction  of  their  organizations,  and 
it  was  also  provided  that  women  be  permitted  to  join  any 
subordinate  union  in  places  where  female  unions  did  not 
and  could  not  exist  from  local  and  definite  causes. 

Proxy  Delegates  —  By  the  terms  of  the  new  constitu- 
tion, proxy  delegates  were  no  longer  recognized.  The 
custom  of  permitting  ex-delegates,  who,  under  the  law, 
were  designated  as  permanent  members,  the  right  to  a 
seat  in  conventions  was  continued,  it  being  provided, 
however,  that  ex-delegates  should  not  be  allowed  to  vote, 
or  make  a  motion,  or  be  elected  to  office. 

The  practice  of  selecting  officers  at  the  first  session 
of  the  convention  was  also  continued  in  spite  of  a 
vigorous  effort  to  postpone  the  election  until  the  last  day 
of  the  week. 

Representation  —  The  new  constitution  also  changed 
the  law  regulating  representation  in  the  National  body, 
it  being  provided  that  unions  having  100  members  or 
kss  should  be  entitled  to  one  delegate;  more  than  100 
and  less  than  500  members,  two  delegates;  more  than  500 
and  less  than  1,000,  three  delegates;  1,000  or  any  greater 
number  of  members,  four  delegates,  each  delegate  being 
entitled  to  one  vote. 

Per  Capita  Tax — An  effort  to  increase  the  per  capita 
tax  from  25  cents  a  year  to  50  cents  was  defeated. 

Birth  Of  International  Typographical  Union  —  The 
by-laws  of  the  National  Typographical  Union  were 
accepted  practically  without  change,  and  the  new  constitu- 
tion  and   by-laws  of   the    International   Typographical 

*35 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Union  were  adopted  by  a  vote  of  69  ayes,  16  noes,  and 
thus,  on  Friday,  June  11,  1869,  the  National  Typograph- 
ical Union  passed  out  of  existence,  and  the  present 
organization,  the  International  Typographical  Union  of 
North  America,  had  its  birth.  One  hundred  and  twenty 
unions,  in  all,  had  been  chartered  by  the  old  organization 
and  the  membership  in  good  standing,  according  to  the 
secretary's  report,  was  7,563. 

President's  Report  —  The  report  of  Robert  McKechnie, 
the  last  president  of  the  old  organization,  was  a  brief 
document.  Numerous  strikes  occurred  during  the  year, 
six  of  which  were  reported  to  the  National  president.  Sev- 
eral subordinate  unions,  however,  did  not  give  official 
notice  to  the  National  officers  of  difficulties  in  their 
jurisdictions.  In  one  or  two  instances  the  strikes  were 
successful,  but  as  a  rule  these  ventures  proved  disastrous 
through  lack  of  funds  and  the  absence  of  any  authority 
on  the  part  of  the  National  organization  to  interfere 
before  the  trouble  started. 

Charters  Surrendered  —  The  president  reported  that 
two  unions  had  dissolved  during  the  year — Knoxville 
No.  in,  and  Virginia  City  No.   108. 

General  Amnesty  —  Reporting  on  the  general  amnesty 
proposition,  which  was  referred  to  the  officers  by  the 
previous  convention,  with  full  power  to  act.  President 
McKechnie  transmitted  a  copy  of  a  letter  sent  out  to 
subordinate  unions  in  which  amnesty  was  granted  to  all 
printers,  whether  expelled,  suspended  or  otherwise  pun- 
ished for  faults  committed,  setting  apart  a  period  of  three 
months — September,  October  and  November,  1868 — in 
which  applications  would  be  received  and  accepted  by 
all  subordinate  unions.  Apparently  only  a  few  of  the 
subordinate  unions  gave  serious  attention  to  the  presi- 
dent's proclamation  of  amnesty,  as  but  176  applications 
were   received    and   acted   upon    throughout  the    entire 

236 


Convention  at  Albany,  1869 

jurisdiction,  170  of  these  applications  being  made  in  the 
city  of  New  York. 

National  Fund,  etc.  —  The  proposition  to  adopt  a 
uniform  constitution  for  subordinate  unions  and  the  act 
to  create  a  national  fund  were  apparently  lost  sight  of 
in  this  convention,  although  these  matters  may  have  been 
discussed  in  committee  of  the  whole. 

Springfield  (III.)  Union  Disrupted —  In  reviewing  the 
condition  of  various  subordinate  unions,  the  president 
referred  to  an  unfortunate  schism  that  had  occurred  in 
the  Springfield  (111.)  Union  in  which  two  parties  claimed 
to  be  the  union.  It  seemed  that  the  system  of  sub-con- 
tracting for  state  printing  led  to  the  work  being  con- 
tracted for  at  a  less  sum  than  the  scale,  and  by  members  of 
the  union,  among  whom  was  the  president  of  the  organ- 
ization. At  the  regular  meeting  held  November  28,  1868, 
these  members  were  expelled.  On  the  other  side  it  was 
claimed  that  sub-contracting  had  been  carried  on  in 
Springfield  for  some  years;  that  members  had  the  right 
to  do  so  at  any  rate  they  chose,  provided  they  paid  the 
union  scale,  and  that  the  crime — if  any  attached  to  it — 
could  be  justified  by  the  purest  motives,  as  the  object  in 
taking  the  contract  was  simply  to  keep  up  the  wages  of 
the  compositors,  a  demand  having  been  made  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  State  Register  on  the  foreman  (one  of  the 
contractors)  for  a  reduction.  The  parties  expelled  from 
tin  union  on  the  28th  of  November,  having  possession  of 
the  Bcal  and  charter,  held  a  meeting  and  expelled  those 
who  expelled  them;  consequently  there  were  two  unions, 
<>r  rather  no  union  at  all,  in  Springfield  Frank  Hudson, 
jr.,  was  president  of  the  party  that  expelled  the  sub- 
contractors, and  James  M.  Higgins  of  the  other.  The 
National  president  was  appealed  to  by  both  for  official 
recognition  as  the  bona  fide  union;  but  as  a  recognition 
of  either  would  only  have  resulted  in  an  appeal  to  the 

*37 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

National  Union  by  the  other,  and  as  a  great  deal  of  bitter- 
ness had  been  engendered,  it  was  deemed  best  to  refer  the 
whole  matter  to  the  convention. 

The  committee  to  which  this  case  was  referred,  after 
investigation,  submitted  the  following  report,  which  was 
concurred  in  by  the  union : 

The  committee  believe  that  inasmuch  as  the  parties  were  ex- 
pelled without  a  fair  trial,  the  charges  having  been  made,  con- 
sidered, and  sentence  passed  at  the  same  meeting,  the  expulsion 
was  not  legal.  Subordinate  unions  should  be  careful  how  they 
hastily  brand  their  members  with  a  stigma  that  may  be  difficult 
to  remove.  The  practice  of  evading  the  law  by  taking  contracts, 
and  other  subterfuges,  by  which  men  work  for  less  than  the 
scale  of  prices,  is  deemed  reprehensible,  and  the  parties  thereto 
are  censurable  for  their  conduct  in  being  identified  with  such  a 
transaction.  The  first  party,  who  had  expelled  these  men,  sub- 
sequently resorted  to  the  same  means  which  they  had  denounced, 
to  undermine  and  defeat  their  opponents,  by  offering  to  take  the 
same  work  at  twenty-eight  cents,  two  cents  less  than  was  re- 
ceived by  those  whom  they  had  denounced.  But  to  detail  the 
case  would  make  this  report  interminable.  Suffice  it  to  say  that 
much  principle  and  much  interest  was  sacrificed  in  the  war  of 
these  factions,  all  of  which  might  have  been  avoided  by  a  little 
conciliation,  and  the  regulation  of  the  scale  to  suit  the  locality. 

The  committee  recommend  that  all  the  parties  who  have 
been  denounced  by  the  respective  bodies  claiming  jurisdiction 
be  restored  to  their  former  honorable  standing,  because  the 
action  by  which  they  were  severally  branded  was  totally  invalid. 
The  committee  would  also  recommend  that  the  printers  of 
Springfield  be  requested  to  cast  aside  their  differences,  unite 
with  a  patriotic  desire  to  benefit  themselves  and  the  craft  gen- 
erally, and  go  harmoniously  to  work  under  the  charter  orig- 
inally granted  them. 

The  union  which  Mr.  James  Higgins  claims  to  represent, 
being  in  possession  of  the  charter,  and  in  other  respects  legally 
organized,  your  committee  recommend  that  he  be  admitted  as 
the  delegate  from  Springfield  Union  No.  60. 

Unsatisfactory  Conditions  in  Boston  —  Passing  from 
the  Springfield  case,  the  president  called  attention  to  the 

238 


Convention  at  Albany,  1869 

unsatisfactory  conditions  existing  in  Boston,  which  had 
been  referred  to  at  the  previous  convention.  A  committee 
appointed  by  the  convention  to  investigate  conditions  in 
the  eastern  states,  reported:  "There  is  no  such  thing 
as  awakening  them  to  a  sense  of  their  duty.  The  animosity 
existing  among  the  members  of  the  union  against  those 
who  so  disgracefully  forsook  them  four  years  ago  is  but 
little  abated,  and  nothing  but  the  most  superhuman  efforts 
on  the  part  of  outsiders  will  bring  about  good  feeling  in 
Boston  again."  It  was  suggested  that  the  holding  of 
the  next  convention  of  the  National  Union  in  Boston 
would  have  a  beneficial  effect  in  bringing  about  a  better 
state  of  affairs.  It  was  reported  that  Cambridge  Union 
had  again  raised  itself  to  its  former  high  standard  and 
that  there  were  only  five  non-union  printers  in  the  city 
at  that  time.  The  union  had  obtained  an  increase  in 
wages  and  prospects  were  good  for  a  long  career  of 
prosperity.  This  state  of  affairs,  it  was  reported,  had 
been  chiefly  brought  about  by  a  spirit  of  leniency  toward 
the  erring  members  and  of  moderation  in  the  demands  of 
the  union. 

Negro  Members  —  The  question  of  admitting  negroes 
as  members  of  the  International  Union  was  brought 
before  the  convention  by  the  delegates  from  Washington, 
D.  C,  by  the  introduction  of  the  following  resolution: 

Whereas  printers,  as  other  workmen,  should  Ik  engaged 
solely  on  account  of  competency,  and  not  for  the  individual 
views,  religious  or  political,  they  may  entertain  ;  therct 

Resolved  (as  an  expression  of  the  sentiments  of  the  National 
Union  on  the  subject),  That  the  conductor  of  any  printing 
house,  be  it  governmental  <>r  Individual,  who  makes  religious 
or  political  sentiment  a  test  of  fitness  for  employment.  \%  de- 
serving of  censure,  and  his  course  in  that  regard  should  meet 
the  united  opposition  of  the  eraft. 

l-'urthrr  rrsolrr.l .    That   the  wanton  attempt  of  the  eongTSS- 

sional  printer  to  force  open  Corumbn  Typographical  Union 

m 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

No.  ioi  L.  H.  Douglas,  an  avowed  rat,  meets  our  unqualified 
condemnation,  and  that  we  deem  it  the  duty  of  Columbia  Union 
to  resist  the  attempted  outrage,  and  shall  firmly  sustain  them  in 
so  doing. 

While  nothing  in  the  resolution  refers  to  the  admission 
of  negroes,  it  was  a  well-known  fact  that  L.  H.  Douglas 
was  a  negro.  After  a  spirited  discussion  and  several  roll 
call  votes  on  proposed  amendments,  the  resolutions  were 
passed  by  a  vote  of  48  to  37.  As  a  matter  of  record, 
however,  Douglas  was  admitted  to  membership  by  Wash- 
ington Union  at  a  later  period. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1869  —  The  president 
appointed  the  following  national  executive  committee : 

M.  H.  Halpin,  Indianapolis;  James  Beatty,  Philadelphia;  E.  F.  Bigler, 
Cincinnati;  George  W.  Quackenbush,  Albany;  Will  Eaton,  Columbus;  Charles 
H.  McPherson,  New  York;  George  W.  Greene,  Pittsburgh;  Joseph  N.  Barker, 
St.  Louis;  R.  B.  Lyon,  Buffalo;  John  King,  Louisville;  Henry  Moode,  Mem- 
phis; Michael  H.  Doyle,  Baltimore;  Charles  A.  Young,  Boston;  George  W. 
Osier,  Harrisburg;  John  C.  Shea,  Chicago;  H.  H.  Cowles,  New  Orleans;  Albert 
H.  Rayner,  Detroit;  John  Plaxton,  Nashville;  J.  F.  Brown,  San  Francisco; 
John  F.  Eagan,  Dubuque;  John  McCulloch,  Milwaukee;  T.  E.  Owens,  Peters- 
burg; James  F.  Risk,  Mobile;  John  H.  Stoner,  Galveston;  T.  P.  Snyder,  Peoria; 
Frank  L.  Smith,  Montgomery,  Ala.;  E.  A.  Wilcox,  Providence;  A.  C.  Morgan, 
Columbia,  S.  C;  A.  L.  Worden,  Evansville;  Charles  Winkley,  Jackson,  Miss.; 
Thomas  P.  Vale,  Savannah;  J.  N.  Davis,  Grand  Rapids;  J.  P.  Caylor,  St.  Jo- 
seph; L.  P.  Ashby,  Augusta;  Thomas  J.  Webb,  Charleston,  S.  C;  A.  R.  John- 
son, Leavenworth;  G.  N.  Parker,  Sacramento;  Walter  C.  Wells,  New  Haven; 
T.  C.  Wilkinson,  Atlanta;  H.  M.  Hallett,  Denver;  A.  Coburn,  Burlington; 
Henry  Stowell,  Troy;  Thomas  A.  Stone,  Cleveland;  J.  C.  Marcom,  Raleigh; 
H.  A.  Hawes,  Syracuse;  S.  J.  Rigler,  Dayton;  E.  M.  Broughton,  Quincy; 
Frank  Hudson,  jr.,  Springfield,  111.;  J.  C.  Brown,  Cambridge;  B.  R.  Ketche- 
son,  Utica;  Charles  M.  Berry,  Toledo;  Harry  C.  Smith,  Lafayette;  S.  C. 
Leonard,  Washoe,  Nev. ;  Hiram  P.  Warner,  Oswego;  G.  P.  Penfold,  Lockport; 
F.  Kemper,  Lancaster;  Matthew  S.  Austin,  Trenton;  George  N.  Deway,  Hart- 
ford; S.  H.  Dodge,  Lawrence,  Kan.;  John  H.  Oberly,  Cairo;  C.  H.  Ford, 
Portland,  Me.;  James  Hendricks,  Erie;  J.  W.  Campbell,  Fort  Wayne;  William 
F.  Hamilton,  Wheeling;  Royal  C.  Gould,  Kansas  City;  G.  T.  Whittington, 
Alexandria;  Charles  Pritchard,  Macon;  W.  A.  Edwards,  Norfolk;  James  W. 
Golledge,  Houston;  J.  J.  Garver,  Hannibal;  J.  B.  Renauld,  Richmond;  Edward 
Ward,  Toronto;  W.  B.  Calhoun,  Little  Rock;  J.  S.  Schepmoes,  Poughkeepsie; 
T.  H.  Diehl,  Allentown;  J.  H.  Morrison,  Helena,  Mont.;  William  Wilson, 
Montreal;  James  S.  DeLand,  Jackson,  Mich.;  William  H.  Hovey,  Norwich; 
J.  T.  Halleck,  Washington,  D.  C;  C.  W.  Mitchell,  Ottawa;  James  O.  Smith, 
Newark;  G.  H.  Knapp,  New  Albany;  George  W.  Rodgers,  Vicksburg;  T.  B. 
Strickland,  Easton ;  M.  Russell,  Hudson  County,  N.  J.;  D.  S.  Stanley,  Vir- 
ginia City,  Nev.;  G.  E.  Allen,  Newbern,  ty  C. ;  William  Mclntire,  Newburgh. 
N.  Y. ;  J.  Martin.  Knoxville,  Tenn. ;  Frank  Orchard,  Scranton;  J.  H.  Van 
Keuren,  Springfield,  Mass. 

24O 


ROBIBT    M.M ■«  II  Ml      Nkw  Yo«K 

I'm  ••.ulni!    N.ilnm.il     I  '\|i.iki.ipIiii  jI   I'limn 
.lime-    i.    iMI      JMM   K.    i860 


Convention  at  Albany,  1869 

Officers,  i86g  —  Isaac  D.  George,  Nashville,  Term., 
was  elected  first  president  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union.  Other  officers  chosen  at  the  same  time 
were  P.  A.  Crossby,  Montreal,  first  vice-president;  VV.  R. 
Goodnough,  Hartford,  second  vice-president;  John 
Collins,  Cincinnati,  secretary-treasurer;  W.  A.  Shields, 
Philadelphia,  corresponding  secretary. 

At  the  close  of  the  evening  session  on  the  fifth  day  the 
convention  adjourned  to  meet  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on 
the  first  Monday  in  June,  1870. 


■41 


. .    .     .  . 


International    Typographical 
Union 


I  AUGUSTA  I.KWIS.  Ntw  Yo» 
(Mr*.  Alexander  Troup,  New  Haven,  Coon.) 
Corresponding  Secretary  International  Typographies!  Union 

hinr  6,  i»;n     Juiir  $,  tlyi 


Conventions   of   the 

International   Typographical    Union 

from    1870   to    1888 

(inclusive) 

THIS  chapter  will  include  the  conventions  held  at 
Cincinnati,  1870;  Baltimore,  1871 ;  Richmond,  1872  ; 
Montreal,  1873;  St.  Louis,  1874;  Boston,  1875;  Phila- 
delphia, 1876;  Louisville,  1877;  Detroit,  1878;  Washing- 
ton, 1879;  Chicago,  1880;  Toronto,  1881  ;  St.  Louis, 
1882;  Cincinnati,  1883;  New  Orleans,  1884;  New  York, 
1885;  Pittsburgh,  1886;  Buffalo,  1887,  and  Kansas  City, 
1888,  covering  the  administrations  of  Presidents  Isaac 
D.  George,  W.  J.  Hammond,  W.  R.  McLean,  William 
H.  Bodwell,  Walter  W.  Bell,  John  McVicar,  D.  R. 
Streeter,  John  Armstrong,  Samuel  Haldeman,  William 
P.  Atkinson,  George  Clark,  M.  L.  Crawford,  M.  R.  H. 
Witter  and  William  Aimison. 

This  period  covers  the  early  history  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  when  its  policies  and  prac- 
tices were  similar  in  nearly  every  respect  to  the  policies 
and  practices  of  the  National  Typographical  Union. 

The  convention  in  Kansas  City  in  1888,  through  the 
plan  of  reorganization  carried  out  by  that  body,  marked 
the  beginning  of  the  end  of  the  policy  of  almost  absolute 
local  autonomy  and  the  commencement  of  the  work  of 
building  up  a  strong,  centralized  union  government. 

Convention    at    CINCINNATI 

[1870]      Cincinnati  First  Meeting  Place  —  On  June  6, 

1870,  eightei  .  one  month  and  I  day  at'trr  the  Na- 

tional  Typographical  Union  was  organ i/ed  in  Cincinnati, 
the  union  opened  its  first  session  as  an  International  body 

245 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

in  the  same  city.  For  the  purposes  of  this  history,  and  in 
order  to  maintain  the  sequence  of  the  many  conventions, 
this  first  convention  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  will  be  designated  as  the  eighteenth  session,  it 
having  followed  the  seventeenth  session  of  the  old 
organization. 

Delegates  representing  fifty-nine  unions,  including 
Women's  Typographical  Union  No.  I  of  New  York  city, 
were  present  at  the  opening  session. 

Officers,  1870  —  First  Woman  Elected  to  Office  — 
After  receiving  the  report  of  the  committee  on  creden- 
tials, the  delegates  proceeded  to  the  election  of  officers  for 
the  ensuing  year.  William  J.  Hammond  of  New  Orleans 
was  elected  president;  Thomas  Willard,  Albany,  N.  Y., 
first  vice-president;  John  H.  O'Donnell,  Boston,  second 
vice-president;  John  Collins,  Cincinnati,  secretary-treas- 
urer, and  Miss  Augusta  Lewis,  New  York,  corresponding 
secretary.  Miss  Lewis  was  the  first  woman  ever  honored 
by  election  to  an  International  office. 

General  Prosperity  —  Charters  —  The  fiscal  year, 
1 869- 1 8 70,  apparently,  was  one  of  general  prosperity  to 
the  craft.  Charters  were  reissued  to  Rochester  No.  1 5  ; 
St.  Paul  No.  30;  Stockton,  Cal.,  No.  56;  Wilmington, 
Del.,  No.  82,  and  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  No.  in,  and  21  new 
unions  were  organized,  increasing  the  membership  to  a 
total  of  9,425. 

Government  Printing  Office  —  President  George,  in 
his  address,  speaking  of  prevailing  conditions  in  the 
government  printing  office  at  Washington,  said  that 
information  had  come  to  him  from  many  honorable 
sources  that  the  conduct  of  the  government  printing  office 
was  not  only  an  outrage  upon  every  journeyman  printer 
in  the  land  but  a  disgrace  to  the  American  people.  No 
printer,  however  accomplished  as  a  craftsman,  could  hold 
a  situation  in  the  nation's  printing  office  if  his  political 

246 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1870 

views  did  not  accord  with  those  of  the  congressional 
printer.  Many  who  were  born  within  sight  of  the 
national  capitol,  some  of  whom  had  assisted  to  put  in 
type  the  messages  to  congress  of  every  president  from 
General  Jackson  to  the  then  honored  chief  magistrate, 
had  been  discharged  to  make  room  for  men  recommended 
by  members  of  congress,  many  of  whom  were  utterly 
incompetent  as  printers,  their  only  qualification  consisting 
in  their  support,  as  publishers  of  country  newspapers,  of 
the  congressmen  by  whose  recommendation  they  obtained 
the  situations.  The  convention  was  strongly  urged  to 
take  some  action,  it  being  held  that  if  the  congressional 
printer  persisted  in  making  a  printer's  political  faith  the 
test  of  his  qualification  for  employment  in  the  office  under 
his  control,  a  petition  for  his  removal  should  be  sent  to 
congress  signed  by  every  workingman  in  the  United 
States. 

In  concluding,  President  George  said  that  if  the  ques- 
tion were  properly  represented  to  the  vice-president  of 
the  nation,  Schuyler  Colfax,  whose  fingers  were  not  unfa- 
miliar with  the  touch  of  the  stick  and  rule,  his  influence 
might  be  enlisted  to  abolish  the  abuse  complained  of. 

Business  in  the  South  —  Business  in  the  south  and 
southwest  was  gradually  recovering  from  the  depression 
consequent  upon  the  war.  Trade  in  all  sections  of  the 
country  was  good,  except  on  the  Pacific  coast.  In  the  lat- 
ter section  each  union  had  reduced  its  scale  of  prices,  con- 
sequent upon  the  large  influx  of  printers  made  possible  by 
the  completion  of  the  first  transcontinental  railroad.  San 
Francisco  Union  passed  a  resolution  authorizing  its  mem- 
bers to  accept  work  wherever  they  could  find  it,  in  fair  or 
unfair  offices,  provided  they  received  the  established 
I  nice.  This  condition  of  affairs  was  not  confined  to  San 
Francisco,  but  extended  to  other  jurisdictions  throughout 
the  state. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Strikes  —  Strikes  occurred  during  the  year  in  Toledo, 
Ohio;  Leavenworth,  Kan.;  Pittsburgh,  Evansville,  Cin- 
cinnati; Kansas  City,  and  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  all  of  which 
were  unsuccessful. 

Organizing  Canada  —  Peter  A.  Crossby,  of  Montreal, 
Quebec,  first  vice-president,  submitted  an  interesting  re- 
port, outlining  in  detail  the  work  accomplished  by  him  in 
the  Canadian  provinces.  Through  his  efforts  Ottawa 
Union  was  reorganized  and  charters  were  issued  to  Ham- 
ilton and  London,  Ont,  and  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia.  The 
jurisdiction  of  the  International  Union  was  thus  estab- 
lished in  each  province  of  the  new  dominion  by  four 
unions  in  Ontario,  one  in  Quebec,  one  in  New  Brunswick 
and  one  in  Nova  Scotia. 

Negro  Members — In  the  annual  report  of  the  presi- 
dent considerable  space  was  devoted  to  the  question  of  ad- 
mitting negro  members  into  the  union.  The  matter  was 
referred  to  a  special  committee.  This  committee  later  sub- 
mitted a  report  to  the  effect  that  it  was  a  subject  of  sin- 
cere regret  that  the  negro  question  was  ever  introduced 
into  the  International  Union,  it  being  the  committee's  be- 
lief that  it  would  be  assuming  an  arbitrary  power  for  the 
International  Union  to  legislate  as  to  the  color  of  printers 
seeking  admission  as  members  of  subordinate  unions.  It 
was,  therefore,  decided  that  the  question  of  admitting  or 
rejecting  negro  printers  be  left  entirely  to  the  discretion 
of  subordinate  unions. 

Home  for  Disabled  Printers  —  A  delegate  representing 
Leavenworth  Typographical  Union,  on  behalf  of  his  or- 
ganization, submitted  the  following  proposition  : 

Resolved,  That  our  representative  to  the  National  Union 
be,  and  he  is  hereby,  instructed  to  present  to  that  body  a  plan 
for  the  establishment  of  a  Home  for  disabled  printers,  and  urge 
the  adoption  of  some  action  having  that  object  in  view. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  resolution,  which  was  unani- 
mously adopted,  the  undersigned  begs  leave  to  submit  to  your 
248 


1 1  \  \i    D    OK  «01  .  n'vmiviu.1 

I'..  si.lt  Hi    liiirin.iiioii.il  Typographical   Union 

.lime   8,    l86q      June  6.    1870 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1870 

honorable  body  the  following,  and  prays  that  action  may  be 
taken  thereon  at  the  present  session  of  the  International  Union: 

That  a  tax  of  two  dollars  be  levied  on  each  printer  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  National  Union,  to  raise  a  fund  for  the 
purpose  of  establishing  a  home  for  disabled  printers ;  the  money 
to  be  expended  in  the  purchase  of  from  three  to  six  hundred 
acres  of  land,  and  the  erection  thereon  of  a  suitable  building  or 
buildings,  the  money  so  raised  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of 
five  trustees  (responsible  practical  printers)  until  a  sufficient 
amount  accumulates  to  accomplish  the  purpose  designated.  The 
Home  to  be  located  as  near  as  practicable  in  a  central  portion 
of  the  United  States. 

It  is  suggested  that  the  Home  should  be  established  in  the 
name  of  the  National  Union,  and  carried  on  by  a  board  of 
trustees  under  the  direction  and  control  of  that  body,  the  object 
being  to  have  a  comfortable  place  to  which  worn-out  printers 
could  retire  and  spend  the  evening  of  their  days  instead  of 
sending  them  to  the  county  poor  houses,  and  finally  filling 
paupers'  graves,  as  too  frequently  occurs. 

This  plan  contemplates  the  employment  of  a  resident  phy- 
sician, the  establishment  of  a  library,  and  the  employment  of 
those  able  to  work  in  healthful  agricultural  and  horticultural 
labor. 

It  is  also  suggested  that  the  secretaries  of  the  local  unions 
be  authorized,  as  financial  agents,  to  coHect  the  tax  of  two 
dollars  from  each  member  of  their  subordinate  union,  the 
amounts  to  be  transmitted  quarterly  to  the  chairman  of  the 
board  of  trustees. 

The  proposition  was  referred  to  a  special  committee  for 
investigation.  The  committee  reported  that  the  plan  of- 
fered was  impracticable  at  that  time,  and  the  convention 
concurred  in  this  opinion. 

Postal  Abuses  —  A  question  that  has  been  the  cause  of 
considerable  agitation  in  recent  years — the  law  authoriz- 
ing a  return  request  to  be  printed  on  em  elopes,  and  or- 
dering postmasters  to  return  the  same  to  the  writers  free 
61  postage,  developing  an  abuse  by  the  postoffice  depart- 
ment in  assuming  to  do  that  printing  or  to  have  it  done — 

found  to  have  been  the  sul  able  interest 

349 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

to  the  delegates  in  1870.  The  matter  came  before  the  con- 
vention through  a  communication  received  from  a  com- 
mittee representing  the  envelope  manufacturers.  The 
union  at  that  time  took  a  strong  position  in  condemning 
the  abuse  complained  of,  and  the  convention  protested  to 
the  committee  on  postal  appropriations  in  congress  against 
the  further  use  of  public  moneys  for  such  purposes. 

Bids  for  Printing  —  The  secretary-treasurer,  in  sub- 
mitting his  annual  report,  complained  against  the  prac- 
tice of  asking  for  bids  on  work  done  for  the  union,  and 
the  finance  committee  in  making  its  report  to  the  conven- 
tion recommended,  and  the  delegates  concurred  in,  the 
adoption  of  a  resolution  to  the  effect  that  inasmuch  as  the 
policy  of  inviting  proposals  for  work  done  for  the  union 
was  not  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  the  organiza- 
tion, all  resolutions  on  the  books  of  the  union  tending  to 
such  a  practice  be  repealed  and  that  the  matter  be  left  to 
the  discretion  of  the  secretary-treasurer. 

Apprentices  —  The-  apprentice  system,  or  rather  the 
lack  of  system  governing  apprentices,  was  a  fruitful  sub- 
ject of  debate,  the  question  being  finally  disposed  of  by  a 
recommendation  to  subordinate  unions  to  endeavor  to  in- 
troduce a  regular  system  of  apprenticeship. 

Divided  Jurisdiction  —  An  elaborate  proposition,  sug- 
gesting that  the  international  jurisdiction  be  divided  into 
several  districts,  was  introduced,  spread  upon  the  min- 
utes, and  laid  over  for  consideration  by  the  delegates  to 
the  next  convention. 

Susan  B.  Anthony  —  The  delegates  to  the  National  La- 
bor Union  submitted  an  interesting  report,  transmitting  a 
platform  adopted  by  that  body  in  which  there  was  incor- 
porated many  of  the  political  questions  that  have  engaged 
the  attention  of  the  country  in  recent  years.  One  feature 
of  the  National  Labor  Union  convention  was  an  appli- 
cation by  Susan  B.  Anthony  for  admission  as  a  delegate 

250 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1870 

to  that  gathering  from  the  New  York  Working 
Women's  Association.  Her  right  to  a  seat  was  promptly 
challenged  on  the  ground  that  she  was  an  enemy,  not  only 
to  the  working  men,  but  to  the  working  women  of  New 
York.  This  statement  was  supported  by  the  evidence  of 
Miss  Augusta  Lewis,  of  Women's  Typographical  Union 
No.  1.  Notwithstanding,  she  was  admitted  to  a  seat  and 
her  credentials  received.  The  following  day,  however,  a 
delegate  from  New  York  Typographical  Union  demanded 
the  return  of  his  credentials  if  Miss  Anthony  were  per- 
mitted to  remain.  This  demand,  backed  by  a  large  num- 
ber of  trade  unionists,  procured  a  reconsideration  of  the 
vote  by  which  she  was  admitted  and  her  ultimate  rejec- 
tion by  a  vote  of  63  to  28. 

Pressmen  —  A  resolution  was  adopted  urging  subordi- 
nate unions  to  consider  the  expediency  of  bringing  into 
their  organizations  all  pressmen  working  within  their 
jurisdiction,  and  a  special  committee  was  appointed  to 
urge  the  printers  in  Houston  and  Galveston,  Tex.,  to  re- 
organize. 

National  Executive  Committee,  1870 —  The  president 
appointed  the  national  executive  committee  for  the  ensu- 
ing year,  as  follows: 

K.  II.  Perkins,  Indianapolis;  Eugene  Vallette,  Philadelphia;  William  A. 
Beasley,  Cincinnati;  Cornelius  Halloran,  Albany;  Thomas  Flood,  Columbus. 
Ohio;  Hugh  F.  Dalton,  New  York;  T.  A.  Armstrong.  Pittsburgh;  George 
Clark,  St.  Louis;  G.  McK.  Gatchcll,  Buffalo;  George  Ilcatty.  Louisville;  11.  J. 
McGrann,  Memphis;  James  A.  Kodgers,  Baltimore;  George  W.  Bigrlow,  Boa* 
taa|  Harry  Slcp,  Harrisburg;  A.  B.  McCutcheon,  Chicago;  T.  F.  Hedges,  New 
Orleans;  T.  J.  Finn,  Detroit;  William  Dowling,  Elmira;  George  M.  Anthony. 
Nashville;  Frank  Smith,  San  Francisco;  E.  M.  Newcomb.  Dubuque:  Frod 
Treyser,  Milwaukee;  T.  E.  Owens,  Petersburg;  R.  E.  Jones.  Mobile;  John  II. 
Stoner,  Galveston;  T.  P.  Snyder.  Peoria;  John  E.  Ingles,  St  Paul;  A.  P. 
Prince,    Montgomery;    John    McDonald,    Davenport;    Henry    B.    Ladd.    Provi- 

1  tam  II  Discke,  Columbia,  S.  C;  John  McGlll.  Jackson.  Miss.;  B.  O. 
Withington,  Savannah;  Jacob  A.  Smith.  Grand  Rapids;  II.  C  Patcbcn.  St. 
jMtfh)  .1  >li"    If,   Wcigle,  Augusta;  T.  C.   Neville.  Chatlc«t.>n:    I  •' 

tTtaworth;  George  II.  Kelly.  Sacramento;  John  P.  Tyrrell.  New   I 
William  H.  Pittman.  Atlanta;  II    M.  tfatlett.   Denver;  W.  C.  Woodward,  Bur- 
linuii.ii:  Thomas  Wolf,  Omaha;  C.  C.  Cllir..  Troy;  A     \     V 

I  M  Mfor.l.  kaldfhl  William  K  Brig**,  Syta.u.e:  William  ll.dlaek,  DsytOO; 
I      M     liimiKhton.   tfulncy;    Lafayctt  i.ringfkld.   IIL;   Georga   S.    B»- 

251 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ans,  Cambridge;  George  Bevan,  Utica;  Cyrus  S.  Dresser,  Lafayette;  John 
Booth,  Washoe,  Nev.;  S.  D.  Pierce,  Oswego;  G.  P.  Penfold,  Lockport;  Fred 
Kemper,  Lancaster;  Charles  C.  Yard,  Trenton;  Edwin  Hutchins,  Hartford; 
E.  P.  Harris,  Lawrence,  Kan.;  John  H.  Oberly,  Cairo;  A.  M.  Kimball,  Port- 
land, Me.;  Martin  Milligan,  Erie;  Eugene  B.  Smith,  Fort  Wayne;  James  Flan- 
agan, Wheeling;  Isaac  P.  Moore,  Kansas  City;  G.  T.  Whittington,  Alexandria; 
S.  DeF.  Lines,  Macon;  G.  A.  Richardson,  Hannibal;  J.  H.  Campbell,  Rich- 
mond; J.  S.  Williams,  Toronto;  W.  B.  Calhoun,  Little  Rock;  C.  B.  Zander, 
Allentown;  J.  H.  Morrison,  Helena;  Pierre  Griffard,  Montreal;  James  S.  De- 
Land,  Jackson,  Mich.;  William  H.  Hovey,  Norwich;  G.  A.  R.  McNeir, 
Columbia;  C.  W.  Mitchell,  Ottawa;  John  T.  Hastings,  Newark;  George  W. 
Smith,  New  Albany;  William  Groome,  Vicksburg;  T.  B.  Strickland,  Easton; 
William  T.  McCarthy,  Hudson  County,  N.  J.;  G.  E.  Allen,  Newbern;  William 
Mclntyre,  Newburgh;  A.  V.  Mortimer,  Scranton;  Ed  S.  Dubois,  Annapolis; 
William  Fuller,  Deseret;  Frank  S.  Rice,  Springfield,  Ohio;  Edward  P.  Albe, 
Springfield,  Mass.;  F.  B.  Colver,  Topeka;  George  Towey,  Kalamazoo;  W.  B. 
Hyland,  Wilmington,  Del.;  J.  R.  Flynn,  Bloomington ;  W.  H.  Cliff,  Hamilton, 
Ont.;  Robert  T.  Murray,  Halifax,  N.  S.;  William  T.  Doty,  Minisink,  N.  Y.; 
Daniel  H.  Perrine,  New  Brunswick;  Thomas  Coffey,  London,  Ont.;  J.  P.  Riley, 
Rome,  Ga.;  Ferd.  L.  Spiegel,  Schuylkill;  S.  I.  Kenyon,  Watertown,  N.  Y. ; 
C.  McLaughlin,  Austin,  Texas;  Thad.  Butler,  Upper  Wabash  Valley;  Miss  E. 
B.  Howard,  Women's  Typographical  Union,  New  York. 

Baltimore  was  selected  as  the  meeting  place  for  the  next 
convention,  in  1871. 

Convention   at    Baltimore 

[1871] — When  President  Hammond  called  the  nine- 
teenth convention  to  order  at  Baltimore,  June  5,  1871, 
delegates  were  present  representing  seventy  subordinate 
unions. 

Officers,  187 1  —  The  first  business  of  the  convention, 
the  election  of  officers,  resulted  as  follows :  President, 
William  J.  Hammond,  New  Orleans;  first  vice-president, 
Michael  R.  Walsh,  New  York;  second  vice-president,  J. 
A.  Cushley,  Baltimore;  secretary-treasurer,  John  Collins, 
Cincinnati,  and  corresponding  secretary,  Fred  K.  Tracy, 
Chicago. 

A  review  of  the  proceedings  of  this  convention  fails  to 
disclose  the  adoption  of  any  propositions  of  vital  interest 
to  the  craft. 

Charters  Issued  and  Surrendered  —  The  officers'  re- 
ports show  that  the  unions  of  Springfield,  111.,  Lexington, 
Ky.,  and  Steubenville,  Ohio,  had  surrendered  their  char- 
252 


Convention  at  Baltimore,  1871 

ters.  Eleven  charters  had  been  issued  during  the  year, 
although  one  of  this  number  (Santa  Fe  No.  143)  failed 
to  organize. 

Strikes  —  Three  strikes  were  officially  reported  to  the 
president  during  the  year — one  at  Pittsburgh,  another  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  and  one  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  the  latter 
against  the  Memphis  Sun. 

Report  of  Miss  Lewis  —  The  wisdom  of  the  previous 
convention  in  selecting  Miss  Augusta  Lewis  as  an  Inter- 
national officer  was  justified  by  the  report  submitted  by 
Miss  Lewis  to  the  Baltimore  convention.  It  was  the  most 
complete  document  ever  presented  by  a  corresponding 
secretary  up  to  that  time.  While  the  International  presi- 
dent had  only  been  officially  notified  of  three  strikes  dur- 
ing the  year,  Miss  Lewis  presented  detailed  information 
of  strikes  in  Pittsburgh,  Louisville,  Memphis,  Savannah, 
Denver,  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  Macon,  Ga.  Her  report  also 
referred  to  difficulties  in  Kansas  and  California;  Albany, 
New  Haven  and  Toronto.  It  also  contained  a  tabulated 
statement  of  a  large  number  of  subordinate  unions,  giving 
valuable  information  as  to  hours  and  wages  and  the  state 
of  trade. 

Female  Labor  —  Speaking  of  female  labor  in  the 
printing  business,  Miss  Lewis,  in  her  report  to  the  con- 
vmtion,  said  that  the  subject  needed  no  introduction. 
It  was  no  longer  new  and  no  longer  deemed  unimportant 
It  was  a  subject  that  should  be  seen  clearly  and  one  which 
should  not  be  lost  in  mere  words,  but  that  should  be 
solved  in  a  practical  way.  Woman's  education  to  prac- 
tical labor  would  eventually  become  necessary  to  man's 
protection.  Replying  to  the  numerous  inquiries  seeking 
information  how  to  proceed  to  organize  female  com- 
positor-, Mi  Lewis  laid  down  the  following  rules: 
( 1 )  By  explaining  t.>  women  tin-  advantage  of  organisa- 
tion; (2)  by  convincing  them  thai  it  will  not  interfere 

*53 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

with  their  chances  of  a  home;  (3)  by  showing  them  that 
it  is  a  course  for  which  they  could  not  be  ridiculed  by 
any  right-thinking  person.  These  three  arguments  were 
deemed  sufficient  to  cover  the  objections  of  the  majority 
of  women  to  organization  among  their  sex. 

Referring  to  her  efforts  to  organize  female  compositors 
in  Boston,  Miss  Lewis  said:  "Hoping  to  stimulate  the 
women  into  action  by  opening  an  office  where  none  but 
union  girls  would  be  employed  and  the  full  price  would 
be  paid,  I  wrote  to  Mrs.  Livermore,  of  the  Women's 
Advocate,  asking  the  owners  of  that  paper  to  adopt  such 
a  course.  Her  answer  was  courteous  but  unsatisfactory, 
and  I  regret  to  say  no  practical  assistance  can  be  ob- 
tained from  that  'women's  rights'  organ  for  the  work- 
ing women." 

Regarding  conditions  in  New  York  city  and  the  prog- 
ress of  Women's  Typographical  Union  No.  1,  Miss  Lewis 
said: 

"A  year  ago  last  January,  Typographical  Union  No.  6 
passed  a  resolution  'admitting  union  girls  in  offices  under 
control  of  No.  6.'  Since  that  time  we  have  never  obtained 
a  situation  that  we  could  not  have  obtained  had  we  never 
heard  of  a  'union.'  We  refuse  to  take  the  men's  situations 
when  they  are  on  'strikes,'  and  when  there  is  no  strike, 
if  we  ask  for  work  in  union  offices,  we  are  told  by  union 
foremen  'that  there  are  no  conveniences  for  us.'  We  are 
ostracized  in  many  offices  because  we  are  members  of  the 
union ;  and  although  the  principle  is  right,  the  disad- 
vantages are  so  many  that  we  can  not  much  longer  hold 
together,  and  I  trust  our  want  of  success  will  be  attrib- 
uted to  the  true  cause.  The  members  of  the  executive 
council  for  No.  1  state  that  no  progress  has  been  made 
during  the  past  year.  Women  receive  forty  cents  for  all 
kinds  of  work.  A  'strike'  among  them  would  prove  dis- 
astrous.   The  Fireside  Companion,  of  New  York,  is  the 

254 


Convention  at  Baltimore,  1871 

only  office  in  that  city  which  will  employ  none  but  union 
girls.  It  is  the  general  opinion  of  female  compositors 
that  they  are  more  justly  treated  by  what  is  technically 
known  as  'rat'  foremen,  printers,  and  employers  than  they 
are  by  union  men.  Although  my  own  experience  is 
diametrically  opposite  to  this,  I  must  say,  with  regret, 
that  union  men  are  throwing  a  power  in  the  hands  of 
their  opponents  which  those  do  not  fail  to  recognize 
and  use  to  their  own  advantage.  There  is  an  office  em- 
ploying union  men  in  New  York;  that  office  boasts  a 
branch  known  as  the  'Women's  Printing*Office.'  I  believe 
well-known  authoresses  patronize  this  office,  intending 
to  help  female  compositors;  yet  every  injustice  pos- 
sible is  suffered  by  women  compositors  on  account  of 
that  office.  In  three  weeks  fifteen  learners  were  taken  in 
that  office.  I  am  informed  that  over  one  hundred  girls 
were  taught  the  rudiments  of  typesetting  in  that  office 
in  one  year.  No.  6,  by  letter,  was  informed  of  the  injus- 
tice we  were  suffering,  as  these  learners  got  all  the  fat, 
all  the  reprint,  and  the  experienced  workers  got  all  the 
objectionable  matter.  We  received  no  official  information 
as  to  the  disposition  of  our  communication.  Learning 
to  which  committee  it  had  been  referred,  we  sent  word 
to  them,  asking  their  co-operation.  No  notice  has  been 
taken  of  it. 

"In  spite  of  all  this,  I  would  not  have  it  understood 
that  No.  6  and  No.  I,  of  New  York,  arc  in  a  state  of 
warfare;  such  is  not  the  case.  No.  I  is  indebted  to  No.  6 
for  great  assistance,  but  so  long  as  we  are  refused  work 
because  of  sex  we  arc  at  the  mercy  of  our  employers,  and 
I  can  sec  no  way  out  of  our  difficulties.  Hoping  the 
advocates  of  'women's  rights'  would  place  us  on  a  'finan- 
cial equality'  with  men,  I  waited  on  Theodore  Tiltou. 
of  the  ( i<'l<lcn  Age.  He  promised  to  pay  the  same  wages 
to  women  as  men.     On  further  inquiry,  I  learn  men  in 

*55 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

his  office  are  working  under  price.  As  he  has  promised 
to  do  'whatever  is  right,'  I  hope  we  can  persuade  him  to 
see  'right'  in  the  same  light  as  we  do.  I  also  waited  on 
the  proprietors  of  the  Revolution,  who  have  solemnly 
promised,  when  their  present  contract  expires,  to  have 
the  Revolution  a  union  office,  paying  the  full  scale  alike 
to  men  and  women." 

National  Labor  Congress  —  The  delegates  to  the  Na- 
tional Labor  Congress,  held  in  Cincinnati,  1870,  sub- 
mitted a  brief  report  as  follows : 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,  May  25,  1871. 

To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  : 

Gentlemen  and  Ladies:  The  undersigned,  delegates 
from  your  body  in  the  Labor  Congress  held  in  Cincinnati, 
August,  1870,  report  that  we  attended  said  Labor  Congress 
from  the  opening  to  the  close  of  the  session,  and  failed  to  dis- 
cover anything  in  the  proceedings,  with  the  exception  of  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  obnoxious  laws,  that  would  entitle 
the  congress  to  representation  from  a  purely  trade  organization. 
The  congress  was  made  up  of  delegates,  with  few  exceptions, 
who  openly  avowed  the  object  to  be  the  formation  of  a  politi- 
cal party.  Played-out  politicians,  lobbyists,  woman-suffragans, 
preachers  without  flocks,  representatives  of  associations  in  which 
politics  are  made  a  qualification  for  membership,  and  de- 
claimers  on  the  outrages  perpetrated  on  poor  Lo,  formed  the 
major  part  of  the  congress.  The  session  was  one  of  continuous 
confusion,  in  which  personalities  abounded,  and  charges  and 
counter-charges  were  made  of  attempts  to  run  it  in  the  interest 
of  both  the  old  political  parties..  The  only  thing  accomplished 
was  the  formation  of  the  Labor  Reform  party,  and  the  adoption 
of  a  platform  announcing  its  principles. 

John  Collins, 
Harry  P.  Temple, 

Delegates. 

Fast  Typesetting  —  The  publishers  of  "The  Printer," 
official  organ  of  the  International  Union,  having  offered 

256 


Convention  at  Baltimore,  1871 

prizes  in  a  competitive  contest  among  members  of  the 
union  for  fast  composition,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
make  awards.  George  Arensberg,  of  Philadelphia,  won 
the  first  prize,  having  set  1,822  ems  of  solid  nonpareil 
in  one  hour.  W.  A.  Edwards,  of  Norfolk;  James  A.  But- 
ler, of  Little  Rock,  and  Richard  McLean,  of  Philadelphia, 
were  awarded  second,  third  and  fourth  prizes.  Other 
contestants  were  William  Doblebower,  of  Lafayette; 
Michael  Corcoran,  J.  Harper  and  William  S.  Humphreys, 
of  Montreal;  T.  Ryan,  of  Cincinnati;  D.  T.  Dailey  and 
H.  Manning,  of  Scranton,  Pa. 

Jurisdiction  Over  Pressmen  —  Among  the  resolutions 
adopted  by  the  delegates  was  one  to  the  effect  that  the 
introduction  of  steam  power  into  the  printing  business, 
having  divided  the  industry  into  two  permanent  and  dis- 
tinct branches,  it  was  imperative,  in  order  to  keep  abreast 
of  the  times,  that  subordinate  unions  take  the  most  effect- 
ive means  within  their  power  to  bring  both  branches  of 
the  business  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International 
by  admitting  to  membership,  on  equal  terms,  all  regular 
pressmen.  It  was  also  ordered  that  the  jurisdiction  of 
each  subordinate  union  should  extend  half  way  between 
its  own  location  and  the  location  of  the  nearest  adjoining 
union. 

Arbitration  —  Another  resolution,  favoring  arbitration, 
was  adopted,  as  follows : 

\\  m  m  as  experience  has  demonstrated  the  pernicious  effects 
of  strikes  upon  business  generally,  resulting  disastrously  (even 
when  seemingly  most  successful)  to  the  interests  of  both  jour- 
neyman and  employer  ;  therefore, 

Be  it  resolved,  That  this  International  Union  urgently 
recommend  to  subordinate  unions  the  settlement  of  all  ilis- 
I'utts,  arising  by  reason  of  any  increase  or  reduction  in  the 
scale  dI   |u  H  i\s,  liy  arbitration. 

nmling  Printers  —  The  custom  of  adxancing  money 
to  traveling  printers  ami  endorsing  the  amount  on  the 

*57 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

backs  of  their  cards  was  condemned,  and  subordinate 
unions  were  requested  to  discontinue  the  practice. 

All  Unions  Furnished  New  I.  T.  U .  Charters —  It  was 
also  ordered  that  all  unions  chartered  by  the  National 
Typographical  Union  be  furnished  with  new  charters, 
establishing  their  subordination  to  the  International 
Union. 

District  Unions  —  The  unfinished  business  left  over 
from  the  previous  convention  was  disposed  of,  including 
a  proposed  plan  for  district  unions,  which  was  defeated 
by  a  vote  of  5  ayes,  73  noes. 

Per  Capita  Tax  Reduced  —  An  amendment  to  the  con- 
stitution reducing  the  per  capita  tax  from  25  cents  to  20 
cents  a  year  was  adopted. 

Membership  —  The  report  of  the  committee  on  returns 
showed  a  total  of  149  charters  issued  and  a  membership 
of  10,210,  of  which  8,725  were  in  good  standing. 

Negro  Question  —  The  negro  question  again  presented 
itself  through  resolutions  passed  by  Columbia  Typo- 
graphical Union  No.  101,  instructing  its  delegates  to 
introduce  a  resolution  expunging  from  the  minutes  all 
record  of  the  action  taken  in  regard  to  L.  H.  Douglas 
at  the  previous  convention.  This  proposition  met  with 
defeat,  it  being  held  that  the  delegates  to  the  nineteenth 
session  had  no  authority  to  alter  the  minutes  of  any 
preceding  convention.  Several  attempts  were  made 
during  the  week  to  have  the  delegates  reconsider  the 
action  of  the  previous  convention,  disposing  of  the  negro 
question,  but  all  attempts  at  reconsideration  failed. 

Appeal  Cases —  A  large  part  of  the  time  of  the  conven- 
tion was  consumed  in  the  consideration  of  appeal  cases 
growing  out  of  the  action  of  subordinate  unions  in  sum- 
marily expelling  members  without  trial. 

National  Executive  Committee,  i8ji  —  The  president 
appointed  the  executive  committee  for  the  ensuing  year. 

258 


Convention  at  Richmond,  1872 

II.  S.  Garner,  Indianapolis;  H.  Jones  Hampton,  Philadelphia;  Francis  E. 
Hill,  Cincinnati;  John  McKenna,  Albany;  John  M.  Webb,  Columbus;  E.  B. 
Coggswell,  New  York;  T.  A.  Armstrong,  Pittsburgh;  B.  P.  Lennox,  St.  Louis; 
P.  F.  Corcoran,  Buffalo;  VV.  C.  Vaughan,  Louisville;  R.  R.  Catron,  Memphis; 
James  A.  Rodgcrs,  Baltimore;  J.  II.  O'Donnell,  Boston;  Alex.  M.  Sample, 
Harrisburg;  T:  J.  Vogel,  Rochester;  J.  A.  Van  Duzer,  Chicago;  John  Weaver, 
New  Orleans;  J.  E.  Morley,  Detroit;  T.  E.  C.  Oliver,  Elmira;  John  Plaxton, 
Nashville;  Frank  Smith,  San  Francisco;  M.  J.  Cooney,  Dubuque;  E.  C.  Quiner, 
Milwaukee;  R.  E.  Cain,  Petersburg;  J.  A.  Tillinghast,  Mobile;  George  A. 
Lewis,  Peoria;  Jesse  T.  Lines,  St.  Paul;  B.  R.  Warner,  Montgomery;  John 
McDonald,  Davenport;  Volney  Austin,  Providence;  William  H.  Tutt,  Colum- 
bia, S.  C. ;  Samuel  B.  Knight,  Jackson,  Miss.;  J.  M.  Harrison,  Savannah;  E.  C. 
Lewis,  St.  Joseph;  A.  J.  Gouley,  Augusta;  L.  H.  Jullicn,  Charleston;  T. '  N. 
Francis,  Leavenworth;  Judson  Grenell,  New  Haven;  C.  W.  Wells,  Atlanta; 
Robert  D.  Blair,  Denver;  W.  C.  Woodward,  Burlington;  H.  A.  Haskell, 
Omaha;  Henry  Coffeen,  Troy;  D.  S.  Whitehead,  Cleveland;  W.  J.  Edwards, 
Raleigh;  Eugene  M.  Grover,  Syracuse;  P.  C.  Kelly,  Dayton;  E.  M.  Brough- 
ton,  Quincy;  George  S.  Evans,  Cambridge;  Joseph  Joyce,  Utica;  A.  D.  Rowe, 
Lafayette;  John  Booth,  Washoe;  L.  Cr  Harwood,  Lockport;  W.  A.  Crellish, 
Trenton;  James  S.  Smith,  Hartford;  G.  W.  Bowers,  Lawrence,  Kan.;  M.  W. 
Higgins,  Portland,  Me.;  Frank  Seaman,  Terre  Haute;  Abner  Streeter,  Erie; 
A.  V.  D.  Conover,  Fort  Wayne;  Thomas  J.  Carnahan,  Wheeling;  C.  McAuliff, 
Kansas  City;  R.  M.  Whitman,  Reading;  S.  G.  Hall,  Wilmington;  J.  L.  Love- 
lace, Alexandria;  Charles  Pritchard,  Macon;  William  H.  Coates,  St.  John; 
Joseph  E.  Doughty,  Norfolk;  J.  E.  Fisher,  Hannibal;  Henry  Myer,  Richmond; 
J.  S.  Williams,  Toronto;  W.  B.  Calhoun,  Little  Rock;  James  Connolly,  Mont- 
real; William  H.  Wilson,  Jackson,  Mich.;  W.  H.  Eggles,  Norwich;  W.  R. 
McLean,  Columbia;  W.  P.  Bonsall,  Ottawa;  James  F.  Lynn,  Newark;  B.  M. 
Springer,  New  Albany;  William  II.  Cashman,  Vicksburg;  M.  F.  Kennedy, 
Hudson  County,  N.  J.;  J.  W.  Mills,  Knoxville;  Robert  Holmes,  Scranton; 
John  Brewer,  Annapolis;  William  E.  Fuller,  Descret;  M.  Q.  Jackson,  Lynch- 
burg; James  L.  Girton,  Des  Moines;  J.  M.  Meredith,  Jefferson  City;  E.  P. 
Albe,  Springfield,  Mass.;  L.  II.  Hascall,  Topeka;  R.  H.  Young,  Wilmington, 
Del.;  John  Horsnell,  Hamilton;  M.  A.  Shaffer,  Halifax;  W.  S.  Doty,  Minisink. 
N.  Y.;  F.  P.  Lippincott,  New  Brunswick;  William  Hooper,  London;  B.  G. 
Salvage,  Rome,  Ga.;  F.  L.  Spiegle,  Pottsville;  J.  D.  Vaughn,  Austin;  Pierre 
Griffard,  Jacques  Cartier;  J.  R.  Gibson,  St.  Catharines;  C.  G.  Figures,  Hunts- 
villc;  Theresa   Keenan,   Women's  Typographical   Union,   New  York. 

Richmond,  Va.,  was  selected  as  the  meeting  place  for 
the  convention  of  1872. 

Convention    at    Richmond 

[1872] — The  twentieth  convention  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  in  the  state 
capitol  building  at  Richmond,  Va.,  June  3,  1872,  dele- 
gates being  present  at  the  first  session  from  tiltv -eight 
subordinate   unions. 

Officers,  1872  —  At  the  conclusion  of  the  customary 
I'Minalities  attending  the  opening  session,  the  delegates 

259 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

proceeded  to  elect  officers,  with  the  following  result: 
President,  William  J.  Hammond,  New  Orleans;  first  vice- 
president,  E.  C.  Crump,  Richmond ;  second  vice-president, 
R.  G.  Sleater,  Salt  Lake  City;  secretary-treasurer,  John 
Collins,  Cincinnati ;  corresponding  secretary,  Robert  A. 
Hamilton,   Philadelphia. 

Unsuccessful  Strikes  —  In  the  officers'  reports  sub- 
mitted to  this  convention  it  is  shown  that  numerous 
unsuccessful  strikes  had  again  retarded  the  progress  of 
the  organization. 

Chicago  Fire  —  One  incident,  which  may  be  alluded 
to  as  an  evidence  of  the  strong  bond  of  sympathy  which 
held  together  the  framework  of  the  International  in  those 
days,  was  the  prompt  and  voluntary  action  of  the  members 
of  the  organization  in  offering  immediate  and  substantial 
relief  to  the  members  of  Chicago  Typographical  Union 
No.  1 6,  sufferers  from  a  devastating  fire  which  swept 
over  the  city  during  the  previous  year.  The  president,  in 
his  annual  report,  referred  to  the  matter  in  the  following 
language : 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  first  news  of  the  disaster,  and  before 
even  a  limit  could  be  fixed  to  the  devastation,  I  caused  a  press 
dispatch  to  be  forwarded  over  the  country  recommending 
subordinate  unions  to  contribute  all  in  their  powec  to  relieve 
the  distress  of  their  brother  craftsmen.  Notwithstanding  a  few 
mutterings  of  dissent  and  hints  of  having  exceeded  my  duty 
reached  me  from  discontented  and  isolated  individuals,  the 
great  heart  of  the  craft  throughout  the  country  responded,  in 
common  with  their  fellow  citizens  of  all  classes,  with  a  gen- 
erosity and  promptness  without  a  parallel,  and  as  creditable  to 
their  humanity  as  their  generous  offerings  could  possibly  be 
beneficial  to  the  suffering.  The  calamity  has  passed  into  history, 
and  on  the  same  page  is  written  the  response — an  enduring 
monument  to  the  honor  of  our  glorious  brotherhood.  It  was  so 
universal  as  to  afford  a  sufficient  approval  of  my  action  and 
relieve  me  of  the  necessity  of  asking  a  more  formal  indorsement 
at  your  hands. 

260 


Convention  at  Richmond,  1872 

Delegate  Fred  K.  Tracy,  of  Chicago  Typographical 
Union,  on  behalf  of  that  organization,  expressed  the 
thanks  and  gratitude  of  No.  16's  members  for  the  prompt 
relief  afforded.     In  closing  his  remarks,  Mr.  Tracy  said: 

As  soon  as  possible  the  Typographical  Union  was  convened 
and  it  was  decided  to  make  an  appeal  to  our  brethren  for  assist- 
ance in  our  terrible  circumstances.  But  our  wants  were  antici- 
pated. That  same  day,  while  the  flames  were  under  full 
headway,  and  before  our  appeal  had  been  communicated  to  any 
union,  the  secretary  of  this  body,  Mr.  John  Collins,  was  on  his 
way  from  Cincinnati  with  a  large  donation,  hastily  collected 
and  forwarded  by  the  printers  of  that  city.  On  Wednesday,  Mr. 
Ruckle,  of  Indianapolis,  and,  shortly  after,  Mr.  Burton,  of  New 
York,  arrived,  bringing  substantial  additions  to  our  pecuniar)' 
resources;  while,  upon  the  re-establishment  of  telegraphic, 
postal,  and  express  facilities,  funds  were  forwarded  from  all 
parts  of  the  country.  I  am  more  and  more  amazed  as  I  think 
how  promptly  and  how  fully  our  brethren  at  a  distance  under- 
stood the  situation  and  our  needs,  while  we  upon  the  spot 
could  not  realize  our  loss  or  circumstances.  From  the  time  of 
that  first  donation  till  the  announcement  of  our  committee  that 
enough  funds  had  been  received  to  accomplish  the  glorious  and 
humane  purpose  for  which  thtfy  were  intended,  remittance  fol- 
lowed remittance  so  closely  that  I  am  enabled  to  say,  what  I 
know  you  will  hear  with  deep  satisfaction,  that  no  lack  of  fund-; 
existed  for  the  prosecution  of  the  work  of  relief.  I  am  also  able 
to  say  that  the  fund  was  wisely  and  carefully  distributed  by  the 
(ummittee  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

It  is  not  easy— indeed,  it  is  impossible — fully  to  tell  the 
story  of  the  good  accomplished  by  that  fund,  but  this  is  certain : 
it  saved  precious  life;  it  satisfied  hunger;  it  provided  treatment 
for  sickness  resulting  from  the  frightful  exposure  of  the  time; 
it  made  printers  independent  of  the  ordinary  sources  of  relief 
.■mil  it  lightened  the  charge  of  those  entrusted  with  the  distri- 
bution of  the  world's  contributions. 

I  am  well  aware  that  for  a  beneficence  like  that,  accomplish 
in^  what  was  accomplished  by  that  fend,  BO  compensation  is 
possible  to  be  made.    The  highest  possible  human  remuneration 
of  such  a  charity  is  the  communication  of  the  knowledge  that. 
through  it,  suffering  and  death  were  prevented  and  much  good 

36l 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

done.  This  knowledge  I  have  striven  to  impart,  as  well  as  to 
express  our  gratitude,  and  we  are  resolved  to  prove  ourselves 
grateful  by  reciprocal  acts  of  fraternity  and  charity. 

I  present  to  the  printers  of  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
through  you,  their  representatives  in  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union^  our  cheerful  acknowledgement  of,  and  heart- 
felt gratitude  for,  their  great  and  delicately  bestowed  kindness 
to  the  printers  of  Chicago.  Our  brethren  have  raised  a  monu- 
ment to  charity  in  our  sight  which  shall  ever  stimulate  us  to' 
imitate  them  in  "doing  good  as  we  have  opportunity." 

Government  Printing  Office  —  A  resolution  condemn- 
ing the  practice  of  making  political  and  religious  senti- 
ments the  qualification  or  disqualification  for  employment 
was  adopted,  after  which  it  was  ordered  that  subordinate 
unions  petition  congress  for  the  abolishment  of  the 
government  printing  office,  where  it  was  asserted  such 
practices  were  in  vogue. 

Artemus  Ward  Fund —  For  some  reason,  unexplained, 
the  fund  raised  by  popular  subscription  for  the  purpose 
of  erecting  a  monument,  or  some  other  suitable  memorial, 
to  the  memory  of  Artemus  Ward,  was  never  used  for 
that  purpose,  and  at  the  Richmond  convention,  on  recom- 
mendation of  the  finance  committee,  this  fund,  aggregat- 
ing about  $1,300,  was  transferred  to  the  general  fund. 

Le gislation  —  Charters  —  Very  little  legislation  of  a 
general  character  was  accomplished  at  this  convention. 
The  usual  number  of  appeal  cases  were  decided  and  it  was 
reported  that  charters  had  been  reissued  to  unions  at 
Toledo,  Ohio,  and  Keokuk,  Iowa.  Six  new  charters  were 
granted  during  the  year.  Rome  (Ga.)  No.  134  was  sus- 
pended. The  secretary-treasurer's  report  showed  a  total 
of  155  charters  issued  and  a  membership  of  9,504,  of 
which  8,724  were  in  good  standing. 

Female  Labor  —  The  subject  of  female  labor  in  com- 
posing rooms  continued  to  engross  the  attention  of  the 
International  Union.     The  committee  on  female  labor,  to 

262 


Convention  at  Richmond,  1872 

which  had  been  referred  several  matters  pertaining  to 
the  question,  reported  having  taken  testimony  from  per- 
sons residing  in  various  sections  of  the  country,  with 
the  result  that  it  was  apparent  that  a  vast  majority  of 
women  engaged  in  the  printing  business  were  working 
outside  the  union  organization  and  at  rates  of  compensa- 
tion below  those  received  by  men,  although  there  had  been 
a  marked  increase  in  the  female  membership  of  subor- 
dinate unions  and  a  corresponding  increase  in  the  wages 
received  by  women.  It  was  further  reported  by  this 
committee  that  no  important  number  of  union  men  were 
opposed  to  the  admission  of  women  into  the  subordinate 
unions  provided  they  were  required  to  conform  to  the 
same  regulations  concerning  apprenticeship,  wages,  etc., 
as  were  established  for  men.  The  committee  was  con- 
vinced that  the  experiment  of  establishing  a  separate 
union  for  females  had  resulted  unsatisfactorily  to  members 
of  both  the  male  and  female  unions  in  the  city  where  it 
had  been  tried,  chiefly  because  of  a  difference  between 
the  two  scales  of  prices.  Besides  being  a  source  of  con- 
stant trouble  between  male  and  female  unions,  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  scale  of  prices  for  the  latter  below  that 
tendered  by  the  former  was  conceding  a  fundamental 
principle  unswervingly  insisted  upon  by  all  true  friend- 
of  female  labor,  viz.,  there  should  be  no  difference  in 
compensation  paid  to  competent  workers,  based  upon  a 
difference  of  sex. 

In  view  of  the  foregoing  conclusions,  the  committee 
presented  the  following  amendment  to  the  constitution: 

Resolved,  That  the  constitution  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  be  and  is  hereby  amended  by  Btrfldll|  out 
section  3,  article  1,  providing  for  the  chartering  of  female 
unions  and  the  word  "male"  In  the  second  line  of  section  2  of 
the  same  article. 

Following  which  was  another  resolution : 

*3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Resolved,  That  all  subordinate  unions  are  recommended  to 
admit  female  printers  to  membership  upon  the  same  footing, 
in  all  respects,  as  males. 

The  first  resolution  went  over  under  the  rules.  The 
second  resolution  was  adopted. 

English  and  French  Unions  in  Montreal  —  Delegate 
Crossby,  representing  Jacques  Cartier  Union,  Montreal, 
presented  a  document  relative  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
English  and  French  unions  in  Montreal,  and  asked  for 
a  settlement  of  the  matter.  The  document  in  question 
was  referred  to  a  special  committee,  which  later  reported 
that  it  had  taken  evidence  in  the  case  and  recommended 
as  a  plan  for  settling  the  differences  in  Montreal  that  the 
French  speaking  arid  working  printers  be  considered 
under  the  jurisdiction  and  control  of  Jacques  Cartier 
Union  No.  145  and  that  the  English  speaking  and  work- 
ing printers  be  in  like  manner  under  the  jurisdiction  and 
control  of  No.  97  so  long  as  they  continued  to  be  distinct 
unions,  as  it  was  manifest  that  separate  charters  had  been 
granted  with  a  view  to  this  end.  It  was  also  recommended 
that  members  of  the  two  unions  be  allowed  to  work  in 
any  office  under  the  control  of  either  union  without 
changing  their  membership  so  long  as  they  complied  with 
the  scale  of  prices  and  other  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
unions  and  that  no  change  be  made  in  the  scale  of  prices 
without  the  mutual  consent  of  both  unions.  These  recom- 
mendations were  concurred  in  by  the  convention. 

Resolutions  —  Among  the  resolutions  passed  by  the 
convention  were  the  following: 

"That  the  conspiracy  laws  of  the  various  states  and 
localities,  as  at  present  instituted,  are  a  disgrace;  and 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  workingmen  where  these  laws 
prevail  to  forthwith  proceed  to  prepare  petitions  to  their 
respective  legislators  for  their  repeal  or  material  mod- 
ification." 

264 


WILLIAM  J.  HAMMOND.  N«w  Osliam* 

I'm -i.lc nt  International  Typographical  Union 

June  6,  1870 -June  a,  1873 


Convention  at  Richmond,  1872 

"That  it  should  be  the  duty  of  the  corresponding  secre- 
tary of  the  International  Union  to  enter  into  correspond- 
ence with  the  various  railroad  companies  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  half-rate  tickets  for  delegates  to  the  sessions 
of  the  International  every  year." 

"That  the  International  Union  request  the  American 
Press  Association  to  furnish  plain  copy  to  newspapers." 

"That  this  union  recommend  to  subordinate  unions  the 
propriety  of  incorporating  in  'rat'  circulars  full  per- 
sonal descriptions  of  the  persons  so  ratted,  said  descrip- 
tions to  be  couched  in  such  language  as  will  not  lay  the 
unions  so  doing  liable  to  libel  suits  in  their  respective 
states." 

"That  we  recognize  in  the  efforts  to  reduce  the  length 
of  a  day's  labor  now  being  made  by  our  brother  workmen 
throughout  the  country  a  sure  indication  of  a  mental  and 
moral  advancement  that  will  ultimately  elevate  the  work- 
ingman  to  that  position  to  which  his  inalienable,  rights  as 
a  human  being  so  clearly  entitle  him,  and  we  recommend 
all  subordinate  unions  to  take  such  action  on  the  question 
of  a  reduction  of  hours  of  labor  as  may  appear  to  them 
advantageous  and  practicable." 

"That  this  union  urgently  requests  all  laboring  men 
within  its  jurisdiction  to  petition  their  respective  legis- 
lators to  wipe  from  the  statute  books  all  laws  that  arc 
designed  to  prevent  mechanics  from  enjoying  the  same 
rights  that  are  freely  conceded  to  all  other  classes,  and 
never  cease  the  good  work  until  the  law  recognizes  our 
right  to  resort  to  the  same  means  to  procure  1  jn>t  price 
for  our  labor  that  is  everywhere  conceded  to  the  lawyer, 
the  physician,  the  merchant,  the  banker  and  the  employ- 
ing manufacturer." 

President  Hammond,  in  his  address  to  the  convention, 
called  attention  to  the  fact  that  one  branch  of  the  national 
congress  had  passed  a  bill  reducing  the  tariff  on  books 

*5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  printed  matter,  a  measure  that  would,  in  the  presi- 
dent's opinion,  if  permitted  to  become  a  law,  prove  disas- 
trous to  the  printing  industry  of  the  country  and  throw 
hundreds  of  journeymen  printers  out  of  employment.  The 
committee  to  which  the  president's  address  was  referred 
reported  its  approval  of  the  president's  position  in  the 
matter  of  the  duty  on  books  and  printed  matter  and 
recommended  that  a  special  committee  be  appointed,  with 
power  to  act,  to  support  the  interests  of  the  craft,  threat- 
ened by  the  proposed  action  of  congress  in  reducing  the 
tariff.  The  suggestion  was  concurred  in  and  a  committee 
of  five  was  duly  appointed. 

National  Executive  Committee,  i8j2  —  The  president 
appointed  the  national  executive  committee  for  the  ensu- 
ing year,  as  follows : 

H.  S.  Garner,  Indianapolis;  John  Dunn,  Philadelphia;  D.  C.  Garrison, 
Cincinnati;  William  Outwin,  Albany;  Walter  M.  Clancy,  Columbus;  R.  W. 
Cox,  New  York;  Hugh  Adams,  Pittsburgh;  Barton  P.  Lennox,  St.  Louis; 
P.  F.  Corcoran,  Buffalo;  J.  S.  Moore,  Louisville;  L.  D.  Hammer,  Memphis; 
F.  D.  Damn,  Baltimore;  Irving  Walker,  Boston;  William  A.  Goldsmith,  Har- 
risburg;  E.  A.  Stevens,  Rochester;  Morgan  B.  Mills,  Chicago;  William  H. 
Bell,  New  Orleans;  Lyman  A.  Brant,  Detroit;  John  J.  Cook,  Elmira;  Thomas 
Irwin,  Nashville;  J.  A.  Strong,  Milwaukee;  R.  E.  Cain,  Petersburg;  A.  R. 
Seabrook,  Mobile;  A.  A.  Griest,  Peoria;  C.  F.  McDonald,  St.  Paul;  B.  R. 
Warner,  Montgomery;  William  Craig,  Davenport;  T.  E.  Kelly,  Providence; 
C.  M.  Mcjunkin,  Columbia,  S.  C;  J.  C.  Rietti,  Jackson,  Miss.;  A.  J*.  Parr, 
Savannah;  C.  W.  Bignell,  Grand  Rapids;  Joseph  H.  Crane,  St.  Joseph;  Clem- 
ent C.  Cary,  Augusta;  Ed  B.  Bradley,  Charleston;  George  M.  Bennington, 
Leavenworth;  William  G.  Cox,  New  Haven;  William  B.  Barrow,  Atlanta; 
J.  T.  Stevens,  Denver;  Will  H.  S wander,  Burlington;  Will  D.  Eaton,  Omaha; 
Joseph  McLaughlin,  Troy;  Robert  Calvert,  Cleveland;  W.  J.  Edwards,  Raleigh; 
Ellis  M.  Williams,  Syracuse;  James  R.  Hamilton,  Dayton;  E.  N.  Broughton, 
Quincy;  Charles  W.  McRaith,  Cambridge;  James  E.  DeForrest,  Utica;  William 
J.  Olds,  Lafayette;  G.  R.  Short,  Washoe;  George  McDonald,  Lockport;  W.  H. 
Quarterman,  Keokuk;  Matthew  S.  Austin,  Trenton;  Andrew  Smith,  Hartford; 
Frank  Seaman,  Terre  Haute;  T.  S.  Gallagher,  Erie;  G.  H.  Stull,  Wheeling; 
Isaac  P.  Moore,  Kansas  City;  W.  S.  Warrock,  Wilmington,  N.  C. ;  Luther 
Thompson,  Alexandria;  H.  M.  Rees,  Macon;  William  H.  Coates,  St.  Johns; 
W.  A.  Edwards,  Norfolk;  Knight  M.  Griswold,  Hannibal;  Charles  Ellis,  Rich- 
mond; W.  B.  Calhoun,  Little  Rock;  F.  G.  W.  Fatzinger,  Allentown;  John 
Ford,  Montreal;  George  R.  Holden,  Jackson,  Mich.;  Ambrose  Higgins,  Nor- 
wich; G.  A.  R.  McNeir,  Columbia;  Augustus  W.  Griffing,  Newark;  Joseph 
Martin,  New  Albany;  W.  J.  Smith,  Vicksburg;  Philip  Lynch,  Hudson  County, 
N.  J.;  J.  C.  Coon,  Scranton;  John  J.  Brewers,  Annapolis;  Henry  McEwan, 
Deseret;  W.  T.  Haner,  Lynchburg;  A.  F.  Paysell,  Springfield,  Ohio;  David 
Walker,  Des  Moines;  Paul  Greenwood,  Jefferson  City;  E.  P.  Albe,  Springfield, 
Mass.;   A.   M.   Stokes,   Wilmington,   Del.;   Charles  W.   Parry,  Hamilton;   F.   P. 

266 


Convention  at  Montreal,  1873 

Lippincott,  New  Brunswick;  William  Hooper,  London;  J.  H.  Uietrick,  Schuyl- 
kill; Frank  J.  C.  Ellis,  Watertown;  B.  C.  Murray,  Austin;  H.  C.  Eddy,  Titus- 
ville;  Gabriel  Fortin,  Jacques  Cartier;  W.  P.  Hoffman,  Charleston;  William 
Connolly,  Saratoga;  W.  F.  Drake,  Elizabeth;  John  L.  Baker,  Oil  City;  William 
A.  Diers,  Natchez;  C.  S.  Bartram,  Bay  City;  James  A.  Clark,  Ann  Arbor; 
Mary  A.   Bartlett,   New  York   Women's  Typographical  Union. 

Montreal  was  selected  as  the  place  of  meeting  in 
June,   1873. 

Convention    at   Montreal 

[1873] — The  first  convention  of  the  International 
Union  held  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada  was  called  to 
order  by  President  Hammond  at  the  Canadian  Institute 
in  Montreal,  Monday,  June  2,  1873,  sixty  subordinate 
unions  being  represented  at  the  opening  session. 

Officers,  1873 — W.  R.  McLean,  Washington,  D.  C, 
was  elected  president  to  succeed  William  J.  Hammond, 
New  Orleans,  who  had  served  three  consecutive  terms. 
William  Kennedy,  Chicago,  was  chosen  first  vice-presi- 
dent; William  G.  Johnston,  Troy,  second  vice-president, 
while  John  Collins  of  Cincipnati  was  retained  as  secre- 
tary-treasurer for  his  sixth  consecutive  term.  George 
Hawkins,  Memphis,  was  elected  corresponding  secretary. 

German  Printers  —  Among  the  more  important  prop- 
ositions presented  for  the  consideration  of  delegates  to 
the  Montreal  convention  was  the  establishment  of  rela- 
tions with  the  German  printers  of  the  country,  and  also 
the  question  of  issuing  charters  to  unions  composed  alto- 
gether of  pressmen. 

The  question  of  relationship  with  the  German  typo- 
graphical unions  was  referred  to  a  special  committee, 
which,  in  its  report,  suggested  that  all  members  of  the 
German  union  be  entitled  t«>  the  same  right*,  and  priv- 
ileges granted  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International 
Union  to  the  members  of  the  same,  the  German  Typo- 
graphical Union  guaranteeing  to  all  members  of  the  In- 
ternational Union  the  same  rights  and  privileges  accorded 

267 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

to  its  own  members.  The  subject  was  made  a  special  order 
and,  after  considerable  discussion,  the  matter  was  laid 
over  until  the  next  convention  of  the  union. 

Pressmen's  Unions  —  At  the  nineteenth  annual  con- 
vention, held  in  Baltimore,  an  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion in  reference  to  the  subject  "chartering  pressmen's 
unions"  was  introduced,  and,  under  the  rule,  laid  over 
for  final  action  at  the  convention  held  at  Richmond  the 
following  year,  but  for  some  reason,  not  recorded,  no 
definite  action  was  had  upon  it.  The  proposition  was 
referred  to  the  committee  on  unfinished  business,  and 
when  the  matter  was  reported  back  to  the  convention  the 
following  amendment  to  the  constituion  was  adopted  : 

The  International  Typographical  Union  may  also  grant 
charters  to  seven  or  more  pressmen,  but  not  issue  more  than 
one  charter  to  pressmen  in  any  one  town  or  city ;  provided,  that 
such  charters  shall  be  granted  by  and  with  the  advice  and  con- 
sent of  the  subordinate  union  or  unions  in  said  city  or  town ; 
and,  provided  further,  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be 
so  construed  as  to  prevent  pressmen  joining  any  union  subor- 
dinate to  the  International  Typographical  Union  in  cities  or 
towns  where  pressmen's  unions  do  not  exist,  and  can  not  exist, 
from  local  causes. 

Government  Printing  Office  —  Upon  request  of  the 
delegates  from  Columbia  Union  No.  101,  so  much  of  the 
resolution  passed  at  the  previous  convention,  in  reference 
to  condemnation  of  the  practice  of  making  political  and 
religious  sentiments  a  qualification  or  disqualification  for 
employment,  as  referred  to  the  abolishment  of  the  gov- 
ernment printing  office,  was  rescinded,  after  an  explana- 
tion of  actual  conditions  existing  in  that  office. 

Female  Labor  —  The  question  of  female  labor  was 
again  presented  to  the  convention  and  the  practice  of 
allowing  subordinate  unions  to  admit  females  to  member- 
ship was  approved,  but  it  was  ordered  that  no  more 
charters  be  granted  to  female  unions. 
268 


Convention  at  Montreal,  1873 

Artemus  Ward  Fund —  Considerable  discussion,  appar- 
ently, followed  the  action  of  the  previous  convention 
in  transferring  the  Artemus  Ward  fund  to  the  general 
fund  of  the  union,  and  it  was  finally  ordered  that  the 
money  be  restored  to  the  original  fund  and  remain  in 
trust  until  such  time  as  it  should  be  appropriated  as  the 
original  donors  designed. 

Sub-lists  —  The  practice  of  establishing  sub-lists  in 
newspaper  chapels  was  strongly  condemned  and  subor- 
dinate unions  were  requested  to  do  away  with  such  lists. 

District  Unions  —  The  proposition  to  establish  district 
unions,  defeated  at  the  Richmond  convention,  was  again, 
presented  and  ordered  to  be  laid  over  for  consideration 
at  the  next  convention. 

Charters,  etc.  —  The  reports  of  officers  showed  that 
165  charters,  altogether,  had  been  issued  at  the  close  of 
the  fiscal  year,  and  four  unions — San  Francisco,  Gal- 
veston, Minneapolis  and  Houston — had  been  rechartered. 
A  total  of  9,797  members  were  reported  in  good  standing. 

Resolutions  —  Some  of  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the 
convention  were  as  follows: 

"That  the  recording  by  printing  of  all  deeds,  mort- 
gages, contracts  and  other  papers  required  by  law  to  be 
recorded  in  public  offices,  and  also  the  printing  of  the 
journal,  records,  or  minutes  of  proceedings  and  judg- 
ments of  the  principal  courts  can  be  made  at  less  cost  than 
the  fees  generally  exacted  upon  the  recording  thereof  by 
writing,  and  as  also  under  such  system  the  deposit  of 
attested  printed  copies  in  the  different  public  offices  would 
prevent  the  great  detriment  often  caused  by  fire  or  by  the 
abstraction  and  alteration  of  records,  and  likewise  as  the 
records  would  be  of  more  ready  access  to  the  public  and 
would  render  unnecessary    much    of    the    expense    for 

irehes  and  written  copies,  and  as  otherwise  such  system 
would  be  of   public  benefit,    it    is    recommended  to  the 

■ft 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

craft  to  submit  to  the  legislatures  of  their  different  states 
and  the  several  provinces  of  Canada  the  expediency  of 
adopting,  under  proper  regulations,  such  system  by  stat- 
ute to  be  enacted  for  such  purpose." 

"That  the  following  portion  of  section  I  of  discipline 
be  added  to  the  traveling  cards  issued  by  the  union, 
known  as  union  cards :  'The  foreman  of  an  office  is  the 
proper  person  to  whom  application  should  be  made  for 
employment.'  " 

"That  a  commission  appointed  by  the  government  of 
the  United  States  to  initiate  and  supervise  the  centennial 
exposition  to  be  held  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  in  1876, 
has  declared  its  intention  to  provide  for  the  suitable  rec- 
ognition of  trade  unions  and  societies  in  said  exposition, 
and  will  assign  certain  portions  of  the  building  for  that 
purpose,  it  behooves  the  representatives  of  the  'Art  Pre- 
servative' to  take  the  lead  in  this  matter,  as  they  have 
in  others  where  the  interests  of  distinctive  trades  were 
concerned,  and  appoint  a  committee  to  represent  this  body 
before  said  commission  and  to  ascertain  and  report  to  this 
union  what  steps  should  be  taken  and  what  action  had  in 
order  to  fully  participate  therein." 

"That  in  the  opinion  of  this  body  the  tariff  on  imported 
printed  matter  in  the  United  States  is  inadequate  to  the 
protection  our  craft  needs;  that  we  believe  a  tariff  of  22 
per  cent,  ad  valorem  (as  at  present)  is  so  low  as  to  cripple 
one  of  the  principal  industries  of  the  country,  while  no 
benefit  accrues  to  the  government,  and  foreigners  only 
are  the  gainers;  that  one  great  reason  of  the  stagnation 
of  trade  in  printing  offices,  book  binderies,  type  foundries 
and  press  manufactories  is  the  support  afforded  to  foreign 
printers  by  a  tariff  that  is  almost  a  nullity ;  that  this  body 
recommends  to  subordinate  unions  the  sending  out  of  a 
petition  to  the  representative  in  congress  from  their  dis- 
trict asking  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  a  tariff  that  will  give 

270 


Convention  at  Montreal,  1873 

relief  from  these  evils,  which  petition  we  would  urge  each 
union  man  to  sign,  and  would  also  advocate  the  procuring 
of  employers'  names  to  the  same;  that  it  is  the  sense  of 
this  body  that  the  system  of  ad  valorem  duties  as  applied 
to  printed  matter  is  erroneous,  affording  means  of 
defrauding  the  revenues  by  undervaluation  on  the 
invoices,  by  which  means  a  rare  book  or. a  fine  work  pays 
no  more  than  the  cheapest  class  of  literature.  We  also 
declare  our  belief  that  a  specific  duty,  say  25  or  30  cents 
per  pound,  would  give  the  relief  asked  for  and  be  a  source 
of  revenue  to  the  government,  while  the  price  of  American 
books  would  not  be  increased,  but  our  publishing  houses 
would  once  more  be  in  active  operation  and  thousands 
of  workingmen  have  the  employment  they  seek,  but  are 
unable  to  find,  because  of  the  ruinous  competition  with 
foreign  labor  which  the  present  erroneous  tariff  imposes 
on  the  workingman." 

"That  the  corresponding  secretary  open  correspondence 
with  the  proper  officers  of  the  London,  England,  Typo- 
graphical Union,  with  a  view  of  obtaining  information 
in  reference  to  the  reception  of  cards  of  members  acknowl- 
edging allegiance  to  printers'  unions  in  America  and 
England,  respectively." 

National  Executive  Committee,  187 j  —  The  president 
appointed  the  national  executive  committee,  as  follow  - 

John  Schley,  Indianapolis;  Norton  A.  Downs,  Philadelphia;  C.  K.  Tenney, 
Cincinnati;  Greenwood  Baker,  Albany;  W.  !•'.  Poland,  Columbus,  Ohio;  Thomas 
N.  I'.urlce,  New  York;  George  R.  Dabncy,  Pittsburgh;  Hugh  T.  Mc.\lurti> 
Louis;  George  F.  Kittredgc,  ItufTalo;  George  M.  Payne,  Louisville;  James  B. 
Lawrence,  Memphis;  William  II.  Hitihcock,  Baltimore;  Charles  S.  Sweeney. 
Boston;  James  W.  McCrory,  Hurfabargj  K.  A.  Stephen*.  Rochester;  William 
V  !  Int.  lnniion,  ChiciiK".  It.  I'.  Skidmore,  New  Orleans;  James  II.  Kelley,  D*> 
troit;  DuM  A.  FiUgcrald.  F.tmira;  C.  R.  Q,  IfeDonaM,  Na.hville;  John 
O'Brien,  San  Francisco;  I).  C.  O'Regan.  Dubuque;  A.  K.  flutnoofc.  M 
W.   1.  Larash.  Peoria;  C.  F.   MacDonaM.   Si.    Pan  ntgoroery; 

John   A.    Shearer,    Davenport;    Asahrl    P.    Brown,    Providence;    II     M.    Meets*. 
<  i.limiliia.    S     ( '.;    W.    W.    Bennett,   Jackson.    Miss.;    John    Nugent.    Savannah; 
.  Grand  RapMaj  it    i\   Mtloolns.  St.   lo.r,.i,.   i    \     •  hnson. 

Augusta;    GtOfft     W       IfeDOMMl    Minneapolis    <       F.     H.     Hremer.    Charleston. 
S.    C;    A.    K.    Johu»oii,    Leavenworth;   John   P.   Tyrrell.    New    Haven;    W.   C 

271 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Henderson,  Atlanta;  Robert  Higgins,  Denver;  W.  F.  Edwards,  Omaha;  P.  H. 
McCormack,  Troy;  Robert  Calvert,  Cleveland;  W.  N.  Jones,  Raleigh;  Pat  F. 
Hall,  Syracuse;  William  R.  Eckley,  Dayton;  E.  M.  Broughton,  Quincy;  John 
G.  Ryan,  Cambridge;  William  H.  McCann,  Utica;  Charles  Coughling,  Toledo; 
A.  D.  Rowe,  Lafayette;  O.  W.  Henning,  Lockport;  John  Stirling,  jr.,  Keo- 
kuk; John  M.  White,  Lancaster;  David  Seary,  Trenton;  Adam  J.  Wagner, 
Hartford;  S.  M.  Wingert,  Lawrence,  Kan.;  M.  W.  Higgins,  Portland,  Me.; 
Lyman  Archer,  Terre  Haute;  M.  A.  Quinn,  Erie;  George  H.  Marr,  Fort 
Wayne;  L.  N.  Duffy,  Kansas  City;  O.  P.  McEwen,  Wilmington,  N.  C;  Robert 
McKay,  Macon;  G.  T.  Barrom,  Norfolk;  K.  M.  Griswold,  Hannibal;  H.  P. 
Jones,  Richmond;  James  Gillespie,  Toronto;  W.  B.  Calhoun,  Little  Rock; 
William  J.  Egan,  Montreal;  George  R.  Holden,  Jackson,  Mich.;  William  N. 
Andrew,  Norwich;  Richard  M.  Claxton,  Columbia;  Daniel  J.  O'Donoghue, 
Ottawa;  M.  F.  Battle,  Vicksburg;  David  Nelson,  Hudson  County,  N.  J.;  George 
H.  Bomar,  Knoxville;  John  J.  Brewer,  Annapolis;  E.  D.  Young,  Deseret; 
Julian  T.  Wright,  Lynchburg;  George  Matthews,  Springfield,  Ohio;  Bernard 
Murphy,  Des  Moines;  Paul  Greenwood,  Jefferson  City;  L.  A.  Roberts,  Spring- 
field, Mass.;  George  T.  Isbell,  Topeka;  E.  F.  Jackson,  Wilmington,  Del.; 
Charles  W.  Parry,  Hamilton;  R.  J.  Stapleton,  Halifax;  F.  P.  Lippincott,  New 
Brunswick;  T.  A.  McNamara,  London,  Ont.;  William  P.  Cratty,  Schuylkill; 
G.  W.  Jenks,  Austin;  Thomas  Walsh,  Titusville;  John  Thompson,  Jacques 
Cartier;  P.  Brennan,  St.  Catharines;  C.  A.  Hopkins,  Saratoga;  R.  H.  Myers, 
Oil  City;  William  A.  Diers,  Natchez;  P.  H.  Phillips,  Bay  City;  Thompson 
Wickard,  Mountain  City;  P.  Wade,  jr.,  Bridgeport;  Simeon  Marcotte,  Quebec; 
Edward  Murphy,  Quebec;  L.  B.  Andrew,  Jacksonville,  Fla. ;  A.  L.  Roberts, 
Rutland;   Mary  A.   Bartlett,  New  York  Women's  Union. 

St.  Louis  was  chosen  as  the  meeting-  place  for  the  con- 
vention of  1874. 

Convention    at    St.    Louis 

[1874]  —  The  first  convention  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  ever  held  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river  was  called  to  order  by  President  McLean  in  Jones' 
Hall,  St.  Louis,  on  Monday,  June  I,  1874,  delegates  rep- 
resenting fifty-eight  subordinate  unions  being  present  at 
the  opening  session. 

Officers,  1874.  —  William  H.  Bodwell  of  New  York  was 
elected  president;  Henry  White,  Memphis,  first  vice- 
president;  W.  D.  Redfield,  Washington,  D.  C,  second 
vice-president;  W.  A.  Hutchinson,  Chicago,  secretary- 
treasurer,  and  W.  S.  Pride,  Wilmington,  Del.,  correspond- 
ing secretary. 

Election  of  Officers  —  An  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion proposing  to  change  the  time  for  election  of  officers 

2.72 


W.  R.  McLEAN.  Wa.iiu.otok.  D.  C. 

I'm  m. Win    liiirin.iiiiMi.il   Ty|Migra|ihiral    I'ninii 
limr  a,   1H7J  -  June   1,  1874 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1874 

from  the  first  day  to  the  last  day  of  the  convention, 
having  been  introduced  at  the  Montreal  session,  was  reg- 
ularly taken  up  for  consideration  by  the  St.  Louis  conven- 
tion. The  proposition  was  agreed  to  and  the  terms  of 
officers  thereby  extended  to  the  close  of  the  session. 

Charters  —  The  reports  of  officers  showed  that  eight 
unions  had  been  chartered  during  the  year,  including  two 
pressmen's  unions — Washington,  D.  C,  and  Detroit, 
Mich.  Charters  had  been  reissued  to  Evansville,  Ind. ; 
Atchison,  Kan.,  and  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Unsuccessful  Strikes  —  Strikes  occurred  during  the 
year  at  Indianapolis,  New  Orleans,  Peoria,  Montgomery, 
Omaha,  Little  Rock,  Norwich,  Salt  Lake  City  and  Titus- 
ville,  Pa.,  most  of  which  were  unsuccessful. 

Women's  Typographical  Union  —  Most  of  the  im- 
portant questions  coming  before  the  convention  were 
considered  in  secret  session.  One  subject  that  was  freely 
discussed  was  the  scale  of  the  Women's  Typographical 
Union  in  New  York  city.  Strong  protest  was  made  by 
members  of  No.  6  against  allowing  this  organization 
to  retain  its  charter.  The  matter  was  finally  referred 
to  a  special  committee,  with  instructions  fully  to  investi- 
gate conditions  and  report  at  the  next  convention.  The 
women's  union  was  also  instructed  to  submit  its  scale 
of  prices  to  No.  6  for  approval. 

Brooklyn  Union  —  Brooklyn  Union  No.  98  having 
surrendered  its  charter,  a  protest  was  entered  by  members 
of  No.  6  against  it  being  reissued.  This  protest  was  also 
made  a  subject  for  special  investigation. 

Uniform  Constitution  —  Another  attempt  was  made 
to  establish  a  uniform  constitution  for  subordinate  unions. 
The  matter  was  referred  to  a  special  committee  with 
directions  to  prepare  an  instrument,  subject  to  approval. 
Capita  Tax  —  A  proposition  to  increase  the  per 
capita  tax  from  20  cents  a  year  to  $1.25  was  defeated. 

273 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

The  purpose  of  this  amendment  was  to  create  a  fund  out 
of  which  the  International  Union  was  to  pay  the  expenses 
of  all  delegates  attending  conventions. 

District  Unions  —  The  plan  proposing  the  organizing 
of  district  unions  again  met  defeat,  upon  recommendation 
of  the  committee  on  unfinished  business. 

Monthly  Journal  —  A  proposition  to  establish  a 
monthly  journal  under  the  auspices  of  the  International 
Union  was  rejected. 

Interchange  of  Membership  Cards  —  The  correspond- 
ing secretary,  in  obedience  to  the  resolution  passed  by  the 
Montreal  convention  directing  him  to  open  a  correspond- 
ence with  the  "officers  of  London,  England,  Typograph- 
ical Union,"  reported  that  he  had  found  that  two  typo- 
graphical organizations  existed  in  England :  The  London 
Society  of  Compositors,  embracing  the  union  printers  of 
London,  and  the  Provincial  Typographical  Association, 
having  jurisdiction  over  the  typographical  unions  outside 
of  London,  except  those  known  as  non-conforming.  The 
secretary  reported  that  he  had  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
secretary  of  each  of  these  bodies  and  had  received  replies 
from  both,  together  with  some  valuable  documents, 
including  the  rules  of  each  body,  and  reports  of  their 
condition.  Each  of  them  gave  assurance  that  it  was 
customary  for  their  societies  to  receive  the  cards  of  typo- 
graphical societies  everywhere  that  reciprocated  the  favor. 
They  also  promised  to  place  the  correspondence  before 
their  board  of  managers  for  official  action.  One  of  the 
rules  of  the  Provincial  Typographical  Association  was 
as  follows:  "Persons  holding  the  documents  of  the 
Relief  Association  or  the  cards  of  reciprocating  non- 
conforming societies  shall  be  admitted  without  entrance 
fees,  etc."  In  the  rules  of  the  London  Society  of  Com- 
positors was  the  following:  "That  every  compositor  of 
fair  character  now  working  as  a  journeyman,  or  who  may 

274 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1874 

hereafter  prove  his  right  to  work  as  a  journeyman,  either 
by  privilege,  indenture  or  clear  card  of  membership  from 
a  recognized  society,  shall  be  eligible  as  a  member." 

German  Union  —  A  representative  of  the  German 
Typographical  Union  was  granted  the  privilege  of  the 
floor.  He  gave  a  sketch  of  the  progress  of  German 
typography  in  this  country  and  urged  the  mutual 
exchange  of  cards  between  unions  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  International  Union  and  the  German  unions.  The 
question  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  subordinate 
unions,  which,  in  turn,  reported  the  proposition  back  to 
the  union  without  recommendation.  This  committee's 
report  was  accepted  without  opposition,  thus  leaving  the 
question  practically  on  the  table,  no  definite  action  having 
been  taken. 

Centennial  Exposition  —  A  committee  was  appointed 
to  consider  and  recommend  some  suitable  manner  in 
which  the  International  Union  could  be  represented  at  the 
centennial  exposition  to  be  held  in  Philadelphia  in  1876. 

Secretary-Treasurer  Collins  Defaults  —  The  committee 
on  returns,  after  investigating  the  financial  accounts  of 
the  secretary-treasurer,  reported  that  the  ex-secretary- 
treasurer,  Mr.  Collins,  was  a  defaulter  in  the  sum  of 
$3.73 J-56.  A  special  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
president  to  make  a  careful  examination  of  the  accounts 
of  the  secretary-treasurer  and  report  to  the  next  con- 
vention. 

Membership  —  The  total  membership  of  the  Interna- 
tional was  reported  to  be  10,748,  of  which  9,819  were 
in  good  standing. 

The  city  of  Hoston  was  chosen  as  the  meeting  place 
for  the  convention  in  June,  1875. 

Resolutions  Among  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the 
convention  were  the  following: 

"That  the  conspiracy  law  which  exists  at  the  present 

*75 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

time  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  is  proving  to  be  dan- 
gerous to  workingmen  united  together  for  lawful  pur- 
poses, completely  depriving  them  of  their  rights  as 
American  citizens ;  that  we  recommend  all  trade  unions 
throughout  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  to  petition  the 
legislature  either  to  abolish  or  amend  the  present  con- 
spiracy law  in  order  that  society  men  may  have  and  claim 
their  rights  as  well  as  other  American  citizens;  that  the 
corresponding  secretary  forward  a  copy  of  these  resolu- 
tions to  the  president  of  the  Industrial  Congress  and  that 
they  be  published  in  the  National  Labor  Tribune  of 
Pittsburgh." 

"That  New  York  Typographical  Union,  having  made 
an  appeal  to  members  of  the  craft  all  over  the  country 
for  a  subscription  to  erect  a  monument  over  the  grave  of 
Horace  Greeley,  and  a  sufficient  sum  not  having  been 
received  to  undertake  the  work,  a  special  committee 
of  thirteen  be  appointed  by  the  International  Union  to 
receive  contributions  for  the  furtherance  of  the  proposed 
monument  to  the  late  Horace  Greeley." 

National  Executive  Committee,  1874  —  The  president 
appointed  the  national  executive  committee  for  the  ensu- 
ing year,  as  follows : 

John  Schley,  Indianapolis;  William  A.  Hand,  Philadelphia;  James  Scully, 
Cincinnati;  Greenwood  Baker,  Albany;  W.  T.  Poland,  Columbus,  Ohio;  T.  J. 
R.  Fair,  New  York;  Thomas  Brennan,  Pittsburgh;  William  Cochran,  St.  Louis; 
George  F.  Kittridge,  Buffalo;  George  M.  Payne,  Louisville;  J.  J.  Booth,  Mem- 
phis; George  G.  Graham,  Baltimore;  Charles  S.  Sweeney,  Boston;  Thomas  M. 
Jones,  Harrisburg;  E.  A.  Stephens,  Rochester;  James  Leary,  Chicago;  M.  M. 
Wooten,  New  Orleans;  M.  H.  Marsh,  Detroit;  Daniel  A.  Fitzgerald,  Elmira; 
C.  R.  G.  McDonald,  Nashville;  John  O'Brien,  San  Francisco;  J.  C.  Armstrong, 
Dubuque;  R.  E.  Hawks,  Petersburg;  A.  R.  Seabrook,  Mobile;  L.  C.  Swingle, 
Galveston;  William  Drysdale,  Peoria;  C.  F.  McDonald,  St.  Paul;  J.  S.  Perry, 
Montgomery;  Patterson  McGlynn,  Davenport;  Asahel  P.  Brown,  Providence; 
H.  M.  Meetze,  Columbia,  S.  C. ;  William  Hays,  Evansville;  John  S.  Zo,  Jack- 
son, Miss.;  John  Nugent,  Savannah;  John  H.  Randall,  Grand  Rapids;  Michael 
Lawson,  St.  Joseph;  J.  V.  Johnston,  Augusta;  George  W.  McDonald,  Minneap- 
olis; C.  F.  B.  Bremer,  Charleston;  A.  R.  Johnson,  Leavenworth;  John  P. 
Tyrrell,  New  Haven;  W.  C.  Henderson,  Atlanta;  William  H.  Kribs,  Denver; 
M.  A.  James,  Burlington;  W.  F.  Edwards,  Omaha;  John  Farmer,  Troy;  Robert 
Calvert,  Cleveland;  J,  B.  Whitaker,  jr.,  Raleigh;  Thomas  Bailey,  Syracuse; 
William   R.    Eckley,    Dayton;    E.    M.    Broughton,    Quincy;   John   G.    Ryan,    Cam- 

276 


Convention  at  Boston,  1875 

bridge;  William  H.  McCann,  Utica;  Charles  Coughling,  Toledo;  C.  W.  Reynolds, 
Lafayette;  O.  W.  Henning,  Lockport;  R.  M.  Ilanna,  Keokuk;  George  Rothar- 
nel,  Lancaster;  Charles  W.  Ale,  Trenton;  H.  C.  Buchanan,  Hartford;  S.  M. 
VVingert,  Lawrence,  Kan.;  M.  W.  Higgins,  Portland,  Me.;  C.  W.  Brown,  Terre 
Haute;  M.  A.  Quinn,  Erie;  O.  T.  Thomas,  Fort  Wayne;  J.  C.  Coulson,  Kansas 
City;  O.  P.  McEwen,  Wilmington,  N.  C;  P.  Woolls,  Alexandria;  Edgar  Guthrie, 
Macon;  G.  T.  Barrom,  Norfolk;  Charles  Waelder,  Hannibal;  William  E. 
Woody,  Richmond;  James  Gillespie,  Toronto;  R.  S.  Woolford,  Little  Rock; 
William  J.  Eagan,  Montreal;  George  R.  Holden,  Jackson,  Mich.;  A.  S.  Curtis, 
Norwich;  A.  R.  Randolph,  Columbia;  Daniel  J.  O'Donohue,  Ottawa;  Harvey 
Martin,  Vicksburg;  David  Nelson,  Hudson  County,  N.  J.;  George  H.  Bomar, 
Knoxville;  John  J.  Brewer,  Annapolis;  E.  D.  Young,  Deserct;  Julian  T. 
Wright,  Lynchburg;  George  Matthews,  Springfield,  Ohio;  H.  W.  Robinson, 
Des  Moines;  Paul  Greenwood,  Jefferson  City;  L.  A.  Roberts,  Springfield, 
Mass.;  E.  F.  Jackson,  Wilmington,  Del.;  Charles  W.  Parry,  Hamilton;  R.  J. 
Stappleton,  Halifax;  F.  P.  Lippincott,  New  Brunswick;  Thomas  Orr,  London, 
Ont.;  Joseph  E.  Protheroe,  Schuylkill;  Ad.  Dohme,  Austin;  Frank  Ottnat, 
Titusville;  John  Thompson,  Jacques  Carticr;  P.  Brennan,  St.  Catharines;  C.  A. 
Hopkins,  Saratoga;  R.  H.  Myers,  Oil  City;  William  A.  Diers,  Natchez;  P.  H. 
Phillips,  Bay  City;  Thompson  Wickard,  Mountain  City;  George  B.  Whitney. 
Bridgeport;  Simeon  Marcotte,  Quebec  (French);  Edward  Murphy,  Quebec 
(English);  L.  B.  Andrew,  Jacksonville.  Fla.;  A.  L.  Roberts,  Rutland;  Mary 
A.  Bartlett,  Women's  Typographical  Union,  New  York;  John  F.  Garkson. 
Washington  (D.  C.)  Pressmen's  Union;  Charles  M.  Rousseau,  Detroit  Press- 
men's Union. 

Convention    at    Boston 

[J^75] — When  the  twenty-third  convention  of  the 
International  Union  was  called  to  order  in  Boston,  June 
7,  1875,  sixty-nine  delegates  were  present,  representing 
fifty-five  unions. 

Inharmonious  Laws  —  President  Bodwell,  in  his  annual 
report,  said  that  he  had  become  satisfied  that  the  Interna- 
tional organization  was  not  as  complete  and  harmonious 
in  the  details  of  its  working  as  it  should  be  in  order  to 
secure  the  beneficial  results  desired.  This  was  especially 
true,  he  said,  of  the  laws  governing  subordinate  uni< 
It  was  pointed  out  that  the  organic  laws  covering  the 
affiliated  local  bodies  conflicted  with  each  other  in  impor- 
tant points  in  many  instances.  Each  union,  in  drafting 
laws  for  the  government  of  its  members,  was  usually 
guided  by  the  results  and  experiences  of  its  own  locality, 
and  it  was  frc<|uently  the  result  that  what  in  one  juris- 
diction might  be  regarded  as  a  \i<>].iti<>n  of  eraft  law.  in 

277 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

another  place  was  tolerated  and  approved.  He  strongly 
urged  the  adoption  of  a  uniform  constitution  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  subordinate  unions.  The  convention,  however, 
failed  to  come  to  any  satisfactory  understanding  upon 
this  recommendation.  President  Bodwell  congratulated 
the  organization  upon  the  disposition  generally  mani- 
fested, in  cases  where  trouble  had  arisen  or  had  been 
threatened,  to  arbitrate  and  argue  the  points  of  difference 
with  the  employers,  rather  than  immediately  to  resort 
to  strikes  or  intimidation.  It  was  apparent  that  the  rec- 
ommendations of  the  International  to  subordinate  unions 
that  "all  honorable  means  should  be  used  to  avoid  a 
strike"  was  receiving  more  attention,  and  in  such  degree 
as  it  did  receive  attention  the  prosperity  and  strength 
of  the  organization  increased.  That  the  argument  of 
the  bludgeon,  or  intimidation  of  any  kind,  was  becoming 
repugnant  to  the  membership  of  the. union  at  large  was 
evident. 

Other  subjects  of  importance,  at  the  time,  elaborated 
upon  in  the  president's  annual  report  included  "trade 
unionism  and  politics,"  "female  labor,"  "standard  of 
type,"  "the  apprentice  question,"  and  the  "defalcation 
of  Secretary-Treasurer  Collins." 

New  Constitution  —  A  committee,  appointed  at  the 
St.  Louis  convention  to  draft  a  new  constitution  for  the 
government  of  the  International  Union,  presented  its 
report,  which  was  ordered  to  be  made  a  part  of  the 
minutes  and  laid  over  for  final  action  at  the  next  annual 
session. 

National  Labor  Congress  —  Owing  to  the  disfavor  in 
which  the  members  at  large  regarded  the  National  Labor 
Congress,  a  resolution  was  passed  instructing  the  secre- 
tary to  pay  the  per  capita  tax  of  the  International  Union 
then  due,  and  notify  the  congress  that  the  Typographical 
Union  would  no  longer  affiliate. 

278 


Convention  at  Boston,  1875 

Greeley  Monument  —  At  the  previous  convention  of 
the  union  a  special  committee  had  been  appointed  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  a  fund  to  be  used  in  erecting  a  memo- 
rial over  the  grave  of  the  late  Horace  Greeley.  This 
committee  invited  the  employing  printers  of  New  York 
city  to  co-operate  in  the  undertaking.  Through  the  joint 
efforts  of  the  committee  appointed  by  the  union  and  a 
committee  representing  the  employers  about  $5,000  was 
raised.  This  sum  being  deemed  insufficient,  the  com- 
mittee was  continued. 

Executive  Committee  Discontinued  —  The  custom,  of 
requiring  the  president  of  the  International  to  appoint 
one  member  of  each  subordinate  union  as  a  member  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  International  was  changed, 
and  it  was  ordered  that  the  corresponding  secretaries 
of  the  different  subordinate  unions  should,  by  virtue  of 
their  office,  perform  the  duties  previously  assigned  to 
members  of  the  national  executive  committee. 

Membership  —  The  statement  of  the  secretary-treas- 
urer showed  a  total  of  175  unions  chartered,  including 
New  York  Women's  Union  and  three  pressmen's  unions, 
the  membership  being  10,295,  °f  which  9,245  were  in 
good  standing. 

Defalcation  of  Secretary-Treasurer  —  Perhaps  the 
most  interesting  event  of  this  convention  was  the  report 
of  the  special  committee  appointed  the  year  previous  at 
St.  Louis  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the  defaulting  sec- 
retary-treasurer, John  Collins,  of  Cincinnati.  In  addition 
to  submitting  a  report  of  its  examination  of  the  books 
of  tin  s,  (  rctary-trcasurcr,  the  committee  transmitted  a 
report  of  a  sub-committee  appointed  to  visit  Mr.  Collins 
and  gain  such  information  as  was  possible  in  regard 
to  the  cause  of  the  (Illicit,  and  the  prospect  of  its  being 
refunded  Following  is  a  part  of  the  report  of  the  sub- 
committee. 

279 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

To  the  Special  Committee  Appointed  to  Investigate  the  Ac- 
counts of  John  Collins. 

Having  been  appointed  as  a  sub-committee  to  visit  Mr.  Col- 
lins and  ascertain,  if  possible,  the  state  of  his  accounts  with 
the  union  at  different  periods  previous  to  the  last  convention,  I 
proceeded  to  Cincinnati,  and  beg  to  make  the  following  report 
as  the  result  of  my  visit : 

1.  That  during  the  whole  time  he  was  an  officer  of  the 
union  he  never  kept  a  bank  account,  but  has  been  in  the  habit 
of  keeping  the  union  funds  in  an  envelope,  or  loose  in  his 
pocket,  and  using  from  them  as  occasion  required.  He  informed 
me  that  he  had  never  but  once  had  any  money  in  the  bank,  and 
then  only  a  small  amount. 

2.  In  answer  to  a  question  as  to  how  much  money  he  had 
belonging  to  the  union  when  he  went  to  Montreal,  his  reply 
was  that  all  the  money  he  had  at  the  time  was  the  Artemus 
Ward  fund,  about  $1,500,  and  that  was  in  government  bonds, 
which  he  had  in  an  envelope  in  his  vest  pocket. 

3.  In  answer  to  the  next  question,  what  he  had  done  with 
the  bonds  between  that  time  and  the  St.  Louis  session,  he  replied 
that  while  at  Montreal  he  had  gotten  on  a  big  spree,  and  while 
on  that  spree  he  visited  some  houses  of  ill-fame  and  either 
squandered  it  or  was  robbed,  he  didn't  know  which.  He  also 
stated  in  this  connection  that  he  was  on  a  spree  some  time  after 
leaving  Montreal  and  after  he  got  home.  . 

4.  I  asked  him  how  it  was  that  the  moneys  that  were  due  the 
session  held  at  St.  Louis  were  $400  short,  and  his  reply  was 
that  he  had  to  borrow  money  during  the  year  to  pay  current 
expenses  of  the  union,  and  when  the  per  capita  began  to  come 
in  for  the  St.  Louis  session  he  took  it  to  repay  the  loans  he  had 
made,  preferring  to  have  his  indebtedness  all  in  one  sum,  and 
that  to  the  union,  instead  of  having  it  in  small  sums,  owing 
to  different  ones. 

Following  the  report  of  the  sub-committee,  as  sub- 
mitted above,  the  special  committee  said : 

In  addition  to  the  amounts  allowed  by  the  committee  for 
sums  expended  for  the  union  at  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Collins  claims 
that  he  should  be  allowed  traveling  expenses  to  and  from  the 
conventions  of  1873  and  1874,  as  provided  in  the  constitution; 
also  the  interest  on  the  Artemus  Ward  fund,  which  he  charged 

280 


WILLIAM  II.  HODWELL.  New  Yo« 
r it  International  Typographical  Union 
hmr    l,   1H74      June   II,   187$ 


Convention  at  Boston,  1875 

against  himself.  In  regard  to  compensation  for  traveling  ex- 
penses to  the  convention,  your  committee  is  of  the  opinion  that 
the  action  of  the  union  at  both  these  conventions  precludes  such 
a  claim,  as  a  certain  sum  was  in  each  case  voted  him  "as  full 
compensation  for  said  office."  Your  committee  is  also  of  the 
opinion  that  the  interest  on  the  Artemus  Ward  bonds  is  justly 
due  the  union,  particularly  as  he  charged  it  to  himself  before 
his  deficit  was  known. 

The  report  showed  that  Mr.  Collins'  indebtedness  to 
the  International  Union  amounted  to  $3,099.81.  It  does 
not  appear  from  the  report  of  Mr.  Mills  (the  member  of 
the  committee  of  the  previous  session  who  visited  Mr. 
Collins)  that  any  effort  had  been  made  by  the  late  secre- 
tary-treasurer to  settle  his  indebtedness  to  the  Interna- 
tional, nor  did  he  apparently  offer  any  reasonable  excuse 
for  the  misappropriation  of  the  funds  of  the  body.  The 
committee,  therefore,  recommended  :  ( 1 )  That  the  name 
of  John  Collins  be  stricken  from  the  roll  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union;  (2)  that  a  statement  of  Mr.  Collins'  indebt- 
edness to  the  International  be  published  with  the  annual 
proceedings  of  the  union  until  such  indebtedness  was 
paid;  (3)  that  the  secretary  notify  subordinate  unions  by 
circular  of  the  action  of  the  International  Union  in  refer- 
ence to  Mr.  Collins'  indebtedness.  The  report  and 
recommendations  accompanying  it  were  adopted  by  the 
convention,  after  having  been  amended  at  the  suggestion 
of  Delegate  John  McVicar  so  that  Mr.  Collins'  name  be 
placed  on  the  minutes  as  expelled  for  stealing  the  union's 
funds.  A  further  amendment  was  offered — that  the  con- 
vention, while  censuring  Mr.  Collins  to  the  fullest  extreme 
and  branding  him  as  a  dishonorable  man,  also  condemn 
the  various  financial  committed  whieh,  by  their  slack 
way  of  examining  the  secretary's  accounts,  made  it  pos- 
sible for  Collins  to  defraud  the  union.  This  amendment, 
however,  was  defeated. 

Dtiiiitfiit-Ht  Unions  —  By  a  resolution  of  the  Interna- 

.•Si 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tional  body  all  subordinate  unions  delinquent  for  a  period 
of  two  years  were  dropped,  and  it  was  further  ordered 
that  such  delinquent  unions  be  published  in  the  appendix 
to  the  annual  proceedings.  Those  unions  published  in  the 
proceedings  of  1875  as  delinquent  were  Sacramento,  Cal. ; 
Bloomington,  Jacksonville  and  Springfield,  111. ;  Will- 
iamsport,  Easton  and  Allentown,  Pa.;  Newbern,  N.  C. ; 
Watertown  and  Newburgh,  N.  Y. ;  Rome,  Ga. ;  Nebraska 
City,  Neb.;  Charleston,  W.  Va.,  and  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

Resolutions  —  Among  the  resolutions  passed  at  this 
session  of  the  International  Union  were  the  following: 

"That  the  International  Union  recommends  the  adop- 
tion by  subordinate  unions  of  a  law  providing  that  every 
person  voting  on  the  question  of  a  strike  shall  be  a  mem- 
ber in  good  standing  of  the  union  under  whose  jurisdiction 
he  is  working  for  at  least  six  months  previous  to  the  date 
of  said  meeting." 

"That  while  a  majority  of  the  delegates  attending 
this  session  of  the  International  Union  are  seemingly  in 
favor  of  the  establishment  of  an  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  fund,  the  delegates  feel  that  they  would  pre- 
fer laying  the  draft  presented  before  subordinate  unions 
for  their  action  thereon;  that  the  draft  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  fund  act  presented  at  this 
convention  be  spread  upon  the  minutes  and  referred  to 
the  various  subordinate  unions,  who  are  hereby  ordered 
to  instruct  their  delegates  to  the  next  session  to  vote  for 
or  against  the  adoption  of  such  act,  subject  to  amendment ; 
that  the  secretary-treasurer  of  this  International  Union 
have  printed  ten  thousand  copies  of  such  act  for  distribu- 
tion among  the  various  subordinate  unions." 

"That  while  this  International  Union  enacts  four  years 
as  the  minimum  time  in  which  an  apprenticeship  can  be 
served,  it  does  not  deny  the  right  to  fix  a  longer  period  if 
the  exigencies  of  any  union  demand  it." 

282 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,   1876 

Officers,  1875  —  The  election  of  officers,  held  on  the 
last  day  of  the  convention,  resulted  as  follows :  Walter  W. 
Bell,  Philadelphia,  president;  James  Harper,  Montreal, 
first  vice-president;  C.  F.  Sheldon,  Kansas  City,  second 
vice-president;  W.  A.  Hutchinson,  Chicago,  secretary- 
treasurer,  and  W.  S.  Pride,  Wilmington,  Del.,  corre- 
sponding secretary. 

The  union  adjourned  to  meet  in  Philadelphia  in  July, 
1876,  the  time  of  meeting  having  been  changed  from 
June  to  July  because  of  the  centennial  exposition  held  in 
Philadelphia  that  year. 

Convention    at    Philadelphia 

[1876]  —  The  twenty-fourth  convention  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  by 
President  Bell  in  Philadelphia,  Monday,  July  3,  1876. 

This  convention  was  the  largest  gathering  of  delegates 
in  the  history  of  the  organization  from  1850  to  1885, 
eighty  unions  being  represented  by  ninety-eight  delegates, 
according  to  the  report  of  the  committee  on  credentials. 
Notwithstanding  the  large  attendance  and  the  many  im- 
portant questions  presented  for  consideration,  including 
a  new  constitution,  an  International  fund  law,  and  a  uni- 
form constitution  for  subordinate  unions,  the  results  of 
the  week's  sessions  failed  to  disclose  any  important  meas- 
ures enacted  into  law. 

General  Amnesty  Refused  —  Owing  to  the  depressed 
condition  of  trade  throughout  the  country,  the  proposi- 
tion of  extending  a  general  amnesty  was  presented  for 
consideration  and  referred  to  a  special  committee.  This 
committee,  after  due  deliberation  over  the  proposition, 
reported  that:  "As  much  as  wc  desire  to  be  merciful  to 
all  who  have  done  wrong  among  us,  and  as  this,  the  con- 
ti  nnial  year,  would  Mem  ;i  fitting  time  for  that  purpose. 
yet  we  doubt  the  propriety  of  giving  unlimited  amnesty  to 

2** 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

every  one  derelict  in  their  duty  to  the  craft,  and  especially 
to  their  own  subordinate  unions;  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  detrimental  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  craft,  generally,  that  those  who  have  proved  recreant 
to  their  obligations  as  members  of  the  union  should  again 
be  admitted  into  full  fellowship  with  the  fraternity.  We 
therefore  deem  it  inexpedient  to  resort  to  a  general 
amnesty." 

This  recommendation  of  the  special  committee  was  con- 
curred in  by  the  delegates,  but  in  another  place  in  the 
minutes  of  this  convention  we  find  favorable  action  taken 
on  the  following  proposition :  "That  we  deem  it  to  be  the 
true  policy  of  subordinate  unions  to  go  to  the  utmost  limit 
consistent  with  safety  and  honor  in  receiving  into  their 
membership  all  unfair  printers  who  make  application  to 
that  effect  and  who  evince  a  desire  to  again  become  fair 
men." 

Jurisdiction  Limited  —  The  question  of  jurisdiction  re- 
ceived considerable  attention,  owing  to  the  disputes  aris- 
ing in  some  sections  of  the  country.  The  convention 
finally  adopted  a  resolution  to  the  effect  that  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  all  unions  chartered  by  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  of  North  America  should  extend  only 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  city  or  town  named  in 
the  charter. 

Erasing  Names  from  Charters  —  A  practice  that  had 
become  prevalent  in  subordinate  unions,  that  of  erasing 
names  of  charter  members  from  the  original  instrument, 
was  a  subject  of  general  interest  and  brought  about  much 
discussion.  It  was  finally  ordered  that  all  subordinate 
unions  that  had  erased  names  of  charter  members  from 
their  charters,  and  substituted  others  in  their  places,  be 
required  to  replace  those  charters  in  the  same  condition 
in  which  they  were  issued  by  the  International  Union. 

Only  three  unions  were  organized  during  the  year,  ow- 
284 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,   1876 

ing  to  the  deplorable  state  of  trade,  and  the  charters  of 
the  following  named  unions  were  surrendered :  Evans- 
ville,  Ind. ;  St.  Catharines,  Ont. ;  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and 
Atchison,  Kan. 

Membership  —  A  decided  falling  off  in  the  total  mem- 
bership was  reported  by  the  secretary-treasurer.  From  a 
total  of  more  than  10,000  the  year  previous,  the  member- 
ship had  dropped  to  8,688  at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year. 

Defense  Fund  —  The  previous  convention  having  con- 
sidered a  proposition  submitted  by  Delegate  McVicar,  of 
Detroit,  to  enact  an  International  fund  law,  and  having 
ordered  that  copies  of  the  law  be  printed  and  submitted 
to  subordinate  unions  for  their  consideration,  and  invit- 
ing definite  action  thereon  through  instructions  to  dele- 
gates to  the  Philadelphia  convention,  the  matter  was 
taken  up  for  consideration  under  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee on  unfinished  business.  This  committee  in  its  re- 
port said  that  the  draft  of  the  proposed  fund  law  seemed 
to  be  as  nearly  a  correct  starting  point  as  could  well  be 
defined  and  in  its  opinion  a  full  and  free  discussion  of  the 
proposition  should  be  had,  and  if  the  fund  law  was  to  be 
adopted  the  time  had  arrived  for  action.  During  the  dis- 
cussion it  developed  that  many  delegates  to  the  conven- 
tion favored  the  adoption  of  the  fund  law  but  had  been 
instructed  to  vote  against  it.  After  fully  considering  the 
proposition  it  was  finally  rejected  by  a  vote  of  52  noes, 
7  ayes. 

Uniform  Constitution  for  Subordinate  Unions  —  The 
previous  convention,  held  in  Boston,  had  also  authorized 
the  appointment  of  a  special  committee  to  prepare  a  uni- 
form constitution  for  subordinate  unions.  This  committee 
had  prepared  an  instrument  for  consideration  by  the  dele- 
gates to  tin-  Philadelphia  convention,  but,  while  the  doCU- 
iii.  nt  was  based  upon  the  general  laws  of  the  International 
and    upon    well-established    precedents,    the    delegates 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

evinced  a  hesitancy  to  enact  it  into  law  and  it  was  finally 
determined  that  consideration  of  the  subject  be  postponed 
until  the  next  session  of  the  International,  with  the  under- 
standing that  the  document  be  spread  upon  the  minutes 
and  that  subordinate  unions  be  requested  to  instruct  their 
delegates  to  vote  "yea"  or  "nay"  upon  its  adoption. 

Greeley  Monument  —  The  Greeley  monument  commit- 
tee submitted  a  report  of  the  work  accomplished  during 
the  year,  in  conjunction  with  a  committee  of  employing 
printers  of  New  York  city.  The  work  of  construction  had 
been  proceeded  with  and  it  was  hoped  that  the  bronze 
figure  of  the  great  editor  and  printer,  the  cast  for  which 
was  being  made  in  Philadelphia,  would  be  ready  for 
inspection  by  the  delegates  at  the  convention,  but  in 
this  matter  the  committee  had  been  disappointed.  The 
committee  reported  that  the  first  proposition  considered 
was  to  make  a  type-metal  statue,  but  later,  upon  the 
advice  of  men  of  experience  with  metals,  the  committee 
learned  that  type-metal  would  not  stand  exposure  to  the 
weather  for  any  length  of  time.  About  one  thousand 
pounds  of  old  type  had  been  received  by  the  committee, 
which  would  have  to  be  put  into  the  monument  in  some 
way.  Arrangements  for  the  unveiling  of  the  monument 
had  been  completed,  and  a  detailed  report  of  the  receipts 
and  expenditures  was  promised  for  the  next  convention 
of  the  International  Union. 

Decisions  —  In  the  annual  report  submitted  by  Presi- 
dent Bell  was  included  a  summary  of  decisions  rendered 
during  the  year,  some  of  which  are  quoted  herewith  : 

"A  chapel  has  no  right  to  set  aside,  review  or  construe 
the  action  of  the  union  in  regular  meeting." 

"A  subordinate  union  can  not  be  made  an  agency  for 
the  collection  of  debts  due  private  parties.  A  card  can 
not  be  refused  on  such  grounds." 

286 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,   1876 

"A  subordinate  union  has  no  control  over  men  regu- 
larly enlisted  in  the  United  States  service  and  who  may 
be  detailed  in  the  signal  service,  or  to  work  at  the  business 
at  military  headquarters  or  posts." 

"The  scale  of  prices  of  a  subordinate  union  must  be 
regarded  as  the  minimum  rate  at  which  its  members  can 
be  employed  and  in  no  way  can  be  construed  to  prevent 
any  member  from  receiving  a  higher  rate,  if  it  can  be 
obtained  with  the  free  consent  of  the  employer." 

"While  every  union  has  an  undoubted  right  to  levy  and 
collect  assessments  from  its  members  for  all  legitimate 
purposes  of  its  organization,  as  set  forth  in  its  constitu- 
tion and  by-laws,  for  its  own  support  or  that  of  the  In- 
ternational, or  in  defense  of  union  principles,  it  exceeds 
its  authority  when  it  obliges  its  members  to  contribute 
against  their  will  to  any  undertaking  of  a  festive  charac- 
ter or  one  which  is  not  necessary  for  the  furtherance  of 
the  purposes  for  which  it  was  chartered." 

Sub-Lists  —  The  question  of  abolishing  sub-lists  was 
brought  before  the  convention  by  a  resolution  introduced 
by  Delegate  McVicar,  of  Detroit,  as  follows: 

"Resolved,  That  this  International  Typographical 
Union  recommend  to  every  subordinate  union  that  it  ear- 
nestly discourage,  and  kill,  if  possible,  what  is  known  as 
the  sub-list  system." 

The  committee  on  subordinate  unions,  to  which  the 
resolution  was  referred,  reported  adversely  on  the  resolu- 
tion, giving  as  its  reason  that  it  was  antagonistic  to  section 
13  of  the  general  laws,  which  read:  "It  is  the  opinion  of 
the  International  Union  that  it  is  neither  wise  in  policy 
nor  correct  in  principle  that  anything  should  be  enacted 
relative  to  the  internal  affairs  of  printing  offices,"  A  mi- 
nority report  was  submitted,  recommending  the  adoption 
of  the  resolution,  and  the  repeal  of  section  13  of  the  gen- 

-s7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

eral  laws.  Delegate  O'Rourke,  of  New  York,  offered  the 
following  substitute : 

"Resolved,  That  all  subordinate  unions  be  directed  to 
take  such  action  as  may  to  them  seem  best  calculated  to 
abolish  what  is  known  as  the  sub-list  system." 

The  substitute  was  adopted. 

Amendments  and  Resolutions  —  Among  amendments 
to  the  laws  and  resolutions  adopted  were  the  following : 

"That  any  alteration  or  amendment  receiving  a  unani- 
mous vote  shall  become  a  part  of  the  constitution  without 
being  laid  over  for  one  year." 

The  general  laws  were  amended  by  the  adoption  of  the 
following  paragraph :  "The  practice  of  loaning  and  bor- 
rowing matter  by  morning  and  evening  papers  printed  in 
separate  and  distinct  establishments,  no  matter  by  whom 
owned,  is  repugnant  to  the  principles  of  our  organization, 
and  subordinate  unions  are  enjoined  to  put  forth  every 
effort  consistent  with  the  best  interests  of  such  unions  in 
order  that  such  practice  may  be  abolished." 

"That  the  action  of  the  previous  convention  in  passing  a 
resolution  to  the  effect  that  the,  International  Union  no 
longer  affiliate  with  the  National  Labor  Congress  be 
rescinded." 

"That  this  body,  recognizing  strikes  as  detrimental  to 
the  best  interests  of  our  craft,  direct  subordinate  unions 
that  no  strikes  shall  be  ordered  without  at  least  a  three- 
fourths  vote  of  the  union,  and  no  man  shall  vote  on  such  a 
question  until  he  shall  have  belonged  to  the  union  at 
least  six  months." 

Louisville,  Ky.,  was  chosen  as  the  meeting  place  for  the 
convention  of  1877. 

Officers,  1876  —  The  following  officers  were  elected  for 
the  ensuing  term :  President,  John  McVicar,  Detroit, 
Mich. ;  first  vice-president,  Henry  Z.  Osborne,  New  Or- 
leans, La. ;  second  vice-president,  William  P.  Atkinson, 

288 


WALTER  W.  BBLL,  FboABBMU 

tit   International  Typographical  Union 
June  ti,  187$  -July  7,  1876 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1877 

Erie,  Pa. ;  secretary-treasurer,  John  H.  O'Donnell,  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  and  corresponding  secretary,  John  Armstrong, 
Toronto,  Ont. 

Convention    at    Louisville 

[1877]  —  When  the  twenty-fifth  convention  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order 
by  President  McVicar  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  June  4,  1877, 
the  delegates  were  welcomed  to  the  city  by  Mr.  J.  D. 
Barfield,  president  of  Louisville  Union,  who  read  a 
poem  entitled  "A  Welcome,"  by  S.  K.  Bangs,  the  famous 
printer-poet.     The  poem  follows  : 

With  a  hearty  grasp  we  meet  you — aye,  with  arms  extended  wide 
We  receive  you,  fellow  craftsmen,  as  the  shore  receives  the  tide — 
As  the  south  winds  greet  the  billows  in  their  coming  to  the  strand 
With  the  sweetest  salutation  of  a  flower-sccntcd  land. 

Like  alluring  airs  from  meadows  and  from  woodlands  green  and  gay 
(Where  the  wild  rose  and  the  violet  spend  the  summer  holiday) 
We  would  lure  you  on  and  upward  to  the  vine-embowered  hills 
Where  our  merry  wine  is  nurtured  by  a  myriad  laughing  rills. 

Meet  it  is,  O  honored  brothers!  that  you  gather  here  in  June, 
When  the  hand  of  gentle  Flora  decks  the  sunny  land  of  Boone;  # 

When  our  generous  boards  are  groaning  'neath  the  weight  of  goodly  cheer. 
And  there  comes  a  glowing  promise  of  a  glad  and  grateful  year. 

May  the  wisdom  of  your  counsels  guide  us  well  upon  our  way, 
(living  strength  and  hope  and  courage  for  the  coming  of  a  day 
When  the  equal  law  of  justice  shall  o'crcome  the  rule  of  greed, 
And  employer  and  employe  will  regard  each  other's  need. 

And  we'll  pass  the  flagon  gayly  when  your  graver  work  is  through, 
Since  your  visits,  like  the  angels',  arc  to  fleeting  and  so   few; 
And  we'll  not  forget  the  counsel  of  the  jolly  old  Sir  Jack, — 
"There's  a  twofold  operation  in  a  little  shcrrie-sack." 

President  McVicar,  on  behalf  of  the  assembled  dele- 
gates and  visitors,  returned  the  thanks  of  the  union  for 
the  welcome  extended. 

Depressed  Trade  Conditions— A  marked  decrease  In 

the   number  of  delegates   present  and  of   unions    rej 
sent  apparent,  compared  with  the  large  attendance 

at  the  Philadelphia  convention  the  year  previous.    Only 

forty  delegates  presented  credentials,  representing  thirty- 
one  subordinate  unions.     The  extremely  dull  condition  of 

I89 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

trade  at  this  period  was  largely  responsible  for  the  small 
attendance.  The  financial  statement  submitted  by  the  sec- 
retary-treasurer showed  a  decrease  in  the  total  member- 
ship from  the  year  before,  the  number  in  good  standing 
having  fallen  to  6,900.  Reductions  in  wages  had  been 
general  throughout  the  country,  strikes  had  been  numer- 
ous, suspensions  and  consolidations  of  newspaper  enter- 
prises and  a  loose  system  of  apprenticeship  had  crowded 
the  labor  market  and  contributed  as  much  toward  reduc- 
tion in  wages  as  the  dull  times.  Unsuccessful  strikes  had 
occurred  in  Jackson,  Mich. ;  Baltimore,  Md. ;  Macon,  Ga. ; 
New  Orleans,  La.;  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  New  York  city; 
Chicago,  111.,  and  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  In  the  latter  city  the 
union  was  worsted  and  almost  wiped  out  of  existence. 

For  the  purpose  of  relieving  conditions  as  much  as 
possible,  the  corresponding  secretary,  during  the  year, 
by  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  president  and  secretary- 
treasurer,  had  written  to  the  typographical  societies  of 
Cjreat  Britain  and  Ireland,  acquainting  them  of  the  great 
depression  in  the  printing  business  on  this  continent  for 
the  purpose,  if  possible,  of  preventing  printers  from 
coming  here  in  quest  of  employment.  The  following 
circular  letter  was  sent  to  London,  Liverpool,  Manchester, 
Oxford,  Derby,  Durham,  Bristol,  Dublin,  Cork,  London- 
derry, Belfast,  Edinburgh,  Glasgow,  Aberdeen,  Dundee 
and  Stirling: 

Toronto,  Ont.,  January,  25,  1877. 
To  Secretaries  Typographical  Societies  of  Great  Britain  and 

Ireland. 

I  deem  it  advisable  and  expedient  to  inform  your  society  of 
the  depressed  state  of  trade  in  the  United  States  and  Dominion 
of  Canada,  trusting  you  will  give  said  information  the  widest 
possible  publicity  throughout  your  jurisdiction. 

Financial  depression,  coupled  with  a  general  dullness  in. all 
lines  of  business,  has  made  the  past  year  one  of  unprecedented 
hardship  to  the  craft,  to  such  an  extent  that  our  subordinate 

290 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1877 

unions  in  both  countries,  with  scarcely  an  exception,  have  been 
compelled  to  accept  reductions  in  their  newspaper  scale  of  prices 
of  from  ten  to  twenty-five  per  cent,  with  no  prospect  of  an  early 
return  to  former  rates.  Similiar  reductions  have  taken  place  in 
the  book  and  job  offices.  Ortce  large  and  thriving  establishments 
in  this  important  branch  of  our  trade  are  now,  through  the 
exigencies  of  the  times,  either  running  on  three-quarters  time, 
or  have  reduced  the  number  of  their  employes  one-half  their 
usual  quota.  Therefore,  the  executive  adopts  this  method  of 
communicating,  through  you,  to  our  fellow-craftsmen  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  the  stagnant  state  of  our  business  preva- 
lent in  the  United  States  and  the  Dominion,  and  would  impress 
upon  them  the  injudiciousness  of  coming  (for  the  present)  to 
either  country  in  quest  of  employment  at  the  printing  business. 

I  would  also  acquaint  you  of  the  fact  that  Canadian  emigra- 
tion agents,  in  their  lecturing  tours  throughout  the  old  coun- 
try, have  been  in  the  habit  of  holding  out  dazzling  inducements 
to  come  to  the  Province  of  Ontario,  recommending  certain 
establishments  which  do  not  conform  to  the  principles  of 
unionism.  Upon  arrival,  they  find  out  their  mistake,  and  that 
their  seductive  advisers  must  be  in  league  with  union-opposing 
proprietors.  Rather  than  sacrifice  union  principles,  they  either 
seek  other  means  of  subsistence,  or  exchange  their  British  cards 
for  ours,  and  leave  for  the  States,  thus  increasing  an  already 
overstocked  market  of  unemployed  printers.  Several  distressing 
cases  of  this  kind  have  come  within  my  personal  knowledge. 

Considering  the  above  facts,  it  is  to  be  hoped  you  will  see 
the  necessity  of  placing  the  contents  of  this  circular  fully  and 
explicitly  before  your  society,  so  that  our  brother  craftsmen 
across  the  Atlantic  may  understand  the  true  state  of  affairs,  as 
they  unfortunately  exist  with  us. 

Fraternally,  John  Armstrong, 

Corresponding  St-crrtury. 

The  secretary  reported  that  lu  had  received  from  Mr. 
Self,  secretary  of  tin-  London  Society  of  Compositors, 
copies  of  the  rules  of  that  society  and  its  newspaper  scale 
of  prices;  also  a  communication  replete  with  information* 

A    paragraph    from    Mr.    Self's    letter   Midi     "You    may 

:  assured  tii.it  tin-  contents  of  your  communication  will 

291 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 


be  made  known  to  all  whom  it  may  concern.  Indeed,  we 
are  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  terrible  depression  of 
trade,  both  in  Canada  and  the  United  States,  from  various 
sources,  and  we  do  not  mink  that  you  will  be  Uoublcd 
with  any  printers  from  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  —til 
things  show  a  very  different  aspect  to  that  which  they  at 
piesent  exhibit." 

Lack  of  Discipline  —  In  the  annual  report  of  President 
McVkar  it  was  pointed  out  that,  with  few  exceptions, 
subordinate  unions  were  lamentably  lacking  in  Hwa-ipK^ff 
The  most  discouraging  fact  in  this  connection  was  the 
disposition  of  local  organizations  to  refuse  to  recognize 
the  International  Union  as  the  highest  authority,  and 
their  failure  to  enforce  its  laws.  President  McVicar,  who 
had  introduced,  two  years  previously,  a  proposed  Inter- 
national fund  law,  which  was  so  decisively  rejected  at  the 
following  convention,  again  referred  to  the  matter  and 
expressed  a  firm  conviction  that  until  some  such  law  was 
enacted,  and  a  fund  created,  thereby  placing  the  Inter- 
national in  a  position  to  support  satisfactorily  members 
of  subordinate  unions  out  on  strike,  no  relief  from  the 
unsatisfactory  conditions  prevalent  could  be  expected. 

Greeley  Memorial  —  The  final  report  of  the  Greeley 
memorial  committee  was  presented  to  the  convention.  It 
showed  that  the  efforts  to  erect  a  monument  had  been 
successful  and  that  on  the  4th  day  of  December,  1S76. 
a  bronze  bust  of  the  departed  printer-philosopher  was 
unveiled,  with  proper  ceremonies,  over  Greeley's  grave 
in  Greenwood  Cemetery.  Brooklyn.  X.  Y. 

Delegate  to  Paris  —  For  the  purpose  of  extending  fra- 
ternal greetings  to  the  printers  of  Europe,  the  convention 
determined  to  send  a  delegate  to  represent  the  body  at  the 
World's  International  Exposition  held  in  Paris  in  1878. 
J.  H.  Ralston,  of  Washington.  D.  C.  was  selected. 

F renck~C anadians  —  A  matter  that  had  caused  wide 

292 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1877 

discussion,  and  which  had  taken  up  considerable  of  the 
time  of  previous  conventions,  was  the  many  disputes  and 
constant  friction  between  the  French-Canadian  union  and 
the  English  speaking  union  in  Montreal,  Can.  At  the 
Philadelphia  convention  charges  were  preferred  against 
the  French-Canadian  union  by  the  English  union,  which 
were  referred  to  the  committee  on  appeals.  This  com- 
mittee submitted  a  report  providing  for  the  appointment 
of  a  referee,  to  visit  Montreal  and  make  a  thorough  inves- 
tigation of  the  differences  existing  between  the  two  bodies, 
it  being  understood  that  both  unions  would  abide  by  what- 
ever decision  the  referee  should  arrive  at,  and  that  such 
decision  should  be  final  and  binding  on  all  parties  con- 
cerned. Eugene  O'Rourke,  of  New  York,  was  selected 
as  referee,  and  proceeded  to  Montreal,  where  he  re- 
mained for  several  weeks,  making  an  investigation  pre- 
liminary to  a  decision.  Mr.  O'Rourke's  decision  was  a 
drastic  document,  which  required  that  the  French-Cana- 
dian union  should  surrender  its  charter  and  that  its  mem- 
bers should  be  taken  into  the  English  speaking  union. 
When  a  copy  of  the  decision  reached  President  McVicar 
that  official  instructed  the  French-Canadian  union  to  pay 
no  attention  to  the  order  to  disband,  instructing  the  mem- 
bers to  continue  to  work  in  full  fellowship  with  other 
subordinate  unions,  it  being  the  opinion  of  the  president 
that  the  referee  had  exceeded  his  authority  in  directing 
that  tin-  union  surrender  its  charter,  as  that  authority  WM 
led  only  in  the  International  body  itself.  The  matter 
again  came  up  on  appeal  to  the  Louisville  convention, 
which  sustained  the  action  of  the  president,  but,  upon 
the  strength  of  the  reasons  set  forth  in  the  report  of  the 
referee,  the  convention  ordered  that  the  charter  of  the 
French-Canadian  union  In-  surrendered,  hut  upon  modi- 
fied condition!  which  were  agreeable  to  the  members  of 
that  union.   The  agreement  reached  by  which  the  Frcnch- 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Canadians  were  satisfied  to  surrender  their  charter  and 
become  members  of  No.  97  is  contained  in  a  resolution 
so  unique  in  character  that  it  is  herewith  reproduced : 

The  Jacques  Cartier  Typographical  Union  No.  145,  being 
dissolved,  the  undersigned  pledge  themselves  to  join  Union 
No.  97  on  the  following  conditions,  viz. : 

That  their  constitution  and  by-laws  be  printed  in  both 
languages. 

That  all  motions,  reports,  documents,  etc..  be  also  printed 
and  laid  before  meetings  in  both  languages. 

That  if  the  president  is  English,  the  French-Canadians  will 
be  entitled  to  the  offices  of  vice-president,  recording  secretary 
and  secretary-treasurer,  the  English  being  entitled  to  the  other 
charges  (excepting  the  board  of  directors,  which  will  be  com- 
posed of  an  equal  number  of  Frenchmen  and  Englishmen)  ; 
vice  versa  if  the  president  is  French.  When  it  will  be  necessary 
to  appoint  delegates,  the  French  will  have  the  privilege  of 
being  represented  by  the  same  number  of  their  countrymen  as 
the  English. 

That  at  each  annual  election  the  English  office-bearers  will 
be  replaced  by  French-Canadian  officers,  and  French-Canadians 
by  the  English. 

That  a  committee  of  Englishmen  and  Frenchmen  be  ap- 
pointed immediately  to  amend  the  constitution  and  by-laws  of 
Union  No.  97  according  to  the  foregoing  resolution. 

That  assistant  secretaries  shall  be  appointed  to  assist  the 
financial  and  recording  secretaries  in  their  duties.  t 

Gift  of  Italian  Printers  —  During  the  progress  of  the 
convention,  the  president  announced  that  he  had  received, 
through  the  secretary  of  New  York  Union,  a  medal  and 
an  address  presented  to  the  printers  of  this  country  by  the 
Italian  printers.  The  address  was  referred  to  a  special 
committee,  which  recommended  to  the  convention  that  the 
delegate  to  Paris  be  requested  to  draft  suitable  resolu- 
tions expressing  the  thanks  of  the  printers  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  through  their  representatives,  to  the 
printers  of  Italy  for  their  beautiful  memorial  medal  and 
expressions  of  fraternal  friendship.     It  was  ordered  that 

294 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1877 

such  resolutions  be  printed  upon  parchment,  in  the  highest 
style  of  the  art,  bearing  the  seal  of  the  International 
Union,  with  the  signatures  of  the  officers  attached.  The 
delegate  was  further  instructed  to  recognize  in  proper 
manner  the  compliment  paid  the  printers  of  the  United 
States,  in  1876,  by  the  printers  of  France,  and  to  investi- 
gate the  state  of  trade  in  that  country,  inquiring  into  the 
prices  of  labor,  and  report  upon  the  general  conditions 
of  French  printers  in  comparison  with  conditions  in  this 
country. 

Digest  of  Laws  —  A  committee  composed  of  five  mem- 
bers of  Detroit  Typographical  Union  was  appointed  for 
the  purpose  of  preparing  and  presenting  a  digest  of  the 
laws  of  the  International  Union,  with  instructions  to  have 
printed  500  copies  for  distribution  among  subordinate 
unions. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  A  proposition,  submitted  by 
Delegate  Fool,  of  New  Orleans,  that  a  committee  of  five 
be  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  advisability  and  prac- 
ticability of  establishing  a  home  for  needy  and  infirm 
members  of  subordinate  unions  was  referred  to  the  com- 
mittee on  new  business.  This  committee  reported  that 
the  project  was  impracticable  at  that  time,  and  the  matter 
was  indefinitely  postponed. 

Uniform  Constitution  —  The  committee  on  unfinished 
business,  having  under  consideration  the  proposition  for 
.a  uniform  constitution  for  subordinate  unions,  laid  over 
from  the  previous  convention,  subrpitted  the  matter  with 
an  unfavorable  recommendation,  which  wu  concurred  in. 

A'<  •/•/•<  sititntion  —  Another  proposition  to  amend  the 
constitution,  left  over  from  the  previous  convention,  pro- 
posing to  change  the  representation  of  subordinate  union-, 
allowing  one  delegate  for  each  one  hundred  mcmb> 

Date  of  Meeting — A   further  proposition,  to  change 

295 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  date  of  the  annual  meeting  from  June  to  September, 
was  rejected,  and  Detroit,  Mich.,  was  selected  as  the  next 
convention  city. 

Officers,  i8j j  —  The  following  officers  were  elected 
for  the  ensuing  term :  President,  Darwin  R.  Streeter, 
St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  first  vice-president,  Edward  Griffin,  Bal- 
timore, Md. ;  second  vice-president,  Edwin  Fitzgeorge, 
Trenton,  N.  J.;  secretary-treasurer,  John  H.  O'Donnell, 
Boston,  Mass.,  and  corresponding  secretary,  John  Arm- 
strong, Toronto,  Ont. 

Convention    at    Detroit 

[1878]  —  Lowest  Membership  —  When  the  twenty- 
sixth  convention  of  the  International  Union  opened  its 
sessions  in  Detroit,  on  June  3,  1878,  the  organization  had 
reached  its  lowest  point  in  membership  and  the  highest 
point  in  number  of  suspended  unions.  Only  4*260  mem- 
bers were  reported  in  good  standing.  Charters  had  been 
surrendered  by  Indianapolis,  Milwaukee,  Providence, 
Evansville,  Savannah,  Omaha,  Alexandria,  Va. ;  Jack- 
son, Mich. ;  Atchison,  Kan. ;  Springfield,  Mass. ;  Topeka, 
Kan. ;  St.  Catharines,  Ont. ;  Bay  City,  Mich. ;  Rutland, 
Vt. ;  Madison,  Wis.,  and  New  York  Women's  Union. 
Charters  of  the  following  unions  had  been  revoked  for 
non-payment  of  dues :  Petersburg  and  Lynchburg,  Va. ; 
Augusta  and  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  Burlington  and  Keokuk, 
Iowa;  Lawrence,  Kan.;  Terre  Haute,  Ind. ;  St.  John, 
N.  B. ;  Jersey  City,  N.  J.;  Springfield,  Ohio;  Jefferson 
City,  Mo. ;  Kalamazoo,  Mich. ;  Schuylkill  and  Titusville, 
Pa. ;  Natchez,  Miss.-;  Cumberland,  Md. ;  Opelika,  Ala. ; 
Tioga,  Pa. ;  Burlington,  Vt,  and  San  Antonio,  Tex. 

Organization  and  Discipline  —  President  Streeter  sub- 
mitted his  annual  report,  covering  the  transactions  of  his 
administration,  together  with  numerous  recommendations 

296  . 


JOHN  McVM  \u.  Dnaon 

Pretldcnt  International  TjrpOgnpktel   t' i 

July  7,  1876 -June  8.  1877 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1878 

for  legislation  which  he  believed  to  be  for  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  organization.  Speaking  of  organization  and 
discipline,  the  president  said  that  he  entirely  agreed  with 
his  predecessor  as  to  the  sad  lack  of  proper  attention  paid 
by  subordinate  unions  to  matters  of  discipline.  He 
pointed  out  many  instances  of  non-observance  of  Interna- 
tional laws  and  suggested  the  necessity  for  more  stringent 
rules  for  the  government  of  subordinate  unions.  While, 
in  his  opinion,  it  was  desirable  that  matters  pertaining 
to  local  affairs  should  be  left  in  the  hands  of  local  unions, 
it  was  proper,  in  fact  absolutely  necessary,  that  stronger 
laws  should  be  enacted  and  enforced  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  a  more  definite .  understanding  and  honest 
observance  of  the  duties  of  one  union  to  another,  and  of 
all  subordinate  unions  to  the  International  Union.  It 
was  pointed  out  that  notwithstanding  the  fact  that,  at  a 
great  expense  of  time  and  money,  annual  sessions  of  the 
body  were  held  in  different  sections  of  the  jurisdiction, 
at  which  many  just  and  good  laws  were  passed  for  the 
government  of  the  membership,  no  particular  punish- 
ment had  been  provided  for  those  unions  and  indi- 
vidual printers  who  saw  fit  to  ignore  and  disobey  these 
laws.  The  only  punishment  provided  for  violation  of  law 
was  expulsion.  This  punishment  had  been  considered 
too  severe  to  inflict  except  in  extreme  cases  and  the  result 
had  been  that  conventions  had  allowed  some  of  their 
requirements  to  be  treated  with  contempt  rather  than 
revoke  the  charter  of  the  offending  union.  It  was  sug- 
gested that  a  system  of  fines  be  provided,  to  be  imposed 
on  subordinate  unions  wilfully  disobeying  the  Interna- 
tional  laws  or  disregarding  the  rights  of  sister  societies, 
Referring  to  section  1  of  the  general  laws,  which 
forbade  local  unions  admitting  t«»  membership  persons 
coming  frmn  another  jurisdiction,  without  the  consent  of 

the  union  in  thai  jurisdiction,  the  president  said  that 

297 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

complaints  of  violations  of  this  section  were  of  frequent 
occurrence.  While  admitting  that  in  some  instances 
undesirable  members  were  admitted  to  membership 
because  nothing  was  known  of  their  antecedents,  nor  of 
their  past  affiliation  with  the  union,  it  could  not  be  denied 
that  in  many  cases  the  violation  of  a  fundamental  law 
was  wilful  in  the  highest  degree.  Persons  expelled  by 
subordinate  unions  had  been  admitted  elsewhere  with  the 
full  knowledge  of  such  expulsion  and  with  a  total  disre- 
gard of  the  principles  on  which  the  system  was  based. 
The  president  recommended  amplification  of  the  law,  so 
that  when  an  applicant's  name  was  taken  and  a  statement 
obtained  from  him  as  to  the  city  or  cities  in  which  he  had 
previously  worked,  as  apprentice  or  journeyman,  corre- 
spondence should  be  had  with  the  parties  for  whom  appli- 
cant had  worked,  and  the  investigation  of  any  references 
he  might  be  able  to  furnish.  Should  objection  be  made 
to  the  admission  of  an  applicant,  and  the  reasons  given 
not  deemed  valid  by  the  union  to  which  application  was 
made  for  membership,  an  appeal  should  be  lodged  with 
the  International  president.  A  fine  was  recommended 
for  a  violation  of  this  law  for  the  first  offense  and  for 
a  second  offense  of  like  character  the  charter  of  the  union 
so  offending  revoked. 

"Permits"  —  The  custom  of  issuing  "permits"  was  dis- 
cussed and  the  abuse  of  the  practice  called  to  the  atten- 
tion of  delegates.  It  appears  that  under  the  system 
of  issuing  permits,  many  traveling  printers  had  come  to 
pay  little,  if  any,  attention  to  the  necessity  of  procuring 
an  International  traveling  card  when  about  to  leave 
a  city,  knowing  that  they  could  obtain  a  permit  to  work 
from  the  union  within  whose  jurisdiction  they  sought 
employment.  This  abuse  had  grown  to  such  an  extent 
that  all  that  was  required  in  many  cases  was  an  affirma- 
tion by  some  friend  that  the  newcomer  was  "a  good  union 

298 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1878 

man."  As  time  went  on  these  members  found  themselves 
getting  deeper  and  deeper  in  debt  to  the  union  from 
whence  they  came,  with  the  result  that  expulsions  often 
followed.  In  this  way  the  subordinate  unions  were  beaten 
out  of  their  just  dues  and  many  careless  printers  found 
themselves  without  membership  in  any  union,  and 
interminable  disputes  followed  in  the  wake  of  this  prac- 
tice. An  amendment  to  the  law  was  suggested  by  the 
president  to  correct  this  abuse. 

Female  Compositors —  On  the  question  of  female  com- 
positors President  Streeter  took  a  strong  position  against 
admitting  them  to  membership  in  the  union,  but  did  not 
seek  to  press  his  personal  ideas  on  the  subject  on  the  dele- 
gates, except  to  say  that  it  was  his  belief  that  this  question 
was  one  that  should  engage  the  serious  attention  of  the 
convention,  and  a  free  discussion  of  the  matter  was 
invited.  It  was  finally  ordered  by  the  convention  that 
no  further  charters  be  granted  to  women  for  the  forma- 
tion of  separate  unions — that  such  women  as  held  mem- 
bership in  subordinate  unions  be  not  interfered  with  in 
any  of  the  privileges  they  enjoyed  and  that  the  question 
of  the  admission  of  women  to  membership  be  left  entirely 
to  the  discretion  of  subordinate  unions. 

International  Strike  fund  —  At  previous  conventions 
of  the  International  Union  the  subject  of  an  International 
strike  fund  had  been  brought  up  and  discussed  and 
invariably  the  action  taken  had  been  adverse  to  the  crea- 
tion of  such  a  fund.  It  appears  that  the  objection  to  such 
a  fund  was  lodged  in  the  belief  by  the  delegates  that 
it  was  an  unsafe  venture  to  place  large  sums  of  money 
in  the  hands  of  one  man,  but  the  condition  of  the  union 
was  such  at  that  time  that  the  delegates  evidently  realized 
that  some  action  was  absolutely  necessary  in  order  that 
tin-  International  Union  might  be  preserved,  and  a  fund 
law,  so  long  difCUtted  and  so  often  defeated,  was  finally 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

passed  at  this  session.  That  the  delegates  endeavored 
to  surround  this  fund  with  every  protection  possible  will 
be  observed  by  reading  the  law,  which  follows  : 

Whereas  the  disastrous  ending  of  nearly  all  the  strikes 
(from  any  cause  arising)  entered  into  by  various  subordinate 
unions  under  the  jurisdiction  of  this  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  is  invariably  attributed  to  a  lack  of  the  proper 
sinews  of  war  in  such  cases,  viz.,  money  with  which  to  prosecute 
them  to  a  successful  issue ;  and 

Whereas  as  one  great  secret  of  success  lies  in  the  maxim, 
"In  time  of  peace  prepare  for  war,"  it  is  eminently  proper  that 
this  body  should  adopt  some  measure  calculated  to  bring  ma- 
terial aid  to  the  treasury  of  a  subordinate  union  struggling  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  principles  enunciated  by  this  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  International  Typographical  Union  of 
North  America,  in  twenty-sixth  annual  session  assembled,  in 
the  city  of  Detroit,  Michigan,  adopt  the  following,  to  be  known 
as  "An  Act  for  the  Creation  of  an  International  Typographical 
Union  Fund  for  Extraordinary  Expenses :" 

Section  I.  At  the  stated  meeting  of  each  subordinate  union 
held  in  the  month  of  January,  in  the  year  A.  D.  1879,  and  in 
the  month  of  January  of  each  and  every  year  thereafter,  the 
members  of  such  subordinate  union  shall  each  pay  into  the 
treasury  thereof  the  sum  of  one  dollar,  in  addition  to  all  dues, 
etc.,  levied  for  subordinate  union  purposes. 

Sec.  2.  The  money  thus  paid  into  the  treasuries  of  the  vari- 
ous subordinate  unions  shall  be  known  as  "The  International 
Typographical  Union  Fund,"  and  shall  be  controlled  in  the 
manner  hereinafter  prescribed. 

Sec.  3.  All  traveling  cards  drawn  from  a  subordinate  union 
during  and  after  January  in  each  year  shall  have  endorsed 
thereon  the  words,  "International  Typographical  Union  fund 
dues  for  ....  (the  current  year)  have  been  paid,"  and  no  card 
shall  issue  unless  such  dues  have  been  paid  by  the  member 
applying  for  it. 

Sec.  4.  Should  a  card  be  drawn  during  one  year,  and  not 
deposited  in  any  union  until  during  or  after  January  of  the 
following  year,  upon  such  deposit  in  any  subordinate  union 
(at  any  date  whatsoever)  the  financial  secretary  of  such  subor- 

300 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1878 

dinate  union  shall  charge  the  International  fund  dues  against 
the  depositor  of  such  card  for  the  current  year,  and  collect 
them,  in  addition  to  the  local  dues,  etc.,  at  his  next  regular 
quarterly  collection,  or  at  the  time  of  drawing  such  card  from 
his  hands,  should  its  depositor  decide  upon  leaving  his  juris- 
diction previous  to  such  quarterly  collection. 

Sec.  5.  Against  all  new  members  admitted  to  any  subor- 
dinate union  by  initiation  the  International  fund  dues  for  the 
current  year  shall  be  charged,  in  addition  to  all  subordinate 
union  dues,  etc.,  and  collected  as  prescribed  in  section  4  of 
this  act. 

Sec.  6.  It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  treasurer  of  each 
subordinate  union  to  deposit  the  moneys  collected  by  him  under 
the  foregoing  sections  of  this  act  in  some  reliable  bank,  situated 
in  the  city  or  town  in  which  the  subordinate  union  of  which  he 
is  a  member  is  located,  conjointly  in  his  own  name  and  those 
of  the  president  and  financial  secretary  of  such  subordinate 
union,  in  an  account  separate  and  apart  from  his  deposit  of 
subordinate  union  funds,  to  lie  therein,  at  interest,  subject 
to  call  under  orders  of  the  proper  officers  of  this  International 
Typographical  Union,  as  hereinafter  provided  for ;  and  such 
deposit  of  International  fund  moneys  shall  be  made  by  such 
treasurer  in  full  of  all  amounts  in  his  hands  within  forty-eight 
hours  after  three  dollars,  or  more,  of  such  funds  have  been 
received  by  him ;  and  the  president,  financial  secretary,  and 
treasurer  of  each  subordinate  union  are  hereby  constituted  a 
board  of  local  trustees  of  the  International  Union  fund  moneys 
collected  in  their  respective  jurisdictions. 

Sec.  7.  It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  treasurer  of  each 
subordinate  union  to  notify  the  secretary-treasurer  of  this  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  on  the  first  day  of  each  and 
every  calendar  month,  of  the  amount  and  date  of  each  ami  even 
deposit  made  by  him  under  the  provisions  of  section  6  of  this 
act  during  the  month  immediately  preceding,  together  with  tin- 
amount  of  interest,  if  any,  credited  to  such  fund  by  the  bank 
in  which  it  is  deposited.         • 

Sec.  8.  It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  sect  surer 

of  this  international  Typographical  Union  to  open  an  account 
With  the  treasurer  of  each  subordinate  union,  in  a  book  to  be 
procured    and    kept    for   that    pill  teigfalg  such   treasurer 

with  all  deposits  made  under  the  provisions  of  sections  6  and  7 

301 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  this  act,  and  with  such  interest  thereon  as  may  be,  from  time 
to  time,  allowed  by  the  banks  in  which  said  funds  are  deposited, 
and  crediting  them  with  such  sums  as  may,  from  time  to 
time,  be  drawn  from  such  fund  under  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  9.  The  principal  and  interest  of  the  International  fund 
shall  remain  on  deposit,  in  trust  of  the  local  trustees  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  fund  in  each  subordinate 
union,  to  be  used  to  aid  subordinate  unions  in  attempts  to  make 
successful  any  strikes  that  may  be  ordered  (subject  to  the 
restrictions  hereinafter  named)  ■  within  their  jurisdiction  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  an  increase  or  resisting  a  reduction  of 
wages,  or  for  the  purpose  of  reinstating  union  men  as  a  whole 
in  any  office  in  which  the  employer  or  employers  may  have 
determined  upon  or  caused  a  lockout,  or  for  any  other  strike 
purpose  decided  upon  by  a  three-fourths  vote  of  all  its  members 
present  at  a  regular  or  special  meeting;  always  provided,  that 
in  each  and  every  instance  good  and  sufficient  notice  of  the 
special  subject  to  be  considered  at  such  meeting  shall  have  been 
given  every  member  of  said  union  (in  the  usual  manner  of 
notification  of  members  provided  by  the  constitution  of  said 
union)  at  least  twelve  hours  before  such  meeting;  provided, 
further,  that  it  shall  also  be  necessary,  in  all  cases,  except 
a  strike  against  a  reduction  of  wages,  to  obtain  the  sanction 
of  the  president  of  this  International  Typographical  Union  to 
such  strike,  in  order  to  receive  benefits  from  the  International 
Typographical  Union  fund. 

Sec.  10.  It  shall  be  necessary,  in  order  for  the  local  trustees 
to  draw  money  from  the  bank,  once  it  has  been  deposited,  to 
have  the  warrant  of  the  president  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  countersigned  by  the  secretary-treasurer ;  and 
no  bank  in  which  this  fund  is  deposited  shall  pay  any  check 
of  said  trustees  without  the  presentation  of  such  warrant  in 
addition  to  their  duly  signed  check. 

Sec.  II.  When  a  strike  is  ordered  by  a  subordinate  union, 
in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  section  9  of  this  act,  the 
local  trustees  of  the  IniernationaUfund  shall  immediately  notify 
the  president  and  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International 
Union  of  such  fact,  giving  them  the  number  of  men  to  receive 
benefits  owing  to  such  strike,  and  also  such  other  information 
in  reference  thereto  as  seems  proper  to  such  trustees  the  Inter- 
national officers  named  should  possess.    After  such  strike  has 

302 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1878 

been  going  on  for  at  least  one  week  the  local  trustees  may  be 
ordered  (by  a  three-fourths  vote  of  the  members  present  at  a 
called  meeting  of  the  subordinate  union  under  whose  jurisdic- 
tion said  strike  is  in  progress)  to  make  requisition  upon  the 
president  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  for  a  sum 
not  to  exceed  seven  dollars  per  week  per  man  on  strike,  which 
requisition  shall  be  in  form  as  follows : 

To  the  President  of  the  International  Typographical   Union  of  North  America. 

On  the  day  of ,  18 ,  Typographical  Union  No.  ordered  a 

strike  in  (newspaper,  book,  job  or  press  office,  as  the  case  may  be)  of  (the  em- 
ployer or  employers  or  corporation  name)  to  (purpose  of  strike),  and  a  requisi- 
tion is  hereby  made  upon  the  International  Typographical  Union  fund,  in  ac- 
cordance with  its  provisions.     The  number  of  men  to  receive  benefits  under  this 

strike  is . 

In   witness   whereof   we   have   hereunto   affixed   our   hands   and   the   seal   of 

Typographical  Union  No.  . 

,  President, 

,  Financial  Secretary, 

,  Treasurer, 

[Seal.]  Local  Trustees. Union  No.  — . 

,  Recording  Secretary, 

.  Union  No.  — . 

Attest: 

Sec.  12.  Immediately  upon  receipt  of  (by  the  president  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union)  a  properly  attested 
requisition,  in  due  form,  as  above,  he  shall  issue  his  warrant 
upon  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  for  the  sum  of  seven  dollars  for  each  man  on  strike,  for 
one  week's  benefit,  and  said  secretary-treasurer  shall  draw  upon 
such  local  trustees  as  may  be  most  convenient  (according  to 
their  location,  in  reference  to  striking  point,  and  to  the  stand- 
ing of  their  accounts  upon  his  books)  for  a  sufficient  sum  in  all 
to  cover  the  amount  specified  in  the  president's  warrant,  order- 
ing such  local  trustees  to  forward  the  sum  so  drawn  upon  them 
to  the  local  trustees  of  the  striking  union,  by  express,  telegram, 
or  postoffice  money  order,  as  deemed  Inst,  within  twelve  hours 
tfter  receipt  of  such  order;  provided,  that  in  making  his  draft 
upon  such  local  trustees,  lie  shall  attach  to  it  the  seal  of  the 

Internationa]  Typographical  Unfae,  and  accompany  it  with  a 

statement  of  when  the  strike  began  and  why  it  was  entered  ii 
provided  further,  that  the  local  trustees  shall  be  required  to 
present  such  warrant,  together  with  their  check,  to  the  bank 
having  such  fund  on  deposit  for  payment,  and  said  bank  shall 
pay  no  check  of  said  trustees  without  the  presentation  of  such 
warrant,  in  addition  to  their  duly  signed  check. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Sec.  13.  The  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  shall  keep  a  just  and  true  account  of  all 
moneys  entered  into,  or  drawn  from,  the  International  fund,  as 
provided  in  section  8  of  this  act,  and  present  the  same,  together 
with  all  papers,  notifications,  etc.,  in  reference  to  said  fund, 
which  have  accumulated  in  his  possession  during  the  fiscal  year 
preceding,  to  each  session  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union. 

Sec.  14.  The  local  trustees  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  fund  in  each  subordinate  union  shall  send  a  just 
and  true  account  of  all  moneys  received  and  deposited  and  paid 
out  from  that  portion  of  the  International  fund  in  their  charge, 
for  the  preceding  fiscal  year,  to  each  session  of  the  International 
Union,  which  account  must  be  accompanied  by  their  bank  book, 
posted  to  the  close  of  said  year  at  least,  as  a  voucher. 

Sec.  15.  The  reports  of  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  and  of  the  local  trustees  of  the 
International  fund  in  each  subordinate  union  shall,  each  year, 
at  the  annual  session  thereof,  be  referred  to  a  special  com- 
mittee of  the  International  Typographical  Union  for  exam- 
ination and  audit ;  after  such  examination,  and  finding  the 
reports  correct,  all  papers  unnecessary  to  keep  on  file  may  be 
destroyed  or  returned  to  the  parties  presenting  them,  the  local 
trustees'  bank  books  to  be  returned  them  through  their  respect- 
ive delegates  or  by  express,  in  case  of  their  not  being  represented 
by  a  delegate. 

Sec.  16.  After  a  regularly  ordered  strike  has  continued  six 
weeks  beyond  the  time  of  the  first  draft  upon  the  International 
fund,  the  weekly  instalments  or  benefits  forwarded  from  said 
fund  may  be  discontinued,  in  the  discretion  of  the  president  of 
this  International  Union ;  always  provided,  that  the  condition 
of  affairs  at  the  striking  point  must  be  reported  to  him  at  least 
once  in  forty-eight  hours  by  the  local  trustees  of  the  Interna- 
tional fund  at  such  point. 

Sec.  17.  For  all  strike  purposes,  with  the  exception  of  that 
mentioned  in  section  9  of  this  act,  the  president  of  this  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  must  first  be  consulted  (and  a 
three-fourths  vote  of  the  subordinate  union,  as  provided  in 
section  9  of  this  act,  shall  be  necessary  to  order  such  consulta- 
tion)   and  a  detailed   statement  of   grievances  and  proposed 

304 


i  I  Ii_t 


DARWIN  R.  STivl  I  rBR,  St.  Louis 

President  International  Typographical  Union 

.limp  8.   1877 -June  7,  1878 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1878 

remedies  submitted  to  them,  when,  if  they  sanction  it,  the  strike 
may  take  place  and  support  be  given  from  the  International 
fund.  Should  such  a  strike  otherwise  take  place,  the  local  union 
must  stand  on  its  own  bottom. 

Sec.  18.  No  moneys  shall  be  drawn  from  this  International 
fund  for  any  strike  purpose  until  it  shall  have  been  in  process 
of  collection  for  at  least  one  year. 

-  Vice-President  Griffin  Expelled  —  Edward  Griffin,  of 
Baltimore,  who  had  been  elected  first  vice-president 
of  the  International  Union  in  Louisville,  in  1877, 
violated  his  obligation  to  the  union  upon  his  return  to 
Baltimore,  almost  immediately  after  the  adjournment  of 
the  convention  that  had  honored  him  by  election  to  office. 
President  Streeter,  in  reporting  the  matter  to  the  conven- 
tion, said:  "In  view  of  the  peculiar  meanness  shown  by 
this  man,  I  respectfully  recommend  that  some  action  be 
taken  by  the  convention  expressive  of  its  feelings  in  the 
matter,  to  the  end  that  his  name  and  conduct  be  held 
up  to  the  scorn  and  contempt  of  every  fair-minded  printer 
in  the  United  States  and  British  Provinces."  A  special 
committee  was  appointed  to  which  the  recommendation 
of  the  president  was  referred.  This  committee,  after 
investigating  the  charge  against  Griffin,  submitted  the 
following,  which  was  endorsed  by  the  convention  : 

"Edward  Griffin,  of  Baltimore,  having  been  elected 
first  vice-president  of  this  body  at  the  Louisville  session 
of  1877,  and  having  violated  the  obligation  required  of  an 
officer  of  this  body,  as  well  as  betrayed  his  constituency 
of  Baltimore  Union  No.  12,  is  entitled  to  the  contempt 
.Hid  scorn  of  all  honorable  craftsmen.  Edward  Griffin 
affords  an  unexampled  instance  of  an  officer  of  this  union 
betraying  his  trust  while  in  office,  and  wc  hope  that 
subordinate  uniona  will  make  his  name  and  crime  as 
odious  39  possible  throughout  their  |tirisdict!oas.  With 
his  oath  of  office  fresh  upon  hi^  lips,  he  betrayed  the  con- 


90S 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

fidence  of  those  who  elevated  and  honored  him  with  the 
highest  position  within  their  gift,  and  deliberately 
ratted." 

Jurisdiction  of  Subordinate  Unions  — -  The  law  defining 
limits  of  jurisdiction  for  subordinate  unions  was  amplified 
by  the  following  amendment :  "That  a  subordinate  union 
may  consider  any  place  within  a  radius  of  fifty  miles  of. 
its  location  in  which  place  no  union  exists,  as  within 
its  jurisdiction,  for  the  purpose  of  admitting  non-union 
printers  in  such  place  to  its  membership." 

Insurance  Plan  —  A  proposition  to  create  a  plan  of 
insurance  for  members  of  the  International  Union 
received  favorable  consideration  at  the  hands  of  the  dele- 
gates, and  it  was  ordered  that  the  plan  be  printed  in 
detail  in  the  convention  proceedings  and  referred  for 
further  action  to  the  next  convention. 

Minor  Legislation  —  Minor  legislation  included  exten- 
sion of  apprenticeships  from  four  to  five  years,  and  the 
law  directing  a  secret  ballot  on  calling  a  strike. 

Washington,  D.  C,  was  selected  as  the  convention  city 
for  1879. 

Officers,  1878  —  John  Armstrong,  Toronto,  was  elected 
president;  O.  P.  Martin,  Chicago,  first  vice-president; 
T.  J.  Vaughan,  Richmond,  Va.,  second  vice-president; 
William  White,  New  York,  secretary-treasurer,  and 
Charles  Wright,  Cincinnati,  corresponding  secretary. 

Convention    at   Washington 

[1879]  —  When  the  delegates  to  the  twenty-seventh 
convention  assembled  in  Washington,  D.  C,  June  2,  1879, 
only  twenty-seven  unions  were  represented. 

Discouraging  Conditions  —  While  President  Arm- 
strong, in  his  annual  report,  spoke  encouragingly  of  his 
belief  that  the  hard  times  were  passing,  and  predicted 
a  return  to  prosperity,  the  actual  conditions  then  existing 

306 


Convention  at  Washington,  1879 

were  perhaps  the  most  discouraging  in  the  history  of  the 
organization.  Many  subordinate  unions  located  in  the 
south  had  suffered  through  general  suspension  of  indus- 
try, brought  about  by  quarantine  regulations  because  of 
a  scourge  of  yellow  fever.  The  fixed  policy  of  local 
autonomy  and  the  absence  of  a  strong  box  from  which 
to  finance  the  numerous  strikes  had  depleted  the  member- 
ship to  such  an  extent  that  the  secretary-treasurer  omitted 
from  his  annual  report  any  figures  showing  the  actual 
number  in  good  standing,  although  the  aggregate  was 
given  as  5,968.  The  union  was  without  funds  and  appar- 
ently without  power  to  enact  and  enforce  any  laws  that 
denied  to  subordinate  unions  the  right  to  do-  practically 
as  they  pleased. 

Negro  Members  —  For  the  second  time  in  the  history 
of  the  craft  the  question  of  the  recognition  of  colored 
printers  was  brought  before  the  International  Union. 
At  the  convention  held  in  Cincinnati  in  1869  President 
George,  in  his  report,  made  mention  of  a  difficulty  in 
Columbia  Union  over  acceptance  of  one  L.  H.  Douglas, 
a  colored  printer.  A  special  committee  was  appointed, 
to  whom  the  matter  was  referred,  and  this  committee 
recommended  that  the  question  of  admitting  or  rejecting 
colored  printers  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  subordinate 
unions.  The  recommendation  was  concurred  in.  This 
action  on  the  part  of  the  convention  left  the  acceptance 
of  an  application  and  the  initiation  of  a  colored  printer 
optional  with  subordinate  unions,  while  his  recognition  by 
traveling  card  remained  unsettled.  Attention  was  called 
to  another  case  of  a  colored  man  who  had  been  refused 
admission  in  Memphis,  Tcnn.,  and  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  on 
account  of  his  color,  having  presented  a  traveling  card 
from  Columbia  Union  No.  101.  It  was  finally  determined 
by  the  convention  that  no  subordinate  unions  be  allowed 
to  refuse  to  accept  a  properly  accredited  traveling  card. 

307 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

which  was  clear  and  within  date,  provided  no  charges 
were  pending  against  the  holder  thereof. 

Limitation  of  Foreman's  Authority  —  During  the  year 
the  president  had  been  called  upon  to  interpret  the  law 
which  said :  "The  foreman  is  the  proper  person  to  whom 
application  should  be  made  for  employment."  A  fore- 
man in  a  western  city  had  posted  a  sub-list  in  his  office. 
This  action  met  with  disfavor  in  the  union;  the  list  was 
removed  and  a  notice  put  up  in  its  place  to  the  effect 
that  any  regular  hand  wishing  to  be  relieved  from  work 
temporarily  must  apply  to  the  foreman  the  day  previous, 
and  the  latter  would  procure  a  substitute.  This,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  foreman,  was  the  true  interpretation  of 
the  law.  Quite  a  feeling  was  created  in  the  union  by  this 
action.  Finally  the  matter  was  referred  to  the  Interna- 
tional president  for  a  decision.  The  president,  after  care- 
ful consideration  of  the  question  and  of  the  motive  which 
prompted  those  who  framed  the  act,  made  the  following 
interpretation  of  the  law :  "The  law  laid  down  that  a 
foreman  is  the  proper  person  to  whom  application  should 
be  made  for  employment  was  intended  to  protect  the  fore- 
man and  make  his  position,  as  such,  independent  from 
outside  influence  and  the  tampering  of  proprietors.  He 
has  the  right  to  employ  and  discharge  the  regular  hands 
under  him  and  it  naturally  follows  that  he  has  also  the 
right  to  say  who  shall  'sub'  and  who  shall  not  'sub'  in  his 
office.  I,  therefore,  look  upon  the  putting  up  of  a  sub- 
list  in  an  office  as  optional  with  the  foreman  of  that  office ; 
but,  when  a  certain  number  of  'subs'  are  allowed  and 
recognized  in  an  office,  it  is  the  right  and  privilege  of 
any  regular  hand  to  choose  from  this  recognized  number 
who  shall  temporarily  work  for  him,  and  such  right  and 
privilege  does  not  belong  to  the  foreman." 

Defense  Fund  —  The  International  fund  law,  passed 
by  the  previous  convention,  had  been  generally  ignored 

308 


Convention  at  Washington,  1879 

by  subordinate  unions.  With  a  few  exceptions,  the  mem- 
bership had  refused  to  contribute  toward  establishing 
such  a  fund.  Speaking  of  this  law,  the  president  said : 
"More  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  rolled  by  since 
the  formation  of  a  general  fund,  to  sustain  subordinate 
unions  in  times  of  trouble,  was  first  mooted  in  our  craft. 
Often  has  this  question  been  brought  up  at  annual  conven- 
tions, both  under  the  old  National  Typographical  Union 
and  under  the  regime  of  the  International,  and  each  time 
with  such  alterations  and  amendments  as  seemed  best 
suited  to  control  the  modus  operandi  of  such  a  fund. 
Within  these  latter  years  a  scheme  of  this  kind  has  been 
brought  prominently  before  the  craft.  Ex-President 
McVicar's  International  fund  act  seems  to  be  the  most 
perfect.  Its  provisions  you  are  all,  no  doubt,  familiar 
with.  This  measure  was  defeated  at  the  Philadelphia 
convention.  The  same  gentleman  mentioned  it  in  his 
annual  address  at  the  Louisville  convention  as  one  which 
the  craft  should  adopt,  and  made  favorable  comments 
upon  it.  Mr.  McVicar's  suggestions  were  approved  of  by 
that  convention,  thereby  virtually  committing  the  Inter- 
national Union  to  the  principles  which  the  scheme  em- 
braced. Last  year  President  Streeter,  in  his  address  to 
the  Detroit  session,  laid  the  entire  measure  before  the 
convention  for  adoption  or  rejection.  As  you  are  aware, 
the  measure  was  then  legalized  as  a  general  law,  and 
subordinate  unions  were  expected  to  enforce  the  same. 
I  regret  to  state  that  the  law  has  not  met  with  that  hearty 
concurrence  at  the  hands  of  subordinate  unions  which, 
in  my  opinion,  it  deserves.  Several  unions  complied 
with  its  provisions  and  have  placed  the  necessary  fund  in 
the  bank;  others  acknowledge  the  beneficial  results  that 
will  emanate  from  such  a  fund,  but  arc  unable  to  carry 
"ill  its  provisions  owing  to  a  want  of  unanimitv ;  and 
others  again  protest  against  this  l.iw  in  eireulars  couched 

909 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

in  language  more  forcible  than  discreet,  and  in  direct 
violation  or  section  I,  article  i,  of  the  constitution  of  this 
supreme  body,  which  states :  'The  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  of  North  America  shall  be  acknowl- 
edged, respected  and  obeyed  by  each  subordinate  union 
in  its  jurisdiction.'  Many  of  the  circulars  express  the 
opinion  that  the  law  was  an  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion of  this  body  and  therefore  required  a  year's  notice 
of  motion  to  make  it  legal.  Certainly  subordinate  unions 
have  a  perfect  right  to  an  opinion.  But  I  require  more 
than  this.  Proof  and  precedent  are  wanted  to  show 
wherein  the  measure  is  an  amendment  to  our  constitution. 
The  law  governing  strikes,  most  arbitrary  in  one  sense, 
yet  one  of  the  best  laws  ever  framed  by  this  International 
body,  was  passed  at  a  single  session.  Presidents  Bodwell, 
McVicar  and  Streeter  decided  that  the  measure  was  a 
general  law,  and  therefore  competent  to  be  disposed  of  at 
one  session.  These  decisions  met  with  the  approval 
of  the  conventions  over  which  they  had  the  honor  of  pre- 
siding. I  am  acquainted  with  more  than  one  union  the 
members  of  which  strongly  objected  to  the  payment  of 
the  requisite  dollar  on  the  sound  metallic  basis  that  such 
a  fund  would  be  a  most  prolific  parent  of  innumerable 
strikes;  yet  a  motion  to  draw  the  full  amount,  per  head, 
from  the  treasury  was  almost  unanimously  agreed  to. 
I  am  convinced  that,  until  such  time  as  the  printers  of  this 
continent  are  educated  to  bear  a  general  taxation  for 
legitimate  purposes  with  good  grace,  we  have  yet  to  learn 
something  of  the  principles  of  permanent  unionism. 
Those  who  make  objections  to  the  establishment  of  such 
a  fund  should  not  overlook  the  fact  that  similar  reserves 
have  been  raised  by  the  craft  in  Europe ;  and  the  beneficial 
results  which  have  been  obtained  therefrom  should  cer- 
tainly incite  us  to  make  an  honest  effort  to  carry  outthe 
wish  of  the  International  Union  in  this  matter.     I  believe 

310 


Convention  at  Washington,  1879 

that  the  establishment  of  this  fund  will  discourage  strikes, 
will  place  the  International  and  subordinate  unions  on  a 
sounder  footing,  and  will  in  many  ways  be  productive 
of  great  good  to  the  entire  craft.  I  leave  this  subject 
with  you,  invoking  for  it  a  careful  and  impartial  con- 
sideration." 

That  the  delegates  were  not  in  sympathy  with  the 
International  fund  law  was  evidenced  by  the  adoption 
of  a  resolution  offered  by  Delegate  Chance  of  Philadel- 
phia, as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  the  "Act  for  the  creation  of  an  Interna- 
tional fund  for  extraordinary  expenses"  be  stricken  from  our 
general  laws,  and  that  all  moneys  appropriated  or  collected 
under  its  provisions  be  covered  back  into  the  treasuries  of  the 
various  subordinate  unions  so  appropriating  or  collecting. 

St.  Louis  Charter —  In  the  proceedings  of  the  conven- 
tion held  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  in  1878,  and  in  the  reports 
of  officers  submitted  for  the  year  ended  at  that  time,  no 
mention  is  made  of  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  8. 
At  the  convention  in  Washington  in  June,  1879,  the  com- 
mittee on  credentials  incorporated  the  following  para- 
graph in  its  report : 

"In  connection  with  our  report,  we  must  state  that 
we  have  documents  from  the  charter  committee  of  No.  8 
(St.  Louis)  as  well  as  from  the  St.  Louis  Typographical 
Protective  Association,  presented  by  representative  dele- 
gates, Messrs.  Guiheen  and  Cochran,  and,  as  a  disposition 
of  this  matter  involves  fundamental  principles  governing 
the  craft,  we  respectfully  recommend  that  the  subject  be 
relegated  to  the  union  for  consideration  in  committee 
of  the  whole,  and  that  the  contesting  delegates  be  granted 
tin-  privilege  of  the  floor  in  their  own  behalf.  After 
determining  to  consider  the  matter  in  committee  of  the 
whole,  in  secret  session,  the  recommendation  of  the 
credentials  committee  was  concurred  in. 

3" 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

After  the  secret  session,  the  following  was  adopted : 
Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Guiheen  and  Cochran  be  admitted 
to  seats  in  this  convention  and  that  the  whole  subject  of  dis- 
pute in  relation  to  St.  Louis  Union  be  referred  to  a  special 
committee  of  three,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  recommend  to  this 
union  what  is  best  to  be  done  under  the  circumstances. 

Accordingly  a  special  committee  was  appointed  and, 
on  the  third  day  of  the  session,  submitted  the  following 
report,  which  was  concurred  in  by  the  convention  : 

Your  committee  appointed  on  the  papers  sent  to  this  body 
by  the  charter  committee  of  St.  Louis  Union  No.  8,  and  by 
the  Printers'  Protective  Association  and  the  Job  Printers' 
Association  of  St.  Louis,  and  all  other  papers  in  connection 
with  said  matter,  offer  the  following  as  their  report : 

First.  That  there  is  not  now,  nor  has  there  at  any  time  been, 
since  the  surrender  of  their  first  charter,  a  legally  constituted 
union  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis. 

We  are  forced  to  this  finding  from  the  fact  that  printers 
going  to  St.  Louis  can  not  obey  the  general  laws  of  this  body 
under  the  head  of  membership,  sections  3,  4,  5  and  6,  and  from 
the  further  fact  that  the  so-called  Union  No.  8  does  not,  and 
can  not,  exercise  any  of  the  functions  of  a  subordinate  union, 
as  it  does  not,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  hold 
its  regular  meetings,  collect  dues,  issue  and  receive  traveling 
or  working  cards,  or  take  any  other  action  necessary  to  the 
healthful  working  of  a  subordinate  union. 

In  order  amicably  to  settle  the  difficulty  now  existing  in 
St.  Louis,  we  would  respectfully  recommend  a  committee  of 
seven,  three  each  to  be  selected  by  the  gentlemen  representing 
the  two  factions  in  St.  Louis,  present  at  this  session  of  this 
body — Messrs.  Guiheen  and  Cochran — and  the  seventh  mem- 
ber of  this  committee  to  be  elected  by  the  six  thus  appointed, 
to  whom  a  charter  shall  be  issued  by  this  body,  who  shall 
immediately  open  St.  Louis  Union  and  proceed  to  exercise  all 
the  functions  of  a  subordinate  union,  and  shall  have  all  the 
powers,  protection  and  privileges  guaranteed  to  a  subordinate 
union  by  the  constitution  and  general  laws  of  this  body  when 
they  shall  thus  organize  themselves,  which  they  are  hereby 
ordered  to  do  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 

312 


JOHN  ARMSTRONG.  Tobokto 

President  International  Typographical  Union 

June  7,  1878 -June  5.   1879 


Convention  at  Washington,  1879 

In  connection  with  the  above  report,  Delegate  Chance, 
Philadelphia,   offered  the   following   resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  charter  at  present  held  by  St.  Louis  be 
revoked  by  this  union. 

The  resolution  was  adopted. 

At  the  convention  in  Chicago  the  following  year, 
President  Haldeman,  in  his  report,  said  that  the  terms 
of  the  resolution  adopted,  providing  for  the  appointment 
of  a  committee  of  seven  to  adjust  the  St.  Louis  difficulty, 
had  never  been  carried  out.  It  appears  that  from  the 
first  move  toward  its  execution,  no  provision  for  the  con- 
tingency of  a  non-agreement  of  the  two  factions  having 
been  made,  it  was  impossible  to  accomplish  a  definite  re- 
sult. The  officers  of  the  International  Union  were  left  no 
authority  in  the  matter  except  to  issue  a  charter  when 
the  properly  accredited  seven  names  accompanied  the 
application.  After  several  meetings  of  the  committee, 
its  members  failed  to  agree,  with  the  result  that  the  mat- 
ter was  again  placed  before  the  convention  in  practically 
the  same  shape  that  it  was  the  year  previous.  It  was 
determined  by  the  delegates  to  consider  the  matter  in 
secret  session,  with  the  result  that  the  convention  adopted 
the  following  resolution  disposing  of  the  matter: 

Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  body  the  members 
of  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  8  are  entitled  to 
recognition,  that  their  delegates  should  be  admitted  to  seats, 
and  that  their  charter  should  be  returned. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  understanding  of  this  International 
body  that  all  members  of  St.   Louis   Union   No.  8,   in  good 
itanding  at  the  time  of  nispension,  and  who  have  n<>t  - 
ratted,  and  all  men  now  in  the  city  with  cards,  shall  be  entitled 
to  full  recognition  without  question  by  said  union. 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  the  union  nun  of  St    Looil 
.1   policy  of   leniency  and    forgiveness,   with   the  view   of  i 
solidating   the    competent    practical    Dilution  of   that   citv   and 
securing,  their  alliance  with  our  fraternity. 

5X3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

The  wisdom  of  the  convention  in  following  the  policy 
outlined  in  the  foregoing  resolution  is  evidenced  by  the 
comment  of  President  Atkinson  in  his  annual  report 
(1881),  as  follows: 

What  is  known  as  the  "St.  Louis  trouble"  attracted  so  much 
attention  at.  the  last  session  of  this  body  that  brief  reference 
to  the  results  of  the  settlement  then  made  will  not  be  improper. 
I  have  made  it  my  business  to  observe  those  results,  and  it  is 
with  pleasure  that  I  now  verify  the  wisdom  of  the  decision  at 
Chicago,  recognizing  and  returning  the  charter  to  the  members 
of  No.  8,  trusting  them  to  consolidate  the  union  element  of  that 
jurisdiction.  The  terms  agreed  upon  were  exceeded  in  liberality 
and  within  a  few  weeks  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  new 
members  were  added  to  the  rolls.  Those  who  have  taken  the 
trouble  to  note  the  status  of  affairs  in  St.  Louis  need  not  be  told 
that  for  many  years  our  friends  have  had  uphill  work  in  that 
city  and  that  organized  non-unionism  has  been  strong  and 
active.  I  am  convinced  that  this  opposition  is  now  confronted 
with  a  zeal  and  unity  which  can  not  fail  to  effect  material 
advantages  in  the  near  future.  In  the  settlement  of  this  diffi- 
culty, in  common  with  all  who  feel  the  need  of  harmony  among 
ourselves,  I  rejoice. 

State  Unions  —  A  comprehensive  proposition  pro- 
viding for  the  creation  of  state  and  provincial  unions 
met  with  little  favor  at  the  hands  of  the  convention,  being 
defeated  by  a  decisive  vote. 

Charters  —  Charters  were  reissued  during  the  year  to 
Bay  City,  Mich. ;  San  Antonio,  Tex. ;  Eureka,  Nev.,  and 
pressmen's  unions  were  organized  in  Philadelphia  and 
Ottawa.  Indianapolis  again  appeared  in  the  list  of  unions 
in  good  standing,  although  no  mention  is  made  of  the 
charter  being  reissued,  the  same  having  been  surrendered 
in  1877.  Two  unions  (Houston,  Tex.,  and  Richmond 
Ind. )   surrendered  their  charters. 

Delegate  to  Paris  —  J.  H.  Ralston,  International  dele- 
gate to  the  Paris  Exposition,  submitted  an  interesting 
and  comprehensive  report  of  his  trip  abroad,  which  was 

314 


Convention  at  Washington,  1879 

ordered  to  be  spread  upon  the  minutes  and  printed  in  full 
as  an  appendix  to  the  proceedings. 

Insurance  —  A  proposition  presented  at  the  previous 
convention  to  create  a  plan  of  insurance  was  again  laid 
over,  with  a  request  to  subordinate  unions  to  discuss  the 
plan  and  give  utterance  to  their  desires  through  their 
delegates  to  the  next  meeting  of  the  International  Union. 

Bieimial  Conventions  —  A  proposition  to  hold  conven- 
tions of  the  International  biennially,  instead  of  annually, 
was  rejected. 

Inception  of  the  A.  F.  of  L.  —  A  resolution  was 
adopted  instructing  the  corresponding  secretary  to  open 
communication  with  the  different  international  labor 
unions  in  North  America,  with  a  view  of  getting  an 
expression  regarding  the  feasibility  of  forming  an  inter- 
national amalgamated  union,  with  instructions  to  lay  such 
correspondence  before  the  next  convention. 

Arbitration  —  While  the  prevailing  policy  at  this 
period  of  the  union's  history  permitted  subordinate  unions 
to  go  on  strike  without  interference  by  the  International, 
the  spirit  of  arbitration  was  in  evidence.  A  resolution 
was  adopted  by  the  convention  to  the  effect  that  the 
International  Typographical  Union  would  recommend 
that  when  disputes  arose  between  subordinate  unions  and 
employers,  which  could  not  be  adjusted  after  conferences 
between  the  parties  at  issue,  the  matter  be  then  settled  by 
arbitration. 

Chicago,  111.,  was  selected  as  the  convention  city 
for  1880. 

Officers,  18  jq  —  Samuel  Haldcman,  Washington, 
D.  G,  was  elected  president;  William  P,  Atkinson,  Eric, 
1  t  \  i iv- president;  C.  W.  Bovard,  Springfield,  111., 

second  vice-president;  William  White,  New  York,  secre- 
tary-treasurer, and  Thomas  T.  Hurdle,  Richmond,  Va., 
corresponding  secretary. 

3«3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Visit  Tomb  of  Washington  —  The  delegates  to  the 
Washington  convention  visited  Mount  Vernon  on  Tues- 
day, June  3,  as  the  guests  of  Columbia  Typographical 
Union  and  Pressmen's  Union  No.  I,  of  Washington. 
While  at  the  tomb  the  company  proceeded  to  the  portico 
of  the  mansion,  where  Mr.  L.  A.  Gobright,  a  printer, 
delivered  an  oration  on  the  life  and  character  of  Wash- 
ington, as  follows : 

Gentlemen  of  tije  International  Typographical 
Union — It  is  right  that  men  engaged  in  a  vocation  that  enlight- 
ens the  world  by  a  diffusion  of  intelligence  and  records  the 
products  of  the  mind  in  permanent  form  should  withdraw  for 
a  brief  season  from  their  usual  occupation  to  visit  a  place  dear 
to  every  American  heart — a  place  where,  during  the  late  civil 
war,  no  rude  soldiery  intruded  to  disturb  the  holy  calm  that 
surrounds  the  scene.  This  is  neutral  ground,  where  all  men  may 
meet  in  concord  and  peace. 

There  are  three  chapters  in  the  life  of  Washington — mili- 
tary, civil  and  domestic.  The  last-named  was  closed  at  Mount 
Vernon.  He,  after  the  second  term  of  his  presidency,  returned 
to  it  in  1797,  the  haven  of  repose  where,  throughout  his  anxious 
and  agitated  career,  he  hoped  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

The  history  of  his  life  shows  that  he  reluctantly  and  timidly 
entered  upon  the  administration  of  affairs,  but  was  compelled 
to  do  so  by  a  sense  of  public  duty  and  by  the  importunity  of 
friends — patriots  imbued  with  the  love  of  liberty,  like  himself. 

On  the  porch  of  this  mansion  he  had  often  looked,  as  we 
do  now,  at  the  beautiful  Potomac,  and  at  the  close  of  the  sum- 
mer day  enjoyed  the  air  cooled  by  the  passage  over  its  flow  of 
waters.  Here  he  beheld  the  rising  and  setting  sun  that  still 
illuminates  with  undiminished  luster  this  beautiful  landscape, 
and  here,  too,  he  beheld  the  glories  of  the  varying  seasons,  and 
was  glad  in  the  possession  of  "the  lines"  that  had  fallen  to  him 
"in  pleasant  places"  and  given  to  him  "a  goodly  heritage." 

The  rougher  products  of  the  field,  the  abundant  harvests, 
were  not  more  valued  than  the  flowers  that  bloomed  under  his 
cultivating  care  and  spread  around  him  a  halo  of  bloom,  with 
fragrance  more  precious  than  all  the  honors  that  men  could 
bestow. 

316 


Convention  at  Washington,  1879 

We  tread  the  paths  of  his  estate  so  often  trodden  by  him; 
we  pass  through  the  same  doors  of  the  mansion.  At  every  turn 
we  are  reminded  of  the  stately  form  of  him  whose  fame  has 
extended  to  every  portion  of  the  world  where  true  greatness 
is  appreciated. 

But  he  was  permitted  only  a  short  time  to  enjoy  a  rest  at 
Mount  Vernon.  On  the  12th  day  of  December,  1799,  he  was 
seized  with  inflammation  of  the  throat,  which  grew  worse  the 
next  day  and  terminated  his  life  on  the  14th  of  that  month,  in 
the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 

We  know  from  the  history  of  the  times  of  the  universal 
gloom  the  event  occasioned  and  the  honors  everywhere  paid 
to  his  memory. 

The  funeral  took  place  on  the  1 8th  of  December.  At  eleven 
o'clock  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  began  to  assemble.  The 
corporation  of  Alexandria,  with  the  militia  and  freemasons  and 
eleven  pieces  of  artillery,  arrived  at  a  later  hour.  A  schooner 
was  stationed  off  Mount  Vernon  to  fire  minute  guns.  At  three 
o'clock  the  procession  began  to  move,  passing  out  at  the  gate 
at  the  left  wing,  proceeding  round  in  front  of  the  lawn,  and 
down  to  the  vault  on  the  right  wing  of  the  house.  The  troops, 
horse  and  foot,  formed  the  escort;  next  came  the  clergy,  then 
the  general's  horse,  with  his  saddle,  holsters  and  pistols,  led 
by  two  grooms  in  black.  The  body  was  borne  by  freemasons  and 
military  officers.  Several  members  of  the  family  and  old  friends 
and  some  of  the  Fairfaxes  followed  as  chief  mourners.  The 
corporation  of  Alexandria  and  numerous  private  persons  closed 
the  procession.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Davis  read  the  funeral  service  at 
the  vault  and  pronounced  a  short  address,  after  which  the  free 
masons  performed  their  ceremonies,  when  the  body  was 
deposited  in  the  vault. 

Such  were  the  obsequies  of  Washington,  simple  and  modest, 
according  to  his  own  wishes — all  confined  to  the  grounds  of 
Mount  Vernon,  which,  after  funning  the  poetic  dream  of  his 
life,  had  now  become  the  final  resting  place. 

The  senate  of  the  United  States,   in  |  communication   to 
President    Adams,  said:  "Our  country  mourns  a  father.    The 
Almighty    Disposer  of   events  has   taken    from  us  our   gNU 
benefactor  and   ornament.     It    becomes  us  to  submit   with    I 
•    to  ll.ni  who  maketh  dark  his  pavilion.    With  patriotic 

3*7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

pride  we  review  the  life  of  Washington,  and  compare  him  with 
those  of  other  countries  who  have  been  pre-eminent  in  favor. 
Ancient  and  modern  names  are  diminished  before  him.  Great- 
ness and  guilt  have  too  often  been  allied,  but  his  fame  is  whiter 
than  it  is  brilliant.  The  destroyers  of  nations  stood  abashed  at 
the  majesty  of  his  virtues.  It  reproved  the  intemperance  of 
their  ambition,  and  darkened  the  splendor  of  victory. 

"The  scene  is  closed,  and  we  are  no  longer  anxious  lest 
misfortune  should  sully  his  glory.  He  has  traveled  on  to  the 
end  of  his  journey,  and  carried  with  him  an  increasing  weight 
of  honor.  He  has  deposited  it  safely,  where  misfortune  can  not 
tarnish  it,  where  malice  can  not  blast  it.  Favored  of  heaven,  he 
departed  without  exhibiting  the  weakness  of  humanity.  Mag- 
nanimous in  death,  the  darkness  of  the  grave  could  not  obscure 
his  brightness." 

The  president,  in  response,  said  that  he  had  attended  Wash- 
ington in  his  "highest  elevation  and  most  prosperous  felicity, 
with  uniform  admiration  of  his  wisdom,  moderation  and  con- 
stancy." That  "his  life  could  not  suffer  by  a  comparison  with 
tbose  of  other  countries  who  have  been  most  celebrated  and 
exalted  by  fame,"  and  that  "the  attributes  and  decorations  of 
royalty  could  only  have  served  to  eclipse  the  majesty  of  those 
virtues  which  made  him,  from  being  a  modest  citizen,  a  most 
resplendent  luminary." 

On  the  23rd  of  December  congress  resolved  to  erect  a 
marble  monument  at  the  capital  "designed  to  commemorate  the 
great  merits  of  his  military  and  political  life."  The  monument 
is  not  yet  built ;  nor  does  Washington  need  one,  except  in  the 
hearts  of  his  countrymen,  on  the  base  of  gratitude,  affection  and 
veneration.  As  an  ornament  to  the  city  which  he  founded  it 
would  please  the  eye,  but  could  add  nothing  to  the  appreciation 
of  his  illustrious  character.  It  may  here  be  appropriately  men- 
tioned that  when  Lafayette,  the  well-tried  friend  of  Washing- 
ton, visited  the  tomb,  in  1825,  he  descended  alone  into  the 
vault  and  was  melted  into  tears ;  and,  as  he  was  about  to  depart, 
Mr.  Custis  (the  grandson  of  Mrs.  Washington),  who  had 
accompanied  him  to  the  spot,  presented  him  with  a  ring  con- 
taining some  of  the  hair  of  his  illustrious  friend.  Lafayette 
examined  the  mansion  with  great  interest,  and  among  the  relics 
discovered  the  key  to  the  Bastile,  which  had  been  sent  to  Wash- 

318 


Convention  at  Washington,  1879 

ington  many  years  before  by  himself.  This  was  the  principal 
key  of  the  fortress  of  despotism  which  Lafayette  had  ordered 
to  be  destroyed. 

So  far  as  other  countries  are  concerned  Washington's  real 
character  was  obscure.  It  could  be  seen  only  from  a  distance, 
in  a  dim,  shadowy  outline;  but  as  the  sun  slowly  lifts  at  morn 
the  hazy  blue  drapery  of  the  mountains,  and  exposes  them  in 
their  stateliness,  so  the  brightness  of  time  has  dispelled  the 
mist  that  enveloped  him,  and  he  now  stands  forth  as  a  Colossus 
against  a  clear  sky,  in  full  view  of  the  admiring  world,  in 
resplendent  glory. 

Beside  him  floats  the  American  flag,  its  stars,  like  the  stellar 
fires  of  the  firmament,  never  to  be  dimmed,  and  after  which 
it  was  fashioned,  representing  a  constellation  of  states,  con- 
stantly increasing  in  number,  illuminating  the  union  field  as 
the  stars  glitter  above,  where  reign  harmony  and  peace.  And  as 
the  natural  stars  shine  for  all,  so  may  those  upon  our  banner, 
teaching  the  lesson  of  concord,  undisturbed  by  faction,  with  no 
instrumentalities  to  rend  our  starry  host.  May  the  national 
ensign  ever  be  the  symbol  of  justice,  in  all  respects  whatsoever 
— a  joy  to  all  nations,  as  the  glorious  light  which  makes  clear 
the  path  from  despotism  to  freedom. 

From  this  sacred  ground  may  we  bear  away  a  higher  appre- 
ciation than  heretofore  of  the  character  of  him  whose  dust  only 
lies  in  that  dim  and  damp  vault,  inclosed  in  the  cold  and  pallid 
sarcophagus,  but  whose  spirit  will  ever  live  to  warm  the  hearts 
of  the  lovers  of  liberty  in  association  with  free  institutions,  as 
the  noiseless  rays  of  the  sun  warm  the  generous  earth,  softened 
l>y  the  rain  and  causing  it  to  yield  the  treasures  of  harvest 

Hither  have  come  visitors  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  and 
here  trees  have  been  planted  by  royal  hands,  in  recognition  of 
his  worth,  near  the  tomb  to  which  his  remains  were  removed 
from  their  former  resting  place. 

With  veneration  and  gratitude,  standing  with  uncovered 
heads,  we  rejoice  that  we  are  privileged  to  see  the  place  wher* 
lived  and  died  him  whom  ambition  could  not  direr!  from  the 
path  of  duty,  no  influence  corrupt,  and  whose  heart  was  sensitixe 
.mil  his  intellect  active  at  all  times  to  promote  the  glory  and 
prosperity  of  the  republic  of  which  he  was  by  common  con- 
sent recognized  as  the  father. 

3»9 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

He  has  bequeathed  to  us  the  legacy  of  freedom,  which  it 
should  be  our  duty  to  preserve,  not  only  to  bless  our  own 
countrymen  in  succeeding  generations,  but  all  mankind. 

May  this  day,  brethren,  long  be  remembered  as  one  of  the 
most  interesting  and  instructive  of  our  lives,  when  all  hearts 
throbbed  in  patriotic  unison,  with  fraternal  greeting. 

i 
Convention   at    Chicago 

[1880] — President  Haldeman,  in  submitting  his  report 
to  the  twenty-eighth  convention  of  the  International 
Union  in  Chicago,  June  7,  1880,  congratulated  the 
assembled  delegates  upon  the  evidences  of  "good  times 
coming"  and  also  upon  the  number  of  new  unions  added 
to  the  list  during  the  year.  A  noticeable  increase  in  the 
number  of  subordinate  unions  represented,  over  the  past 
several  conventions,  was  evidenced  by  the  presence  of 
sixty-six  delegates  representing  forty-nine  local  unions. 

The  Brotherhood  —  The  chief  topic  of  interest  during 
the  sessions  of  the  twenty-eighth  convention  was  the 
"Brotherhood  of  the  Union  of  North  America."  An 
institution,  alleged  to  exist,  with  the  above  title,  had 
been  the  subject  of  much  agitation  during  the  year.  The 
first  official  action  dealing  with  the  question  was  an 
appeal  taken  by  a  member  of  Chicago  Union  No.  16  from 
the  action  of  that  body  in  passing  a  resolution  providing 
expulsion  from  the  union  of  members  found  guilty  of 
membership  in  the  Brotherhood.  President  Haldeman, 
in  rendering  a  decision  on  the  appeal,  in  a  communication 
to  Chicago  Typographical  Union,  said : 

W.  G.  Kercheval,  one  of  your  members,  has  made  an  appeal 
to  me  against  the  following  resolution,  which  was  passed  at 
your  July  meeting : 

"Resolved,  That  members  of  this  union,  or  such  as  may 
become  members,  either  by  initiation  or  card,  who  may  now  be 
in,  or  who  may  hereafter  enter,  any  organization,  combination, 
or  ring  composed  of  printers,  with  intent  to  influence  or  control 

320 


SAMUEL  HALD1MAN,  Wamumtom,  D   < 

I'rriiiili  nl    lnlrtiiulioii.il    1  \|i.-tti.i|>lii>4l    t'nion 
.Innr    5,    1M71J       Jinir    II.    1R80 


Convention  at  Chicago,   1880 

the  action  of  this  body,  shall,  upon  conviction,  either  by  positive 
proof  or  by  strong  circumstantial  evidence,  be  summarily  and 
forever  expelled  from  membership  in  Chicago  Typographical 
Union  No.  16." 

With  a  view  to  getting  at  the  merits  of  this  matter,  there 
was  some  delay  necessary  before  giving  a  decision.  I  find 
nothing  whatever  in  the  constitution  of  No.  16  conflicting  with 
your  right  to  pass  such  a  resolution.  It  bears  evidences,  how- 
ever, of  being  passed  under  excitement;  as,  for  instance,  the 
words  "or  card"  may  lead  to  conflict  of  authority.  The  word 
"forever,"  I  think,  on  reflection,  you  will  consider  rather  harsh, 
considering  that  we  are  all  liable  to  err.  But  I  shall  not  dwell 
on  that  now. 

Before  and  since  the  passage  of  the  resolution,  your  union 
certainly  was,  and  is,  the  judge  of  the  qualifications  of  its  own 
members.  My  only  wish  in  regard  to  this  and  all  other  matters 
is  that  our  members  will  pursue  a  conservative,  conciliatory 
policy,  and,  instead  of  making  rats,  make  union  men  wherever 
possible.  I  believe,  however,  that  is  the  "Chicago  plan."  I 
decide  that  your  right  in  the  matter  is  unquestioned. 

Following  the  decision  quoted  above,  a  number  of 
subordinate  unions  took  action,  embodying  clauses  in  the 
obligation  prohibiting  members  from  belonging  to  secret 
organizations  for  the  purpose  of  influencing  the  action 
of  their  unions.  The  matter  was  brought  directly  before 
the  convention  by  the  introduction  of  a  resolution  which, 
after  being  considered  in  secret  session  on  several  occa- 
sions, was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  31  ayes,  28  noes.  The 
resolution  referred  to  follows: 

WHEREAS  an  organization  called  the  "Brotherhood  of  the 
Union  of  North  America"  has  been  established,  and  is  now 
believed  to  exist,  within  the  membership  of  the  subordinates  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union,  the  object  of  said 
organisation  being  to  control  the  legislation  of  said  Inter 
national  Union  and  its  subordinates,  in  ftCOOrdancs  with  the 
wishes  of  the  brotherhood;  and 

Win  ki  \s  tliis  brotherhood  is  a  secret  society,  bound  together 
by  obligations  imposed  upon  it->  members,  an«l  requiring  them 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

to  prefer,  in  all  matters  relating  to  union  affairs,  members  of 
the  brotherhood  to  the  other  members  of  the  union,  thus  creat- 
ing a  distinction  between  union  members ;  and 

Whereas  this  oath-bound,  sign,  grip,  and  password  using 
organization  has,  by  its  secret  manipulations  of  subordinate 
unions,  created  trouble  and  made  strife  in  such  unions,  thus 
defeating  the  purposes  for  which  the  union  was  established ;  and 

Whereas  the  existence  of  such  an  organization  within  the 
membership  of  the  subordinates  of  the  International  Union 
is  destructive  of  that  spirit  of  brotherhood  and  equality  upon 
which  the  union  is  founded,  and  has  a  tendency  to  disrupt 
subordinate  unions,  and  destroy  the  organization,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  it  shall  be,  and  is  hereby  declared  to  be, 
unlawful  for  any  member  of  any  subordinate  typographical 
union  to  be  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  the  Union  of 
North  America,  or  any  other  similar  organization. 

Resolved,  That  any  member  of  a  subordinate  union  guilty 
of  membership  in  any  such  an  organization  as  is  referred  to  in 
the  above  resolution,  shall,  upon  conviction  of  the  offense,  be 
deprived  of  the  right  to  vote  upon  any  question  submitted  to, 
and  shall  be  ineligible  to  any  office  in,  any  subordinate  union 
holding  a  charter  from  this  body. 

Resolved,  That  any  member  convicted  of  being  connected 
with  this  alleged  organization  shall  not  be  eligible  to  member- 
ship in  any  subordinate  union. 

Resolved,  That  the  penalty  in  above  resolutions  outlawing 
members  of  the  Brotherhood  shall  only  govern  offenses  commit- 
ted since,  and  not  before,  the  passage  of  said  resolutions. 

The  following  obligation  for  delegates,  in  the  nature 
of  a  general  law,  was  enacted : 

I, ,  hereby  solemnly  pledge  myself,  in  the  presence 

of  Almighty  God  and  those  here  assembled,  that,  in  the  dis- 
charge of  my  duties  as  a  delegate  to  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  I  will  at  all  times,  and  under  all  cir- 
cumstances, act,  speak,  and  vote  solely  for  what  I  believe  to  be 
the  best  interests  of  the  trade  generally,  of  this  body,  and  of  the 
union  whose  representative  I  am;  and  that  I  will  not,  in 
legislation,  election  of  officers,  or  otherwise,  allow  any  secret, 
outside  or  improper  means  of  any  kind  whatever  to  influence 
my  action. 
322 


Convention  at  Chicago,   1880 

The  convention  also  adopted  the  following  resolution, 
and  recommended  it  to  the  various  subordinate  unions, 
to  be  made  a  part  of  the  obligation  administered  to  new 
members : 

I,   ,  hereby  solemnly  pledge  my  honor  as  a  man, 

that  I  will  never  allow  any  allegiance  that  I  now  or  may  here- 
after owe  to  any  organization,  either  social,  political,  religious, 
secret,  or  otherwise,  to  in  any  manner  whatever  cause  me  to 
neglect  or  refuse  to  perform  my  duty  toward  my  fellow-crafts- 
men; and  that  in  the  employment  of  such  men  unionism  will 
be  first  considered,  competency  next,  and  personal  or  other 
preferences  last. 

Continental  Federation  of  Trades  —  As  a  result  of  the 
action  of  the  previous  convention,  instructing  the  corre- 
sponding secretary  to  communicate  with  various  national 
unions  of  other  trades,  suggesting  the  desirability  of  con- 
sidering the  formation  of  a  Continental  Federation  of 
Trades,  the  secretary  reported  that  he  had  addressed 
a  copy  of  the  following  resolution,  adopted  at  Washing- 
ton the  year  previous,  to  all  organizations  of  which  he 
had  knowledge : 

Resolved,  That  the  corresponding  secretary  of  this  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  be,  and  hereby  is,  instructed  to 
open  a  correspondence  with  the  different  international  labor 
unions  of  North  America,  with  a  view  to  getting  impressions 
regarding  the  feasibility  of  forming  an  international  amalga- 
mated union,  and  that  he  lay  such  correspondence  before  the 
next  annual  meeting  of  this  body. 

The  correspondence  in  the  hands  of  the  secretary 
received  from  the  various  unions,  replying  to  his  com- 
munication on  the  subject  of  uniting  the  unions  more 
closely  for  mutual  cl  and  support,   a  as  referred  to 

a  special  committee.  This  committee  submitted  its  con- 
clusions and  recommendations  as  folio  1 

We  are  satisfied  that  steps  in  this  direction  would  remit 
more  beneficially  to  our  craft  at  large  than  to  any  other.   The 

3*3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

fact  is  apparent  that  workingmen  would  thus  become  educated 
up  to  use  their  influence  in  support  of  union  printing  offices, 
which  the  experience  of  the  different  trades  assemblies  will 
substantiate.  The  so-called  labor  journals  would  also  be 
frowned  down  or  compelled  to  give  employment  to  union 
printers  only,  and  our  plain  duty  would  be  to  support  union 
labor  in  other  industries,  where  we  have  patronage  to  bestow. 

We  recommend  that  the  corresponding  secretary  be 
instructed  to  issue,  at  the  earliest  date  practicable,  to  all  inter- 
national trades  unions,  national  trades  unions,  and  trades 
assemblies,  in  the  United  States,  Canada  and  the  British- 
American  provinces,   invitations   to   send  properly  accredited 

delegates  to  a  convention  to  be  held  in on  ....  next, 

for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Continental  Federation  of 
Trades;  this  federation  to  meet  annually  at  such  time  and  in 
such  place  as  may  be  chosen  by  a  majority  of  the  delegates  at 
any  regular  annual  session  of  the  federation. 

The  functions'  of  this  federation  to  be — 

1.  To  discuss  and  examine  all  questions  affecting  the  inter- 
ests of  the  working  classes  which  can  not  be  acted  upon  in 
special  trade  or  labor  unions,  and  to  so  concentrate  labor  as  to 
enable  it  to  successfully  compete  with  concentrated  capital. 

2.  To  impress  upon  the  various  branches  of  industry  the 
importance  and  necessity  of  maintaining  protective  unions. 

3.  To  devise  the  best  means  of  adjusting  difficulties  that  may 
arise  between  employers  and  employes. 

4.  To  prepare  in  legal  shape  and  present  for  enactment  to 
the  different  governments  bills  for  the  removal  of  statutory 
restrictions  of  the  rights  of  organized  labor,  and  also  for  the 
enactment  of  laws  tending  to  ameliorate  the  condition  and 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  working  classes,  and  to  take  steps 
to  urge  their  passage. 

5.  To  encourage  productive  and  distributive  co-operation. 

6.  To  propagate  strictly  trades-union  doctrines  wherever 
possible;  disseminate  arguments  in  their  favor,  and  generally 
to  elevate  unionism  and  obtain  for  it  the  respect  and  recognition 
to  which  it  is  entitled  at  the  hands  of  employers,  legislators  and 
the  general  public. 

The  recommendations  contained  in  the  committee's 
report  were  concurred  in  by  the  convention,  and  it  was 

324 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1880 

also  voted  that  the  incoming  corresponding  secretary  be 
instructed  to  represent  the  International  Union  at  the 
convention  for  the  amalgamation  of  all  trade  and  labor 
organizations,  and  that  he  be  authorized  to  fill  the  blanks 
in  the  report  adopted  above. 

Tariff  on  Paper  and  Printed  Matter  —  President 
Haldeman,  in  submitting  his  annual  report  to  the  conven- 
tion, called  attention  to  the  exorbitant  price  of  printing 
paper,  asserting  that  there  had  been  an  unprecedented 
and  unwarranted  increase  of  from  30  to  50  per  cent,  in  the 
price  of  that  article,  and  also  said  that  this  advance  had 
not  only  embarrassed  many  printing  establishments  but 
had  driven  some  of  them  out  of  existence.  The  convention 
ordered  that  the  question  be  left  to  a  special  committee 
for  investigation.  This  committee  reported  that  the  sub- 
ject required  much  time  and  a  great  deal  of  investigation 
in  order  to  obtain  a  true  statement  of  the  facts,  and  sug- 
gested that  the  officers  of  the  International  Union  be 
constituted  a  special  committee  thoroughly  to  investigate 
the  matter,  both  in  regard  to  white  paper  and  printed 
matter,  in  all  its  phases,  and  that  subordinate  unions  and 
individual  members  thereof  be  requested  to  furnish  all  the 
information  in  their  possession  to  the  officers;  that  the 
officers  report  their  findings  at  the  next  session  of  the  In- 
ternational Union.  The  special  committee  also  recom- 
mended the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions,  which 
were  concurred  in : 

Resolved,  That  the  International  Typographical  Union 
recommends  that  subordinate  unions  and  individual  members 
of  the  same  use  every  honorable  means  t.>  induce  the  congress 
of  the  United  States  to  repeal  the  duty  on  white  paper,  and 
on  materia]  for  making  the  same,  believing  that  the  present 
duty  is  no  protection  to  the  workinimicn  engaged  in  its  pro- 
duction, but  inures  solely  to  the  benefit  of  a  combination  of 
capitalists. 

Resolved,    That  subordinate  unions  urge  upon  congress  the 

3«5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

propriety  of  levying  a  reasonable  duty  on  the  importation  of 
printed  matter  from  foreign  countries,  in  order  to  enable  the 
publishers  of  America  to  compete  with  the  cheaper  labor  of 
Europe,  and  at  the  same  time  to  give  those  employed  by  them 
reasonable  compensation  for  their  services. 

Separate  Charter  for  Job  Printers  Refused  —  A  prop- 
osition to  authorize  the  formation  of  separate  organiza- 
tions of  book  and  job  printers,  introduced  at  the  Wash- 
ington convention  the  year  previous,  was  reported  from 
the  committee  on  unfinished  business  with  an  unfavorable 
recommendation.  The  committee,  however,  offered  the 
suggestion  that  in  voting  on  the  scale  of  prices  the  mem- 
bers of  each  of  the  two  classes,  viz.,  book  and  job,  and 
news,  should  vote  only  on  such  portions  of  the  scale  as 
affected  their  class.  After  an  extended  discussion  of  the 
committee's  suggestion,  it  being  pointed  out  that  the 
trouble  at  St.  Louis  was  largely  due  to  a  division  of 
opinion  regarding  the  feasibility  of  separate  charters  for 
book  and  job  printers,  the  convention  adopted  the  follow- 
ing substitute  for  the  committee's  recommendation : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  union  that  any  altera- 
tion, amendment  or  modification  of  section  2,  article  I,  of  the 
constitution,  is  uncalled  for  and  would  work  prejudicial  to  the 
best  interest  of  the  craft,  and  that,  therefore,  all  action  tending 
to  such  alteration,  amendment  or  modification  of  said  section 
and  article  of  the  constitution  be,  and  the  same  is,  hereby 
indefinitely  postponed. 

Insurance  Plan  Rejected  —  The  insurance  plan  intro- 
duced at  a  previous  session,  which  had  been  referred  to 
subordinate  unions  for  consideration,  upon  being  reported 
from  the  committee  on  unfinished  business  with  an 
adverse  recommendation,  was  rejected  by  the  delegates. 

Prize  for  Best  Reorganization  Plan  —  Delegate  Adair 
of  Chicago  submitted  a  resolution  authorizing  the  sum 
of  $25  to  be  appropriated,  to  be  paid  to  the  person  pre- 
senting to   the   International   Union   at  its   next   annual 

326 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1 88 1 

meeting  the  most  acceptable  plan  of  reorganization  both 
for  the  International  Union  and  for  the  subordinate 
unions  composing  it,  the  plans  to  be  considered  and 
passed  upon  by  a  committee  to  be  appointed  by  the  pre- 
siding officer  at  the  next  session.  The  proposition  was 
referred  to  the  committee  on  new  business  and  reported 
back  with  a  favorable  recommendation  and  the  conven- 
tion adopted  the  committee's  report. 

Typographic^  Traveling  Cards  —  The  question  of 
receiving  traveling  cards  presented  by  members  of  the 
German-American  Typographia  was  disposed  of  by  the 
adoption  of  the  following  resolution,  with  the  understand- 
ing that  subordinate  unions  be  permitted  to  use  their  own 
judgment  in  the  matter: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  union  that  a  traveling 
card  presented  by  a  member  of  a  German  union  working  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  German-American  Typographia  to  a 
subordinate  union  of  this  body  shall  entitle  said  member  to  an 
English  working  card. 

Officers,  1880  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were 
elected  as  follows :  President,  William  P.  Atkinson,  Eric. 
Pa.;  first  vice-president,  H.  W.  Clayton,  Memphis; 
second  vice-president,  Andrew  J.  Preall,  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  secretary-treasurer,  William  H.  Trayes,  Boston; 
corresponding  secretary,  Lyman  A.  Brant,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Toronto,  Ont.,  was  selected  as  the  convention  city  for 
the  following  year. 

Convention   at   Toronto 

[1881]  —  The  twenty-ninth  ration  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  at  Toronto, 
Ont,  June  6,  1881,  by  President  William  P.  Atkinson, 
forty  subordinate  unions  bring  represented  by  fifty-eight 
delegate!. 

Good  Times  —  The  president,  in  submitting  his  annual 

P9 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

report,  congratulated  the  convention  upon  the  fact  that 
the  prediction  made  at  Chicago  the  year  previous,  by  the 
presiding  officer,  that  the  "good  times  coming"  was  near 
at  hand,  had  been  realized  to  a  considerable  degree.     In 
many  jurisdictions   where  subordinate   unions   had  sur- 
rendered their  charters  reorganization  had  been  effected. 
Of  the  fifteen  charters  issued  during  the  year,  eleven  were 
renewals,  as  follows :     Titusville,  Pa. ;  Evansville,  Ind. 
Wheeling,  W.  Va. ;  Cumberland,  Md. ;  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Wilmington,    Del. ;    Houston,    Tex. ;    St.    John,    N.    B. 
Elmira,  N.  Y. ;  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  Atchison,  Kan. 

Campaign  of  Education  —  The  president  expressed  his 
conviction  that  much  of  the  tardiness  in  organizing  new 
unions  arose  from  entire  ignorance  or  imperfect  knowl- 
edge of  the  aims  and  objects  of  the  organization.  To 
many  printers  outside  the  jurisdiction  unions  and  strikes 
were  synonymous  terms  and  both  were  associated  with 
distress  and  violence.  The  president  advised  a  cam- 
paign of  education  to  disseminate  whenever  possible 
proper  ideas  with  regard  to  the  purposes  of  the  typo- 
graphical union. 

Federation  of  Trades — At  the  previous  convention 
the  corresponding  secretary  had  been  instructed  to  com- 
municate with  the  officials  of  various  national  and  inter- 
national trade  organizations,  urging  the  desirability  of 
the  appointment  of  delegates  to  attend  a  convention  for 
the  purpose  of  perfecting  a  federation  of  trades.  In 
making  his  report  to  the  convention,  the  corresponding 
secretary   said : 

"It  is  with  profound  regret  that  I  have  to  report  the 
almost  utter  failure  of  my  efforts  to  promote  organization 
in  this  direction.  Soon  after  my  return  from  the  Chicago 
session  I  prepared  and  forwarded  to  the  heads  of  all 
trades  organizations  a  circular  setting  forth  the  action 
of  this  body,   and   the   desirability   of   the  appointment 

328 


WILLIAM  !».  ATKINSON.  K«i».   P* 

rn  si,  i.  ut  iiititii.iii-ii.il  TjpograpMMl  Union 
Jimr  it,  1880 -June  10,  1M1 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1881 

on  delegates  to  attend  a  convention,  the  time  and  place 
of  meeting  to  be  arranged  thereafter,  for  the  purpose 
of  perfecting  such  federation  of  trades.  Accompanying 
each  circular  was  a  personal  letter  outlining  the  purposes 
to  be  attained,  and  soliciting  the  individual  efforts  of  the 
party  addressed.  Among  the  international  organizations 
so  appealed  to  were  the  Amalgamated  Association  of 
Iron  and  Steel  Workers,  Carpenters  and  Joiners,  Loco- 
motive Engineers,  Locomotive  Firemen,  Cigar  Makers, 
Coopers,  Granite  Cutters,  Machinists  and  Blacksmiths, 
International  Labor.  Union,  Iron  Moulders,  and  Miners. 
From  several  of  the  gentlemen  addressed  (notably  Mr. 
Strasser  of  the  Cigar  Makers,  Mr.  Arthur  of  the  Loco- 
motive Engineers,  and  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  of  the  Moulders) 
I  received  encouraging  replies;  from  some  the  responses 
were  of  a  contrary  nature;  and  from  others  I  was  unable 
to  obtain  any  answer,  notwithstanding  repeated  attempts. 
The  result,  briefly  summed  up,  is  that  the  Cigar  Makers' 
International  Union  was  the  only  body,  so  far  as  I  have 
been  able  to  learn,  that  committed  itself  by  resolution 
to  the  federation ;  and  even  they,  as  I  was  informed  by 
the  president,  in  the  hurry  attending  the  closing  hours 
of  their  session,  neglected  to  elect  delegates.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  state  of  facts  I  was  of  necessity  compelled 
to  let  the  matter  drop,  and  simply  report  failure  to  achieve 
any  progress.  But  in  so  reporting,  my  best  judgment 
impels  me  to  recommend  to  your  honorable  body  that 
action  shall  be  taken  at  this  ration  which  will  render 
it  impossible  for  international  bodies  holding  sessions 
during  the  coming  year  to  overlook  this  subject,  which 
I  believe  to  be  the  most  important  one  that  has  ever  been 
presented  to  the  consideration  of  the  mechanics  <>i 
America.  To  this  nul  I  suggest  that  such  action  be  taken 
at  this  session  as  will  secure  the  attendance  of  a  delegate 
at  the  session  of  each   international  or  national  trades 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

gathering;  that  it  be  made  the  special  duty  of  such  dele- 
gate to  advocate  among  the  members  of  such  convention 
the  desirability  of  action  to  further  the  organization  of 
said  trades  federation;  and  that  the  expenses  of  such 
delegate  be  defrayed  by  this  International  Union.  I 
would  further  suggest  that  an  invitation  be  extended 
to  the  trades  councils  of  the  country  to  participate  in  the 
preliminary  organization  of  the  federation. 

"During  the  year  I  have  given  close  attention  to  this 
subject,  and  among  the  documents  pertinent  thereto  which 
I  have  received  was  the  annual  report.of  the  Trades  Union 
Congress  of  Great  Britain,  held  in  Dublin  in  September 
last,  at  which  were  assembled  105  delegates,  represent- 
ing a  constituency  of  493,213  mechanics.  The  proceed- 
ings of  that  gathering  were  pregnant  with  wisdom  and 
thought,  and  have  commanded  the  attention  and  respect- 
ful consideration  of  the  press,  not  only  of  Great  Britain, 
but  of  the  continent  and  America  as  well.  What  it  is 
possible  for  the  mechanic  of  that  country  to  achieve,  I 
believe  possible  for  those  of  this  land  to  accomplish.  It 
only  requires  persistent  effort.  Already  in  Chicago, 
St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  Detroit,  Pittsburgh,  Boston  and 
numerous  other  cities,  large  and  influential  trades  coun- 
cils are  in  existence,  and  I  believe  the  time  is  now  pro- 
pitious to  form  an  international  trades  council  or  feder- 
ation which  will  extend  and  crystallize  the  influence  of 
these  organizations,  and  stimulate  the  creation  of  new 
ones  in  cities  where  they  are  not  now  established.  Vari- 
ous opinions  prevail  as  to  the  proper  character  of  an  in- 
ternational federation ;  but  I  am  of  opinion  that  it  should 
seek  to  secure  among  other  reforms  such  legislation  as 
will  be  to  the  interest  of  the  laboring  class,  and  endeavor 
to  prevent  legislation  antagonistic  to  their  welfare,  as 
well  as  the  regulation  of  trade  matters.  In  many  of  the 
states   of  the  union   laws   unjust  and   oppressive  to   the 

330 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1 88 1 

workingman  have  been  enacted,  and  they  will  not  be  re- 
pealed unless  we  combine  to  elect  representatives  pledged 
to  repeal  them;  and  such  pledges  will  not  be  secured  or 
observed  unless  the  parties  oppressed  have  behind  them 
an  organization  powerful  enough  to  counteract  the  influ- 
ences which  are  employed  by  those  whose  interests  are 
antagonistic  to  the  interests  of  the  mechanic.  It  is  fre- 
quently asserted  that  politics  and  religion  should  not  be 
discussed  in  trades  gatherings,  and  that  their  sole  duty  is 
to  regulate  wages,  and  such  matters  as  pertain  more  di- 
rectly to  the  respective  trades.  As  regards  the  subject  of 
religion  the  assertion  is  undoubtedly  true.  Every  person 
can  settle  that  matter  with  his  conscience,  without  the  as- 
sistance of  his  fellows.  But  in  the  question  of  politics,  or 
the  securing  of  legislation  in  the  interests  of  workingmen 
(and  that  is  the  only  sense  in  which  I  use  the  word),  it  is 
not  true,  because  it  is  not  a  question  of  conscience,  but  one 
of  judgment;  and  if  we  desire  certain  laws  enacted  we 
can  not  secure  them  without  the  assistance  of  our  fellows, 
and  we  must  present  our  cause  to  them  in  such  a  light 
as  to  convince  their  judgments  of  the  benefits  to  be  se- 
cured ;  and  as  any  general  law  which  will  benefit  one  class 
of  workingmen  will  benefit  all  classes,  it  follows  that  the 
interests  of  all  are  in  this  respect  identical,  and  the  only 
question  left  to  settle  is,  What  laws  will  benefit  all?  That 
question  can  only  be  settled  in  our  trades  organizations, 
and  it  seems  to  me  the  trades  federation  would  be  the 
tribunal  peculiarly  fitted  for  such  work.  The  moral  in- 
fluence of  such  an  organization  would  be  very  great.  It  is 
a  principle  of  human  nature  that  mankind  respect 
and  a  body  of  such  a  character  would  necessarily  present 
an  appearance  of  strength,  representing,  as  it  would,  the 
mechanics  of  two  great  countries — the  United  States  and 
Canada.  It  would  demand  the  respect  of  rmplitvcrs.  tin- 
admiration  of  the  public,  and  the  confidence  of  the  work- 
SSI 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ingman.  It  would  be  an  honor  to  be  enlisted  under  its 
banner,  and  would,  therefore,  draw  to  its  support  the  best 
minds  of  both  countries.  Its  edicts  would  be  listened  to  by 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  its  influences  would  tend  to 
elevate  the  workingman  to  that  position  which  by  natural 
right  he  should  occupy.  Every  argument  in  favor  of 
an  international  trade  union  applies  in  the  superlative 
degree  to  an  international  federation  and  it  remains  for 
this  session  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
to  immortalize  itself, as  the  standard  bearer  of  true 
labor  reform,  if  it  can  by  its  wise  action  hasten  the 
accomplishment  of  such  glorious  aims. 

"In  closing  this  report  and  brief  appeal,  I  desire  to 
record  my  thanks  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Foster,  for  assistance 
rendered  through  the  columns  of  the  'Exponent'  (now 
defunct)  ;  to  Mr.  A.  Strasser,  president  Cigar  Makers' 
International  Union,  for  hearty  co-operation;  and  to  Mr. 
Josiah  B.  Dyer,  secretary  Granite  Cutters'  International 
Union,  for  assistance  rendered  through  the  columns  of  the 
journal  of  that  union,  and  for  regular  copies  of  the  same." 

This  report  of  the  corresponding  secretary  was  referred 
to  a  committee  on  president's  address  and  correspond- 
ing secretary's  report.  The  committee  recommended  the 
following : 

"That  such  action  be  taken  at  this  session  as  will  secure 
the  attendance  of  a  delegate  at  the  session  of  each  inter- 
national or  national  trades  gathering.  That  it  be  made 
the  special  duty  of  such  delegate  to  advocate  among  the 
members  of  such  convention  the  desirability  of  action  to 
further  the  organization  of  said  trades  federation  and 
that  the  expenses  of  such  delegate  be  defrayed  by  this 
International  Union.  We  would  further  suggest  that 
an  invitation  be  extended  to  the  trades  councils  of  the 
country  to  participate  in  the  preliminary  organization 
of  the  federation." 

332 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1 88 1 

On  the  fourth  day  of  the  convention,  an  announcement 
was  made  that  arrangements  were  being  perfected  for  a 
mass  meeting,  to  be  called  at  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  to  effect 
a  preliminary  organization  of  an  International  Amalga- 
mated Union,  and,  on  the  day  following,  the  committee 
on  federated  trades,  which  had  under  consideration  the 
report  of  the  corresponding  secretary  regarding  the 
proposed  formation  of  a  federation  of  trades,  submitted 
a  report,  which  was  concurred  in,  recommending  that 
a  delegate  be  sent  to  the  Terre  Haute  meeting,  and  L.  A. 
Brant,  of  Detroit,  retiring  corresponding  secretary, 
who  had  conducted  the  correspondence  with  the  various 
national  and  international  bodies  during  the  year,  was 
chosen  as  delegate  to  represent  the  International  Union. 

General  Prosperity  —  The  corresponding  secretary,  in 
submitting  his  annual  report  on  the  condition  of  trade, 
strikes,  etc.,  announced,  with  a  degree  of  satisfaction,  his 
belief  that  the  craft  was  in  a  more  prosperous  condition 
than  at  any  time  since  1869.  It  was  also  reported  that 
marked  improvement  had  taken  place  in  many  of  the  sub- 
ordinate unions  in  the  management  of  local  affairs.  In  all 
of  the  larger  unions,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  a  better 
condition  of  trade  existed  than  for  several  years  past.  St. 
Louis  Union  had  gained  largely  in  membership  and  hail 
succeeded  in  securing  a  general  recognition  of  its  scale 
of  prices,  all  past  differences  having  been  buried.  Chi- 
cago, Detroit  and  Cleveland  effected  an  advance  in  their 
scales  during  the  year.  While  the  general  prosperity  of 
tin  organization  was  apparent,  the  period  had  not  closed 
without  leaving  evidences  <>f  strife  in  several  subordinate 
unions. 

Reorganization  Plans  —  The  offer  of  I  prize  of  $25  by 
the  Chicago  convention  to  the  person  submitting  the  best 
plan  for  reorganization  of  the  International  Union  re- 
sulted in  numerous  propositions  being  presented  at  the 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Toronto  convention.  The  committee  on  reorganization,  to 
which  all  of  these  propositions  and  plans  were  submitted, 
found  it  impossible,  owing  to  the  mass  of  schemes  and 
resolutions  presented  on  the  subject,  to  give  the  matter 
that  consideration  which  was  deemed  necessary.  The 
committee  reported,  however,  that  only  three  of  the  plans 
offered  made  any  pretense  to  completeness — those  sub- 
mitted by  Mr.  Schley,  of  Indianapolis,  Mr.  Jackson,  of  St. 
Louis,  and  Mr.  Teague,  of  Ottawa.  These  proposed  plans, 
together  with  all  other  propositions  and  suggestions  of- 
fered, were  laid  over  until  the  next  session  with  the  pro- 
viso that  a  committee  composed  of  officers  of  the  union  be 
instructed  to  consider  the  subject  and  report  to  the  next 
session  a  plan  that  would  more  firmly  cement  the  craft. 

Official  Organ  —  Upon  the  recommendation  of  Presi- 
dent Atkinson,  the  convention  ordered  that  an  agreement 
be  made  with  the  publishers  of  the  American  Model 
Printer,  of  New  York,  whereby  an  official  organ  of  the 
craft  be  issued,  devoted  to  the  workings  of  subordinate 
unions  and  the  official  business  of  the  International  Union. 

The  Brotherhood — The  action  of  the  Chicago  conven- 
tion in  adopting  a  general  law  requiring  delegates  to 
take  an  obligation  before  assuming  their  duties  in  the 
International  body,  affirming  that  they  would  not  be 
influenced  in  legislation,  the  election  of  officers,  or  other- 
wise, by  any  secret,  oustide,  or  improper  means  of  any 
kind  whatever,  was  repealed. 

Opening  Session  With  Prayer  —  The  custom  of  open- 
ing the  sessions  of  the  International  Union  with  prayer 
seemed  to  have  created  more  or  less  friction.  Three 
propositions  dealing  with  the  subject  were  offered,  none 
of  which,  however,  seemed  to  satisfy  the  delegates.  The 
first  proposition  was  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That  all  sessions  of  the  present  International 
Typographical    Union   be   opened   with   prayer   and   that  the 

334 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1882 

reception  committee  be  requested  to  invite  some  city  clergyman 
to  be  present  for  the  purpose. 

This  resolution  was  laid  on  the  table.  Another  delegate 
offered  the  following: 

Resolved,  That  the  practice  of  opening  the  sessions  of  this 
body  by  appeals  to  an  altogether  imaginary  or  supernatural 
agency  (which  have  been  unquestionably  and  absolutely  barren 
of  the  slightest  benefits)  is  contrary  and  offensive  to  the  dic- 
tates and  teachings  of  reason  and  common  sense,  and  therefore 
a  practically  unqualified  absurdity. 

This  motion  created  much  indignation  among  the  dele- 
gates and  was  finally  withdrawn. 

As  a  climax  to  the  action  of  the  convention  regarding 
the  question  of  opening  its  sessions  with  prayer,  another 
delegate  offered  the  following: 

Believing  in  the  "eternal  fitness  of  things,"  I  desire  to 
submit  a  motion  that,  as  the  proceedings  of  this  convention 
were  opened  with  an  orthodox  prayer,  it  is  no  more  than  a  just 
regard  for  consistency  that  it  should  be  closed  by  singing  an 
orthodox  doxology,  and  I  sincerely  trust  my  motion  will  meet 
with  a  second  and  prevail,  and  be  made  a  part  of  the  record. 

The  motion  was  not  adopted. 

St.  Louis  was  selected  as  the  place  for  holding  the  con- 
vention of  1882. 

Officers,  1881  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were 
elected  as  follows:  President,  George  Clark,  St.  Louis; 
first  vice-president,  Thomas  Wilson,  Toronto,  Ont. ;  sec- 
ond vice-president,  William  H.  Hovey,  Norwich,  Conn.; 
secretary-treasurer,  William  H.  Trayes,  Boston,  and  cor- 
responding secretary,  John  Schley,  Indianapolis. 

Convention   at   St.    Louis 

[1882]  —  When  the  thirtieth  convention  <>f  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  at  St 
Louis,  Mo.,  June  5,  1882,  fifty-four  subordinate  unions 
were  represented  by  sixty-eight  delegates. 

335 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

President  Clark,  in  presenting  his  annual  address,  like 
several  of  his  predecessors  in  office,  directed  attention  to 
his  conviction  that  the  system  under  which  the  Interna- 
tional Union  was  organized  was  lacking  in  some  elements 
of  unity  and  force  essential  to  the  proper  attainment  of 
the  objects  in  view.  He  attributed  the  unsatisfactory  con- 
ditions to  lack  of  proper  organization  work  and  urged  the 
necessity  of  recruiting  the  ranks  of  the  union  from  the 
country  newspaper  office.  Lack  of  effective  legislation 
governing  apprentices  was  also  believed  to  be  largely  re- 
sponsible for  flooding  the  market  with  incompetent  print- 
ers. Almost  every  convention  of  the  International  body 
had  considered  the  apprentice  question,  but  nothing 
effective  had  been  accomplished  toward  establishing 
suitable  regulations. 

Conflicting  Laws  —  A  large  portion  of  the  president's 
report  dealt  with  the  conflicting  laws  and  inconsistencies 
that  he  had  discovered  in  the  constitution,  by-laws  and 
general  laws.  Many  of  these  inconsistencies  were  cor- 
rected by  the  convention. 

The  report  of  the  secretary-treasurer  showed  a  satis- 
factory financial  condition,  and  the  report  of  the  corre- 
sponding secretary  was  an  elaborate  document,  containing 
many  items  of  interest  regarding  the  condition  of  trade, 
strike  statistics  and  organization  work.  The  report 
showed  that  of  the  196  charters  issued  since  the  formation 
of  the  National  Typographical  Union,  121  were  in  active 
affiliation. 

AMERICAN      FEDERATION      OF      LABOR 

Federation  of  Trades  Organized — Mr.  L.  A.  Brant, 
the  delegate  elected  at  the  Toronto  session  to  represent  the 
International  Union  at  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  in  the  forma- 
tion of  an  International  Federation  of  Trades,  submitted 
a  comprehensive   report  which,   owing  to  the   fact  that 

336 


LYMAN  A.  BRANT 

(Detroit  Typographical  Union  No.  18) 
I. vni. in  A.  Brant,  COrraapOndfalg  secretary  of  the  International  Typographical 
I 'in. .n.  June  it,  iHHo-Junc  10,  1881,  waa  chairman  of  the  tirnl  representative 
body  "I  Am.  n.  hi  mechanic*  called  together  for  the  pwyoM  of  forming  a  fed- 
11. id. 11  of  ti.i.U-  union*.  A*  a  rcault  of  thin  initial  effort,  the  American 
I.  .I... iii. .n  of  |.al>or  wa»  nfterwanl  organi/r.l. 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1882 

the  meeting  at  Terre  Haute  was  preliminary  to  a  subse- 
quent meeting  held  in  Pittsburgh  the  same  year,  at  which 
the  American  Federation  of  Labor  (as  now  constituted) 
first  saw  the  light  of  day,  is  reproduced  herewith,  together 
with  the  declaration  of  principles,  platform  and  articles  of 

organization  : 

"Detroit,  May  29,  1882. 

"To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union. 

"Gentlemen  :  At  the  preceding  session  of  your  hon- 
orable body,  I  was  chosen  as  its  delegate  to  attend  a  meet- 
ing called  to  assemble  in  the  city  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind., 
August  2,  1 88 1,  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting  some  plan 
whereby  the  wage-workers  of  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada could  be  amalgamated  under  one  general  head,  or 
federated  for  common  benefits.  Concerning  my  service  in 
such  capacity,  I  respectfully  submit  the  following  report: 
"No  doubt  the  members  of  this  session  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  who  were  also  present  at  To- 
ronto will  remember  that  I  accepted  the  highly  honorable 
trust  confided  to  me  with  expressed  misgivings  as  to  the 
ability  of  the  delegates  who  would  assemble  at  the  pro- 
posed convention  to  effect  a  permanent  organization  of  the 
nature  desirable.  Nevertheless,  I  accepted  the  mission, 
firm  in  the  belief  that  the  call  would  bring  together,  from 
different  sections  of  the  country  and  diversified  industrial 
interests,  a  few  representative  and  well-known  trade- 
union  men,  who  could  then  formulate  a  call  for  another 
oonvention  at  a  more  convenient  time  and  place,  which 
would  be  entirely  racceatfu]  in  drawing  the  laboring 
classes  of  the  United  States  into  closer  bonds  of  unity  for 
mutual  ;m<l  general  benefit. 

"Subsequent  circumstances  seem  to  have  folly  justified 
my  belief,  as  will  appear  by  the  subjoined  record  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Terre  Haute  conwntinn,  which  assem- 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

bled  at  Temperance  Hall,  on  Tuesday,  August  2,  1881,  at 
10  A.  M.    Delegates  were  found  to  be  present,  as  follows: 

P.  J.  McGuire,  St.  Louis,  from  the  Trades  Assembly. 

Richard  Powers,  president  Lake  Seamen's  Union,  Chicago. 

Mark  L.  Crawford,   Chicago,  from  Typographical  Union  No.   16. 

Thomas  Thompson,  Dayton,  Ohio,  from  Iron  Moulders'  Union  No.  181. 

James  Pierce,  Simon  Neale,  F.  M.  Light,  Terre  Haute,  from  Coopers'  Union 
No.   16. 

George  W.  Osborne,  Springfield,  Ohio,  from  Iron  Moulders'  Union. 

Mark  W.  Moore,  Terre  Haute,  from  Typographical  Union  No.  76. 

John  E.  Coughlin,  Chicago,  president  National  Tanners'  and  Curriers'  Union, 
from  Trades  Assembly. 

Samuel  L.  Leffingwell,  Indianapolis,  from  Trades  Assembly. 

W.  C.  Pollner,  Cleveland,  from  Trades  Assembly. 

Lyman  A.   Brant,  Detroit,  from  International  Typographical  Union. 

The  Amalgamated  Labor  Union  was  represented  by  J.  R.  Backus,  E.  F. 
Pagette,  Moses  Crapo,  John  Rupe,  jr.,  and  N.  A.  Murphy,  Terre  Haute. 

Iron  Moulders'  Union  was  represented  by  John  Toit,  James  Herring  and 
Michael  Howard,  Terre  Haute. 

"From  the  foregoing  list  it  will  be  seen  that  but  twenty 
delegates  were  present,  twelve  of  whom  were  residents 
of  the  city  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  Fifteen  trade  or  labor 
organizations  were  represented.  In  view  of  this  limited 
attendance,  especially  from  points  outside  of  and  remote 
from  the  place  of  meeting,  the  gathering  was  not  entitled 
to  be  called  a  representative  meeting  of  the  trade  union- 
ists of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  as  was  designed  it 
should  be;  and  it  being  apparent  that  an  attempt  to  pro- 
claim it  as  such  would  only  subject  the  movement  to  the 
ridicule  of  our  enemies  of  all  classes,  especially  the  news- 
paper press,  it  was  at  once  advocated  by  the  more  experi- 
enced and  wiser  counselors  present  that  an  adjournment 
should  take-  place  without  an  attempt  at  the  permanent 
organization  of  a  federation  of  trades.  The  advocates  of 
this  policy  were  further  fortified  in  their  position  on  the 
second  day  of  the  session,  when  a  'bone  of  contention'  was 
introduced  in  the  form  of  a  crude  plan  of  organization 
submitted  by  one  of  the  local  delegates,  the  adoption  of 
which  would  have  compelled  the  withdrawal  from  the 
convention  of  every  representative  of  a  bona  fide  trade 
union.    The  nature  of  said  plan  may  be  surmised  from 

338 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1882 

the  statement  that  its  preamble  declared  opposition  to  the 
existing  system  of  trade-union  organization,  and  an 
avowed  purpose  to  force  them  out  of  existence,  and  out  of 
the  chaos  thus  created  to  form  another  secret  society  of 
workingmen.  Even  had  the  formation  of  such  a  body 
been  desirable,  the  plan  in  question  was  of  so  imperfect  a 
character  as  to  be  wholly  impracticable.  At  least  that  was 
the  opinion  of  the  foreign  delegates.  But  we  were  con- 
fronted by  the  seeming  fact  that  the  majority  of  the  con- 
vention were  inclined  to  its  favorable  consideration,  and 
apparently  the  only  way  in  which  to  prevent  its  adoption 
was  by  deferring  action.  Accordingly,  after  a  somewhat 
protracted  debate,  on  the  evening  of  the  second  day's  ses- 
sion, a  motion  was  adopted  to  elect  a  committee  of  five 
for  the  purpose  of  perfecting  arrangements  for  the  hold- 
ing of  a  subsequent  convention  on  November  15,  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Said  committee  was  constituted  as 
follows:  Chairman,  L.  A.  Brant;  secretary,  Mark  W. 
Moore;  Mark  L.  Crawford,  W.  C.  Pollner,  and  P.  J.  Me- 
Guire.    After  which  the  convention  adjourned. 

"The  Toronto  convention,  in  choosing  me  as  its  repre- 
sentative, as  above  set  forth,  took  no  consideration  of  the 
possibility  of  an  adjournment  of  the  Terre  Haute  meeting 
to  a. later  date,  and  accordingly  no  stated  provision  was 
made  for  representation  on  behalf  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  at  Pittsburgh.  In  the  course  of  cor- 
respondence, however,  with  the  International  Typogsaph- 
icaJ  Union  officers,  it  wmm  stated  m  tin-  opinion  of  both  the 
president  and  secretary-treasurer,  and  subsequently  thai 
■  t  the  chairman  of  the  committer  which  had  the  matter 
under  consideration,  thai  the  necessity  for  such  provision 
was  unforeseen,  and  that  it  was  the  manifest  the 

International  Typographical  Union  that  I  should  continue 
to  represenl  it  at  the  adjourned  meeting; 

"The  Pittsburgh  Convention  —  Accordingly,  on   No- 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

vember  15,  I  had  the  proud  honor  of  calling  together  in 
Turner  Hall,  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  the  most  numer- 
ously attended  and  thoroughly  representative  delegate 
body  of  American  mechanics  and  laborers  which  has  ever 
assembled.  There  were  present  107  delegates,  represent- 
ing the  states  of  California,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Maryland, 
Massachusetts,  Michigan,  Missouri,  New  Jersey,  New 
York,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Rhode  Island,  West  Virginia 
and  Wisconsin.  It  is  impossible  to  accurately  state  the 
number  of  trades  represented,  owing  to  the  fact  that 
many  of  the  delegates  were  sent  from  mixed  assemblies  of 
the  Knights  of  Labor,  and  hence  their  calling  was  not 
manifest  by  their  credentials.  The  following  list  will  show 
with  almost  absolute  correctness  the  various  trades  repre- 
sented, and  the  number  of  delegates  from  each: 

"Boilermakers,  1  ;  Bricklayers,  1  ;  Brass  Finishers,  1  ; 
Bookbinders,  I ;  Boot  and  Shoemakers,  1  ;  Cigar  Makers, 
5  ;  Carpenters,  5  ;  Coopers,  2  ;  Engineers,  1  ;  Glass  Pack- 
ers, 1 ;  Grainers,  1  ;  Glass  Blowers,  6;  Granite  Cutters  I ; 
Horseshoers,  I  ;  Iron  Moulders,  8;  Amalgamated  Associa- 
tion of  Iron  and  Steel  Workers,  10;  Lake  Seamen,  2; 
Mule  Spinners,  1  ;  Marine  and  Pastry  Cooks,  I ;  Miners, 
4;  Pattern  Makers,  1  ;  Plumbers  and  Gasfitters,  1  ;  Paint- 
ers, 1  ;  Plasterers,  1  ;  Printers,  14;  Printers  (German),  1  ; 
Stone  Cutters,  1  ;  Stone  Masons,  I  ;  Tailors,  1 ;  Tanners 
and  Curriers,  1. 

"The  convention  began  its  labors  promptly  by  the  elec- 
tion of  Mr.  John  Jarrett  of  the  Amalgamated  Association 
of  Iron  and  Steel  Workers  as  temporary  chairman,  and 
Messrs.  Mark  L.  Crawford,  H.  H.  Bengough,  and  W.  C. 
Pollner  as  secretaries.  The  greater  portion  of  the  first  day 
was  consumed  in  the  appointment  of  the  committee  on 
credentials,  and  action  upon  its  report,  after  the  adoption 
of  which  an  animated  debate  took  place  on  the  question  of 
excluding  from  seats  on  the  floor  the  reporters  of  the 

340 


Convention  at  St.  Louist  1882 

Pittsburgh  Leader,  Post,  and  Times,  the  three  'rat'  pa- 
pers of  that  city.  Upon  being  placed  before  the  house,  the 
question  was  decided  in  the  affirmative  by  an  overwhelm- 
ing majority. 

"On  the  opening  of  the  second  day's  session,  the  first 
business  presented  was  the  report  of  the  committee  on 
permanent  organization.  Majority  and  minority  reports 
were  presented,  both  of  which  were  laid  upon  the  table, 
and  the  temporary  officers  were  elected  as  the  permanent 
ones.  A  committee  of  one  from  each  state,  on  platform  of 
principles  and  resolutions,  was  appointed,  after  which 
numerous  resolutions  were  presented  and  papers  read,  the 
ideas  contained  in  which  are  in  the  main  embodied  in  the 
platform  of  principles. 

"Resolutions  of  respect  were  presented  and  adopted  to 
the  memory  of  Alexander  McDonald,  M.  P.,  of  Great 
Britain,  and  ordered  forwarded  to  the  National  Miners' 
Association  of  that  country.  The  remaining  portion  of 
the  day  was  taken  up  with  the  consideration  of  the  report 
on  rules,  and  fhat  of  the  secretary  of  the  provisional 
committee. 

"The  third  day  was  opened  with  the  adoption  of  reso- 
lutions exchanging  greetings  with  the  parliamentary  com- 
mittee of  the  Trades  Union  Congress  of  Great  Britain, 
and  denouncing  the  arrest  of  D.  R.  Jones,  president  of  the 
Miners'  Association  of  Pittsburgh,  under  the  conspiracy 
laws  of  Pennsylvania.  The  committee  on  plan  of  organi- 
zation submitted  its  report,  two  sections  of  which— one 
limiting  membership  in  the  federation  t<>  unions  ..f  skilled  ~f- 
mechanics,  the  other  establishing  the  basis  of  future  rep- 
resentation— provoked  a  long  and  spirited  debate  In  the 
afternoon  the  consideration  of  the  report  of  the  commit- 
tee on  platform  consumed  the  greater  portion  of  the  time, 
and  those  planks  referring  to  the  question  of  tariff,  child 
labor  and  government  supervision  of  railroads  and  tele- 
Si! 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

graph  lines,  especially,  engaged  the  serious  consideration 
of  the  congress. 

"On  the  fourth  day  resolutions  were  adopted  on  the  im- 
portation of  Chinese  cheap  labor,  authorizing  the  legis- 
lative committee  to  publish  the  proceedings  in  pamphlet 
form;  denouncing  the  manufacture  rand  sale  of  tenement- 
house-made  cigars;  recommending  to  the  favorable  con- 
sideration of  the  congress  of  the  United  States  a  bill  for 
the  better  protection  of  American  seamen ;  calling  upon 
union  men  and  trade  assemblies  throughout  the  country 
to  assist  in  the  organization  of  the  brass  finishers,  painters, 
bookbinders,  and  other  unorganized  or  partially  organ- 
ized trades ;  opposing  the  passage  of  a  bill  pending  in 
congress  having  for  its  purpose  the  transfer  of  the  pub- 
lic domain  into  the  hands  of  land  sharks  and  capitalists ; 
and  tendering  thanks  to  the  union  press  of  Pittsburgh 
for  the  fairness  with  which  they  had  presented  to  the  pub- 
lic the  proceedings  of  the  congress. 

"This  was  followed  by  the  election  of  the  legislative 
committee  of  five,  as  follows :  Secretary ,#W.  H.  Foster, 
Cincinnati ;  Richard  Powers,  Chicago ;  Samuel  Gompers, 
New  York;  Charles  F.  Burgman,  San  Francisco;  Alexan- 
der C.  Rankin,  Pittsburgh.  Cleveland,  Ohio,  was  selected 
as  the  place  of  holding  the  next  congress,  after  which  the 
meeting  adjourned. 

"Herewith  is  submitted  a  copy  of  the  platform,  consti- 
tution and  standing  orders  of  the  congress : 

DECLARATION     OF     PRINCIPLES 
Preamble 

Whereas  a  struggle  is  going  on  in  the  nations  of  the  civil- 
ized world  between  the  oppressors  and  the  oppressed  of  all 
countries,  a  struggle  between  capital  and  labor,  which  must 
grow  in  intensity  from  year  to  year,  and  work  disastrous  results 
to  the  toiling  millions  of  all  nations,  if  not  combined  for  mutual 
protection  and  benefit.    The  history  of  the  wageworkers  of  all 

342 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1882 

countries  is  but  the  history  of  constant  struggle  and  misery 
engendered  by  ignorance  and  disunion ;  whereas  the  history  of 
the  non-producers  of  all  ages  proves  that  a  minority,  thoroughly 
organized,  may  work  wonders  for  good  or  evil.  It  behooves  the 
representatives  of  the  workers  of  North  America,  in  congress 
assembled,  to  adopt  such  measures  and  disseminate  such  prin- 
ciples among  the  people  of  our  country  as  will  unite  them,  for 
all  time  to  come,  to  secure  the  recognition  of  the  rights  to  which 
they  are  justly  entitled.  Conforming  to  the  old  adage,  "In 
union  there  is  strength,"  the  formation  of  a  federation  embrac- 
ing every  trade  and  labor  organization  in  North  America,  a 
union  founded  upon  a  basis  as  broad  as  the  land  we  live  in, 
is  our  only  hope.  The  past  history  of  trade  unions  proves  that 
small  organizations,  well  conducted,  have  accomplished  great 
good,  but  their  efforts  have  not  been  of  that  lasting  character 
which  a  thorough  unification  of  all  the  different  branches  of 
industrial  workers  is  bound  to  secure. 

Conforming  to  the  spirit  of  the  times  and  the  necessities  of 
the  industrial  classes,  wi  make  the  following 

PLATFORM 

1.  Resolved,  That  an  organization  of  workingmen  into  what 
is  known  as  a  trade  or  labor  union  should  have  the  right  to 
the  protection  of  their  property  in  like  manner  as  the  property 
of  all  other  persons  and  societies,  and,  to  accomplish  this  pur- 
pose, we  insist  upon  the  passage  of  laws  in  the  state  legislatures 
and  in  congress  for  the  incorporation  of  trade  unions  and 
similar  labor  organisations, 

2.  That  we  are  in  favor  of  the  passage  of  such  legislative 
enactments  as  will  enforce,  by  compulsion,  the  education  of 
children;  that  if  the  State  lias  tin-  right  to  exact  certain  com- 
pliance with  its  demands,  then  it  is  also  the  right  <>f  the  state 
to  educate  its  people  to  the  proper  understanding  of  such 
demands. 

3.  That  we  arc  in  favor  of  tin-  passage  of  laws  in  the  several 
staler  forbidding  the  employment  of  children  under  the  age 
of  fourteen  years,  in  any  capacity,  under  penalty  of  fine  and 
Imprisonment. 

4.  That  necessity  demands  the  enactment  of  uniform 
apprentice  laws  throughout  the  country :  that  the  apprentice  to 
a  mechanical  trade  may  be  made  to  serve  a  sufficient  term  of 

Ma 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

apprenticeship,  from  three  to  five  years,  and  that  he  be  provided 
by  his  employer,  in  his  progress  to  maturity,  with  proper  and 
sufficient  facilities  to  finish  him  as  a  competent  workman. 

5.  That  the  national  eight-hour  law  is  one  intended  to 
benefit  labor,  and  to  relieve  it  partly  of  its  heavy  burdens ;  that 
the  evasion  of  its  true  spirit  and  intent  is  contrary  to  the  best 
interests  of  the  nation;  we  therefore  demand  the  enforcement 
of  said  law  in  the  spirit  of  its  designers. 

6.  That  it  is  hereby  declared  the  sense  of  this  congress  that 
convict  or  prison  labor,  as  applied  to  the  contract  system  in 
several  of  the  states,  is  a  species  of  slavery  in  its  worst  form; 
that  it  pauperizes  labor,  demoralizes  the  honest  manufacturer, 
and  degrades  the  very  criminal  whom  it  employs ;  that,  as  many 
articles  of  use  and  consumption  made  in  our  prisons  under  the 
contract  system  come  directly  and  detrimentally  in  competition 
with  the  products  of  honest  labor,  we  demand  that  the  laws  pro- 
viding for  labor  under  the  contract  system,  herein  complained 
of,  be  repealed  so  as  to  discontinue  the  manufacture  of  all 
articles  which  will  compete  with  those  of  the  honest  mechanic 
or  workingman. 

7.  That  what  is  known  as  the  "order,"  or  "truck"  system 
of  payment,  instead  of  lawful  currency,  as  a  value  for  labor 
performed,  is  one  not  only  of  gross  imposition,  but  of  down- 
right swindle  to  the  honest  laborer  and  mechanic,  and  calls  for 
entire  abolition ;  and  we  recommend  that  active  measures  shall 
be  enforced  to  eradicate  the  evil  by  the  passage  of  laws  impos- 
ing fine  and  imprisonment  upon  all  individuals,  firms  or 
corporations  who  continue  to  practice  the  same. 

8.  That  we  favor  the  passage  of  such  laws  as  will  secure  to 
the  mechanic  and  workingman  the  first  lien  upon  property  the 
product  of  his  labor,  sufficient  in  all  cases  to  justify  his  legal 
and  just  claims ;  that  proper  provisions  be  made  for  legally 
recovering  the  same. 

9.  That  we  demand  the  repeal  and  erasure  from  the  statute 
books  of  all  acts  known  as  conspiracy  laws,  as  applied  to 
organizations  of  labor  in  the  regulation  of  wages  and  the  num- 
ber of  hours  which  shall  constitute  a  day's  work. 

10.  That  we  recognize  the  wholesome  effects  of  a  Bureau  of 
Labor  Statistics,  as  created  in  several  states,  and  we  urge  upon 
our  friends  in  congress  the  passage  of  an  act  establishing  a 
national  bureau  of  labor  statistics,  and  recommend  for  its  man- 

344 


Convention  at  St.  Louis.  1882 


agement  the  appointment  of  a  proper  person,  identified  with  the 
laboring  classes  of  the  country. 

11.  That  we  recommend  to  the  congress  of'  the  United 
States  the  adoption  of  such  laws  as  shall  give  to  every  American 
industry  full  protection  from  the  cheap  labor  of  foreign 
countries. 

12.  That  we  demand  the  passage  of  a  law  by  the  United 
States  congress  to  prevent  the  importation  of  foreign  laborers 
under  contract. 

13.  That  we  recommend  all  trade  and  labor  organizations 
to  secure  proper  representation  in  all  law-making  bodies  by 
means  of  the  ballot,  and  to  use  all  honorable  measures  by  which 
this  result  can  be  accomplished. 

ORGANIZATION 
Article  I — Name 

This  association  shall  be  known  as  "The  Federation  of 
Organized  Trades  and  Labor  Unions  of  the  United  States  of 
America  and  Canada,"  and  shall  consist  of  such  trade  and 
labor  unions  as  shall,  after  being  duly  admitted,  conform  to  its 
rules  and  regulations,  and  pay  all  contributions  required  to 
carry  out  the  objects  of  this  Federation. 

Article  II — Objects 

The  object  of  this  Federation  shall  be: 

Section  I.  The  encouragement  and  formation  of  trade  and 
labor  unions. 

Sec.  2.  The  encouragement  and  formation  of  trade  and 
tabor  assemblies  or  councils. 

Sec.  3.  The  encouragement  and  formation  of  national  and 
international  trade  unions. 

Sec.  4.  To  secure  the  legislation  favorable  to  the  interests 
of  the  industrial  classes. 

Article  III — Suiioni 

The  serious  of  the  Federation  shall  be  held  annually,  on 
the  tlunl  Tuesday  in  November,  at  such  place  as  the  delegates 
have  sele<  ted  at  the  preceding  congress. 

Articlr  IV— Rkmuixtatiom 

The  basis  of  representation  in  the  congress  of  this  Federa- 
tion shall  be:    From  national  or  international  unions,  for  one 

346 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

thousand  members  or  less,  one  delegate ;  for  four  thousand, 
two  delegates ;  for  eight  thousand,  three  delegates ;  for  six- 
teen thousand,  four  delegates ;  for  thirty-two  thousand,  five 
delegates,  and  so  on.  From  local  trade  assemblies  or  councils, 
one  delegate. 

Article  V — Officers 

At  the  annual  sessions  of  this  Federation  the  delegates  shall 
elect  a  legislative  committee  consisting  of  five  delegates,  one  of 
whom  shall  be  the  Federation  secretary,  and  who  shall  be 
elected  separately. 

Article  VI — Duties 

Section  i.  The  duties  of  the  legislative  committee  shall 
be  to  exercise  a  supervision  over  the  organization,  and  the 
execution  of  its  laws,  and  to  carry  out  such  instructions  as  may, 
from  time  to  time,  be  given  them  at  the  sessions  of  this 
Federation. 

Sec.  2.  The  legislative  committee  shall  choose  from  among 
themselves  a  chairman,  first  and  second  vice-chairman,  and 
treasurer,  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Article  YII — Revenue 

The  revenue  of  this  Federation  shall  be  derived  from  a 
capitation  tax  of  three  cents  per  member  annually  from  each 
trade  and  labor  union,  trade  assembly  or  council  affiliated  with 
this  Federation,  which  shall  be  paid  quarterly  in  advance. 

Article  VIII — Accounts 

The  accounts  of  the  year  shall  be  closed  fourteen  days  prior 
to  the  assembling  of  the  congress,  and  a  balance  .sheet  duly 
certified  and  presented  to  the  same. 

Article  IX — Remuneration 

The.  remuneration  for  loss  of  time  by  the  legislative  com- 
mittee shall  be  at  the  rate  of  three  dollars  per  diem,  traveling 
and  incidental  expenses  to  be  also  defrayed. 

STANDING     ORDERS 

1.  The  annual  meeting  of  this  Federation  shall  be  held  on 
the  third  Tuesday  in  November,  at  such  place  as  the  delegates 
to  the  preceding  congress  may  have  selected. 

2.  The  time  of  meeting  shall  be  as  follows:  On  the  first 
day,  to  assemble  at  noon ;  on  all  other  days,  at  9  A.  M. ;  adjourn 

346 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1882 

at  12:30;  reassemble  at  1 130  and  adjourn  at  5  p.  m.  each  day. 
3.  At  the  opening  of  the  congress,  the  chairman  of  the 
legislative  committee  shall  take  the  chair  until  the  congress 
has  elected  its  own  president,  which  shall  be  its  first  business. 
The  congress  shall  then  elect  a  vice-president,  two  secretaries, 
two  auditors,  a  doorkeeper  and  a  messenger. 

•  4.  A  standing  order  committee  shall  then  be  elected,  to 
whom  shall  be  remitted  the  whole  business  of  the  congress,  the 
discussions,  together  with  the  whole  financial  arrangements  of 
the  congress. 

5.  The  congress  having  been  formally  opened  by  the 
president,  the  legislative  committee  shall  present  their  report 
for  the  last  year,  which  shall  be  read  by  the  secretary  and  shall 
be  laid  upon  the  table  for  discussion  by  the  congress;  said 
report  shall  contain  a  list  of  the  committee  meetings,  with  dates 
and  names  of  those  present. 

6.  The  reader  of  a  paper  shall  be  allowed  twenty  minutes ; 
the  mover  of  a  resolution,  fifteen  minutes ;  succeeding  speakers 
ten  minutes  each.  No  one  to  speak  more  than  once  on  any 
subject. 

7.  No  second  amendment  to  an  original  proposition  shall 
be  put  to  a  vote  until  the  amendment  is  disposed  of. 

8.  No  papers  shall  be  read  except  those  which  are  required 
for  legislative  purposes;  no  member  to  read  more  than  one 
paper. 

9.  All  papers  shall  be  sent  to  the  secretary  of  the  legislative 
committee  at  least  two  weeks  before  the  meeting  of  the  ensuing 
congress,  the  same  to  be  read  and  arranged  by  the  committee, 
to  facilitate  the  business  of  the  congr 

10.  The  secretary,  who  shall  also  be  secretary  of  the  legis- 
lative committee,  shall  be  elected  at  the  annual  congress. 
Should  a  vacancy  occur  between  the  annual  meetings  of  the 

.   the   legislative   committee   shall    have   power   to   fill 
tin  vacancy. 

1 1.  The  duties  of  the  legislative  committee  shall  be  to  1 
legislative  measures  directly  affecting   the  question  of   labor; 
t«>  initiate,  whenever  necessary,  such  legislative  action  as  the 
congress  may  direct,  or  as  the  exigencies  of  the  time  and 
cumstances  may  demand. 

1  '     V     candidate  shall   be  elected  on  the  le| 
Bkittee  unless  he  is  a  delegate  from  his  own  trade  society,  or 


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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

represents  a  trade  council,  and  the  body  so  represented  must 
have. contributed  its  capitation  tax  during  the  year  previous  to 
his  nomination.  In  no  case  shall  two  members  of  one  trade 
be  elected  on  the  committee. 

13.  All  surplus  moneys,  after  the  payment  of  the  expenses 
of  the  congress,  shall  be  handed  over  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
legislative  committee,  for  the  general  purposes  of  suGh 
committee. 

14.  The  legislative  committee  shall  assist  and  co-operate 
with  the  local  committee  of  the  city  where  the  next  congress 
is  to  be  held  for  the  purpose  of  making  the  arrangements  as 
complete  as  possible,  and  preparing  the  questions  to  be  dis- 
cussed, and  together  to  take  such  joint  action  as  the  business  or 
other  special  circumstances  of  the  time  may  render  necessary 
or  desirable. 

15.  A  sub-committee  of  the  legislative  committee  shall  meet 
a  week  before  the  meeting  of  each  congress,  to  arrange  matters 
for  the  congress. 

16.  That  in  the  case  of  any  amendment  of  the  standing 
orders  of  the  congress  being  desired  by  any  society  or  delegate, 
it  shall  be  necessary  for  every  such  proposed  amendment  to  be 
forwarded  to  the  legislative  committee  at  least  one  month  before 
the  meeting  of  the  congress. 

17.  The  legislative  committee  shall  be  members  of  the  suc- 
ceeding congress  from  which  they  have  been  credited,  but 
without  a  vote. 

"In  making  the  foregoing  brief  abstract  of  the  proceed- 
ings, I  have  been  actuated  by  a  desire  to  avoid,  as  far  as 
practicable,  trenching  upon  your  valuable  time,  and 
hence  have  passed  by  with  mere  mention  those  matters 
which  I  believe  were  not  of  almost  universal  interest.  This 
course  I  have  been  the  more  readily  impelled  to,  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  the  legislative  committee  have  published 
the  full  proceedings  in  pamphlet  form,  a  copy  of  which 
may  be  obtained  bv  forwarding  ten  cents  to  any  member 
thereof. 

"The  desirability  of  intelligent  action  on  the  question 
of  affiliation  with  the  federation  demands  a  full  knowl- 
edge of  the  declaration  of  principles,   constitution,   and 

348 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1882 

standing  orders — hence  their  embodiment  in  this  report 
to  the  convention. 

"Thus  ended  the  first  congress  of  the  Federation  of 
Trade  and  Labor  Unions,  and  its  deliberations,  without 
doubt,  have  attracted  more  universal  attention  at  the 
hands  of  press  and  public  throughout  the  country  than 
has  been  accorded  to  any  similar  gathering.  Its  trans- 
actions, while  perhaps  not  entirely  free  from  those  mis- 
takes which  might  reasonably  be  attributed  to  want  of 
experience,  were,  taken  as  a  whole,  characterized  by  that 
wisdom  and  earnestness  of  purpose  which  augurs  well  for 
the  long-continued  annual  recurrence  of  similar  sessions, 
and  increasing  efficiency  in  their  work.  Another  signifi- 
cant and  cheering  indication  in  this,  direction  was  the 
number  of  encouraging  letters  and  telegrams  received 
from  societies  not  represented,  accompanied  by  pledges 
of  support  and  assurances  that  they  would  have  repre- 
sentation at  the  Cleveland  session.  Hence,  it  is  safe  to 
predict  that  the  second  congress  will  be  more  thoroughly 
a  representative  one  than  the  first. 

"Results  of  the  Pittsburgh  Congress  —  While  the  re- 
sults of  the  Pittsburgh  congress  have,  perhaps,  not  been 
so  plainly  marked  as  those  which  may  be  reasonably  ex- 
pected to  follow  the  assembling  of  future  congresses,  the 
stimulus  given  by  that  gathering  to  industrial  organiza- 
tions in  many  sections  has  been  very  marked.  Several 
trades,  which  heretofore  had  banded  together  in  but  few 
localities,  have  been  enabled,  through  the  interest  aroused 
at  Pittsburgh,  to  make  wonderful  progfMl  in  bringing 
within  the  folds  of  unionism  the  brethren  of  their  respec- 
tive callings,  and  as  a  result  the  year  1882  will  probably 
witness  the  formation  of  at  least  half-a-dozen  national  or 
international  unions,  and  a  greater  number  of  trades  as- 
semblies. In  addition,  the  influence  of  the  legislative  com- 
mittee  has   been    felt    in   the   national    legislature    in    the 

349 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

interest  of  the  lake  seamen  against  an  act  for  their  out- 
rageous oppression ;  and  in  various  state  legislatures  in 
measures  for  the  compulsory  education  of  children,  the 
repeal  of  oppressive  conspiracy  laws,  and  the  abolishment 
of  convict  labor  and  the  'truck'  system.  In  addition,  and 
possessing,  perhaps,  a  more  direct  interest  to  the  members 
of  our  trade,  I  am  informed  by  the  secretary  that  he  has 
been  placed  in  direct  communication  with  Mr.  Henry 
Slatter,  president  of  the  London  Typographical  Society, 
and  that  out  of  such  relations  may  come  mutual  benefit 
to  members  of  the  craft  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 
This  work,  too,  has  been  accomplished  in  face  of  the  fact 
that  the  committee  has  been  seriously  embarrassed  by  lack 
of  funds.  This  obstacle  will  be  gradually  removed  upon 
the  assembling  of  the  various  international  and  national 
unions  during  the  present  year,  several  of  which,  al- 
though maintaining  a  position  of  indifference  toward  the 
federation  in  the  past,  will  be  forced  into  line  through 
the  influence  of  sympathizing  and  interested  subordinate 
bodies  under  their  jurisdiction. 

"These  movements  for  the  reform  of  public  grievances, 
and  which,  perhaps,  have  no  visible  direct  bearing  upon 
the  printing  fraternity,  may  possess  but  little  interest  for 
the  masses  of  our  craft;  but  our  representative  men  at 
least  must  keep  in  mind  the  fact  that  if  we  would  materi- 
ally improve  our  condition  as  a  distinctive  trade,  we  must 
keep  abreast  of  the  advancing  wave  of  industrial  emanci- 
pation, and  stand  ever  ready  to  assist  our  brethren  of 
other  trades,  to  the  end  that  we  in  our  time  of  adversity 
may  be  in  a  position  to  turn  to  them  for  like  encourage- 
ment and  assistance. 

"Expense  of  Representation  —  Should  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  conclude,  as  I  am  persuaded 
it  will,  to  affiliate  with  the  federation,  the  chief  expense 

350 


Convention  at  St.  Louis.  1882 


to  which  it  will  be  subject  will  be  the  payment  of  a  per 
capita  tax  of  three  cents  per  annum  (payable  in  quarterly 
instalments)  on  each  member  in  good  standing  within  its 
jurisdiction.  It  will  be  entitled  to  at  least  two  delegates, 
but,  as  they  could  be  selected  from  some  point  contiguous 
to  the  place  of  meeting,  their  expenses  would  not  be  bur- 
densome to  the  treasury.  I  feel  confident  that  even  this 
outlay  will  not  be  necessary  after  the  Cleveland  conven- 
tion, as  the  experience  of  a  year  will  have  doubtless  dem- 
onstrated that  a  far  better  system  of  collecting  revenue 
would  be  that  adopted  by  the  Trade  Union  Congress  of 
Great  Britain,  of  allowing  representation  from  subordi- 
nate unions  at  a  merely  nominal  entrance  fee,  relying 
upon  voluntary  contributions  from  the  various  trade  and 
labor  societies  to  meet  the  necessities  of  the  parliamentary 
committee. 

"In  conclusion,  I  can  not  refrain  from  referring  with 
proud  satisfaction  to  the  fact  that  our  craft,  which  has 
been  the  pioneer  and  constant  champion  of  this  movement 
so  auspiciously  set  under  way,  was  more  numerously  rep- 
resented at  the  late  congress  than  any  other  trade,  and 
that  body,  conceding  to  the  International  Typographical 
Union  the  right  to  an  honorable  recognition,  elevated  to 
the  most  responsible  and  honorable  position  within  its 
gift  (the  secretaryship  of  the  legislative  committee) 
Brother  \V.  II.  Foster,  a  permanent  member  of  this  body. 
and  a  gentleman  of  sterling  ability  for  the  duties  of  the 
position. 

"Finally,  gentlemen  of  the  thirtieth  session  of  the  In- 
ternational  Typographical  Union,  permit  me  to  assuie 
you  that  I  have  honestly  endeavored,  during  my  dclcgatc- 
ihip,  to  discharge  the  highly  honorable  trust  confided  to 
mc  in  such  a  manner  as  it  seemed  would  best  conduce  to 
the  material  advancement  of  the  craft  to  which  I  belong. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and   especially   of  the  organization   whose  past  welfare 

and  future  prosperity  has  been,  and  will  be,  my  fondest 

hope. 

"Respectfully  submitted, 

"L.  A.  Brant." 
Work    of    the    Convention 

Reorganization  Plans  —  The  committee  on  plans  of  re- 
organization, authorized  by  resolution  on  the  last  day  of 
the  Toronto  session,  submitted  a  report  to  the  effect  that 
under  the  terms  of  the  resolution  creating  the  committee 
it  had  been  found  impossible  to  perform  the  arduous  task 
of  preparing  a  suitable  plan  of  reorganization  because  of 
the  fact  that  no  appropriation  had  been  made  to  allow  the 
members  of  the  committee  to  get  together  during  the  year, 
and  that  not  until  the  week  of  the  present  convention  had 
they  been  able  to  meet,  when  it  was  found  that  the  differ- 
ences of  opinion  existing  in  the  minds  of  members  of  the 
committee  rendered  it  impossible  to  accomplish  anything 
definite.  It  was  therefore  ordered  that  a  special  committee 
of  five  be  appointed  to  undertake  the  work  of  revising  the 
old  constitution  and  by-laws,  with  instructions  to  present 
a  report  before  adjournment  of  the  convention.  Through 
the  efforts  of  this  committee  the  delegates  were  enabled  to 
partially  revise  the  laws  of  the  organization.  Several 
paragraphs  dealing  with  questions  of  minor  importance 
were  acted  upon,  but  no  changes  were  made  that  in  any 
way  affected  the  autonomy  of  local  unions.  Perhaps  the 
most  important  addition  to  the  laws  was  the  adoption  of 
a  provision  authorizing  the  appointment  of  state  deputy 
organizers. 

Sub-Lists  —  The  beginning  of  the  end  of  the  "sub- 
list"  system  was  foreshadowed  by  the  adoption  of  the 
following  resolutions : 

Whereas  the  "sub-list"  system,  as  enforced  in  many  of  the 
leading  daily  offices  of  the  country,  has  always  met  with  much 

352 


Convention  at  St.  Louis.  1882 


disfavor  among  both  the  "regulars,"  as  a  class,  and  the  "sub- 
stitutes," who  are  the  parties  most  affected  by  its  restrictions; 
and 

Whereas  competency  and  fairness  of  the  workman  should 
be  the  only  true  standard  of  recommendation  for  the  one  apply- 
ing for  work;  and 

Whereas  efforts  should  be  made  to  relieve  the  craft  of  all 
forms  and  practices  which  in  themselves  bring  dissatisfaction 
and  discontent,  and  which  act  almost  universally  to  the  detri- 
ment and  loss  of  a  large  and  honorable  membership  in  our 
craft ;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  this  International  Union  appreciates  fully 
the  injuries  inflicted  from  a  radical  enforcement  of  what  is 
known  as  the  "sub-list"  system,  and  is  solicitous  for  a  reform  in 
that  direction. 

Resolved,  That  the  subordinate  unions  in  this  jurisdiction 
shall  be  directed  to  adopt  such  measures,  where  practicable,  as 
will  abolish  the  sub-list,  and  make  the  standard  of  privilege  to 
work  that  the  workman  shall  be  a  fair  man,  and  competent  to 
do  the  work  for  which  he  applies. 

French-Canadians  —  The  following  petition  was  re- 
ceived from  Montreal  Typographical  Union: 

The  petition  of  Montreal  Typographical  Union  No.  176, 
respectfully  sheweth: 

That  after  a  trial  of  six  years  we  find  it  impossible  to  con- 
tinue as  one  union  in  the  city  of  Montreal. 

That  there  are  in  the  city  over  three  hundred  printers,  not 
one-half  of  whom  are  now  members  of  the  union,  in  CM— 
quence  of  the  difference  of  language  and  the  great  difficulty 
in  conducting  our  proceedings. 

That  at  least  one-half  the  printers  are  French-Canadians, 
and  it  is  an  injustice  to  them  to  force  them  to  belong  to  a 
union  whose  proceedings  they  can  not  take  part  in  without 
great  inconvenience,  and  the  absolute  necessity  of  translating 
speeches,  reports,  minutes,  resolutions,  etc. 

Thai  hut  few  of  the  English  members  understand  «>r  speak 
the  French  language  and  that  but  few  of  the  French  member* 
understand  OT  speak   the   Englleh  language. 

That  at  the  regular  monthly  muring  of  this  union,  held  on 
the  6th  of  May  instant,  it  was  resolved,  in  the  best  interests  of 

353 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  union,  and  for  the  welfare  of  the  craft,  that  every  effort 
should  be  made  to  obtain  two  charters  for  the  city  of  Montreal. 
We,  therefore,  pray  you  to  restore  Jacques  Cartier  Typo- 
graphical Union  No.  145  its  charter,  in  order  that  peace  and 
harmony  may  prevail,  and  that  the  printers  of  Montreal  may 
all  become  active  union  men. 

The  petition  was  referred  to  the  president  of  the  Inter- 
national Union,  with  instructions  to  grant  the  request 
contained  therein  if  satisfactory  evidence  was  produced 
showing  that  the  petition  met  with  the  approval  of  a  ma- 
jority of  the  members  of  Montreal  Union. 

Secret  Organizations  —  The  following  resolution,  in- 
troduced by  Delegate  Franey,  of  Buffalo,  was  defeated 
by  a  vote  of  36  ayes,  30  noes  : 

Whereas  caucusing  and  organized  conferences  of  delegates 
to  this  union,  for  the  purpose  of  nominating  candidates  for 
offices  within  its  gift,  tends  to  subvert  the  selection  of  the  best 
men  for  such  offices,  and  does  not  allow  a  thorough  freedom 
of  action  and  an  honest  expression  of  the  ballot ;  and 

Whereas  the  consideration  of  measures  in  caucuses,  or  con- 
ferences, or  organizations,  before  or  after  their  presentation  to 
this  body,  is  detrimental  to  true  unionism ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  it  shall  be  considered  a  misdemeanor,  pun- 
ishable by  fine,  expulsion,  or  censure,  as  the  convention  shall 
decide,  for  any  delegate  to  be  a  party  to  the  selection  of  candi- 
dates in  any  caucus,  organized  conference,  or  society,  or  to  bind 
themselves  to  the  support  or  non-support  of  any  measures  prior 
to  or  after  their  presentation  to  this  convention ;  and 

Resolved,  That  any  person  or  persons  who  shall  accept  the 
nomination  of  a  caucus,  or  conference,  or  organized  body,  and 
which  acceptance  shall  be  proven  by  competent  witnesses,  the 
name  of  such  person,  or  persons,  shall  be  printed  in  a  black 
list,  with  an  appropriate  heading,  in  the  proceedings  of  all 
subsequent  International  Typographical  Union  conventions. 

After  the  defeat  of  the  above  resolution,  the  following 
was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  43  ayes,  3  noes : 

Whereas  the  best  interests  of  this  organization  demand  that 
unity  of  purpose  and  fraternal  feeling  shall  exist  among  its 

354 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1882 

members,  and  that  all  cause  of  distrust  shall  be  removed  as 
to  the  methods  of  legislation  or  the  selection  of  officers; 
therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  discussion  of  measures  to  be  introduced 
in  this  body,  and  all  interchange  of  opinion  as  to  the  character 
or  qualification  of  candidates  for  office,  should  be  conducted  in 
a  free  and  open  manner,  and  that  this  International  Union 
deprecates  and  condemns  all  meetings  of  a  secret  character, 
held  for  such  purposes,  under  any  form  or  under  any  name. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  Delegate  Dodge,  of  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  presented  the  following  resolution  which  was 
adopted : 

Resolved,  That  a  committee,  consisting  of  the  newly-elected 
officers  of  the  International  Union,  be  appointed  to  take  into 
consideration  the  feasibility  of  devising  means  for  the  estab- 
lishment and  maintenance  of  a  home  for  disabled  printers,  and 
report  at  the  next  annual  meeting  of  this  union ;  said  home  to 
be  conducted  on  the  principle  of  the  various  soldiers'  homes 
throughout  the  country. 

Pressmen  —  The  following  appeal  to  the  pressmen  was 
issued  by  the  pressmen  delegates  to  the  convention : 

For  the  protection  of  pressmen  as  well  as  employers,  we 
appeal  to  our  brothers  of  the  craft  throughout  the  country  to 
organize  and  form  pressmen's  unions  wherever  possible. 

Whatever  tends  to  the  interest  of  employers  must  of  necessity 
benefit  ourselves,  and  by  thorough  organization  our -art  is  ad- 
vanced, friendship  cemented  and  knowledge  disseminated, 
apprenticeship  more  faithfully  enforced,  and  the  moral  and 
Intellectual  standing  of  OUT  craft  is  recognized  and  appreciated. 

No  antagonism  need  exist  between  pressmen  and  employers;  X 
on  the  contrary,   organization    prevents  unjust   discrimination 
and    tends  to  harmonize  discordant    elements,   and   bring   all 
under  proper  and  judicious  restraint 

At  present  nine  pressmen's  unions  exist,  and  in  every  instance  * 
have  proved   beneficial.     Members  have   improved   their  condi 
Hon,  and  earned  greater  reaped  for  our  pairing;  so  much  so 
the  International  Union  conferred  the  distinguished  honor  upon 
11s  of  electing  the  ?!«  president  from  our  ranks.    Let  us  show 
by  our  zeal  the  confidence  thus  reposed  in  us  is  not  mi 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Cincinnati  was  selected  as  the  meeting  place  for  the 
convention  in  1883. 

Officers,  1882 —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  term  were 
elected,  as  follows:  President,  George  Clark,  St.  Louis; 
first  vice-president,  John  F.  Clarkson,  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
second  vice-president,  T.  A.  Fowler,  Houston,  Tex. ;  sec- 
retary-treasurer, Mark  L.  Crawford,  Chicago,  and  cor- 
responding secretary,  John  R.  Haldeman,  Philadelphia. 
Frank  K.  Foster,  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  was  elected  dele- 
gate to  the  federation  of  trades. 

State  Deputies  —  At  this  session  the  constitution  was 
amended  requiring  the  president  to  appoint  a  deputy  for 
each  state,  territory  and  province,  in  which  subordinate 
unions  existed,  whose  duty  it  was  to  correspond  with  each 
town  or  place  in  the  state,  where  printers  were  employed, 
with  the  view  of  encouraging  them  to  embrace  unionism. 
The  deputy  appointed  by  the  president  was  authorized 
and  directed  to  select  an  assistant  in  each  city  or  town, 
empowered  with  authority  to  administer  the  union  obli- 
gation, with  the  understanding  that  all  persons  so  obli- 
gated should  be  assigned  to  membership  in  the  nearest 
subordinate  union  within  the  state.  The  member  thus 
obligated  was  relieved  from  payment  of  local  dues  and 
assessments  but  was  required  to  pay  the  International  per 
capita  tax.   The  first  list  of  state  deputies  follows : 

Alabama,  Michael  O'Rourke,  Mobile;  Arizona,  E.  S.  Penwell,  Tombstone; 
Arkansas,  J.  M.  Wade,  Little  Rock;  California,  S.  W.  Jenner,  San  Francisco; 
Colorado,  H.  M.  Biden,  Denver;  Connecticut,  J.  F.  Busche,  jr.,  New  Haven; 
Delaware,  D:  S.  Shields,  Wilmington;  Dakota,  M.  J.  Meehan,  Fargo;  Idaho, 
C.  J.  Copp,  Hailey;  Illinois,  Robert  A.  Lowry,  Quincy;  Indiana,  John  Schley, 
Indianapolis;  Iowa,  T.  J.  Collins,  Sioux  City;  Kentucky,  W.  E.  Riley,  Louis- 
ville; Kansas,  James  M.  Jones,  Atchison;  Louisiana,  P.  T.  McDermott,  New  Or- 
leans; Manitoba,  P.  Considine,  Winnipeg;  Maryland,  James  W.  Rodgers,  Balti- 
more; Massachusetts,  D.  N.  McMullin,  Boston;  Minnesota,  J.  T.  Mannix, 
Minneapolis;  Mississippi,  A.  J.  McCallum,  Vicksburg;  Michigan,  Judson  Gre- 
nell,  Detroit;  Missouri,  M.  Lawlor,  St.  Joseph;  Nevada,  S.  M.  Stenhouse,  Vir- 
ginia City;  North  Carolina,  J.  C.  Birdsong,  Raleigh;  Nebraska,  L.  C.  Hay, 
Omaha;  New  York,  F.  F.  Donovan,  New  York  city;  New  Jersey,  Samuel  Mel- 
lor,  jr.,  Trenton;  New  Mexico,  N.  S.  Belden,  Las  Vegas;  Ohio,  David  P.  Boyer, 
Columbus;  Ontario,  John  Armstrong,  Toronto;  Pennsylvania,  Thomas  Brennan, 
Pittsburgh;   Prince  Edward   Island,   Richard  Walsh,   Charlottetown;   Quebec,   P. 

356 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1883 

Hughes,  Montreal;  New  Brunswick,  James  Berry,  St.  John;  South  Carolina,  N. 
Stuart  Marks,  Columbia;  Texas,  George  S.  Smith,  Austin;  Tennessee,  Thomas 
Irwin,  Nashville;  Utah,  Henry  McEwan,  Salt  Lake  City;  Virginia,  J.  H.  O'Ban- 
non,  Richmond;  West  Virginia,  VV.  S.  McCurdy,  Wheeling;  Wisconsin,  Charles 
II.  Hubbard,  Milwaukee;  Wyoming,  A.  R.  Johnson,  Cheyenne. 

Convention   at   Cincinnati 

[1883]  —  The  thirty-first  annual  convention  of  the  In- 
ternational Union  was  called  to  order  by  President  Clark 
in  Cincinnati,  June  4,  1883,  sixty-eight  unions  being  rep- 
resented by  eighty-four  delegates. 

President's  Address — In  his  annual  address  to  the 
convention,  President  Clark  said  that  during  the  year 
much  had  been  accomplished.  While  there  had  been  no 
particular  demonstration,  a  constant  and  healthy  growth 
was  manifest  throughout  the  jurisdiction.  This  assertion 
was  fully  borne  out  by  the  increase  of  new  unions,  which 
was  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  the  organization.  Ap- 
parently, the  craft  generally  had  prospered  and  had  be- 
come stronger  and  more  united.  Another  evidence  of  the 
prosperity  being  enjoyed  was  the  fact  that  few  lapses  had 
occurred  during  the  year  and  the  spirit  of  distrust  which 
had  for  several  years  previously  threatened  to  mar  the 
usefulness  of  the  International  body  had  to  a  great  degree 
been  dispelled.  It  was  apparent  that  the  cause  of  labor 
generally  had  received  new  impetus  by  movements  lead- 
ing to  greater  unity  and  a  better  understanding  among  tin- 
various  trades. 

Organization  Work  —  President  Clark  recommended 
additional  legislation  providing  an  extension  bi  the  or- 
ganization work.  Without  criticizing  tlu-  result)  obtained 
through  state  organizers,  it  was  recommended  that  the 
union  should  provide  foi  ■  permanent  organizer,  Mated 
with  proper  power  as  an  officer,  who  should  be  paid  a 
Itated  salary  and  devote  his  entire  time  and  energy  to  the 
work,  with  infltructfonfl  to  co-opcratc  with  the  ^.tatc  depu- 
ties.   No  action  was  takes  on  the  recommendation 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

French-Canadian  Union  —  Acting  upon  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  previous  convention  regarding  the  petition 
presented  by  Montreal  Union,  praying  that  the  charter 
of  Jacques  Cartier  Union  be  restored,  the  president 
reported  that  he  had  issued  to  the  French  printers 
of  Montreal  a  charter,  under  their  old  number  and 
name.  While  this  action  was  not  in  strict  accord  with  the 
letter  of  the  law  which  provided  that  not  more  than  one 
charter  should  be  issued  in  the  same  city,  the  peculiar  con- 
ditions existing  in  Montreal  seemed  to  require  that  two 
subordinate  unions  be  chartered  in  that  jurisdiction. 

Charters  —  The  following  list  of  charters  issued,  and 
those  reissued  and  surrendered,  is  given :  Pressmen's — 
New  York  city,  Toronto,  Ont,  and  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Reissued — Jacques  Cartier,  Montreal,  Can. ;  Springfield, 
Ohio ;  Des  Moines,  Iowa ;  Montgomery,  Ala. ;  Atlanta, 
Ga. ;  Shreveport,  La. ;  Dubuque,  Iowa ;  Oil  City,  Pa. ; 
Knoxville,  Tenn. ;  Portland,  Ore. ;  Chattanooga,  Tenn. ; 
Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  Santa  Fe,  N.  M. ;  Halifax,  N.  S. ;  Ot- 
tawa, Can. ;  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Providence,  R.  I. ;  Stockton, 
Cal. ;  Dallas  and  Austin,  Tex.  New  charters — Tomb- 
stone, Ariz. ;  Fort  Worth,  Tex. ;  Youngstown,  Ohio ; 
Zanesville,  Ohio;  Hailey,  Ida.;  Seattle,  Wash.;  Council 
Bluffs,  Iowa;  Miles  City,  Mont;  Jamestown,  N.  Y. ;  Se- 
dalia,  Mo. ;  Newark,  Ohio ;  Albuquerque,  N.  M. ;  Lincoln, 
Neb.;  Tucson,  Ariz.;  Oshkosh,  Wis.;  Hornellsville,  N. 
Y. ;  Lowell,  Mass.;  Lake  Charles,  La.,  and  Decatur,  111. 
Surrendered — Portland,  Me.;  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.;  Lex- 
ington, Ky. ;  Vicksburg,  Miss. ;  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  Las 
Vegas,  N.  M. 

Strikes  —  The  report  of  the  corresponding  secretary 
gave  evidence  of  a  revival  of  trade  in  all  sections  of  the 
country,  although  a  number  of  strikes  took  place  during 
the  year.  Differences  had  occurred  in  New  York,  Boston, 
Dubuque,  Minneapolis,  Montreal,   New  Haven,  Atlanta, 

358 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1883 

Portland,  Ore. ;  Cambridge,  Mass. ;  Toronto,  Can. ; 
Springfield  and  Joliet,  111.  Settlements  were  made  in  all 
these  disputes  favorable  to  the  union.  Unsuccessful 
strikes  had  occurred  in  St.  Paul,  Toledo,  Erie,  Atlanta, 
Kansas  City,  Topeka,  Montreal  and  Winnipeg. 

Federation  of  Trades — Frank  K.  Foster,  delegate  to 
the  Federation  of  Trades,  submitted  a  report  covering  the 
sessions  of  that  body  held  in  Cleveland.  The  report 
showed  that  in  addition  to  the  various  local  bodies  repre- 
sented eight  national  and  international  unions  had  sent 
delegates.  Samuel  L.  Leffingwell,  of  Indianapolis,  repre- 
senting the  Trades  Assembly  of  that  city,  and  a  member 
of  Typographical  Union  No.  1,  was  elected  president. 
Samuel  Gompers,  of  the  Cigar  Makers'  International 
Union,  was  elected  vice-president,  and  W.  H.  Foster,  Cin- 
cinnati Trades  Assembly;  T.  H.  Murch,  Granite  Cutters' 
National  Union,  and  Hugo  Miller,  German-American 
Typographia,  were  elected  secretaries. 

The  report  showed  that  while  considerable  progress 
had  been  made  during  the  year  in  the  way  of  organization 
and  legislative  action,  yet  the  financial  returns  from  the 
organizations  represented  at  the  Pittsburgh  session  had 
not  been  sufficiently  large  to  permit  of  the  active  cam- 
paign anticipated  by  friends  of  the  federation.  Efforts 
to  secure  places  on  congressional  committees  for  friends 
of  labor;  the  anti-Chinese  demonstrations  in  aid  of  the 
passage  of  an  exclusion  act;  the  presentation  of  a  bill 
in  congress  for  the  better  protection  of  the  rights  ami 
health  of  seamen;  of  another  to  the  New  York  legislature 
for  the  abolition  of  tern  im-nt-house  cigar  makers,  and  an 
appeal  to  tin  Ohio  legislature  for  the  abolition  of  pi 
noit  1  act  labor,  were  among  the  especial  matters  that  had 
engaged  the  attention  of  the  legislative  eommittn- 

While  the  second  session  of  the  federation,  in  point  of 
numbers,  did  not  meet  the  expectations  of  its  more  cn- 

399 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

thusiastic  friends,  yet  in  many  ways  it  was  a  notable 
success. 

At  the  Pittsburgh  convention  a  plank  had  been  inserted 
in  the  platform  endorsing  a  high  protective  tariff.  This 
plank  was  stricken  out  at  the  Cleveland  convention.  An 
additional  plank  was  added  by  the  insertion  of  a  demand 
for  an  employers'  liability  act;  the  order  of  precedence 
was  changed  so  as  to  give  the  enforcement  of  a  national 
eight-hour  law  first  place  in  the  order  of  arrangement. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  A  special  committee  appointed 
at  the  previous  convention  to  consider  the  feasibility  of 
devising  means  for  the  establishment  of  a  home  for  dis- 
abled printers  submitted  the  following  report.  The  rec- 
ommendation contained  in  the  report,  however,  was  not 
concurred  in. 

In  regard  to  the  proposition,  your  committee  beg  leave  to 
state  that,  while  they  heartily  approve  the  principle  embodied 
in  the  resolution,  and  believe  that  the  establishment  of  such  a 
home  would  be  a  most  creditable  feature  of  our  unionism,  com- 
mending our  organization  to  the  favorable  opinion  of  a  benevo- 
lent public,  yet,  aware  of  the  magnitude  of  the  undertaking 
financially,  we  would  not  recommend  its  adoption  unless  aid  can 
be  obtained  from  outside  sources.  With  such  help  we  believe 
the  plan  entirely  feasible.  Prominent  publishers,  as  we  are 
informed,  have  in  the  past  given  their  approval  to  similar  propo- 
sitions and  signified  their  willingness  to  extend  substantial  aid. 
Such  aid  secured,  an  additional  handsome  sum  could  be  realized 
by  the  levying  of  a  small  monthly  assessment  on  the  members  of 
local  unions.  An  assessment  of  15  cents  per  month  would  yield 
an  annual  income,  of,  say,  about  twenty  thousand  dollars  a 
year.  This  could  be  reduced  one-third,  or  even  two-thirds,  after 
the  establishment  of  the  home,  and  the  tax  would  be  so  light 
that  it  would  not  be  regarded  as  a  burden.  Fully  aware  that 
to  many  of  our  members  the  project  may  seem  visionary,  yet, 
in  order  that  the  matter  may  be  given  a  practical  test,  your 
committee  respectfully  recommend  the  adoption  of  the  follow- 
ing resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  proposition  to  establish  a  home  for  dis- 

360 


GEORGE  CLASJC,  St.  Loom 

I'm  si, ii  iii  ii'trin.iit.'ii.ii  Typographical  (Jaioa 

June    I...    1HH1      June  8.    l88j 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1883 

abled  printers  be  referred  to  a  committee  consisting  of  the 
newly-elected  officers  of  the  International  Union,  with  instruc- 
tions to  open  a  correspondence,  under  the  seal  of  the  Inter- 
national Union,  with  the  employing  printers  throughout  the 
jurisdiction,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  views  of  said  employers 
on  the  subject;  and  then,  should  the  matter  be  regarded  by 
said  committee  as  feasible,  that  they  be  instructed  to  prepare 
and  report  at  the  next  session  of  this  International  Union  a 
bill  looking  to  the  establishment  of  the  said  home. 

Official  Organ  —  "Our  Organette,"  a  trade  publication 
issued  at  Indianapolis,  having  received  the  endorsement 
of  a  previous  convention,  had  become,  practically,  the 
official  organ  of  the  International  Union,  and,  upon  the 
recommendation  of  the  committee  on  miscellaneous  busi- 
ness, it  was  ordered  that  the  secretary-treasurer,  instead 
of  issuing  quarterly  circulars,  should  publish  all  matters 
necessary  for  the  information  of  subordinate  unions  in 
"Our  Organette,"  to  be  paid  for  at  the  usual  advertising 
rates,  and  to  subscribe  for  a  sufficient  number  of  copies  of 
the  paper  to  provide  one  for  each  subordinate  union. 

Membership  —  The  report  of  the  committee  on  returns 
and  finance  showed  that  the  finances  were  in  a  satisfactory 
condition  and  the  total  membership  was  12,273. 

Per  Capita  —  The  per  capita  tax  for  the  ensuing  year 
was  fixed  at  20  cents. 

Sub-Lists  —  The  death  blow  to  "sub-lists"  was  dealt 
Dy  the  delegates  to  the  thirty-first  convention,  ami  an 
1  rtion  of  real  authority  by  the  International  organiza- 
tion was  contained  in  the  following  resolution  adopted 
by  a  vote  of  62  ayes,  1 2  noes : 

Wherkas  it  is  the  opinion  <>f  this  IntiTiuuion.il  Union  that 
every  union  man  is  entitle.!  to  the  privilege  of  working  in  union 

officei  until  he  gives  cause  to  be  discharged  or  prohibit) 
therefore 

RtSOlVid,  That  all  sul>onlin.ite  unions  are  hereby  iMtfUCted 
to  abolish  sub-lists  on  or  before  the  1st  of  September.  1883, 
under  penalty  of  having  their  charters  revoked. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Government  Printing  Office  —  The  following  interest- 
ing resolutions,  introduced  by  Delegate  Briggs,  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  were  adopted  by  a  rising  vote  of  the 
delegates : 

Whereas  certain  senators  of  United  States  did,  at  the  last 
session  of  congress,  by  their  prompt  and  unsolicited  action, 
defeat  legislation  directly  detrimental  to  the  interests  of  Colum- 
bia Typographical  Union  No.  ioi,  Pressmen's  Union  No.  I, 
both  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and  to  trade  organizations  gener- 
ally, and  did  by  their  utterances  show  themselves  to  have  a  true 
understanding  and  appreciation  of  the  cause  of  labor ;  therefore 

Be  it  resolved,  That  a  vote  of  thanks  be,  and  is  hereby, 
tendered  by  this  International  Union  of  North  America  to  the 
Honorable  Senators  D.  W.  Voorhees  of  Indiana,  and  Omar  D. 
Conger  of  Michigan,  and  the  other  senators  who  favored  us  on 
that  occasion;  and 

Be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  officers  of  this  body  are  here- 
by instructed  to  acquaint  by  telegraph  the  senators  designated  of 
our  action. 

The  remarks  of  Senators  Voorhees  and  Conger  in  the 
United  States  senate,  February  24,  1883,  referred  to  in 
the  above  resolutions,  set  forth  so  clearly  the  aims  and  ob- 
jects of  the  trade  union  movement,  as  interpreted  by  the 
typographical  union,  that  the  following  excerpts  from  the 
debate  in  the  senate  on  that  occasion  are  reproduced: 

Mr.  Voorhees — Mr.  President,  I  want  to  submit  a  few 
words  on  behalf  of  the  printers.  It  seems  that  only  one  side  of 
this  question  has  been  heard  on  this  floor.  *  *  *  It  would 
seem  from  the  debate  the  last  half  hour  here  as  if  they  were 
a  very  dangerous  class  of  people.  From  the  unbroken  strain 
of  amazed  and  indignant  talk  on  this  subject  it  would  seem 
that  this  government  had  been  outraged  and  plundered  by  them. 
That  is  not  my  understanding.  My  understanding  is  that  a 
more  painstaking,  conscientious,  hard-working  class  of  people 
does  not  live  than  the  printers  who  are  now  in  question.  If 
they  have  committed  any  abuse  on  any  public  interest,  I  should 
like  to  have  it  pointed  out.  I  should  like  to  know  what  they 
have  done.  Have  they  received  too  much  pay  for  their  work? 
I  should  like  to  see  a  senator  who  will  rise  here  and  say  so. 

362 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1883 

Mr.  Plumb — Will  the  senator  from  Indiana  permit  me  to 
direct  his  attention  to  one  point?  I  want  simply  to  state  the 
abuse  I  speak  of.  While  they  want  to  labor  for  themselves,  and 
do  good  labor,  and  valuable  labor,  they  insist  that  nobody  else 
shall  labor  except  at  their  beck. 

Mr.  Voorhees — I  will  come  to  that  directly.  Let  us  take 
things  as  they  are  presented ;  I  want  to  settle  some  points  as  I 
go  along.  I  do  not  understand  that  anybody  pretends  that  these 
men  get  too  much  pay  for  their  work.  I  want  to  settle  another 
point :  I  do  not  understand  that  anybody  pretends  that  they  do 
not  do  their  work  well.  So  we  have  two  great  propositions  in 
employment  and  labor;  one  is  that  the  work  is  done  well,  and 
the  other  is  that  they  do  not  get  too  much  pay  for  it.  Then  I 
should  like  to  know  what  the  trouble  is?  The  senator  from 
Kansas  says  the  trouble  is  that  they  are  associated  together  so 
that  their  wages  shall  not  be  reduced  by  somebody  coming  in 
and  working  for  less.    That  is  about  the  plain  statement. 

Mr.  Plumb — No,  I  did  not  state  it  that  way. 

Mk.  Voorhees — I  will  correct  myself,  then.  Of  course  I 
meant  that  the  senator  said  so  simply  in  substance.  I  repeat 
it,  the  senator  from  Kansas  said  that  they  would  not  allow  other 
people  to  work  in  so  many  words.  That  is  not  true  and  he  will 
have  to  correct  his  statement  a  little  as  well  as  I  shall  have  to 
correct  mine.  The  senator  said  they  were  associated  so  as  not 
to  allpw  men  to  come  in  and  underwork  them  and  thus  reduce 
their  wages. 

Mr.  Plumb — No,  that  is  not  the  statement  I  made. 

Mr.  Voorhees — I  did  not  say  it  was  the  statement.  I  say 
that  is  what  you  meant. 

Mk.  PLUMB — It  is  not  what  I  meant. 

Mr.  Vookhkks — Thtf]  what  did  you  mean? 

Mr.  Plumb — My  meaning  is  that  they  will  not  let  any  per 
son  work  unless  he  first  joins  their  association  and  subscribes 
to  their  rules. 

Mr    VoOKBTBEB — And  work  at  the  same  wages. 

Mn.  l'i  UMB — But  it  is  more  thin  a  question  >•  It  is 

general  direction  and  control  in  the  relation  of  labor. 

Mr  VOORHBE! — I  <!«>  not  remember  how  the  senator  from 
Kansas  voted  on  the  Chinese  question,  hut  I  know  that  the  idea 
of  protecting  American  labor  from  the  competition  of  cheap 
Chinese  labor  swayed  this  entire  congress,  both  the  senate  and 

£3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  house.  I  believe,  in  fact,  as  I  turn  my  eye  to  the  chair  as 
it  is  now  occupied,  that  about  the  only  conspicuous  and  dis- 
tinguished opponent  of  that  idea  is  now  in  the  chair.  I  do 
not  remember  the  eloquence  of  the  senator  from  Kansas  or 
anybody  else's  particularly,  except  that  of  the  senator  from 
Massachusetts  (Mr.  Hoar)  now  in  the  chair  against  the  propo- 
sition which  we  were  then  putting  in  the  form  of  a  law  that 
labor  in  this  country  should  not  be  brought  in  contact  with 
cheap  labor  from  China. 

I  said  I  intended  to  say  something  for  the  printer.  I  want 
to  talk  on  his  side  for  a  little  while.  The  way  he  reasons  is 
this :  He  has  as  much  right  to  protect  himself  in  the  wages  that 
will  give  him  bread  and  shelter"'  and  clothing  as  other  people 
have  to  protect  themselves.  Is  it  wrong  that  they  are  associated 
together?  To  hear  the  senator  from  Maine  (Mr.  Hale)  and 
other  senators  it  would  seem  as  if  there  was  a  sort  of  Cataline 
conspiracy.  There  is  not  an  association  in  the  world,  either  of 
talent,  or  labor,  or  capital,  that  does  not  do  exactly  the  same 
thing. 

A  medical  association  fixes  the  fees,  and  if  one  of  their  num- 
ber comes  and  administers  quinine  for  less  than  the  agreed  fee 
he  will  be  expelled  from  that  association.  It  is  the  same  prin- 
ciple exactly  with  the  Typographical  Union.  They  say  a  man 
must  work  at  particular  wages.  The  physicians  of  the  country 
say  the  same  thing,  and  if  one  is  employed,  at  less  than  the 
agreed  price,  those  who  are  already  employed  will  walk  away 
from  the  bedside  of  sickness  and  leave  you  to  die.  In  many 
places  the  bar  have  their  associations  and  agreements  also. 
Going  still  further,  take  up  the  great  industries  of  the  country. 
Take  the  Wool  Growers'  Association,  the  Iron  Mongers'  Asso- 
ciation, the  Steel  Workers'  Association,  the  Spinners'  Associa- 
tion, Liquor  Dealers'  Association,  to  say  nothing  of  that  master 
of  all  associated  strength,  the  National  Banking  Association. 
No  words  of  reproach  for  them;  no  outcry;  no  danger;  but  the 
Typographical  Union,  those  men  who  work  day  and  night  at 
their  printers'  cases,  seem  to  alarm  senators.  They  do  not 
alarm  me.  I  am  much  more  alarmed  at  the  National  Banking 
Association,  which  meets  every  year  at  Saratoga,  to  have  their 
annual  congress,  when  the  champagne  corks  pop,  and  the  ter- 
rapin is  good,  and  they  lay  down  lines  of  financial  policy  agreed 
upon  in  luxury  and  splendor  and  come  down  here  and  dictate  to 

364 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1883 

this  congress  from  end  to  end  of  this  capitol,  and  every  senator 
knows  it. 

These  typos  are  not  dictating  here.  The  senator  from  Kansas 
is  alarmed ;  other  senators  are  alarmed,  and  they  say  this  thing 
had  better  be  met  on  the  threshold.  Let  us  meet  it  upon  the 
threshold,  but  let  us  not  have  a  tempest  in  a  teapot  on  the 
threshold.  Talk  about  congress  being  dictated  to— it  has  been 
and  will  continue  to  be  until  the  end  of  time  dictated  to  by 
associated  capital,  associated  talent ;  but  less  than  on  any  other 
subject  will  it  be  dictated  to  by  government  printers. 

Sir,  associated  talent,  associated  wealth,  associated  labor 
have  governed  the  world  at  all  times,  and  they  will  continue 
to  do  so.  It  is  just  as  legitimate  and  just  as  innocent  and  harm- 
less, and  more  so,  for  these  people  who  toil  with  their  hands 
and  make  their  associations  to  protect  them  in  their  rights  as 
it  is  to  those  who  are  more  powerful. 

I  presented  a  paper  here  this  morning  from  an  association 
known  as  workers  in  iron  and  steel  in  my  state,  and  I  want 
them  to  have  their  voice  heard.  It  is  an  association  of  men  who 
delve  in  the  earth  and  who  work  in  the  blast  furnaces,  and  all 
that.  I  believe  they  have  as  much  right  to  be  heard  here  as  the 
National  Association  of  Banks.  Yet  how  different  would  have 
been  the  reception  of  a  memorial  of  the  annual  National  Bank- 
ing Association  held  at  Saratoga  from  that  which  was  given  to 
those  workers  in  iron  and  steel,  and  how  differently  we  would 
■peak  of  something  the  National  Banking  Association  was 
doing  from  that,  which  we  speak  of  the  poor  government 
printt -rs  down  here  with  no  voice  on  this  floor. 

Mr.  President,  I  can  generally  be  counted  on  that  side  which 
is  not  here  to  speak  for  itself.  It  seems  to  me  that  there  are 
plenty  to  speak  on  the  other  side.  It  seems  to  me  there  are 
plenty  to  get  up  here  a  sort  of  fictitious  alarm  about  the  gov- 
ernment printer!  who  do  work  and  get  none  too  much  pay,  and 
wlio  do  not  want  to  be  underworked  by  others.  We  have  had 
the  most  eloquent  appeals  here  about  the  protection  of  Ameri- 
can labor.  That  is  just  what  these  Typographical  Unions  are 
doing — they  are  protecting  American  labof  in  their  own  profes- 
sion and  calling; 

M  -I  do  not  understand  from  anything  that  has 

been  saiil  that  this  association  undertook  to  dictate  at  all  to 
the  public  printer  whom  he  should  employ  or  whom  he  should 

365 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

not  employ,  otherwise  than  to  say  that  they  will  not  work  there 
if  certain  persons  are  employed.  I  have  heard  this  question 
discussed  at  one  time  and  another  for  the  last  few  years,  and  I 
never  yet  have  heard  that  the  printers'  association  ever  under- 
took to  control  or  dictate  any  terms  to  the  public  printer  or 
the  government,  except  so  far  as  to  say  that  they  have,  for 
mutual  benefit  and  mutual  protection,  organized  all  over  the 
United  States,  to  protect  themselves,  as  every  other  class  of 
people  can  and  may  and  do  do.  They  say  if  the  government 
will  take  one  class  of  men,  if  it  is  better  for  the  government  to 
employ  one  set  of  men  who  do  not  feel  an  interest  in  joining 
together  with  them  for  mutual  protection,  they  will  go  else- 
where. Who  is  to  condemn  them  for  that  proposition?  Can 
the  government  get  along  just  as  well  without  them?  If  it  can, 
let  it  do  so ;  that  is  all  they  say.  They  are  bound  up  in  this 
association  all  over  the  United  States.  The  printers  for  their 
mutual  protection,  for  their  mutual  improvement,  to  see  to  It 
that  everybody  who  belongs  to  the  craft  is  educated  in  the  craft, 
is  capable  of  performing  the  duties  of  a  printer,  as  I  believe 
for  elevating  the  standard  of  skill  and  of  labor  and  of  education 
and  support,  and  for  all  the  things  that  these  associations  are 
formed  for,  for  mutual  benefit,  for  supporting  their  sick,  for 
burying  their  dead.  They  are  scattered  all  over  the  United 
States  in  every  town  and  village,  a  mutual  benefit  society.  The 
object  of  that  is  good,  as  I  understand  it;  it  is  beneficial  to 
the  printer,  and  is  good  for  the  art,  and  is  good  for  the  com- 
munity, and  is  elevating.  , 

All  I  have  ever  heard  anybody  assert  that  they  say  is  that 
if  those  who  do  not  belong  to  this  association,  if  those  who  are 
willing  to  cut  under  wages  are  employed  in  the  government 
printing  office,  they  do  not  desire  to  be  employed ;  they  will 
leave.  The  government  can  not  afford  that.  Sir,  it  would  stop 
the  action  of  both  houses  of  congress  tomorrow,  if  that  printing 
should  stop  one  day,  and  we  all  know  it.  It  may  be  that  some 
preliminary  steps  may  be  taken  to  organize  printers  into  a 
class  of  employes  like  those  in  other  departments,  to  give  them 
appointments  and  give  them  salaries.  I  know  of  no  other  way 
to  meet  this  without  doing  injustice  to  the  printers  belonging 
to  this  association,  as  I  suppose  probably  four-fifths  and  per- 
haps nine-tenths  of  all  the  printers  in  the  United  States  do 
belong  to  it.    I  do  not  know  why  congress  should  commence 

366 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1883 

with  a  threat  against  this  class  of  men.  Unfortunately  or 
fortunately,  as  it  may  be,  congress  and  the  country  would  suffer 
without  their  services  today  and  every  day.  If  the  men  belonging 
to  the  association  throughout  the  United  States  were  to  leave 
the  different  offices  where  they  are  employed  at  any  one  day 
the  entire  circulation  of  newspapers,  the  entire  working  of  the 
presses,  the  entire  business  of  setting  of  type  would  stop  as  if 
an  earthquake  had  stopped  their  business. 

Those  are  facts  that  we  must  look  at.  It  is  a  condition  of 
the  country,  not  only  in  Washington,  but  in  every  city  in  the 
union.  1  do  not  know  that  it  is  desirable  to  threaten,  as  has 
been  done  here,  that  every  member  of  a  printers'  association,  a 
benevolent  relief  society  as  it  virtually  is,  should  be  threatened 
on  the  floor  of  the  senate  with  being  turned  out  of  position 
under  the  government  because  he  belonged  to  such  an  associa- 
tion, which  has  nothing  wrong  in  it,  but  everything  that  tends 
to  elevate  that  class  of  American  citizens,  any  more  than  any 
other  class  you  have  legislated  against  or  condemned  on  this 
floor. 

Mr.  Hawley — The  public  printer  would  have  no  right  to 
say,  no  citizen  would  have  a  right  to  say,  of  any  person  seeking 
employment  that  he  should  not  belong  to  any  voluntary  asso- 
ciation. I  do  not  think  he  would  have  a  right  to  do  that. 
He  would  have  a  perfect  right  to  say,  however,  "these  are  all 
the  wages  I  have  to  give,  all  I  ought  to  give,  and  I  will  employ 
nobody  except  at  these  wages  and  on  these  terms."  Hut  the 
employer  has  a  right  to  say  what  he  will  give,  whether  the 
person  belongs  to  an  association  outside  or  any  association  in 
the  trade,  or  anything  of  that  sort. 

Mn.  Conger — There  is  no  denial  of  that  by  any  member  of 
the  association.  All  that  they  say  to  the  printer  or  all  that  they 
to  the  government,  or  in  the  hearing  of  the  country  is,  that 
if  the  government  or  the  public  printer  does  not  see  fit  to 
accede  to  thus,  terms,  they  will  leave.  They  have  a  right  to 
do  that,  in  my  judgment.  The  government  ran  supply  their 
places  by  wandering  printers  who  belong  to  no  association  and 
will  belong  to  no  association,  for  I  understand  nil  may  join 
this  ;in(|  the  fee  is  very  small;  the  dues  are  small.  All  WOO 
de-sin-  to  promote  tin-  Older  ami  the  efficiency  of  the  printer  of 
their  (lass  ami  the  well  Ix-iny,  of  their  families  may  unite 
together  in  this;  and  the  onlv  penalty  for  appointing  that  class 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  men  is  that  the  printers  of  these  relief  associations  say  that 
they  will  not  work  under  certain  conditions,  and  will  leave 
the  government  free  to  get  its  men  where  it  can. 

Revision  of  Laws —  A  special  committee  on  constitu- 
tional amendments,  to  which  was  referred  all  proposed 
legislation  pertaining  to  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  was 
appointed,  with  instructions  to  make  such  revision  and  al- 
terations in  the  organic  laws  as  might  be  deemed  needful 
to  the  improvement  of  the  same.  This  committee  sub- 
mitted a  report  which  was  accepted,  ordered  to  be  printed 
in  the  proceedings,  and  laid  over  for  final  action  at  the 
next  session. 

New  Orleans  was  chosen  as  the  meeting  place  for  the 
thirty-second  annual  convention. 

Officers,  i88j  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were 
elected  as  follows :  President,  Mark  L.  Crawford,  Chi- 
cago ;  first  vice-president,  I.  N.  Jones,  Pittsburgh ;  second 
vice-president,  M.  W.  Mathasz,  Cincinnati ;  secretary- 
treasurer,  William  Briggs,  Washington,  D.  C,  and  cor- 
responding secretary,  W.  A.  Wilkinson,  Galveston. 

The  president  was  authorized  to  appoint  three  dele- 
gates to  the  convention  of  the  Federation  of  Trades. 

State  Deputies  —  In  conformity  with  the  requirements 
of  the  constitution,  the  president  appointed  state,  provin- 
cial and  territorial  deputies  for  the  year,  as  follows : 

Arizona,  E.  S.  Penwell,  Tombstone;  Arkansas,  J.  M.  Wade,  Little  Rock; 
California,  S.  W.  Jenner,  San  Francisco;  Colorado,  Frank  W.  Bradley,  Denver; 
Connecticut,  J.  F.  Busche,  jr.,  New  Haven;  Delaware,  D.  S.  Shields,  Wilming- 
ton; Dakota,  J.  P.  Daily,  Fargo;  Florida,  Bryce  P.  Smith,  Jacksonville;  Georgia, 
James  G.  Woodward,  Atlanta;  Illinois,  H.  S.  Street,  Chicago;  Indiana,  L.  P. 
McCormack,  Indianapolis;  Iowa,  C.  W.  Cormeny,  Council  Bluffs;  Kentucky, 
Sam  S.  Green,  Louisville;  Kansas,  James  M.  Jones,  Atchison;  Louisiana,  P.  T. 
McDermott,  New  Orleans;  Manitoba,  Archie  King,  Winnipeg;  Maryland,  N.  B. 
Talbott,  Baltimore;  Minnesota,  Chris  T.  Kelly,  Minneapolis;  Michigan,  Judson 
Grenell,  Detroit;  Missouri,  Al  S.  Ferguson,  Jefferson  City;  Montana,  Willia'm 
Trowbridge,  Miles  City;  Nebraska,  J.  R.  Lewis,  Omaha;  Nevada,  J.  R.  Lam 
son,  Eureka;  New  Brunswick,  James  Berry,  St.  John;  New  York,  F.  F.  Donoran 
New  York  city;  New  Jersey,  Harry  W.  McClurg,  Trenton;  North  Carolina,  J 
R.  Ray,  Raleigh;  Ohio,  David  P.  Boyer,  Columbus;  Ontario,  John  Armstrong, 
Toronto;  Oregon,  C.  H.  Humphrey,  Portland;  Pennsylvania,  Thomas  Brennan 
Pittsburgh;  Prince  Edward  Island,  R.  Walsh,  Charlottetown;  Quebec,  M.  D.  J 

368 


Convention  at  New  Orleans,  1884 

Kenyon,  Montreal;  South  Carolina,  N.  Stuart  Mark,  Columbia;  Texas,  George 
S.  Smith,  Austin;  Tennessee,  Thomas  Irwin,  Nashville;  Utah,  Henry  McEwan, 
Salt  Lake  City;  Virginia,  A.  K.  Henry,  Richmond;  West  Virginia,  Hage  Shively, 
Wheeling;  Wyoming,  H.  W.  Moore,  Cheyenne. 

Convention   at   New    Orleans 

[1884] — The  thirty-second  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union  was  called  to  order  by  President  Crawford 
at  New  Orleans  on  June  2,  1884,  fifty-five  unions  being 
represented  by  seventy-three  delegates. 

Relations  With  Knights  of  Labor  —  The  annual  report 
of  the  president  was  an  interesting  and  comprehensive 
document,  containing  numerous  suggestion^  to  the  dele- 
gates regarding  needed  legislation.  This  convention  of 
the  International  Union  was  held  at  a  period  when  the 
organization  known  as  the  "Knights  of  Labor"  had 
reached  the  high-water  mark  in  its  history.  Many  mem- 
bers of  the  typographical  union  had  joined  the  Knights 
of  Labor  and  strong  pressure  was  brought  to  bear  in 
some  jurisdictions  to  bring  about  amalgamation  with  the 
new  organization.      Of  this,   President   Crawford  said : 

Much  has  been  said  and  written  since  our  last  session  with 
regard  to  merging  our  International  body  into  a  district 
assembly  of  the  Knights  of  Labor.  It  has  been  more' thoroughly 
discussed  through  our  official  organ,  "The  Craftsman,"  than 
i-s]>ediency  would  permit  me  to  do  at  this  time,  finding  as  it  did 
earnest  advocates  on  both  sides.  Being  a  member  of  and  an 
enthusiastic  lUpporter  of  the  principles  and  objects  of  that 
noble  and  grand  organization,  I  would  not  say  or  do  anything 
that  would  tend  to  cripple  its  usefulness  or  retard  its  wonder- 
ful growth;  but  the  careful  reasoner  can  not  but  agree  with  me 
that  to  merge  an  organization  that  lias  battled  for  almost  half 
a  century  in  prosperity  and  adversity,  and  today  commands  the 
resped  and  esteem  of  thinking  people — her  battle-flag  still 
floating  from  the  mast,  around  which  muster  fifteen- thousand 
intelligent  tradesmen — into  another  organization  that  has  not 
yet  passed  through  the  fire  that  we  have,  acknowledging 
allegiance  and  bowing  obedience  to  a  new  grand  commander,  or 
otherwise  receiving  no  more  consideration  that  we  now  do.  In 

369 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  friendly  feeling  existing  between  us,  would  be  suicidal  in 
the  extreme.  An  army,  no  matter  how  grand  its  objects,  can  be 
too  great  to  handle.  Besides,  the  success  of  our  cause  depends 
almost  wholly  on  unity ;  and  to  march  into  a  friendly  camp, 
as  we  would  have  to,  an  army  demoralized  by  thus  confess- 
ing our  inability  to  take  our  part  in  the  great  fight  to  estab- 
lish justice  among  men,  would  unquestionably  injure  our 
friendly  co-workers  more  than  do  them  or  us  good.  It  would 
sow  the  seeds  of  discord,  so  fatal  to  our  cause,  among  them,  and 
we  would  soon  behold  a  large  army  of  demoralized  men,  whose 
commanders  would  be  unable  to  hold  them.  There  are  many 
other  reasons  why  such  a  course  should  not  be  adopted;  but 
believing  that  no  such  move  will  be  taken  at  this  session,  I  do 
not  care  to  take  up  your  time  by  further  dwelling  upon  it. 
However,  I  would  respectfully  and  earnestly  urge  that  a  bet- 
ter understanding  be  arrived  at  between  us.  Complaints  have 
constantly  come  to  me  that  in  cities  where  assemblies  of  the 
Knights  of  Labor  are  organized,  wholly  composed  of  printers, 
a  card  authorized  by  our  body  is  treated  secondary  to  one  issued 
by  such  assemblies ;  that  these  assemblies  pass  upon  all  legis- 
lation before  it  is  introduced  in  the  local  union ;  that  they 
admit  as  members  men  who  have  not  served  sufficient  appren- 
ticeship, as  well  as  men  who  have  "ratted"  in  our  own  organiza- 
tion; that  men  who  hold  working  cards  are  compelled  to  work 
side  by  side  with  notorious  "rats"  in  offices  that  are  called  union 
offices.  This  is  all  wrong  and  contrary  to  the  principles  and 
policy  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  as  well  as  our  own.  I  would 
recommend  that  the  president  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  be  instructed  to  confer  with  the  grand  master  work- 
man of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  with  a  view  of  arriving  at  a 
better  understanding  in  this  matter.  We  can  not  afford  to  be 
anything  else  than  friends;  we  are  aiming  at  the  same  object, 
and  we  should  court  the  good  will  of  the  Knights  of  Labor, 
as  they  are  a  power  in  our  time  of  need — ever  ready  to  extend 
a  helping  hand. 

The  recommendation  of  President  Crawford  that  a 
conference  be  had  between  the  president  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union  and  the  grand  master  workman  of  the 
Knights  of  Labor,  with  a  view  to  arriving  at  a  better 
understanding,  was  concurred  in. 

37o 


Convention  at  New  Orleans,  1884 

Chief  Organizer  —  The  growth  of  the  International 
Union,  together  with  the  fact  that  the  subordinate  unions 
reached  from  coast  to  coast,  and  to  the  gulf,  made  it 
necessary  that  some  systematic  method  of  furthering  the 
work  of  organization  be  adopted.  It  was  apparent  that, 
through  lack  of  funds,  the  state  deputy  system  had  failed 
to  accomplish  all  that  had  been  expected  of  it.  While 
here  and  there  a  state  deputy  was  found  who  covered  his 
territory  in  a  satisfactory  manner,  the  great  majority  of 
these  officers  failed  to  make  a  showing. 

Following  the  suggestion  of  President  Crawford,  the 
convention  created  the  office  of  chief  organizer,  with 
a  fixed  salary  and  an  expense  account.  The  chief 
organizer  was  authorized  to  appoint  a  deputy  for  each 
state,  and  the  deputy  so  appointed  was  authorized  to 
select  a  representative  in  each  jurisdiction  in  the  state. 

Official  Organ  —  At  the  previous  convention  a  resolu- 
tion had  been  adopted  requiring  the  officers  of  the  Inter- 
national to  recognize  "Our  Organette"  as  the  semi-official 
organ  in  which  to  publish  all  circulars  and  such  other 
matter  as  might  be  necessary  for  the  information  of  sub- 
ordinate unions.  Shortly  after  the  convention  had 
adjourned,  "Our  Organette"  ceased  to  exist.  After  some 
little  time,  the  management  of  "The  Craftsman,"  pub- 
lished at  Washington,  D.  C,  obtained  the  subscription 
books  of  "Our  Organette,"  and  by  arrangement  with  the 
International  officials  carried  out  the  obligations  of  the 
editor  of  the  late  publication.  "The  Craftsman'"  was 
made  the  official  organ  of  the  union. 

Charters  —  Thirty-four  charters  were  issued  during  the 
year,  many  of  which  were  rem-wak    Eight  charters  were 

rrendered  In  reissuing  charters,  in  many  instances, 
the  old  number  was  disregarded,  the  purpose  being  to  fill 
in  the  discontinued  numb  rdingly  as  appliiat: 

were  received;  thus  Hartford,  Conn.,  which  had  surrm- 

371 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

dered  charter  No.  72,  was  rechartered  as  No.  127,  which 
number  it  still  retains,  and  Birmingham,  Ala.,  was  char- 
tered as  No.  72.  The  list  of  charters  issued  and  surren- 
dered follows:  Issued — Galveston,  Tex.  (pressmen),  No. 
12;  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  No.  55;  Walla  Walla,  Wash., 
No.  51;  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  No.  162;  Helena,  Mont,  No. 
95;  Bismarck,  N.  Dak.,  No.  140;  El  Paso,  Tex.,  No.  44; 
La  Crosse,  Wis.,  No.  97;  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  No.  105; 
Hastings,  Neb.,  No.  83;  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  (pressmen),  No. 
13;  Tacoma,  Wash.,  No.  170;  Charleston,  W.  Va.,  No. 
146;  Butte  City,  Mont,  No.  126;  Hartford,  Conn., 
No.  127;  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis,  Minn,  (pressmen), 
No.  14;  Blue  Grass  (Lexington,  Ky.),  No.  189;  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  No.  93 ;  Augusta,  Ga.,  No.  41 ;  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  No.  14;  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  No.  45;  Bloomington, 
111.,  No.  124;  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  No.  187;  Ottumwa, 
Iowa,  No.  73;  Palatka,  Fla.,  No.  135;  Creston,  Iowa, 
No.  131;  Birmingham,  Ala.,  No.  72;  Circleville,  Ohio, 
No.  36;  South  Bend,  Ind.,  No.  128;  Lawrence,  Kan., 
No.  24;  New  Orleans  (pressmen),  No.  15;  Baton  Rouge, 
La.,  No.  25 ;  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  No.  154;  Victoria,  B.  C, 
No.  201.  Charters  surrendered — Las  Vegas,  N.  M.,  No. 
195;  Hartford,  Conn.,  No.  72;  Titusville,  Pa.,  No.  144; 
Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  No.  143;  Miles  City,  Mont,  No.  204; 
Eureka,  Nev.,  No.  178;  Wood  River  (Bellevue,  Ida.), 
No.  201 ;  Birmingham,  Ala.,  No.  72. 

Female  Labor  —  The  convention  gave  further  expres- 
sion of  the  position  of  the  International  Union  regarding 
female  labor.  A  general  law  was  enacted  requiring  that 
subordinate  unions,  foremen  of  offices,  and  chapels, 
should  make  no  distinction  on  account  of  sex  in  persons 
holding  membership.  It  was  declared  that  female  com- 
positors were  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  and  benefits 
conferred  by  subordinate  unions,  and  that  this  fact  must 
be  recognized. 

372 


Convention  at  New  Orleans,  1884 

Agreement  With  Typographia — By  a  formal  request 
of  the  German-American  Typographia,  contained  in  a 
communication  addressed  to  the  convention,  a  working 
agreement  in  the  form  of  a  treaty  was  adopted  by  the 
convention.    The  agreement  follows : 

The  International  Typographical  Union  recognizes  the 
certificates  of  the  German-American  Typographia,  and  the 
latter  recognizes  the  cards  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union.  This  recognition  shall  entitle  the  members  of  either 
union  to  join  the  other  without  paying  initiation  fees,  and  gives 
them  the  privilege  to  work  in  any  office,  controlled  either  by  the 
English  or  German  unions,  without  being  obliged  to  join  both 
unions.  In  cases  where  the  validity  of  a  certificate  of  member- 
ship is  doubtful,  an  acknowledgment  of  the  same  from  the 
secretary  of  the  union  to  which  the  member  belongs  shall  be 
furnished.  Members  of  either  organization  that  have  left  or 
wish  to  leave  their  union  to  join  a  union  of  the  other  organiza- 
tion must  pay  their  dues  to  the  union  they  leave,  up  to  the  date 
of  their  withdrawal. 

Where  there  is  a  German  department  in  an  English  union 
office,  or  single  members  of  a  German  union  are  working,  or 
vice  versa,  where  there  is  an  English  department  in  a  German 
union  office,  or  single  members  of  the  English  union  are  em- 
ployed, the  members  of  both  unions  shall  act  in  unity  in  all 
disputes  about  wages  or  possible  strikes,  after  having  reported 
the  case  to  their  respective  unions  and  having  obtained  the  per- 
mission of  the  authorized  officers,  as  the  constitutions  of  both 
organizations  may  provide. 

If  a  strike  results  from  such  action,  and  it  becomes  necessary 
to  pay  relief  money  to  members,  the  following  maxim  shall 
prevail:  The  union  which  orders  a  strike  shall  also  pay  the 
relief  to  the  members  of  the  sister  union  it  orders  out. 

In  reference  to  chapel  organizations,  the  following  rule 
shall  be  binding  on  both  parties:  ThOM  members  of  a  union 
that  are  in  a  minority  in  an  establishment  shall  subordinate 
tliimselves  to  the  majority  of  the  other  union  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  common  interest  of  anion  members  there 
employed.  If  there  is  a  separate  department  for  the  members 
Of  the  unions,  they  may,  even  if  they  arc  in  the  minority,  have 
a  separate  ihapel,  hut  they  must  adopt  such  rules  an.l  KgoU' 

373 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tions  that  unity  of  action  is  insured  in  all  cases  where  the 
common  interest  is  at  stake. 

It  shall  be  the  rule  that  German  compositors,  not  yet  be- 
longing to  either  union,  setting  German  in  an  office  controlled 
by  the  English  unions,  shall  be  compelled  by  the  chairman  to 
join  the  German  union.  English  compositors  in  a  German 
union  office,  not  yet  belonging  to  either  union,  shall  be  com- 
pelled to  join  the  English  union. 

Arbitration  —  An  amendment  to  the  general  laws  was 
adopted  requiring  that  every  possible  effort  be  made  to 
settle  all  differences  by  arbitration  before  resorting 
to  strikes.     The  law  as  amended  reads  as  follows : 

The  International  Union  regards  a  resort  to  strike  as  inex- 
pedient, except  where  the  rules  or  principles  of  the  Interna- 
tional or  a  subordinate  union  may  have  been  violated.  Recog- 
nizing strikes  as  detrimental  to  the  better  interests  of  the  craft, 
it  directs  subordinate  unions  not  to  order  a  strike  without  at 
least  a  three-quarter  vote  of  the  union  (all  the  members  being 
constitutionally  notified  of  the  meeting),  and  that  no  member 
shall  vote  on  such  questions  unless  having  belonged  to  the 
subordinate  union  interested  at  least  six  months;  but  no  strike 
shall  be  entered  into  or  authorized  until  every  possible  effort 
has  been  made  to  settle  the  difficulty  by  arbitration. 

Membership  —  The  report  of  the  secretary-treasurer 
showed  a  total  membership  above  16,000,  including  the 
members  of  fourteen  pressmen's  unions. 

Per  Capita  Tax  —  The  financial  condition  of  the 
organization  was  satisfactory,  but  in  order  to  carry  on 
the  work  of  organization  under  the  direction  of  a  salaried 
chief  organizer  and  to  provide  sufficient  remuneration  for 
the  officers  of  the  union  whose  work  had  increased  pro- 
portionately with  the  growth  of  the  organization,  the  per 
capita  tax  for  the  year  1884- 1885  was  fixed  at  40  cents, 
and  it  was  arranged  that  the  tax  should  be  paid  quarterly. 

Endowment  Fund  —  At  the  Cincinnati  convention, 
1883,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  formulate  and  pre- 
sent to   the   New   Orleans   convention    a   plan    of   death 

374 


Convention  at  New  Orleans,  1884 

benefits.  William  C.  Root,  a  member  of  the  committee, 
submitted  a  plan  proposing  to  create  an  endowment  fund, 
which  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  unfinished  busi- 
ness for  investigation.  The  plan  submitted  by  Mr.  Root 
found  favor  with  many  of  the  delegates,  but  was  finally 
disposed  of  by  reference  to  subordinate  unions.  By  a 
resolution,  approved  by  the  convention,  subordinate 
unions  were  requested  to  provide  local  burial  benefits. 

Strikes — While  the  reports  of  officers  at  the  New 
Orleans  convention  were  most  encouraging,  and  the  state 
of  trade,  generally,  was  prosperous,  a  marked  increase 
in  the  number  of  strikes  was  reported,  most  of  which 
had  been  unsuccessful.  These  disputes  had  occurred  in 
Philadelphia,  Cincinnati,  Buffalo,  Boston,  New  Orleans, 
Detroit,  Nashville,  San  Francisco,  Dubuque,  Milwaukee, 
Galveston,  Peoria,  Leavenworth,  New  Haven,  Troy, 
Utica,  Bloomington,  Austin,  Bismarck,  Oil  City,  Fargo, 
Omaha,  Zanesville,  Youngstown,  Jamestown,  Albuquer- 
que, Lowell,  and  Springfield,  111. 

Boycott  —  An  interesting  paragraph  is  contained  in 
the  report  of  Corresponding  Secretary  Wilkinson  : 

I  wish  to  direct  the  earnest  attention  of  the  members  of  this 
International  body  to  a  new  element  which  has  entered  into  the 
struggles  of  combined  labor  to  sustain  itself  against  the  on- 
slaughts of  capitalistic  cupidity.  I  refer  to  what  is  generally 
known  as  "boycotting."  Within  a  few  years  past  this  force 
has  achieved  great  and  decisive  victories  for  our  craft,  and 
numerous  instances  might  be  cited  wherein,  if  dependence  were 
placed  entirely  upon  our  own  resources  and  without  the  aid 
of  others,  our  cause  would  have  l>ecn  utterly  lost.  In  mam 
strikes,  lockouts,  etc.,  mentioned  in  the  first  part  of  this  report. 
the  power  of  boycotting  has  been  brought  to  bear,  and  almost 
invariably,  when  properly  conducted  and  persisted  in.  with 
telling  effect  for  the  benefit  of  our  craft  and  workingmcn  in 
general.  Never  was  the  spirit  of  organization  so  strong  among 
the  working  class  as  It  Is  today,  and  the  imperative  need  of 
thorough  organization  was  never  more  manifest.   The  success 

375 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  boycotting  must  depend  upon  the  justice  of  the  cause,  its 
thoroughness  and  persistency.  With  these  points  to  start  with, 
active,  zealous,  and  powerful  auxiliaries  have  ever  been  found 
in  the  Knights  of  Labor,  trades  and  labor  assemblies,  and  or- 
ganized labor  in  general.  In  fact,  it  may  be  said  that  the 
co-operation  of  these  kindred  societies  is  absolutely  indispen- 
sable to  the  successful  carrying  on  of  boycotting.  We  should 
therefore  co-operate  with  and  cultivate  the  good  wishes  of  other 
associations,  as  much  as  possible  for  mutual  benefit,  as  nothing 
is  truer  than  that  "the  injury  of  one  is  the  concern  of  all." 

Federation  of  Trades  —  Following  the  instructions  of 
the  Cincinnati  convention,  1883,  President  Crawford 
appointed  E.  M.  Slack,  Columbus,  Ohio;  L.  P.  McCor- 
mack,  Indianapolis,  and  A.  H.  Jones,  Washington,  D.  C, 
as  representatives  of  the  International  Union  at  the  con- 
vention of  the  Federation  of  Trades,  held  in  New  York 
city  in  August,  1883.  The  report  of  the  delegates  on  the 
proceedings  of  the  convention  of  the  Federation  of  Trades 
was  interesting,  for  many  reasons.  It  was  at  this  session 
that  Samuel  Gompers  was  first  elected  president  of  the 
organization  since  known  as  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor,  succeeding  Samuel  Leffingwell  of  Indianapolis. 

State  Deputies  —  At  this  session  of  the  International 
Union  the  constitution  was  amended,  requiring  the  con- 
vention to  elect  a  chief  organizer,  to  have  charge  of  the 
entire  subject  of  organization,  with  a  compensation  of 
$1,500  per  annum  and  traveling  expenses  not  to  exceed 
$1,000.  The  organizer  was  required  to  devote  his  entire 
time  to  the  duties  of  his  office.  The  chief  organizer 
was  also  empowered  to  appoint  state  deputies  under  the 
same  conditions,  practically,  that  these  officers  had  for- 
merly been  appointed  by  the  president.  No  record  is  con- 
tained in  the  minutes  of  the  conventions  following  this 
date  of  the  members  appointed  to  be  state  deputies. 
Mark  L.  Crawford,  Chicago,  was  unanimously  elected  to 
the  office  of  chief  organizer. 

376 


UK 


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i  t   Ii.inii.iiH>n«t  Typographical  Union 

Imir  8.  1883     June  3.  1M4 


Convention  at  New  York,  1885 

New  York  city  was  chosen  as  the  meeting  place  for 
the  next  annual  convention. 

Officers,  1884  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were 
elected  as  follows :  President,  M.  R.  H.  Witter,  St  Louis ; 
first  vice-president,  Richard  F.  Sullivan,  Chicago;  second 
vice-president,  P.  T.  McDermott,  New  Orleans;  secre- 
tary-treasurer, William  Briggs,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  cor- 
responding secretary,  W.  A.  Wilkinson,  Galveston,  Tex., 
and  chief  organizer,  Mark  L.  Crawford,  Chicago.  Dele- 
gates to  the  Federation  of  Trades — John  F.  Hogan, 
Brooklyn ;  William  J.  Hammond,  New  Orleans,  and 
August  Donath,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Convention   at    New   York 

[1885] — When  the  thirty-third  annual  convention  of 
the  International  Union  was  called  to  order  by  President 
Witter  in  New  York,  June  I,  1885,  seventy-four  unions 
were  represented  by  103  delegates,  including  ten  repre- 
sentatives from  nine  unions  of  pressmen. 

Structural  Errors  —  Not  unlike  the  reports  of  his  pred- 
ecessors, the  annual  address  of  President  Witter  was  a 
document  devoted  chiefly  to  calling  attention  of  the  dele- 
gates to  the  weakness  and  lack  of  authority  of  the  Interna- 
tional organization.  While  the  fact  that  the  International 
failed  in  many  respects  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  craft 
was  undisputed,  the  nature  of  its  shortcomings  was  such 
that  a  wide  difference  of  opinion  existed  as  to  the  proper 
remedy.  While  the  assumption  by  the  constitution  of 
inherent  and  exclusive  jurisdiction  was  valid  in  theory, 
as  a  matter  of  fact  the  International  exercised  only  lim- 
ited control  over  subordinate  unions,  and  while  it  was 
generally  admitted  that  local  unions  should  continue  to  be 
supreme  in  mattcri  affecting  alone  their  own  interests, 
the  progress  and  development  <>f  the  entire  organization 
was  apparently  bring  retarded  by  .11 1»  qJ  lanibofdliHoa 

377 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  by  failure  to  repose  in  the  International  body  final 
authority  to  settle  all  questions,  without  undue  encroach- 
ment upon  the  prerogatives  of  subordinates,  thus  insur- 
ing a  legitimate  field  for  the  exercise  of  authority  by  the 
body  claiming  to  be  supreme.  Just  how  to  bring  the 
organization  to  a  point  where  the  International  could 
exercise  the  authority  and  powers  of  a  supreme  body, 
vested  with  inherent  and  exclusive  jurisdiction,  and  place 
it  in  a  position  at  all  times  to  protect  the'  interests  of 
subordinate  unions  chartered  under  that  authority,  had 
received  the  earnest  attention  of  many  previous  admin- 
istrations. President  Oberly,  at  the  Memphis  session  in 
1867,  nad  sought  a  solution  of  this  vexed  question  through 
the  creation  of  an  International  strike  fund.  The  proposi- 
tion was  defeated  at  that  time,  and  subsequent  conven- 
tions, after  having  the  matter  under  consideration,  had 
uniformly  negatived  the  proposal.  Notwithstanding  this 
fact,  President  Witter  again  referred  to  and  suggested  the 
creation  of  an  International  fund.  It  was  urged  that  the 
institution  of  such  a  fund,  the  disposal  and  distribution 
of  which  should  be  entrusted  to  the  officials  of  the  Inter- 
national, would  in  a  measure  subject  subordinate  unions 
to  the  advice  of  such  officials  and  thus  reduce  to  a  min- 
imum the  number  of  unsuccessful  strikes. 

Growth  Retarded  —  The  action  of  the  previous  con- 
vention in  creating  the  office  of  chief  organizer  had  not 
met  with  the  success  anticipated,  although  there  was  no 
criticism  directed  at  the  organizer;  and,  while  his  efforts 
were  heartily  approved  and  endorsed,  the  fact  was  not 
concealed  that  since  the  permanent  organization  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  the  number  of  subor- 
dinates having  lapsed  was  about  equal  to  the  number  still 
in  existence.  That  something  was  wrong;  that  some  inher- 
ent weakness  existed  that  continually  retarded  the  growth 
of  the  organization  was  apparent  to  all.      It  was  even 

378 


Convention  at  New  York,  1885 

charged  that  the  printers,  generally  looked  upon  as  an 
intelligent  body  of  men,  were  tolerating  a  fossilized  sys- 
tem, a  distinctively  one-idea  concern — the  maintenance 
of  a  scale  of  prices  being  almost  the  solitary  binding  tie — 
whereas  other  and  more  modern  organizations,  besides 
maintaining  fixed  scales  of  prices,  had  other  features, 
such  as  life  insurance,  sick  and  disability  funds,  etc., 
thereby  creating  benefits  by  which  members  were  in- 
fluenced to  refrain  from  disloyalty  to  their  organization. 

Strengthening  Influences  —  Notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  the  organization  was  sadly  in  need  at  that  time  of 
some  strengthening  influences,  the  delegates,  in  extreme 
conservatism,  and  consumed  with  a  desire  to  retain  the 
long-cherished  power  of  local  autonomy,  failed  to 
respond  by  legislation  of  a  general  character  designed 
to  place  the  International  Union  in  a  more  advanced 
position.  While  many  amendments  and  new  laws  were 
proposed,  little  was  accomplished  tending  to  effect  a  real 
reorganization. 

Strike  Fund  —  The  various  recommendations  contained 
in  the  reports  of  officers  were  considered  by  the  committee 
on  president's  address  and  corresponding  secretary's 
report.  This  committee  submitted  for  the  consideration 
of  the  convention  a  strike  fund  law,  by  the  terms  of  which 
it  was  proposed  to  empower  the  executive  council  to  pay 
certain  weekly  benefits  to  members  on  strike.  In  order 
to  create  the  fund  necessary  to  carry  out  this  proposition, 
it  was  ordered  that  a  per  capita  assessment  of  25  cents 
be  levied,  the  money  thus  raised  to  be  set  aside  by  sub- 
ordinate unions  in  a  separate  account  to  be  known  as  a 
Itfike  fund,  subject  to  the  order  of  the  executive  council 
for  strike  purposes  only.  This  law,  while  intended  to 
carry  out  the  recommendations  of  President  Witter. 
in  line  with  the  suggestions  of  many  of  his  predecessors 
in  office,  was  vitiated  by  its  penalty  clause,  by  the  terms 

379 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  which  subordinate  unions  failing  to  honor  the  draft 
of  the  executive  council  from  the  local  strike  fund,  within 
thirty  days  from  the  date  thereof,  should  forfeit  their 
right  to  benefits.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  any  subor- 
dinate union  failing  to  levy  the  assessment,  and  refusing 
to  respond  to  a  call  for  assistance  from  the  executive 
council,  could  still  defy  the  authority  of  the  International 
Union,  the  only  penalty  being  that  the  local  body  thus 
offending  could  not  expect  to  receive  outside  assistance 
in  case  of  trouble. 

Pressmen  —  On  an  appeal  from  the  pressmen  members 
of  the  body,  the  constitution  was  so  amended  that  the 
office  of  second  vice-president  should  be  filled  by  a  prac- 
tical pressman,  and  the  duties  of  that  officer  were  amplir 
fied.  It  was  required  that  he  should  decide  all  questions 
arising  between  pressmen  and  pressmen's  unions,  subject 
to  the  approval  of  the  president  of  the  International.  He 
was  also  charged  with  the  organization  of  pressmen's 
unions,  giving  his  personal  attention  to  that  work,  with 
authority  to  appoint  a  representative  in  cases  where  dis- 
tance would  not  warrant  his  personal  attendance. 

Forerunner  of  Priority  Law — The  following  resolu- 
tion, introduced  by  Delegate  O'Brien  of  Minneapolis,  is 
the  first  recorded  instance  of  a  protest  against  giving  out 
situations  in  composing  rooms  by  foremen  who  were 
influenced  by  bonds  of  personal  friendship  or  other  con- 
siderations, and  the  resolution  was  a  forerunner  of  legis- 
lation culminating  in  the  enactment  of  the  priority  law : 

Whereas  there  are  times  when  a  foreman  and  one  or  more 
subs  of  an  office  become  members  of  other  organizations  besides 
that  of  the  subordinate  union  to  which  they  may  belong,  there- 
by, naturally  enough,  often  placing  the  foreman  in  an  unenvi- 
able position  when  choosing  a  member  from  a  number  of  subs 
to  fill  the  position  of  caseholder,  for  to  some  he  is  then  under 
the  bond  of  at  least  a  double  obligation  and  to  others  only  a 
single;  therefore 

38o 


Convention  at  New  York,  1885 

Resolved,  That  the  bond  of  friendship  may  be  equal,  and 
only  equal,  so  far  as  organization  is  concerned,  and  further- 
more, that  it  is  the  sense  of  the  International  Union  that  only 
one  obligation  be  recognized  by  any  foreman  in  the  different 
subordinate  union  offices  when  it  comes  to  choosing  between 
subs  for  a  regular  situation — the  obligation  to  the  union  to 
which  he  may  belong. 

Federation  of  Trades  —  The  minutes  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  thirty-third  session  of  the  International  Union 
contain  only  a  three-line  paragraph  to  the  effect  that 
Mr.  Hogan,  a  delegate  to  the  Federation  of  Trades 
convention  held  in  Chicago,  reported  verbally  that  the 
revenue  law  had  been  amended  making  the  amount  of  per 
capita  tax  2  cents  per  member. 

Sub-Lists — Numerous  resolutions  were  offered  for  the 
purpose  of  abolishing  the  sub-list.  All  of  these  proposi- 
tions were  referred  back  from  committee  with  an 
unfavorable  recommendation.  A  long  discussion  followed 
the  report  and  a  yea  and  nay  vote  was  finally  ordered 
on  the  question.  This  vote  effectually  disposed  of  the 
sub-list,  its  revival  being  defeated  by  78  noes,  6  ayes. 

Insurance  Plan — On  the  last  day  of  the  convention, 
under  suspension  of  the  rules,  and  apparently  without 
serious  consideration,  the  delegates  adopted  a  resolution 
directing  that  the  president  and  corresponding  secretary 
be  constituted  a  board  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  an 
insurance  plan  whereby  each  member,  in  good  health, 
belonging  to  a  subordinate  union  within  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  International  Union,  be  insured,  should  they 
desire.  The  sum  of  $50  was  appropriated  for  creating 
such  a  plan. 

Pittsburgh  was  chosen  as  the  convention  city  for  1886. 

Officers,  1885  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were 
elected  as  follows:  President,  M.  R.  H.  Witter,  St.  Louis; 
first  vice-president,  Thomas  J.  Lacey,  Ottawa,  Can.;  sec- 
ond   vice-president,    Charles    Gamewell,    Philadelphia; 

Jfc 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

secretary-treasurer,  E.  S.  Mcintosh,  Philadelphia;  cor- 
responding secretary,  H.  Thomas  Elder,  Boston,  Mass. ; 
chief  organizer,  David  P.  Boyer,  Columbus,  Ohio.  Dele- 
gates to  the  Federation  of  Trades — W.  J.  Hammond,  New 
Orleans;  William  Graydon,  New  York,  and  Samuel  S. 
Green,  Louisville. 

Convention    at    Pittsburgh 

[1886] — The  thirty-fourth  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  in  Pitts- 
burgh, June  7,  1886,  by  President  Witter,  120  delegates 
being  present,   representing  92  unions. 

The  Hon.  John  M.  Farquhar,  ex-president  of  the  Inter- 
national, and  representative  in  congress  from  the  thirty- 
second  district  of  New  York,  was  a  visitor,  and  was 
invited  to  address  the  convention.  During  his  remarks 
Mr.  Farquhar  took  occasion  to  counsel  the  delegates  to 
preserve  the  individuality  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  as  against  all  other  labor  organizations. 
This  advice  was  no  doubt  due  to  the  tremendous  growth 
of  the  Knights  of  Labor  at  this  period,  its  purpose  at  that 
time  being  to  absorb  all  other  trade  union  bodies. 

Organizing  —  The  work  of  organizing  the  craft  during 
the  year  had  been  prosecuted  with  unusual  success,  char- 
ters having  been  issued  to  42  typographical  unions,  10 
pressmen's  unions  and  2  unions  of  stereotypers  and  elec- 
trotypers,  making  a  total  of  54  unions.  It  was  apparent 
also  that  not  alone  in  the  organization  of  new  unions  had 
there  been  unprecedented  success  but  the  older  organiza- 
tions had  been  strengthened  materially. 

Strike  Fund  —  The  operation  of  the  strike  fund  law, 
passed  at  the  previous  session,  had  been  unsuccessful. 
The  president,  in  his  report,  took  the  position  that  the 
whole  question  of  strikes  should  be  placed  under  the 
control  of  the  executive  officers,  otherwise  the  law  should 

382 


Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1886 

be  repealed.  The  supposition  that  the  approval  of  a 
strike  by  the  executive  officers  before  the  fund  was 
available  would  place  the  subject  matter  sufficiently  under 
control,  had  been  disproved.  In  many  instances  local 
unions  had  taken  steps  leading  up  to  strikes  from  which 
retreat  was .  impossible,  and  when  in  this  position  the 
executive  officers  were  notified  of  the  condition.  At  the 
suggestion  of  the  executive  officers,  the  strike  fund  law 
was  amended  and  strengthened,  providing  that  approval 
of  the  executive  officers  must  be  had  before  strikes  were 
authorized  and  that  any  union  inaugurating  strikes  with- 
out such  approval  should  receive  no  benefit  from  the 
strike  fund.  The  collection  and  payment  of  the  strike 
fund  assessment  was  made  mandatory. 

Knights  of  Labor  and  Federation  of  Trades  —  The 
growth  and  aggressive  policy  of  the  Knights  of  Labor 
were  treated  at  length  in  the  address  of  President  Witter. 
Dealing  with  the  question  from  the  standpoint  of  trade 
autonomy,  and  viewing  with  misgivings  the  possible  effect 
on  the  trade  union  movement  of  the  policies  pursued  by 
the  Knights  of  Labor,  the  president  said : 

To  secure  co-operation  between  bodies  of  organized  labor 
for  common  purposes  has  for  many  years  been  the  high  purpose 
of  the  ablest  of  labor's  advocates.  The  advantages  to  be  de- 
rived by  such  policy  were  so  obvious  that  its  adoption  only 
awaited  the  presentation  of  a  practical  method.  The  appear- 
ance of  the  Order  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  seemed  to  present 
both  the  method  and  the  occasion.  It  will  not  be  disputed  that 
it.  was  this  motive  that  led  leading  members  of  all  the  trade 
unions  into  the  order,  and  I  believe  it  is  also  true  that  the 
trade  unions  were  for  a  number  of  years  the  order's  chief 
mi  1 1  port.  No  one  will  deny  that  the  labor  cause  has  dcr 
great  benefit  from  the  movement.  Hy  it  all  classes  of  working- 
men  have  been  brought  into  concert.  Hid  it  remains  but  to 
continue  and  improve  tin-  mutual  understanding  established 
through  this  medium  to  tchtart  the  highest  success  potsibl 
laboring  men  under  the  wage  «ystem.   It  is  therefore  clearly  not 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

to  the  interest  of  any  class  of  labor  that  the  order  should  be 
disintegrated  or  its  strength  be  impaired.  Its  prestige  has  often 
been  the  shield  of  persecuted  unions,  and  under  its  protection 
they  have  risen  when  prostrate.  Its  renown  has  revived  hope 
where  reverses  had  produced  almost  despair.  I  would  not  dim 
its  record  by  a  word  of  disparagement.  That  record  was  made 
through  the  co-operation  of  trade  unionists,  and  is  therefore 
in  part  their  property.  But  there  has  at  length  risen  to  influence 
in  the  councils  of  the  great  order  an  element  which,  should  it 
at  any  time  attain  supremacy,  threatens  the  destruction  of  all 
distinct  trade  unions.  Starting  upon  the  false  theory  that  there 
exists  no  individual  interests  or  rights  not  subject  to  regulation 
by  the  whole  mass  of  labor,  they  proceed  to  the  conclusion  that 
organizations  charged  with  the  duty  of  protecting  such  rights 
are  obstacles  to  the  common  welfare.  Their  order,  having 
risen  to  influence  by  the  assistance  of  trade  unions,  they  would 
now,  had  they  the  power,  destroy  its  earliest  and  best  friends. 
Ignoring  the  variety  of  interests  and  the  difference  in  skill  and 
intelligence  existing  in  all  ranks,  and  the  subdivision  of  society 
to  conform  to  all  conditions,  they  would  make  labor  organiza- 
tion the  only  exception  to  a  rule  established  by  experience. 
Now,  if  it  can  be  shown  that  the  Order  of  Knights  of  Labor 
is  founded  upon  principles  different  from  and  superior  to  those 
which  underlie  trade  unionism;  that  it  has  avoided  the  errors 
into  which  the  unions  have  fallen;  that  it  has  by  independent 
action  achieved  success  not  attainable  by  co-operation  of 
trade  bodies;  that  a  program  for  the  benefit  of  all  labor 
can  be  proposed  by  it  which  is  unattainable  by  trade  unionism, 
then  I  shall  be  prepared  to  recommend  that  with  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  thirty-fourth  session  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  the  organization  which  has  proudly  stood  the 
test  of  more  than  a  third  of  a  century  of  trial,  be  abandoned  and 
its  membership  be  merged  into  the  Knights  of  Labor.  Mani- 
festly, no  such  demonstration  can  be  made.  I  challenge  an  expo- 
sition of  the  policy  which  would  justify  the  desertion  of  an 
organization  whose  influence  and  usefulness  has  steadily  in- 
creased. I  challenge  the  detractors  of  trade  unionism  to  point 
out  the  shortcomings  inherent  in  that  system  which  do  not  also 
characterize  the  Knights  of  Labor.  I  maintain  that  the  control 
by  independent  bodies  of  distinct  interests  is  a  necessary  check 
upon  hasty  and  unwise  legislation. 

384 


Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1886 

Labor  organizations  in  America  have  now  reached  a  point 
where  an  intelligent  understanding  is  necessary  if  disaster  is  to 
be  averted.  Danger  exists  not  alone  in  the  aggressions  of 
capital,  but  in  crude  theories  and  impracticable  enterprises  on 
the  part  of  labor.  To  abolish  all  lines  and  merge  all  trades  into 
one  organization  would,  in  the  present  state  of  development  of 
the  labor  movement,  greatly  increase  the  danger;  and,  in  any 
view,  would  add  nothing  to  the  effective  results  of  co-operation. 

President  Witter  presented  the  report  of  the  delegates 
to  the  Federation  of  Trades,  as  follows : 

Scranton,  Pa.,  June  5,  1886. 
To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union. 

As  chairman  of  the  delegation  to  represent  the  International 
Typographical  Union  in  the  Federated  Trades  and  Labor 
Congress  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report : 

In  accordance  with  a  resolution  adopted  by  the  Inter- 
national body  at  its  last  annual  session,  your  delegates,  Mr. 
William  Hammond  of  New  Orleans,  Mr.  William  Graydon, 
jr.,  of  New  York,  and  myself  visited  Scranton,  Pa.,  immediately 
after  the  sine  die  adjournment  of  the  body,  for  the  purpose 
of  laying  before  T.  V.  Powderly,  general  master  workman  of 
the  Knights  of  Labor,  complaints  in  regard  to  the  action  of 
certain  assemblies  of  that  organization  which  had  been  brought 
to  the  attention  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  by 
local  unions.  Mr.  Powderly  received  your  delegates  courte- 
ously and  listened  attentively  to  the  statement  of  grievances. 
After  a  full  and  somewhat  lengthy  discussion  of  the  matter, 
Mr.  Powderly  promised  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  the 
body,  represented  in  the  persons  of  your  delegates,  stating  that 
I  law  for  the  government  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  was  then  in 
preparation — and  which  he  had  no  doubt  would  soon  be  adopted 
by  the  order  in  general — which  would  in  the  future  cause  an 
avoidance  of  all  cause  of  complaint  in  regard  to  the  interference 
0!  the  Knights  of  Labor  in  the  affairs  of  trade  unions  without 
the  consent  of  the  latter.  Whether  or  not  such  law  has  ever 
been  adopted  by  the  Knights  of  Labor  v>ur  delegates  are  n<>t 
informed,  but  that  the  cause  of  complaint  which  induced  the 
International  body  to  send  its  delegates  to  lay  the  same  before 
Powderly  exists  to  a  greater  degree  at  the  present  time 

sfts 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

late  events  have  clearly  shown ;  and  also  shown  that  Mr.  Pow- 
derly  either  did  not  keep  the  promise  made  to  your  representa- 
tives, or  that  he  is  unable  to  control  the  organization  of  which 
he  is  the  head  in  its  attempted  raids  upon  the  rights  of  trade 
unions. 

Two  of  your  delegates,  Mr.  William  Graydon,  jr.,  and 
myself,  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Federated  Trades  and 
Labor  Congress  held  at  Washington,  D.  C,  last  December. 
As  the  proceedings  of  that  body  are  too  long  to  embrace  in 
a  report,  I  respectfully  refer  your  honorable  body  to  the  printed 
proceedings  for  the  result  of  its  deliberations ;  but  as  a  propo- 
sition to  increase  the  per  capita  tax  of  all  bodies  represented 
in  the  congress  will  require  your  vote  for  its  acceptance  or 
rejection,  I  respectfully  call  your  attention  to  the  same. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

S.  S.  Green,  Chairman  Delegation. 

During  the  afternoon  of  the  fourth  day's  session,  a 
communication  was  received  from  T.  V.  Powderly,  grand 
master  workman  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  requesting  that 
Isaac  Cline  of  the  Window  Glass  Workers,  and  A.  M. 
Dewey,  representing  the  Knights  of  Labor,  be  allowed 
the  privilege  of  the  floor.  Messrs.  Cline  and  Dewey  each 
addressed  the  convention,  consuming  about  an  hour's 
time,  after  which  the  delegates  went  into  executive  session, 
permitting  the  representatives  of  the  Knights  of  Labor 
to  remain  in  the  hall.  Before  the  close  of  the  executive 
session  a  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  an  address 
defining  the  position  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union.  The  report  of  this  committee,  subsequently  pre- 
sented, was  unanimously  adopted,  as  follows : 

Your  committee  appointed  to  draft  a  paper  stating  the 
relations  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  the 
Knights  of  Labor  beg  leave  to  present  the  following  report : 

The  International  Typographical  Union  of  North  America, 
believing  that  a  house  divided  against  itself  can  not  stand, 
knowing  that  in  union  alone  is  lasting  strength,  has  deemed 
proper  to  put  forth  a  statement  of  its  position  with  regard  to 
the  noble  order  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  in  order  that  all  the 

386 


Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1886 

world  may  see  how  little  difference,  if  any,  exists  between  the 
two  organizations,  when  looked  at  in  the  light  of  truth  and 
justice  by  proud  and  honorable  men. 

The  efforts  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  to  secure  for  the  wage- 
workers  of  the  land  an  equitable  portion  of  the  fruits  of  their 
toil  challenge  the  warmest  admiration  and  command  our 
enthusiastic  support.  The  activity  of  the  order  in  this  respect, 
the  fidelity  of  the  leaders  to  that  object,  may  well  stand  as  an 
eternal  monument  to  intelligence,  energy,  and  pure  motives,  as 
exercised  in  behalf  of  the  millions  of  unorganized  toilers  who, 
until  lately,  had  neither  conception  of  their  power  nor  the 
knowledge  how  to  use  it.  The  Knights  of  Labor  have  per- 
formed wonders  for  the  cause  which  is  also  ours — the  eleva- 
tion of  the  masses,  securing  to  the  creator  of  wealth  a  fair  share 
of  his  creation.  This  being  the  aim  and  purpose  of  both  organ- 
izations, there  is  no  reason  why  a  conflict  should  arise  between 
the  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  Knights  of 
Labor. 

We  ask  at  their  hands  that — 

First.  They  will  not  attempt  to  dictate  the  course  of  action 
of  distinctive  trades. 

Second.  That  they  will  not  cover  with  the  shield  of  the 
order — an  order  which  all  of  us  are  proud  and  glad  to  be 
members  of — any  man  who  has  been  found  unworthy  to  mingle 
with  us  as  a  fellow-craftsman  in  good  standing. 

This  is  all  we  ask  of  the  Knights  of  Labor.  We  ask  it 
kindly,  we  ask  it  firmly.  It  being  just  and  fair,  we  see  not  why 
it  should  be  denied.  There  is  but  little  to  divide  us.  Why 
should  we  divide  on  it?  We  are  with  the  Knights  of  Labor 
hand  and  heart.  Their  fight  is  ours,  as  they  have  made  our 
cause  their  own  in  countless  instances.  All  the  power,  all  the 
influence,  all  the  aid  which  we  can  exert  in  furtherance  of  the 
BOble  aims  of  the  order  is  cheerfully,  unhesitatingly  pledged. 
We  ask  in  n  turn  a  brotherly  interest  in  the  objects  of  our  union, 
and  the  countenance  and  support  of  the  order,  where  it  can  be 
exerted,  for  the  common  welfare.  Wc  stand  ready  now,  aa 
heretofore,  to  pair  our  forces  in  every  possible  manner,  short 
of  a  surrender  of  our  long-established  ri^ht  or  an  impairment 
of  the  iutt  i^rity  of  this  union,  and  in  this  sign  we  shall  conquer. 

Federation  of  Trades — Speaking  of  the  report  of  the 
delegates  to  the  Federation  of  Trades,  the  president  called 

387 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

attention  to  a  proposed  increase  of  per  capita  tax  to  be 
imposed  by  the  federation.  Attention  was  directed  to  the 
fact  that  the  Federation  of  Trades  as  constituted  at  that 
time  was  little  more  than  an  informal  conference  of  labor 
representatives,  and  the  proposed  increase  of  taxes  was 
deemed  unwise  by  the  president,  at  least  until  such  time  as 
the  body  adopted  more  practical  business  methods.  It  was 
suggested  that  the  delegates  to  the  next  congress  of  the 
trades  support  measures  having  in  view  the  proposition  of 
making  the  federation  a  more  direct  channel  of  communi- 
cation between  labor  organizations.  In  this  connection, 
attention  was  called  to  the  character  of  some  of  the  dele- 
gations admitted  to  the  deliberations  of  the  federation. 
Concluding  this  portion  of  his  report,  President  Witter 
said:  "It  is  all  important  that  in  the  present  uninformed 
state  of  public  opinion  upon  the  purposes  of  labor  organ- 
izations that  workingmen  should  not  be  compromised  by 
affiliation,  in  any  degree,  with  that  class  of  irreconcilable 
agitators  who,  failing  to  appreciate  the  opportunities 
afforded  by  free  institutions,  advocate  principles  and 
methods  foreign  to  trade  unionism."  It  was  earnestly 
recommended  that  representatives  of  the  International 
at  the  next  convention  of  the  Federation  of  Trades  be 
instructed  to  oppose  the  admission  of  representatives  from 
any  but  recognized  bodies  of  organized  labor.  The  con- 
vention heartily  concurred  in  this  recommendation  of  the 
president. 

Relations  With  Pressmen  —  The  constitutional  amend- 
ment passed  at  the  previous  session  providing  that  the 
second  vice-president  should  be  a  pressman,  who  should 
have  active  charge  of  the  interests  of  pressmen,  appar- 
ently had  had  a  most  salutary  effect.  It  had  greatly 
stimulated  organization  of  pressmen's  unions  and  had 
allayed  jealousies  between  the  two  classes  of  members. 
The  entire  delegation  of  pressmen  in  the  convention,  with 

388 


Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1886 

the  second  vice-president  as  their  chairman,  constituted 
the  committee  on  legislation  for  pressmen's  unions,  and 
the  consideration  of  such  legislation  as  the  pressmen  saw 
fit  to  present  to  the  convention  was  made  a  special  order 
of  business,  with  the  advantage  of  having  first  received 
consideration  at  the  hands  of  the  pressmen  delegates. 

Childs-Drexel  Gift  —  On  the  second  day  of  the  con- 
vention, the  president  announced  that  James  J.  Dailey, 
of  Philadelphia,  an  ex-delegate,  and  foreman  of  the 
Public  Ledger,  desired  the  attention  of  the  convention 
for  a  few  moments,  and,  on  motion,  the  privilege  was 
granted  him.  Mr.  Dailey  then  addressed  the  convention 
as  follows : 

I  have  been  delegated  by  Mr.  George  W.  Childs  to  present 
to  you  a  letter,  the  nature  of  which  will  appear  upon  reading  it. 
As  you  are  well  aware,  Mr.  Childs  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  workingmen,  but  his  intimate  relations  with  the 
typographical  fraternity  makes  them  more  particularly  the 
object  of  his  attention.  In  all  matters  tending  to  the  elevation 
of  the  craft  he  is  always  ready  and  willing  to  extend  to  them 
the  weight  of  his  name  and  influence.  The  friendly  recognition 
he  gave  to  the  International  Typographical  Union  at  its  last 
session  has  had  a  good  effect  in  our  own  city,  and  from  the 
number  of  new  unions  that  have  been  organized  and  old 
charters  re-issued  I  think  the  effect  has  been  salutary  elsewhere. 
The  Ledger  has  given  close  attention  to  the  labor  question, 
and  it  has  materially  assisted  in  giving  to  it  a  prominence  in 
Philadelphia  that  it  would  hardly  have  obtained — except  after 

rs  of  agitation.  Mr.  Childs  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  warm 
friend  of  organized  labor,  when  wisely  conducted.  The  number 
of  years  this  organization  has  been  in  existence,  the  wbdoflb  and 
moderation  which  have  marked  its  legislation,  and  Out  proud 
position  which  it  occupies  today  before  the  people  of  this  coun-. 
try,  have  compelled  general  approval,  and  to  emphasise  his 
appreciation  of  its  coarse  he  has  sent  this  Utter  to  vnii  to  place 
more  strongly  on  record  his  sympathy  with  the  objects  of  your 
labors. 

In  this  letter  also  appears  the  name  of  Mr.  Anthonv  J. 
Drexel.    Mr.  Drexel  is  nut  s,.  well  known  to  you  as  Mr.  ChilN, 

389 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

but  his  name  in  our  city  is  always  to  be  found  bracketed  with 
that  of  Mr.  Childs  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  public  good. 
.  He  is  the  head  of  the  great  banking  house  of  Drexel  &  Co., 
one  of  the  best  known  in  the  world.  In  all  good  and  worthy 
objects  that  have  for  their  aim  the  elevation  of  man  and  the 
amelioration  of  his  condition,  the  names  of  Anthony  J.  Drexel 
and  George  W.  Childs  will  always  be  found  coupled  together. 
Mr.  Drexel  also  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  typographical  fra- 
ternity and  the  accompanying  letter  shows  that  he  does  it  in 
no  uncertain  way.  All  credit  to  such  men.  They  do  honor  to 
mankind. 

The  following  is  the  letter  referred  to  : 

Philadelphia,  June  5,  1886. 
To  the  President  and  Members  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union. 

With  this  letter  is  an  enclosure  which  it  was  intended  should 
be  handed  you  by  Mr.  James  J.  Dailey  with  a  verbal  message 
of  good  wishes;  but  at  his  suggestion  it  is  accompanied  by  a 
written  communication.  It  is  known  to  some  of  your  members 
that  I  feel  a  warm  interest  in  what  concerns  the  welfare  of  all 
who  work  for  wages,  and  in  the  wise  management  of  the  trade 
unions  and  other  kindred  organizations  it  has  become  advisable 
for  them  to  establish  for  the  promotion  of  their  true  interests. 
This  feeling  being  especially  strong  toward  the  printers' 
unions,  with  whose  members  I  have  had  close  and  very  satis- 
factory business  relations  for  many  years,  it  is  my  earnest 
desire — a  desire  in  which  I  am  heartily  joined  by  my  friend, 
Mr.  A.  J.  Drexel — to  extend  to  the  time-honored  International 
Typographical  Union,  as  the  representative  of  the  united  craft 
in  North  America,  some  expression  more  substantial  than  words. 
How  to  do  this  in  a  way  that  may  produce  lasting  good  has  en- 
gaged the  thoughts  of  both  Mr.  Drexel  and  myself;  and  we 
conclude  that  your  union,  or  such  trustees  as  you  may  select  for 
the  purpose,  will  know  better  than  ourselves  how  that  good  can 
be  best  accomplished. 

We  therefore  send  to  you  herewith,  by  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Dailey,  foreman  in  the  Public  Ledger  office,  our  check  for  the 
amount  of  ten  thousand  dollars — five  thousand  from  Mr. 
Drexel,  who  is  now  in  Europe,  and  five  thousand  from  the 

390   . 


Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1886 

undersigned — without  consideration  or  suggestion  of  any  kind, 
as  an  absolute  gift,  in  full  confidence  that  the  sagacious  and 
conservative  counselors  of  your  union  will  make  or  order  wise 
use  of  it  for  the  good  of  the  union. 

Very  respectfully  and  heartily,  yours, 

George  W.  Childs. 

Gift  Accepted  —  On  motion,  the  gift  of  Messrs.  Childs 
and  Drexel  was  accepted,  and  a  rising  vote  taken.  After- 
ward, upon  the  suggestion  of  one  of  the  delegates,  three 
hearty  cheers  were  given  for  the  donors. 

The  following  resolution  was  then  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  the  disposition  of  this  munificent  gift  of 
Messrs.  George  W.  Childs  and  Anthony  J.  Drexel,  of  Phila- 
delphia, be  referred  to  a  special  committee  of  five  members  of 
this  body. 

Disposition  of  Gift  —  The  committee  to  which  the 
above  resolution  was  referred  submitted  the  following 
report,  which  was  agreed  to  by  the  convention : 

Your  committee  to  devise  a  plan  for  the  disposition  of  the 
munificent  gift  of  $10,000  from  Messrs.  George  W.  Childs 
and  Anthony  J.  Drexel,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  beg  leave  to  re- 
port that,  after  a  patient  investigation  of  the  merits  of  the 
several  propositions  placed  before  them  by  members  of  your 
honorable  body,  they  are  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  the 
best  use  to  which  this  large  sum  could  be  put  would  be  to  place 
it  on  deposit  in  some  safe  banking  institution  for  the  time 
being,  and  thus  give  opportunity  to  the  several  subordinate 
unions  under  our  jurisdiction  to  digest  and  eventually  formu- 
late the  manner  of  its  ultimate  disposition.  We  therefore 
recommend  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions: 

First.  That  Messrs.  James  J.  Dailey,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa. ; 
August  Donath,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and  Frank  S.  Pelton,  of 
Chicago,  111.,  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  constituted  a  board  of 
trustees  for  the  term  of  five  years  for  the  safekeeping  and 
investment  of  the  said  sum  of  $10,000. 

Si  <  ond.  That  as  an  evidence  of  appreciation  of  the  motivr 
of  Messrs.  Childs  and  Drexel.  the  International  Typographical 
Union  of  North  America  recommends  and  urges  that,  on  the 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  Mr.  Childs  during  the  next  five 
years — May  1 2th — each  and  every  union  compositor  under  its 
jurisdiction  east  of  the  Mississippi  river  contribute  the  amount 
received  by  him  for  one  thousand  ems  on  said  date  and  every 
stereotyper,  electrotyper  and  pressman  on  the  same  date  con- 
tribute the  amount  received  for  one  hour's  work;  and  that  on 
the  anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  Mr.  Drexel — September 
13th — like  contributions  be  recommended  and  urged  from  each 
and  every  person  under  our  jurisdiction  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river. 

Union  Label  —  The  following  resolution  authorizing 
and  instructing  the  executive  council  to  prepare  a  suitable 
design  for  a  union  label  and  arrange  for  its  use  by  various 
union  offices,  was  passed  : 

Resolved,  That  the  executive  council  be,  and  it  is  hereby, 
authorized  and  instructed  to  prepare,  as  soon  as  possible,  a  seal 
of  suitable  design,  to  be  used  on  all  printed  matter  where  it  is 
desired  by  the  publisher,  and  also  to  regulate  the  use  of  the 
same,  so  that  the  product  of  union  labor  may  be  readily  known 
by  purchasers,  and  the  demand  for  publications  friendly  to  the 
cause  of  organized  workingmen  be  encouraged. 

Official  Organ  —  Several  resolutions  were  introduced 
regarding  the  official  organ  of  the  union  (The  Crafts- 
man), and  it  was  finally  agreed  that  the  International 
Union  would  subscribe  for  a  sufficient  number  of  copies 
to  supply  the  entire  membership.  The  agreement  was 
contained  in  the  following  resolution,  adopted  by  the 
convention  : 

Whereas  the  International  Typographical  Union  of  North 
America  believes  that  education  should  keep  pace  with  the 
work  of  organizing  the  members  of  our  craft ;  and 

Whereas  in  the  opinion  of  this  body  the  education  of  union 
men  in  union  matters  can  best  be  accomplished  by  the  perusal 
of  journals  disseminating  union  principles,  and 

Whereas  The  Craftsman,  the  official  organ  of  this  body, 
has  consistently  and  ably  continued  since  its  foundation  in  the 
good  work  of  unionizing  the  printers  of  the  land ;  therefore 

392 


\l     R     II     Ull  IKK.  St.   I.oi  II 

I'n  ..i.i,  i,i  ii  i,ui.,ti..ii.ii   PfpcgripM— I  1'ini.H 

June   J.    |K««      .limr   S.    1886 


Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1886 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  The  Craftsman  be  furnished  to 
each  member  in  good  standing  of  each  subordinate  union  at 
the  expense  of  this  body,  the  paper  to  be  mailed  to  the  member's 
address,  which  is  to  be  furnished  by  the  secretaries  of  subor- 
dinate unions. 

Resolved  further,  That  there  be  levied  a  quarterly  assess- 
ment of  ten  cents  per  capita  on  each  member  in  good  standing, 
to  be  collected  as  the  per  capita  tax  is  now  collected,  and  that 
this  quarterly  assessment  of  ten  cents  on  each  member  shall  be 
in  full  payment  of  the  subscription  herein  provided  for. 

Resolved  further,  That  the  accounts  of  The  Craftsman  and 
the  International  Typographical  Union,  on  account  of  the  sub- 
scriptions hereby  ordered,  shall  be  audited  by  a  committee  of 
three  members  of  Columbia  Union  No.  101,  to  be  appointed 
by  the  president  of  this  body. 

Insurance  Feature  —  The  special  committee,  appointed 
by  the  previous  convention  to  draft  a  plan  of  insurance, 
made  an  elaborate  report,  presenting  a  plan  in  detail, 
which  was  adopted  by  the  convention,  including  the  selec- 
tion of  a  secretary-treasurer  of  insurance.  It  was  pro- 
vided that  all  members  of  subordinate  unions  should  be 
eligible  to  membership  after  passing  the  necessary 
examination.  It  was  also  provided  that  dues  should  be 
25  cents  on  the  death  of  a  member  for  the  first  three 
months  after  instituting  the  plan.  After  that  date  the 
rate  of  insurance  was  fixed  at  25  cents  per  capita  for 
members  from  18  to  25  years  of  age;  30  cents  for  those 
from  25  to  30;  35  cents  for  those  from  30  to  35  ;  45  cents 
for  those  from  35  to  40,  and  50  cents  for  all  above  40 
years  of  age.  The  action  of  the  convention  in  adopting 
tins  insurance  plan  was  largely  experimental.  It  was  not 
required  that  members  should  be  compelled  to  take  out 
insurance,  the  proposition  being  entirely   volunta: 

The  office  of  corresponding  secretary  was  abolished  by 
the  Pittsburgh  convention. 

HufTalo  was  selected  as  the  convention  city  for  1887. 

393 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Officers,  1886 —  Officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing 
year,  as  follows  :  President,  William  Aimison,  Nashville ; 
first  vice-president,  Joseph  F.  Rymer,  New  York;  second 
vice-president,  Charles  Gamewell,  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
secretary-treasurer,  D.  M.  Pascoe,  Philadelphia;  chief 
organizer,  David  P.  Boyer,  Columbus,  Ohio;  secretary- 
treasurer  of  insurance,  H.  Thomas  Elder,  Boston.  Trus- 
tees Childs-Drexel  fund — August  Donath,  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  James  J.  Dailey,  Philadelphia;  Frank  S.  Pelton, 
Chicago.  Delegates  to  Federation  of  Trades — John  R. 
Winders,  San  Francisco;  Julian  L.  Wright,  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  John  Scott,  Toronto. 

Convention    at    Buffalo 

[1887]  —  When  the  thirty-fifth  convention  of  the  Inter- 
national Union  was  called  to  order  at  Buffalo,  June  6, 
1887,  by  President  Aimison,  the  largest  gathering  of 
delegates  in  the  history  of  the  organization  up  to  that 
time  was  present,  129  subordinate  unions  having  elected 
172  representatives. 

Pascoe  Defalcation  —  What  promised  to  be  one  of  the 
most  successful  gatherings  in  the  history  of  the  body  was 
marred  by  an  unfortunate  incident — the  defalcation  of 
the  secretary-treasurer,  D.  M.  Pascoe.  The  report  of  this 
officer  was  presented  to  the  convention  on  the  second  day 
and  referred  to  the  committee  on  returns  and  finance. 
Before  this  committee  had  examined  the  report,  the  elec- 
tion of  officers  had  taken  place  and  Mr.  Pascoe  was 
re-elected.  The  committee  found  itself  unable  in  the 
short  time  allotted  for  its  work  to  render  a  full  and  com- 
plete account.  The  report  of  the  secretary-treasurer 
being  in  such  incomplete  and  unsatisfactory  condition,  and 
the  vouchers  necessary  to  effect  a  balance  being  missing, 
the  committee  resigned,  and,  after  an  executive  session. 

394 


Convention  at  Buffalo,  1887 

held  to  consider  the  affairs  of  the  secretary- 
treasurer  and  the  condition  of  the  business  in  his  office, 
Mr.  Pascoe  resigned,  and  W.  S.  McClevey  of  Chicago  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  It  was  ordered  that  the  effects 
of  the  secretary-treasurer's  office,  including  books,  papers, 
vouchers,  bills  and  all  other  documents,  be  referred  to  a 
committee  of  ex-delegates,  composed  of  Mark  L.  Craw- 
ford, William  A.  Hutchinson  and  James  B.  Fulferton, 
all  of  Chicago,  with  instructions  to  audit,  arrange  and 
settle  the  accounts  and  report  to  Secretary-Treasurer 
McClevey,  he  to  issue  a  circular  to  all  subordinate  unions 
containing  the  report  of  this  special  committee.  In  a 
note  appended  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Buffalo  conven- 
tion, the  secretary-treasurer  says : 

The  secretary-treasurer  was  elected  toward  the  close  of  the 
session,  and  previous  to  his  election  he  had  no  connection  with 
the  minutes,  which,  at  the  time  he  assumed  the  duties  of  the 
office,  were  in  such  confusion  that  the  convention  authorized 
the  president  to  appoint  a  committee  to  remain  in  Buffalo  and 
assist  him  in  restoring  order  to  the  mass  of  papers  in  his 
possession.  After  completing  their  labors,  the  committee  pre- 
pared the  following  report: 

"The  committee  appointed  to  arrange  the  minutes  and 
papers  connected  therewith  begs  to  state  that  it  found  the  same 
in  such  disorder  that  a  proper  arrangement  seemed  impossible ; 
but,  by  the  exercise  of  diligence  and  great  care,  we  are  confident 
that  the  arrangement  is  as  nearly  correct  as  it  is  possible  to 
make  it.  We  beg  the  indulgence  of  the  craft  at  large,  on  behalf 
of  ourselves  and  the  secretary-treasurer,  if  any  errors  or  omis- 
sions are  discovered,  being  able  to  codify  onlv  what  wu 
before  us." 

The  delay  in  publishing  this  report  has  l>ecn  caused  by  the 
confusion  which  existed,  a  vast  amount  of  correspondence  being 
necessary  before  the  copy  could  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
print  it  with  any  degree  of  accuracy. 

Strikt  Fund  Law  —  The  report  of  President 
contained    many    interesting   suggestions,    chief    among 

395 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

which  was  the  dissatisfaction  following  the  creation  and 
enforcement  of  the  strike  fund  law.  Instead  of  having 
a  tendency  to  restrain  subordinate  unions  from  insti- 
tuting strikes,  the  creation  of  the  fund  had  apparently 
influenced  many  jurisdictions  to  go  on  strike,  the  result 
being  that  the  executive  officers  were  compelled  to  with- 
hold assistance  in  many  cases  because  of  the  inadequacy 
of  the  fund  and  the  apparent  reluctance  of  many  sub- 
ordinate unions  to  make  the  payments  required  by  law. 
In  many  instances  strikes  had  occurred  and  the  trouble 
was  ended  before  the  International  could  collect  the  strike 
fund  and  render  the  assistance  expected.  The  laxity  of 
many  subordinate  unions  in  enforcing  the  strike  fund  law 
apparently  placed  the  International  body  in  a  position 
where  members  on  strike,  not  receiving  benefits  regularly, 
complained  that  it  did  not  entertain  a  proper  regard  for 
them,  the  result  being  that  instead  of  reliance  on  the 
power  and  ability  of  the  International  a  feeling  quite 
the  reverse  had  spread  among  the  members.  The  presi- 
dent gave  as  his  opinion  that  all  subordinate  unions 
should  be  compelled  to  respect  the  strike  fund  law,  or 
that  this  law  should  be  repealed.  Responding  to  this 
suggestion,  the  convention  amended  the  general  laws, 
making  it  compulsory  on  the  part  of  every  union  to  honor 
the  draft  of  the  executive  council  within  thirty  days  after 
the  issuance  thereof. 

Organization  —  The  work  of  organization  had  pro- 
ceeded satisfactorily  during  the  year,  42  new  charters 
having  been  issued,  making  a  total  of  95  new  unions 
organized  during  the  administration  of  Chief  Organizer 
Boyer  and  the  deputies  appointed  under  him.  Only  one 
charter  was  surrendered  during  the  year,  and  a  total  of 
266  subordinate  unions  were  in  active  operation  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  International  Union,  and  recognizing 

396 


Convention  at  Buffalo,   1887 

its  authority.  Among  the  266  local  organizations  were 
31  unions  of  pressmen,  5  unions  of  stereotypers  and  elec- 
trotypers,  1  union  of  pressfeeders,  1  union  of  bookbinders 
and  2  unions  of  mailers. 

I  RELATIONS  WITH   KNIGHTS  OF  LABOR  AND 
THE  AMERICAN  FEDERATION  OF  LABOR 

The  convention  of  the  International  Union  at  Buffalo 
marked  the  passing  of  the  International  Union's  amicable 
relations  with  the  Knights  of  Labor  and  the  report  of  the 
delegates  to  the  Federation  of  Trades,  described  the 
merging  of  that  body  into  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor.  In  view  of  the  historical  importance  attached 
to  this  action,  the  majority  and  minority  reports  of  the 
delegates  to  the  Federation  of  Trades  and  to  the  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Labor,  and  subsequent  action  of  the 
convention   thereon,   are   herewith    reproduced : 

[Majority  Report.] 

To  the  President,  Officers  and  Members  of  the   Thirty-fifth 
Session  International  Typographical  Union. 

Gentlemen  :  Your  delegates  elected  at  the  thirty-fourth 
session,  held  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  June  7-10,  1886,  to  the  Fed- 
eration of  Organized  Trades  and  Labor  Unions  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  and  subsequently  appointed  by  the  president 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  with  Chief  Organ- 
izer David  P.  Boyer,  to  attend  the  convention  called  by  officers 
of  national  and  international  trade  unions,  submit  the  follow- 
ing report : 

The  federation  met  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  December  7-IO, 
1886  (instead  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  December  14,  the  change  in 
time  and  place  having  been  made  for  the  purpose  of  meeting 
the  conferees  of  the  trade  unions),  and  the  sessions  were  held 
with  open  doors. 

In   their   report,   the   legislative   committee  announced    the 

ith  of  nur  iVllow  .  raftMu.m.  W.  H.  Foster,  and  paid  the 
following  tribute  to  hii  memory. 

397 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

"His  devotion  to  duty,  under  the  trying  circumstances  of  an 
incurable  disease,  challenges  our  admiration  for  a  courage  that 
the  shadow  of  death  even  could  not  daunt.  Born  in  England, 
and  educated  in  that  school  of  trade  unionism,  he  naturally,  on 
adopting  this  country  as  his  permanent  home,  took  an  active 
part  in  the  labor  movement,  filling  the  most  prominent  posi- 
tions with  credit  to  his  craft  and  his  alma  mater." 

They  reported  "that  quite  a  number  of  national  unions  have 
been  organized  within  the  past  year,"  but  failed  to  give  any 
further  information  on  the  subject  other  than  that  they  were 
not  represented  because  the  expenditure  necessary  was  "im- 
practical." 

They  also  reported  the  passage  by  congress  of  an  act  for  the 
incorporation  of  trade  unions  in  the  District  of  Columbia  and 
the  territories  of  the  United  States,  thereby  securing  the 
recognition  of  the  "principle  of  the  lawful  character  of  trade 
unions." 

Of  the  eight-hour  movement,  the  committee  said:  "The 
federation  forced  the  subject  before  the  public.  *  *  * 
While  we  are  not  able  to  record  the  general  adoption  of  eight 
hours,  *  *  *  we  nevertheless  claim  that  the  eight-hour  agi- 
tation was  the  means  of  reducing  the  daily  working  time  of  no 
less  than  two  hundred  thousand  workers." 

They  also  reported  "a  general  advancement  in  the  interests 
of  wage-workers  by  means  of  labor  legislation  in  the  several 
states,"  and  recommended  political  action  by  organized  labor  to 
secure  its  "just  rights." 

The  federation  endorsed  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the 
International  Typographical  Union  relative  to  making  the 
government  printing  office  at  Washington,  D.  C,  a  bureau,  and 
urged  congress  to  enact  the  necessary  legislation  to  accomplish 
that  purpose,  besides  pronouncing  in  favor  of  an  indentured 
apprenticeship  system. 

The  following  report,  which  is  self-explanatory,  was 
adopted : 

"Your  committee,  acting  as  a  conference  committee  with  a 
like  one  from  the  trade  unions,  beg  leave  to  report  that  we 
have  met,  and  agree  upon  the  following: 

"First.  The  trade  union  conference  has  formed  an  organ- 
ization to  be  known  as  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  with 
a  constitution  better  protecting  the  interests  of  trade  unions. 

398 


Convention  at  Buffalo,  1887 

"Second.  We  have  agreed  that  all  moneys,  papers,  and  ef- 
fects of  the  old  federation  be  turned  over  to  the  officers  of  the 
new  organization,  and  that  all  per  capita  tax  due  the  old 
federation  be  collected  by  the  new  federation. 

"Third.  That  new  organization  agrees  to  print  and  publish 
the  proceedings  and  reports  of  this  federation  in  the  official 
proceedings. 

"Your  committee  recommends  further,  that  the  Federation 
of  Organized  Trade  and  Labor  Unions  of  the  United  States 
and  Canada  do  now  merge  into  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor,  and  requests  all  affiliated  bodies  to  do  likewise." 

[By  the  adoption  of  the  foregoing  report  of  the  legis- 
lative committee,  the  merger  was  accomplished,  the  dele- 
gates to  the  convention  of  the  Federation  of  Organized 
Trades  and  Labor  Unions  being  recognized  as  delegates 
to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor.  Forty-two 
persons  claiming  to  represent  a  membership  of 
316,469  constituted  the  convention  of  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor.  The  organizations  represented 
were  as  follows :  International  Typographical  Union, 
Iron  Moulders'  National  Union,  German- American 
Typographia,  Granite  Cutters'  National  Union,  New 
England  Lasters'  National  Union,  Furniture  Work- 
ers' National  Union,  Journeyman  Tailors'  National 
Union,  Journeyman  Bakers'  National  Union,  Metal 
Workers'  National  Union,  Brotherhood  of  Carpenters 
and  Joiners  of  America,  Cigar  Makers'  International 
Union,  National  Federation  of  Miners  and  Mine  Labor- 
ers; Bricklayers'  Union  No.  I,  Cincinnati;  The  United 
Order  of  Carpenters,  New  York  city;  New  York  Stereo- 
typcrs'  Union,  New  York  Mutual  Benevolent'  and  Pro- 
tective Society  of  Operative  Painters;  Waiters'  Union  No. 
1,  New  York  city;  Journeymen  Barbers'  Protective 
Union,  New  York  city;  International  Boatmen's  Union 
No.  1,  New  York  city;  United  German  Trades  Union. 
New  York  city;  Baltimore  Federation  of  Labor;  Central 

399 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Labor  Union,  Philadelphia;  Chicago  Trades  Assembly; 
Essex  County,  N.  J.,  Trades  Assembly,  and  St.  Louis 
Trades  Assembly. — Ed.] 

In  the  foregoing  enumeration,  out  of  twenty-five  bodies 
represented,  will  be  found  eleven  national  and  international 
unions.  The  carpenters  were  represented  by  four  delegates  from 
the  national  body  and  one  delegate  from  an  independent  local 
organization;  the  Bricklayers'  National  Union  was  not  repre- 
sented, but  a  local  union  which  had  withdrawn  from  that  body 
was  recognized;  and  New  York  Stereotypers'  Union  was  ad- 
mitted to  representation. 

Immediately  after  effecting  an  organization,  a  resolution  was 
adopted  excluding  the  press,  binding  the  delegates  to  secrecy, 
and  providing  that  the  secretary  should  furnish  the  reporters  an 
official  transcript  twice  daily. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  endorsing  independent  political 
action  by  workingmen ;  requesting  congress  to  prohibit  United 
States  soldiers  from  competing  with  citizens  of  any  trade  or 
calling;  demanding  the  enforcement  of  existing  laws  to  pro- 
hibit Chinese  immigration,  and  the  passage  of  such  further 
laws  as  may  be  necessary ;  pronouncing  in  favor  of  nine  hours 
for  a  day's  work ;  denouncing  the  Knights  of  Labor ;  condemn- 
ing blacklisting  and  the  Pinkerton  detectives ;  favoring  com- 
pulsory indenture  laws ;  discountenancing  indiscriminate  appro- 
priations of  money  for  strikes,  and  recognizing  union  labels 
and  trade-marks. 

The  standing  trade  union  committee,  appointed  at  the 
trades  union  conference  at  Philadelphia,  made  an  extended 
report  as  to  its  efforts  in  endeavoring  to  effect  an  agreement 
with  the  Knights  of  Labor.  It  related  to  its  various  visits,  first 
to  the  general  assembly  Knights  of  Labor  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  secondly,  to  the  Knights  of  Labor  executive  board,  in 
Philadelphia.  At  the  Cleveland  meeting  a  treaty  was  presented 
and  finally  rejected  by  the  Knights  of  Labor.  At  the  Phila- 
delphia meeting  definite  promises  were  made,  but  nothing 
definite  was  done  by  the  general  assembly  at  Richmond.  The 
treaty  that  was  rejected  reads  as  follows: 

"i.  That  in  any  branch  of  labor  having  a  national  or  inter- 
national organization,  the  Knights  of  Labor  shall  not  initiate 
any  person  or  form  any  assembly  of  persons  following  said 

400 


Convention  at  Buffalo,  1887 

organized  craft  or  calling  without  the  consent  of  the  nearest 
national  or  international  union  affected. 

"2.  That  no  person  shall  be  admitted  to  the  Knights  of 
Labor  who  works  for  less  than  the  regular  scale  of  wages  fixed 
by  the  union  of  his  craft,  and  none  shall  be  admitted  to  mem- 
bership in  the  Knights  of  Labor  who  has  ever  been  convicted 
of  scabbing,  ratting,  embezzlement,  or  any  other  offense  against 
the  union  of  his  trade  or  calling,  until  exonerated  by  the  same. 

"3.  That  the  charter  of  any  Knights  of  Labor  assembly  of 
any  trade  having  a  national  or  international  union  shall  be    ' 
revoked,  and  the  members  of  the  same  be  requested  to  join  a 
mixed  assembly,  or  form  a  local  union,  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  their  respective  national  or  international  trade  union. 

"4.  That  any  organizer  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  who  en- 
deavors to  induce  trade  unions  to  disband,  or  tampers  with  their 
growth  or  privileges,  shall  have  his  commission  forthwith 
revoked. 

"5.  That  whenever  a  strike  or  lockout  of  any  trade  union 
is  in  progress,  no  assembly  or  district  assembly  of  the  Knights 
of  Labor  shall  interfere  until  settled  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
trade  union  affected. 

"6.  That  the  Knights  of  Labor  shall  not  establish  or  issue 
any  trade-mark  or  label  in  competition  with  any  trade-mark  or 
label  now  issued,  or  that  may  hereafter  be  issued,  by  any 
national  or  international  trade  union." 

A  committee  representing  the  executive  of  the  Knights  of 
Labor  was  at  Columbus,  whose  mission,  Mr.  Powderly  stated 
in  his  letter  of  introduction,  was  to  adjust  present  differences 
and  pave  the  way  for  the  avoidance  of  future  ones.  No  amicable 
adjustment  of  the  differences  then  existing  between  the  trade 
unionists  and  the  Knights  of  Labor  was  arrived  at  between  the 
committee  appointed  by  the  convention  and  Mr.  Powderly's 
representatives,  the  latter  stating  that  they  were  not  empowered 
to  take  any  action  on  matters  that  had  already  been  acted  on 
by  the  general  assembly,  and  the  former  stating  they  had  nothing 
new  to  offer. 

Your  delegates  regret  that  matters  remain  in  the  same 
condition  as  before  the  convention  at  Columbus  in  December 
last,  and  express  the  hope  that,  having  the  same  objects  in 
view,  both  bodies  will  in  future  work  harmoniously.  There  is 
room  and  work  enough  for  both. 

401 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Before  adjourning,  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  December  13,  1887, 
were  selected  as  the  place  and  time  of  the  next  session. 

A  copy  of  the  constitution  adopted  is  herewith  submitted. 

It  is  the  desire  of  the  federation  that  all  subordinate  bodies 
represented  act  on  the  constitution  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment,  as  it  is  desired  to  get  the  federation  in  working  order 
at  once.  The  delegates  present  at  the  meeting  were  a  fair 
representative  body  of  trade  unionists,  strongly  inclined  to 
conservatism.  It  was  the  prevailing  sentiment  that  the  dispute 
between  the  Knights  of  Labor  and  trade  unions  was  unfortunate 
and  liable  to  work  injury  to  both  concerned,  as  the  capitalist 
and  monopolist  were  always  ready  to  take  advantage  of  any 
division  in  the  ranks  of  labor. 

In  all  matters  the  representatives  showed  a  desire  to  legis- 
late for  the  best  interests  and  welfare  of  all  wage-workers. 
They  represented  the  thoughtful  men  and  the  brain-users  of  all 
trades  and  callings,  and  if  it  were  only  in  the  interchange  of 
ideas  the  meeting  of  the  federation  has  accomplished  good. 

As  the  delegation  from  the  International  Typographical 
Union  have  never  discussed  the  federation,  its  objects  and  con- 
stitution, we  are  not  prepared  to  make  any  recommendations. 

John   R.    Winders, 
John  Scott. 

[Minority  Report.] 

While  endorsing  the  major  portion  of  the  report  signed  by 
my  colleagues,  holding  the  convictions  I  do,  I  can  not  affix  my 
name  with  theirs  without  first  calling  your  attention  to  several 
matters  of  sufficient  importance  and  concern  to  the  International 
Typographical  Union  to  command  careful  examination. 

By  reference  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Pittsburgh  session 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  report  of  the  special  committee  on  the 
contesting  stereotypers'  organizations  for  representation  in  the 
International  Typographical  Union  was  adopted.  The  organ- 
ization making  the  contest,  it  appears,  was  not  satisfied  with  the 
action  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  presented 
themselves  at  the  door  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor. 
Despite  the  fact  that  the  action  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  in  the  premises  was  read  to  the  federation,  the  New 
York  Stereotypers'  Union,  with  its  handful  of  members,  was 
admitted  to  representation,  casting  one  vote  to  the  four  of  the 

402 


Convention  at  Buffalo,  1887 

International  Typographical  Union,  with  its  thousands  of 
members. 

The  resolution  to  exclude  the  press  was  not  passed  until 
after  a  protracted  and  somewhat  acrimonious  debate,  and 
called  forth  considerable  adverse  criticism  from  the  local  press, 
pointed  hints  being  made  as  to  the  motives  controlling  the 
majority,  eventually  giving  tongue  to  charges  of  individual 
cases  of  double-dealing  and  bribery. 

The  constitution  adopted  is  a  remarkable  instrument — one  so 
elastic  that  it  may  be  stretched  by  the  executive  council  therein 
provided  for  to  cover  any  possible  emergency  arising  during 
the  interval  between  one  session  and  another,  and  yet  so 
rebounding  that,  if  confronted  with  an  obstacle  created  by  this 
elasticity,  like  a  ball  skilfully  handled,  it  can  be  made  to  jump 
over  it  or  away  from  it  at  the  will  of  the  manipulator. 

Article  ii  declares  the  objects  to  be,  among  others,  "the 
preservation  of  local  trade  and  labor  unions  and  central  trade 
and  labor  unions  in  every  city;  *  *  *  the  establishment  of 
national  and  international  trade  unions,  and  an  American  feder- 
ation of  all  national  and  international  trade  unions."  Under 
this  article  the  International  Typographical  Union  will  receive 
a  charter,  and  derive  its  authority  from  the  federation. 

By  article  iv  the  apportionment  of  representation  is  such 
that  local  organizations  in  a  single  large  city  could  be  so 
strongly  represented  as  to  outnumber  all  the  duly  accredited 
delegates  from  distinctive  national  and  international  bodies. 

While  section  2  of  article  ii  declares  for  the  autonomy  of 
each  trade,  section  3  of  article  vi  makes  even  voluntary  finan- 
cial assistance,  in  case  of  a  strike  or  lockout,  dependent  on  the 
"complaisant  sweet  will"  and  due  approval  of  the  executive 
council. 

Section  I  of  article  vi  fixes  the  per  capita  tax  at  six  cent! 
a  year,  payable  monthly.  This  would  make  the  amount  to  be 
paid  by  the  International  Typographical  Union  between  $l,JOO 
.mil  $1,500.  Should  it  be  deemed  wise  to  withdraw  from 
further  affiliation  with  the  federation,  this  COtlld  Ik  effected  by 
the  passage  of  a  formal  resolution  directing  the  secretary- 
treasurer  not  to  pay  the  per  rapita  tax,  a>-.  under  the  operation 
of  section  3  of  the  same  article,  "any  organization  not  paying 
for  three  months  will  be  suspended." 


N 


«og 


/ 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Article  viii  appears  to  be  directed  against  the  Knights  of 
Labor. 

A  study  of  the  bodies  represented  in  the  federation,  together 
with  a  dispassionate  investigation  of  the  scheme  of  representa- 
tion and  the  powers  arrogated,  forces  the  question :  Is  repre- 
sentation desirable?  The  position  has  ever  been  held  by  the 
International  Typographical  Union  that  it  derived  its  powers 
from  its  subordinates,  and  is  amenable  for  its  acts  to  its  cre- 
ators alone,  and  that  under  authority  thus  invested  it  is  the 
ultimate  tribunal  of  appeal  in  all  matters  typographical.  Will 
it,  after  so  many  years  of  usefulness  and  honest  endeavor,  sur- 
render its  prerogatives  to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor 
by  accepting  a  charter  from  that  body?  It  has  heretofore  been 
emphatically  understood  that  the  powers  of  any  organization 
in  which  the  International  Typographical  Union  might  be 
represented  by  delegates  should  be  advisory  only.  Do  the 
necessities  of  the  hour  warrant  a  departure  from  this  rule? 
Indeed,  under  existing  circumstances,  can  the  International 
Typographical  Union  continue  representation  in  the  federa- 
tion without  submitting  the  question  to  the  subordinate  unions? 

Julian  L.  Wright. 

The  majority  and  minority  reports  of  the  delegates 
were  referred  io  the  committee  on  unfinished  business, 
which  submitted  xh«.  following  report,  outlining  the  posi- 
tion of  the  typographical  union  in  its  relations  with  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor : 

To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union. 

Gentlemen  :  Your  committee  on  unfinished  business  begs 
leave  to  submit  the  following  in  regard  to  the  reports  of  dele- 
gates to  the  American  Federation  of  Trades: 

1.  That  the  individuality  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  shall  be  maintained. 

2.  That  the  International  Typographical  Union  shall  not 
take  a  charter  and  be  subordinate  to  any  organization. 

3.  That  the  International  Typographical  Union  shall  not 
pay  a  per  capita  tax  to  any  organization  to  which  it  may  send 
representatives,  believing  that  the  calling  together  of  repre- 
sentatives of  trade  organizations  is  for  the  purpose  of  consulta- 

404 


Convention  at  Buffalo,  1887 

tion  as  to  the  best  methods  of  strengthening  their  respective 
unions,  and  that  all  actual  expenses  of  such  meetings  should 
be  paid  in  equal  part  by  the  unions  there  represented. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

Joseph  A.  Jackson, 
Charles  C.  Williams, 
William  Perdew, 
Charles  Beattie, 
W.  F.  Speer. 
Insurance  —  The    committee    appointed    to    examine 
the  condition  of  affairs  of  the  insurance  secretary  reported 
that  the  total  amount  of  business  for  the  year  had  barely 
exceeded  $1,000  receipts,  and  expenses  had  been  nearly 
that  amount.     Apparently  the  insurance  branch  had  not 
appealed  to  the  membership,  yet  it  was  continued. 

Reorganization  —  The  following  resolution  contem- 
plating a  practical  method  of  effecting  reorganization 
was  adopted : 

Whereas  the  subject  of  reorganization  has  been  repeatedly 
introduced  to  the  attention  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  for  a  number  of  years ;  and 

Whereas  it  is  impossible  in  the  short  session  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  to  perfect  and  adopt  a  compre- 
hensive plan  of  reorganization ;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  from  some  one  subor- 
dinate union  be  appointed  to  take  the  whole  matter  into  con- 
sideration ;  that  all  persons  having  views  on  the  subject  be 
requested  to  transmit  them  in  writing  to  the  committee. 

That  the  committee's  report,  when  finally  adopted  by  the 
committee,  shall  be  submitted  to  the  executive  council,  and  if 
approved  by  them,  shall  be  published  at  length  in  the  official 
medium  of  communication  between  the  officers  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  and  the  subordinate  unions,  two 
months  before  the  meeting  of  the  next  annual  convention. 

Complying  with  the  terms  of  the  resolution,  George  M. 

Depiu-,  A.  I'.  Mar-ton  and  William  V.  Ihinn.  all  «>f 
Washington,  D.  C,  were  appointed  a  committee  on 
reorganization. 

405 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Childs-Drexel  Fund  —  The  trustees  of  the  Childs- 
Drexel  fund  submitted  a  report  to  the  convention  to  the 
effect  that  the  $10,000  donated  by  Messrs.  Childs  and 
Drexel  had  been  deposited  with  the  banking  house  of 
Drexel  &  Co.,  Philadelphia;  that,  following  the  instruc- 
tions given  the  trustees  by  the  previous  convention,  the 
subordinate  unions  west  of  the  Mississippi  river  had  con- 
tributed the  sum  of  $1,000  on  the  birthday  of  Mr.  Drexel; 
that  unions  east  of  the  Mississippi  had  made  liberal  con- 
tributions on  the  birthday  of  Mr.  Childs,  but  full  returns 
had  not  been  received.  The  report  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees was  referred  to  a  special  committee  of  five.  That 
committee  submitted  the  following  recommendations  to 
the  convention,  which  were  concurred  in : 

Your  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  report  of  the 
Childs-Drexel  trustees,  reports  as  follows : 

Having  examined  the  certificates  of  deposit  in  possession  of 
the  trustees,  we  find  them  corresponding  to  the  statements  made 
in  their  report,  and  recommend  that  their  action  in  depositing 
the  same  with   Drexel  &   Co.   be  approved. 

In  order  that  the  recommendations  of  the  board  of  trustees 
may  be  carried  out,  and  that  the  claims  of'  this  fund  may  be 
placed  plainly  before  the  members  of  our  subordinate  unions, 
we  recommend  the  repeal  of  all  present  laws  bearing  upon  this 
subject,  and  the  enactment  of  the  following  as  an  addition  to 
the  general  laws: 

Childs-Drexel  Fund 

Section  I.  Messrs.  August  Donath,  of  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
James  J.  Dailey,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  Frank  S.  Pelton,  of 
Chicago,  111.,  are  hereby  constituted  a  board  of  trustees  for 
four  years  from  June  I,  1887  (or  until  their  successors  shall 
qualify),  for  the  care  and  management  of  the  Childs-Drexel 
fund. 

Sec.  2.  That  said  board  of  trustees  shall  be  required  to  give 
bond  in  the  sum  of  $30,000,  in  this  wise:  Each  trustee  shall 
give  a  bond  in  the  sum  of  $10,000  to  the  individual  occupying 
the  office  of  president  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  said  bond  to  be  approved  by  the  president  of  the 
trustee's  local  union,  to  be  acceptable  to  the  president  of  the 

406 


Convention  at  Buffalo,  1887 

International  Typographical  Union,  and  to  be  renewed  when- 
ever a  change  occurs  in  the  office  of  president  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union. 

Sec.  3.  In  case  of  a  vacancy  on  the  board,  caused  by  death 
or  resignation,  said  vacancy  shall  be  filled  by  the  president  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union. 

Sec.  4.  That  the  fund  may  be  further  increased,  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  of  North  America  recommends 
and  urges  that  on  the  anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  Mr.  Childs 
during  the  next  four  years — May  12 — each  and  every  union 
compositor  under  its  jurisdiction  east  of  the  Mississippi  river 
contribute  the  amount  received  by  him  for  one  thousand  ems 
on  said  date,  and  that  each  and  every  stereotyper,  electrotyper 
and  pressman  on  the  same  date  contribute  the  amount  received 
for  one  hour's  work ;  and  that  on  the  anniversary  of  the  birth- 
day of  Mr.  Drexel — September  13 — like  contributions  be 
recommended  and  urged  from  each  and  every  person  under 
our  jurisdiction  west  of  the  Mississippi  river. 

Sec.  5.  The  secretaries  of  subordinate  unions  shall  remit 
contributions  to  the  fund  directly  to  the  treasurer  of  the  board, 
and  notice  of  such  remittance  shall  be  sent  at  the  same  time  to 
the  other  members  of  the  board ;  the  treasurer,  in  turn,  to 
furnish  the  board  with  monthly  statements  of  receipts. 

Sec.  6.  That  trustees  shall,  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the 
completion  of  the  collections  provided  for  in  section  4  of  this 
article  of  general  laws,  issue  to  subordinate  unions  a.  circular 
giving  detailed  results  of  such  collections,  together  with  a 
full  statement  of  funds  on  hand. 

Sec.  7.  The  board  of  trustees  shall  adopt  some  measure  for 
providing  each  individual  contributor  to  the  fund  with  a  receipt, 
to  be  retained  by  him  (if  he  desires)  as  an  evidence  of  his 
interest  in  the  matter. 

We  further  recommend  that  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  in  publishing  the  names  of 
the  trustees  of  this  fund  in  the  report  of  the  proceedings,  shall 
attach  to  each  his  title  of  office,  for  the  information  of  those 
having  business  with  the  board. 

Printers  Home —  Delegate  S.  J.  Triplctt  (Austin)  sub- 
mitted  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions: 

Whereas  the  time  has  arrived  when  we  believe  it  expedient, 

407 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  also  for  the  good  and  welfare  of  the  printers  of  America, 
that  there  should  be  a  permanent  home  for  the  indigent  and 
decrepit  printers,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  the  convention  that  such 
a  home  is  necessary,  and  should  be  established  without  delay. 

In  connection  with  the  foregoing,  Mr.  Triplett  sub- 
mitted the  following  communication  from  the  mayor  of 
Austin,  Tex. : 

Whereas  it  has  been  made  known  to  this  body  that  the 
Typographical  Union  of  printers  of  the  United  States  will,  at 
their  next  annual  meeting,  soon  to  convene  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
consider  the  question  of  the  establishment  of  a  home  for  indi- 
gent and  sick  printers,  and 

Whereas  our  beautiful  city,  located  as  it  is,  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  United  States,  free,  as  the  history  of  Austin 
will  show,  from  malignant  epidemic  diseases  of  all  kinds, 
having  already  restored  many  cases  of  consumption  and  other 
diseases  usually  relieved  by  a  mild  and  equable  climate,  and 
possessing,  as  it  does,  railroad  and  other  facilities  tending  to 
favor  the  maintenance  of  such  an  institution ;  and 

Whereas  it  is  in  our  power  to  not  only  invite  the  establish- 
ment of  this  charitable  enterprise  in  our  vicinity,  but  we  have 
also  a  beautiful  plat  of  land,  containing  about  seven  acres, 
located  adjacent  to  Fairview  Park,  in  South  Austin,  said  plat 
of  land  being  on  an  elevated  position,  nicely  drained,  and 
commanding  a  view  of  the  city,  and  adapted  for  the  purpose 
offered ;  therefore 

Be  it  resolved  (by  the  city  council  of  the  city  of  Austin)  : 

First.  That  the  Typographical  Union  of  the  United 
States  is  hereby  invited  to  locate  the  contemplated  home  in  the 
southern  part  of  our  city;  and,  further  that  lot  I  E,  in 
Swisher's  subdivision,  Decker  League,  in  South  Austin,  is 
hereby  tendered  for  the  purpose  specified., 

Second.  That  the  city  of  Austin  is  ready,  and  hereby  binds 
its  mayor  and  legal  representatives  to  make  a  legal  deed  to  said 
tract  of  land,  whenever  it  is  decided  by  the  Typographical 
Union  to  use  it  for  the  purpose  of  the  erection  and  establish- 
ment of  a  home  for  the  sick  and  indigent  printers  of  their 
order. 

Third.  That  these  resolutions  be  placed  in  the  hands  of 
local  representatives  of  the  typographical  union  of  this  city, 

408 


WILLIAM  AXMI80N,  Naiwuxi 

President  Internation  1    I "j  i ■•■«■  jphical   Union 
June  8.  1886 -June  1 4,  1888 


Convention  at  Buffalo,  1887 

to  be  conveyed  and  placed  before  that  honorable  body  at  its 
annual  meeting. 

Provided,  That  the  "resolution  providing  for  donating  land 
for  printers'  home"  be  amended  by  adding  to  section  2  the 
following  words:  "Provided,  nevertheless,  that  this  resolution 
shall  be  null  and  void,  unless  permanent  improvements  shall  be 
commenced  within  two  years  from  its  passage." 

The  committee  to  which  the  matter  was  referred 
reported  as  follows,  the  convention  concurring: 

Your  committee,  appointed  to  consider  the  resolution  offered 
by  Mr.  Triplett,  of  Austin,  Tex.,  relative  to  the  establishment 
of  a  home  for  the  indigent  and  decrepit  printers  of  our  unions, 
would  report  that: 

In  our  judgment  it  is  advisable  to  establish  such  a  home, 
provided  it  can  be  demonstrated  to  be  feasible,  and  as  it  is 
impossible  for  your  committee  to  arrive  at  any  satisfactory  con- 
clusion in  the  limited  time  given,  we  would  recommend  that  a 
committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  take  under  advisement  the 
desirability  of  establishing  such  a  home; 

That  they  correspond  with  the  various  unions  located  in  the 
southern  and  western  states  which  are  afflicted  with  the  care  of 
the  sick  and  the  burial  of  our  deceased  members ; 

That  they  take  under  consideration  and  investigate  the  sub- 
joined offer  of  the  city  council  of  Austin,  Tex.,  relative  to 
donating  some  seven  or  eight  acres  of  ground  for  the  erection 
of  such  a  home,  and  that  they  be  instructed  to  report  back  the 
whole  matter  submitted  to  them  at  the  next  session  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  at  Kansas  City,  June  next. 

Unfinished  Business  —  After  the  convention  had 
adjourned,  the  committee  appointed  to  assist  the  secretary 
in  straightening  out  the  minutes  discovered  several  im- 
portant committee  reports  not  acted  on,  among  them  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  general  laws  and  a  supple- 
mentary report  of  the  committee  on  subordinate  unions. 
In  addition  to  the  propositions  referred  to  these  com- 
mittees, some  forty  odd  resolutions  and  amendment- 
the  laws  had  been  left  over  without  action 

Nine-Hour  Day  —  A  general  law  was  adopted  making 

409 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

nine  hours  a  day's  work,  except  on  morning  and  evening 
newspapers.  Subordinate  unions  were  required  to  give 
at  least  sixty  days'  notice  to  proprietors  affected  by  this 
change.  It  was  also  stipulated  that  the  law  be  in  full 
force  and  effect  after  November  I,  1887,  but  that  it  should 
apply  only  to  unions  having  a  membership  of  more  than 
sixty. 

Kansas  City  was  selected  as  the  meeting  place  for  the 
convention  of  1888. 

Officers,  188  J  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were 
elected  as  follows:  President,  William  Aimison,  Nash- 
ville; first  vice-president,  Edward  T.  Plank,  San  Fran- 
cisco; second  vice-president,  Charles  Gamewell,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. ;  secretary-treasurer,  W.  S.  McClevey, 
Chicago;  chief  organizer,  David  P.  Boyer,  Columbus, 
Ohio ;  secretary-treasurer  of  insurance,  H.  Thomas 
Elder,  Boston.  Trustees  Childs-Drexel  fund — August 
Donath,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  James  J.  Dailey,  Phila- 
delphia ;  Frank  S.  Pelton,  Chicago.  Delegates  to  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Labor — L.  W.  McDaniel,  Indianapolis; 
Frank  G.  Koken  (pressman),  St.  Louis;  Harry  M.  Og- 
den,  Cincinnati. 

Convention    at    Kansas    City 

[1888] — The  thirty-sixth  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union  was  called  to  order  in  Kansas  City,  Mo., 
Monday,  June  11,  1888,  120  unions  being  represented  by 
159  delegates. 

New  Constitution  —  This  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union  marked  the  passing  of  the  old  constitution, 
under  which  the  National  and  International  Typograph- 
ical Unions  had  operated  since  1852.  The  instrument  had 
been  amended  from  time  to  time,  but  still  retained  most 
of  its  original  features. 

The  new  constitution,   adopted   at   Kansas   City,   con- 

410 


Convention  at  Kansas  City,  1888 

tained  many  radical  changes,  including  provisions  for 
biennial  conventions  of  the  organization ;  the  election  of 
officers  for  a  term  of  two  years ;  permanent  headquarters 
for  the  officers;  a  division  of  the  International  jurisdiction 
into  seven  geographical  districts,  with  an  organizer  for 
each,  such  organizers  to  be  members  of  the  executive 
council.   The  several  districts  created  were  as  follows : 

First  District.  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Massachusetts, 
Connecticut,  Maine,  Vermont,  New  Hampshire,  Rhode  Island, 
and  New  Brunswick. 

Second  District.  Colorado,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Missouri, 
Iowa,  Wisconsin  and  Indian  Territory. 

Third  District.  New  Mexico,  Texas,  Arkansas,  Louisiana, 
Mississippi,  Alabama,  Georgia,  Florida,  South  Carolina  and 
Tennessee. 

Fourth  District.  Michigan,  Indiana,  Maryland,  Ken- 
tucky, Delaware,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  West  Virginia,  Virginia, 
District  of  Columbia,  Illinois  and  North  Carolina. 

Fifth  District.  All  of  Canada  except  New  Brunswick, 
Manitoba  and  British  Columbia. 

Sixth  District.  California,  Oregon,  Nevada,  Washington 
Territory,  Arizona,  British  Columbia  and  Hawaiian   Islands. 

Seventh  District.  Wyoming,  Dakota,  Minnesota,  Utah, 
Idaho,  Manitoba,  the  Northwest  territories  and  Montana. 

The  office  of  chief  organizer  was  abolished. 

The  reorganization  plan  included  provisions  for  a  sick 
benefit  fund  and  a  burial  fund ;  also  a  clause  providing 
for  defraying  the  expenses  of  delegates  to  annual  conven- 
tions. The  vote  on  the  final  adoption  of  the  new  constitu- 
tion and  laws  was  taken  after  an  understanding  had  been 
reached  that  the  three  features  above  enumerated  should 
be  submitted  to  the  referendum.  The  remainder  of  the 
constitution  was  adopted.  The  vote  taken  by  the  member- 
ship on  the  three  propositions  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  all 
of  them. 

Headquarters  Established — According  to  the  new 
plan  of  organization,  Indianapolis,  [ad,  was  selected  as 

4" 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  headquarters  of  the  International,  where  the  officers 
were  required  to  have  their  official  residence,  and  where 
all  official  business,  together  with  books,  accounts,  records, 
etc.,  should  be  kept. 

Executive  Council  Created —  It  was  also  provided  that 
there  should  be  an  executive  council,  consisting  of  the 
president,  the  vice-presidents,  the  secretary-treasurer  and 
organizers,  such  body  to  have  the  power  of  enacting 
temporary  legislation  in  the  interim  between  sessions  of 
the  International  Union,  should  the  necessities  of  the  craft 
and  the  welfare  of  the  organization  require  such  action. 
The  salaries  of  the  president  and  secretary-treasurer  were 
fixed  at  $1,400  per  annum,  second  vice-president,  $600 
per  annum,  with  the  proviso  that  the  president  and  second 
vice-president  be  allowed  traveling  expenses ;  the  salaries 
of  the  third  vice-president  and  organizers  were  fixed  at 
an  amount  for  time  lost  equal  to  their  regular  rate  of 
wages,  together  with  necessary  traveling  expenses. 

Per  Capita  Tax  —  The  per  capita  tax  due  the  Interna- 
tional from  subordinate  unions,  payable  monthly,  was 
fixed  at  10  cents. 

Committee  on  Laws  —  A  committee  on  laws  was  also 
created,  and  it  was  provided  that  this  committee  should 
be  appointed  at  least  thirty  days  before  the  meeting  of 
each  annual  convention  and  should  be  called  together  at 
the  convention  city  at  least  three  days  before  the  begin- 
ning of  the  sessions  of  the  International  body,  with 
instructions  to  consider  all  propositions  presented  and 
submit  a  printed  report  to  the  convention. 

Official  Circular  —  Another  feature  of  the  new  consti- 
tution was  the  provision  made  for  the  publication, 
monthly,  of  an  official  circular.  It  was  ordered  that  the 
circular  contain  the  official  decisions  of  the  president,  the 
report  of  the  auditing  committee,  the  balancing  of  the 
monthly  bank  account,  receipts  and  disbursements,  official 

412 


Convention  at  Kansas  City,  1888 

orders,  charters  granted  and  revoked,  and  such  other  data 
as  might  be  of  interest  to  the  membership. 

Defense  Fund  —  Under  the  terms  of  the  new  constitu- 
tion 60  per  cent,  of  the  per  capita  tax  was  ordered  set 
aside  by  the  secretary-treasurer  for  a  defense  fund.  This 
fund  was  safeguarded  by  provisions  requiring  officers  of 
local  unions  to  notify  the  organizer  for  the  district  of  any 
impending  trouble,  and  such  organizer,  in  turn,  was 
required  to  apprise  the  executive  council  of  all  the  circum- 
stances, when  a  strike  might  be  ordered  by  a  majority 
of  the  council. 

Organizing  —  The  report  of  Chief  Organizer  Boyer 
was  a  brief  but  interesting  paper.  In  addition  to  21 
unions  of  compositors  chartered  during  the  term,  5  press- 
men's unions,  3  pressfeeders'  unions,  4  stereotypers' 
unions,  2  bookbinders'  unions  and  1  union  of  mailers  had 
been  organized.  Two  charters  had  been  surrendered 
during  the  year — Hastings,  Neb.,  and  San  Francisco 
Bookbinders.  The  report  showed  a  grand  total  of  302 
chartered  organizations  at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year. 

Insurance  —  The  insurance  branch  instituted  at  the 
Pittsburgh  convention  had  not  proved  successful.  The 
insurance  secretary  was  not  in  attendance  at  the  conven- 
tion, but  sent  in  a  letter  of  resignation,  together  with  a 
financial  statement  which  was  referred  to  a  committee 
for  investigation.  This  committee  reported  that  it  was 
impracticable  to  continue  the  insurance  branch  under  the 
existing  system  and  recommended  that  the  same  be  dis- 
continued and  that  an  appropriation  of  $280.96  be  made 
from  the  general  fund  to  pay  accrued  benefits. 

Nine-Hour  Day  —  At  the  session  held  in  Buffalo,  leg- 
islation was  had  looking  to  the  establishment  of  nine 
hours  as  a  day's  work,  and  setting  apart  November  1, 
1887,  as  the  date  on  which  it  should  go  into  effect 

In  order  that  the  history  of  the  nine-hour  movement 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

may  be  accurately  traced  in  this  volume,  the  following 
excerpts  from  the  address  of  President  Aimison  are 
given : 

In  the  interval  between  the  adjournment  of  that  convention 
and  the  1st  of  October,  your  executive  officer  received  so  many 
letters  from  different  officers  and  members  of  local  unions  as  to 
the  probable  results  in  their  respective  localities  that  he  became 
profoundly  impressed  that  without  united  action  and  a  full 
treasury  the  movement  would  be  unsuccessful.  In  order  that 
the  contest  might  be  entered  knowingly,  and  that  a  full  and 
frank  expression  might  be  had,  he  issued,  on  September  10, 
1887,  a  circular,  calling  upon  the  subordinate  unions  to  give  an 
expression  as  to  the  probable  success  of  the  proposed  nine-hour 
law  in  their  separate  bodies,  dividing  the  International  territory 
into  divisions,  each  division  having  an  appointee,  to  whom 
reports  should  be  made.  These  appointees  were  as  follows: 
Jacob  Cobb,  of  Cincinnati ;  Everett  Glackin,  of  New  York 
city;  R.  A.  Britton,  Charleston;  J.  N.  Armour,  Nashville;  O. 
L.  Smith,  Denver;  E.  T.  Plank,  San  Francisco;  H.  S.  Streat, 
Chicago;  George  Clark,  St.  Louis;  A.  P.  Marston,  Washing- 
ton, and  Mathew  Ryan,  Toronto,  Canada.  A  majority  of  these 
gentlemen  met  in  Cincinnati,  in  conjunction  with  the  executive 
council,  and,  after  a  thorough  examination  and  full  considera- 
tion, they  passed  a  resolution  requesting  the  executive  council 
to  suspend  the  operations  of  the  law.  This  was  done  and  the 
committee  was  empowered  to  meet  at  Chicago,  and  consult  with 
the  typothetae,  and,  if  possible,  make  some  arrangement  by 
which  a  joint  understanding  could  be  had.  They  met  a  com- 
mittee from  said  organization,  but  were  unable  to  agree  upon 
any  proposition.  Our  committee  then  adopted  a  resolution 
recommending  that  it  be  left  optional  with  unions  as  to  whether 
they  should  enforce  the  nine-hour  law.  It  was  my  individual 
opinion  then,  as  it  is  my  opinion  now,  that  the  law  should  have 
been  entirely  suspended  until  the  present  meeting,  so  that  a 
full  investigation  could  have  been  made  as  to  the  unity  of 
action,  the  probability  of  success,  the  financial  resources  neces- 
sary to  carry  on  the  contest,  and  the  effect  of  the  sudden  change 
of  old  established  usage ;  thus  preventing  the  failures  that 
subsequently  occurred.  The  lesson  taught  in  the  adoption  of 
that  measure  (being  governed  by  the  subsequent  action  of  the 

414 


Convention  at  Kansas  City,  1888 

unions)  was,  that  it  had  not  been  thoroughly  digested  nor 
determinedly  resolved  by  the  subordinate  unions  before  taking 
action  thereon.  Under  this  state  of  things,  and  without  that 
mature  deliberation  which  should  have  entered  into  it,  a  great 
many  instructed  their  delegates  to  vote  for  its  adoption.  After 
adjournment,  when  discussed,  they  began  to  realize  that  it 
would  meet  with  an  almost  unanimous  opposition  on  the  part 
of  the  employers;  that  it  would  change  old  methods,  disturb 
plants,  interfere  with  contracts,  and  in  some  cases  actual  in- 
justice would  be  the  result ;  that  it  would  necessitate  the  having 
of  a  fund  with  which  to  meet  the  emergency — the  lack  of  which 
was  painfully  apparent — and  without  which  it  would  have  been 
an  illusion  to  have  expected  success.  These  facts  forced  them- 
selves on  the  minds  of  a  majority  of  the  craft  of  the  country, 
and  which  realization  caused  them  to  pause  and  consider  that 
they  had  not  moved  with  that  wisdom  and  patience  that  all 
great  movements  require.  What  other  deductions  could  be 
drawn  but  the  foregoing,  when  we  come  to  scan  their  subse- 
quent action? 

Therefore,  as  the  time  approached  for  the  enforcement  of 
the  law,  a  change  came  over  the  spirit  of  their  dreams.  The 
fact  stared  them  in  the  face  that  they  should  have  made 
haste  slowly ;  that  they  were  not,  as  yet,  prepared  for  the  con- 
test either  in  a  financial  or  business  sense;  and  that  this 
movement  should  be  thoroughly  ventilated  and  studied  in  all 
its  phases  before  action  was  taken.  Under  this  reaction,  your 
executive  officer  was  compelled  to  take  the  course  pursued  by 
him,  and  which  course  was  endorsed  by  the  committee  appointed 
to  meet  at  Cincinnati,  after  a  thorough  inquiry  into  the  matter. 

Difficulties  arose  during  the  past  year,  of  which  we  had  no 
conception  at  the  meeting  at  Buffalo,  and  which,  if  anticipated, 
would  have,  no  doubt,  been  provided  for.  Under  the  condition 
of  affairs  growing  out  of  the  nine-hour  law,  and  a  hostile 
demonstration  of  a  new  organization,  we  found  ourselves 
engaged  in  a  conflict,  without,  so  to  speak,  a  dollar  in  our 
pockets.  The  per  capita  ttt  hid  been  exhausted  as  rapidly  as 
received  by  demands  made  upon  if  by  the  different  union*  in 
conflict  prior  to  November  t,  1887.  Placed  in  this  p< 
position — with  an  enemy  determined  at  the  outset  to  break 
down,  if  possible,  our  organization — it  became  our  dutv.  in  the 
maintenance  of  men  who  were  engaged  in  the  struggle,  and  the 

415 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

preservation  of  the  union  from  the  threatened  dissolution — as 
expressed  by  themselves — to  exhaust  every  means  by  which  our 
men  should  be  able  to  meet  the  contest.  Realizing  that  this  was 
an  occasion  where  prompt  action  was  necessary  to  strengthen 
the  unions  and  uphold  their  hands,  and  knowing  that  if  a 
determined  stand  was  not  taken,  it  would  have  an  effect  national 
in  its  character,  a  circular  was  issued  by  the  executive  council 
calling  upon  subordinate  unions  to  voluntarily  contribute  such 
amounts  as  their  membership  would  permit.  To  this  circular 
I  am  sorry  to  say  that  the  amount  received  was  as  a  drop  in 
the  bucket.  While  sometunions  responded,  the  greater  number 
did  not,  and  the  amount  was  a  mere  pittance  in  comparison 
with  the  necessities.  In  this  dilemma,  finding  that  voluntary 
action  was  a  broken  reed  to  rely  upon  when  want  was  clamoring 
for  relief,  the  council  endeavored  to  borrow  money  from  the 
subordinate  unions,  so  as  to  meet  the  pressing  importunities. 
To  this  appeal  a  few  unions  responded,  and  a  few  hundred 
dollars  was  the  result.  Standing  upon  the  verge  of  defeat,  and 
having  exhausted  every  available  means  under*  the  law  to  help 
our  unfortunate  brethren,  the  cry  came  up  to  us,  from  Louis- 
ville, Chicago,  St.  Louis,  Portland,  Rochester,  and  other  places, 
"Help  us,  or  we  perish,"  and  praying  us  to  make  an  assessment 
as  the  only  means  by  which  financial  aid  could  be  extended  to 
those  suffering  for  the  necessities  of  life  in  the  defense  of  a 
principle,  and  which  fight  had  much  to  do  in  keeping  the 
struggle  from  the  door  of  every  union  in  the  country.  And 
here  let  me  say  that  if  those  unions  that  responded  so  nobly 
had  failed  to  do  so,  a  blow  would  have  been  struck  at  our 
organization  which  would  have  been  paralyzing  in  its  effect. 
The  members  of  those  unions  involved  would  not  have  been 
strongly  impressed  with  the  motto,  "An  injury  to  one  is  the 
concern  of  all,"  and  a  feeling  of  distrust  and  a  want  of  faith 
would  have  been  the  result,  which  would  have  been  calamitous 
to  us  and  reassuring  to  our  opponents. 

Feeling  that  the  cry  of  these  unions  should  be  heard,  your 
executive  council  believed  that  there  was  a  higher  law — the 
law  of  self-preservation — and  issued  a  circular,  calling  upon 
subordinate  unions  to  assess  their  members  $i  each.  A  great 
many  unions  nobly  responded  upon  the  instant,  not  stopping  to 
discuss  the  legality  of  the  assessment,  but  knowing  that  these 
unions  were  in  pressing  need  and  that  their  necessities  demanded 

416 


Convention  at  Kansas  City,  1888 

an  immediate  and  a  liberal  response.  A  great  many  who  had 
been  unfortunately  involved  in  contests  were  unable  to  respond, 
and  in  such  cases  were  exempted.  The  Pacific  coast  was  allowed 
to  keep  its  assessment,  applying  it  to  that  section  of  the  country. 
Some  protested  and  refused  to  assess  themselves.  But  in  a 
great  measure,  the  necessities  of  those  unions  were  met  and 
relieved.  Your  executive  council  feel  the  comforting  assurance 
that  their  action  has  not  only  been  good  for  the  craft,  but  that 
it  has  been  productive  of  a  confidence  in  our  organization  which 
would  not  have  been  accomplished  had  it  not  been  for  the 
prompt  manner  in  which  the  local  unions  responded  to  the  call, 
and  the  assistance  received  from  that  assessment  went  far 
toward  making  the  typothetae  (or  the  leading  spirits)  pause 
and  consider  the  magnitude  and  the  danger  of  attempting  to  go 
too  far  in  their  efforts  in  making  war  upon  our  organization; 
and  at  the  same  time  awakened  us  to  the  important  fact  that 
not  only  should  we  be  prepared  for  emergencies,  but  that  our 
actions  should  be  controlled  by  a  careful  consideration  in  com- 
mencing hostilities ;  that  we  should  study  the  situation  as  to  the 
probabilities  of  success;  that  we  should  coolly  and  calmly 
weigh  our  demands  in  the  scales  of  justice;  that  it  is  no  child's 
play  to  engage  in  strife  without  the  exercise  of  prudence  and 
wisdom ;  that  it  is  a  two-edged  sword,  cutting  right  and  left ; 
and  that  the  experience  of  the  past  year,  which  has  caused 
such  an  expense  and  estrangement  to  both,  will  awaken  a 
mutual  respect  and  conservative  course;  and  that  it  will  be  a 
means  whereby  this  body  will  legislate  so  as  to  prevent,  in  the 
future,  strikes  that  occur  without  being  founded  upon  fore- 
thought. These,  therefore,  are  some  of  the  reasons  which 
actuated  the  executive  council  in  the  making  of  the  assessment. 
They  feel  satisfied  that  the  dangers  which  threatened  this 
organization  were  averted  by  their  action,  and  whether  their 
course  is  approved  or  not,  they  can  lay  the  flattering  unction  t>» 
their  souls,  they  left  no  means  untried,  when  the  cry  of  distress 
was  heard,  to  alleviate  tin-  condition  of  those  who  were  helpless 
financially.  We  are  willing  to  take  the  responsibility.  I>e  it 
what  it  may,  with  the  consciousness  that,  had  we  not  pursued 
this  course,  the  International  Typographical  Union  today 
Would  he  in  a  more  discontented  condition,  and  your  offl 
would  have  received  more  blame  for  not  doing  what  the\ 
than   for   what   they  have  done. 

417 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Pascoe  Defalcation  —  The  committee  appointed  at  the 
Buffalo  session/  in  1887,  to  audit  the  books  of  former 
Secretary  Pascoe,  submitted  a  report  in  accordance  with 
the  terms  of  the  resolution  authorizing  their  appoint- 
ment. The  committee  reported  an  apparent  shortage  of 
$2,239.98.  The  report  of  the  auditing  committee  was 
referred  to  a  special  committee  of  three  and  this  latter 
committee  submitted  the  following  resolutions  to  the  con- 
vention : 

First.  That  the  president  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  be  authorized  and  instructed  to  appoint,  a  member  of 
Philadelphia  Union  No.  2,  who  shall  be  a  citizen  of  the  city 
of  Philadelphia,  to  prosecute  the  said  David  M.  Pascoe  to  the 
full  extent  of  the  law,  in  a  court  of  criminal  jurisdiction. 

Second.  That  the  name  of  David  M.  Pascoe  be  dropped 
from  the  list  of  permanent  members  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  and  placed  among  the  list  of  those  expelled. 

Third.  That  said  David  M.  Pascoe  be  immediately  expelled 
from  the  subordinate  union  of  which  he  is  now  a  member,  and 
that  he  shall  not  again  be  eligible  to  membership  in  any  union 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  this  International  body,  and  that  the 
financial  secretary  of  Philadelphia  Union  is  hereby  positively 
instructed  to  refuse  the  said  David  M.  Pascoe  a  working  or 
traveling  card. 

Fourth.  That  the  sum  of  $51.24  be  appropriated  from  the 
general  fund  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and 
paid  over  to  the  trustees  of  the  Childs-Drexel  fund  to  make  up 
the  deficiency  caused  by  the  defalcation  of  the  said  David  M. 
Pascoe. 

Fifth.  Your  committee  recommends  further  that  in  view  of 
the  apparent  impossibility  of  straightening  out  the  accounts  of 
subordinate  unions  with  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  relating  to  the  strike  fund,  the  entire  apparent  indebted- 
ness of  the  former  to  the  latter  he  cancelled  and  charged  to 
profit  and  loss. 

Childs-Drexel  Fund  —  The  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Childs-Drexel  fund  submitted  a  report  of  their  steward- 
ship.    They  reported  information  to  the  effect  that  the 

418 


Convention  at  Kansas  City,  1888 

plan  being  followed  of  making  contributions  on  the  birth- 
days of  Messrs.  Childs  and  Drexel  had  increased  the  fund 
to  a  total  of  more  than  $16,000. 

Printers  Home  —  A  special  committee  on  location  for 
a  home  for  indigent  and  decrepit  printers,  appointed 
at  the  Buffalo  session,  had  not  accomplished  anything 
in  the  way  of  investigation  of  the  proposed  sites  during 
the  year — in  fact,  the  committee  had  not  met.  A  letter 
from  John  D.  Vaughan,  a  member  of  the  committee, 
addressed  to  the  convention,  is  herewith  reproduced: 

As  one  of  the  special  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the 
resolution  of  "locating  a  home  for  indigent  and  decrepit 
printers,"  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following,  which  may 
be  appended  to  any  report  on  the  subject,  having  been  unable  to 
confer  with  Messrs.  Triplett  and  Wilkins,  the  other  members 
of  the  committee. 

There  are  many  advantageous  locations  for  such  an  insti- 
tution, particularly  in  western  Texas,  southern  California  and 
throughout  Colorado.  From  personal  observation  and  reliable 
information,  I  may  be  justified  in  calling  attention  in  particular 
to  Austin,  Los  Angeles  and  Denver  as  health  resorts  embracing 
favorably  known  sanitary  conditions.  In  addition  to  being 
centrally  located  on  the  continent,  Denver  possesses  the  desir- 
able advantage  of  more  salubrious  climate.  Located  on  an 
elevated  plain,  surrounded  by  picturesque  mountain  scenery, 
Denver  is  blessed  with  clear  skies,  pure  air  and  water,  warm 
sunshine  and  delightful  breezes  to  cheer,  invigorate  and 
strengthen  the  invalid.  Unequaled  summer  seasons  and  mild 
and  pleasant  winters  have  given  Denver  the  distinction  of  being 
the  sanitarium  of  the  world.  The  invigorating  air  and  limpid 
waters  of  the  mountain  streams  and  artesian  wells  can  not  be 
'lii|»licated  outside  of  Colorado,  which  contains  within  her 
limits  more  natural  health  resorts  and  curative  mineral  waters 
than  arc  to  he  found  elsewhere  in  the  world. 

Tin-  establishment  of  a  home  for  Indigent  printer*  of 
America  by  the  International  Typographical  Union,  is  at  this 
tunc  Impracticable,  In  By  opinion.  To  found  and  maintain 
men  an  institution  would  require  the  fortune  of  a  Childs  or  a 
Drexel,  or  an  immense  revenue  to  l>c  derived  only  by  heavy 

419 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

annual  per  capita  assessments.   The  former  is  not  available,  the 
latter  plainly  inexpedient  and  unjust. 

In  lieu  of  the  establishment  of  such  a  home,  or  the  invest- 
ment of  the  Childs-Drexel  fund  in  the  erection  of  a  typograph- 
ical hall  or  monument,  it  may  be  advisable  to  suggest  that  the 
fund  be  disposed  of  in  the  endowment  of  a  hospital  at  Los 
Angeles,  Austin  or  Denver,  where  a  ward  may  be  assigned  for 
invalid  printers.  The  execution  of  a  scheme  of  this  description 
may  be  accomplished  through  the  fund  now  on  deposit  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  it  would  not  only  afford  relief  to  many  worthy 
and  needy  printers,  but  it  would  also  relieve  the  unions  at 
sanitary  resorts  of  the  heavy,  unequal  and  constant  burden  of 
caring  for  the  sick  of  sister  unions. 

Also  a  communication  from  C.  G.  Wilkins  of  the  com- 
mittee : 

As  the  junior  member  of  the  committee  on  permanent  loca- 
tion for  a  home  for  indigent  printers,  I  have  endeavored  to  find 
the  chairman  of  that  committee  (Mr.  Triplett)  by  communica- 
tion and  otherwise,  calling  in  the  assistance  of  President  Aimi- 
son  in  my  efforts,  which  have  been  futile.  President  Aimison, 
however,  will  perhaps  be  able  to  give  your  body  information 
in  the  premises.  For  this  reason,  and  also  that  no  assistance  has 
been  rendered  by  the  officers  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  in  helping  the  committee  or  any  part  thereof,  I  am 
reluctantly  compelled  to  say  that  as  far  as  any  report  from  the 
undersigned  is  concerned  none  can  be  given. 

American  Federation  of  Labor  —  The  report  of  the 
delegates  to  the  convention  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor,  held  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  December  13-17, 
1887,  contained  the  information  that  57  delegates  were 
in  attendance,  representing  40  organizations,  with  2,450 
subordinate  unions  or  branches,  and  a  total  membership 
of  600,340  in  good  standing.  The  credentials  of  two 
delegates  from  the  Washington  (D.  C.)  Federation  of 
Labor  were  rejected,  after  a  favorable  report  of  the 
committee  on  credentials,  for  the  alleged  reason  that  the 
Washington  Federation,  being  composed  of  16  assemblies 
of  Knights  of  Labor  and  but  3  trades  unions,  was  not  in 

420 


Convention  at  Kansas  City,  1888 

sympathy  with  the  trade  union  movement.  One  of  the 
rejected  delegates  from  Washington,  E.  W.  Oyster,  being 
a  member  of  Columbia  Typographical  Union  No.  101, 
was  later  appointed  by  President  Aimison  to  fill  a  vacancy 
in  the  delegation  from  the  International  Union.  This 
appointment,  however,  was  virtually  rejected  by  the  con- 
vention, a  motion  being  made  and  carried  to  defer  action 
until  receipt  of  credentials  signed  and  sealed  in  proper 
form  by  the  president  and  secretary-treasurer  of  the 
International  Union. 

The  following  paragraph  from  the  report  of  the  dele- 
gates to  the  convention  of  the  federation  will  be  of 
interest : 

The  report  of  the  committee  appointed  to  revise  the  consti- 
tution, as  adopted,  either  leaves  out  or  modifies  almost  all  of 
the  objectionable  features  of  the  old  constitution.  At  the  last 
meeting  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  consider- 
able opposition  was  manifested  to  as  provision  in  the  old  law 
requiring  national  and  international  unions  to  apply  for  a 
charter  before  they  could  be  represented  in  the  federation.  A 
feeling  seemed  to  prevail  that  to  do  so  would  be  to  acknowledge 
the  supremacy  of  another  organization,  which  a  majority  were 
decidedly  averse  to  doing.  Being  in  sympathy  with  this  feeling, 
and  believing  that  we  expressed  the  minds  of  union  printers 
generally  on  this  question,  we,  while  on  the  floor  of  the  federa- 
tion, gave  that  body  to  understand  that  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  would  acknowledge  allegiance  to,  or  recognize 
the  supremacy  of,  no  other  organization,  nor  would  she  apply 
for,  or  receive,  a  charter  from  that  or  any  other  body.  This 
resulted  in  having  this  clause  so  changed  that  any  national 
organization  can  become  a  member  of  the  American  1'ederation 
without  compromising  herself  or  lowering  her  dignity  in  the 
least.  A  fair  construction  of  the  constitution  on  this  subject, 
as  it  now  stands,  is  that  bodies  represented  have  allied,  affili- 
ated or  federated  themselves  together  for  certain  purpose!  in 
which  all  are  supposed  to  have  an  equal  interest,  and 
to  receive  a  "certificate  of  tffiliation"  is  evidence  of  such  fact, 
it  being  specifically  set  forth  in  the  constitution  that  each  is  tO 
11  main  supreme  in  the  (  ontn>l  <>f  its  own  trade  affairs. 

421 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Through  being  able  to  inaugurate  concerted  effort  to  secure 
legislation  in  the  interest  of  trade  unionists  and  laboring  people 
generally,  this  organization  can  be  made  of  great  benefit  if 
properly  managed.  Benefit  will  also  result  from  bringing 
together,  annually,  representative  men  from  the  various  national 
and  international  trade  unions,  where  opinions  may  be  ex- 
changed, and  the  proper  management  and  discipline  of  trade 
organizations  discussed.  Such  meetings  will  result  in  all  the 
participants  gaining  new  and  practical  ideas,  which  will  be 
especially  valuable  if  each  organization  will  adopt  the  plan  of 
sending  its  executive  officers  as  its  representatives.  Almost  every 
national  union  has  some  feature  of  special  excellence,  and  any 
one  adopting  the  good  points  of  all  will  become  more  perfect, 
and  no  better  place  can  be  found  for  becoming  conversant  with 
these  good  points  than  at  meetings  of  this  kind ;  hence,  in  recom- 
mending, as  we  do,  that  the  International  Typographical  Union 
continue  to  affiliate  with  the  various  organizations  comprising 
the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  we  would  suggest  that  the 
president  and  two  members  of  the  executive  council,  but  more 
especially  the  president,  be  sent  as  delegates  to  the  next  annual 
convention,  which  meets  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  December  10,  1888, 
for  the  reason  that  those  officers  are  in  better  position  to  put 
in  force  anything  of  practical  benefit  they  may  be  able  to 
observe. 

Executive  Council  Meeting  —  The  sessions  of  the  con- 
vention having  extended  over  a  period  of  six  days,  and 
the  delegates  being  anxious  to  return  to  their  homes, 
a  resolution  was  passed  that  all  unfinished  business  on  the 
secretary's  desk  at  the  hour  of  final  adjournment 
be  referred  to  the  executive  council,  which  met  immedi- 
ately following  adjournment.  Several  propositions  of 
minor  importance  were  passed  upon  at  this  meeting  of 
the  executive  council,  while  others  were  laid  over  to  be 
considered  at  a  later  date. 

The  Brotherhood  —  Three  of  the  resolutions  postponed 
were  as  follows  : 

By  Messrs.  Mansfield  and  Bushnell  (San  Francisco),  by  in- 
structions of  San  Francisco  Typographical  Union  No.  21 : 
Resolved,  That  any  member  of  a  subordinate  union  who  shall 

422 


Convention  at  Kansas  City,  1888 

be  convicted,  after  due  and  regular  trial,  of  being  a  member  of 
any  organization  which  demands  as  a  qualification  for  member- 
ship that  the  applicant  shall  hold  membership  in  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  or  any  union  subordinate  thereto, 
unless  such  organization  has  been  authorized  by  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  shall  be  expelled,  provided,  that 
nothing  in  this  resolution  shall  be  construed  to  apply  to  the 
Union  Printers  Mutual  Aid  Society  of  San  Francisco,  an  asso- 
ciation of  printers  formed  for  the  purpose  of  caring  for  the  sick 
and  burying  the  dead. 

By  Mr.  Nolle  (Washington)  : 

Resolved,  That  subordinate  unions  be  instructed  to  incorpo- 
rate in  their  by-laws  the  following:  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  a 
member  to  associate  himself  with  any  society  or  combination 
composed  exclusively  of  printers  having  for  their  object  the 
manipulation  or  giving  out  of  positions,  the  shaping  of  legisla- 
tion, or  the  controlling  of  the  offices  of  the  union.  Any  member 
found  guilty  of  such  an  offense  shall  be  expelled. 

By  Mr.  Hays  (Minneapolis)  : 

Resolved,  That  should  any  organization  be  found  to  exist, 
and  be  proven  to  be  in  existence  at  any  time,  whose  members  are 
composed  of  union  printers  and  whose  object  is  to  take  advan- 
tage of  any  union  printer  who  is  not  a  member,  or  to  in  any  way 
affect  or  control  the  legislation  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union,  each  and  every  person  found  to  belong  to  such 
organization  shall  be  declared  unfair,  and  published  in  the  list 
of  unfair  men. 

Denver,  Colo.,  was  chosen  as  the  convention  city 
for  1889. 

Officers,  1888  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were 
elected  as  follows:  President,  Edward  T.  Plank,  San 
Francisco;  first  vice-president,  L.  C.  Hay,  Leavenworth, 
Kan.;  second  vice-president,  Columbus  Hall,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. ;  third  vice-president,  P.  J.  Weldon,  Chicago; 
secretary-treasure  r,  \V.  S.  McClevcy,  Chicago.  Trustee* 
Childs-Drcxcl  fund— August  Dnnath,'  Chester.  Pa; 
James  J.  Dailey,  Philadelphia;  Frank  S.  Pclton,  Chicago. 
histrict  Organizers — Michael  J.  Nolan,  Albany;  O.  R. 
Lake,  St.  Louis;  John  C  Hook,  Memphis;  J    |    Tones, 

4*3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Pittsburgh ;  J.  F.  Keefer,  St.  Catharines,  Ont ;  John  R. 
Winders,  San  Francisco;  Charles  W.  Hills,  Minneapolis. 
Delegates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor — John  B. 
Lawlor,  Columbus,  Ohio;  Robert  Y.  Ogg,  Detroit;  James 
Pym,  Boston;  E.  C.  Ives,  St.  Paul. 


424 


W.    S.    ltd   U  A  I  -\.    I   n.«A0O 

Secretary-Treuurer  International  Typographical  Union 
June  to,  1887  -  January  jH.  i8<».i 


Conventions    of    the 

International    Typographical    Union 

from    1889    to    1900 

(inclusive) 

THIS  chapter  includes  the  conventions  held  at  Den- 
ver, 1889;  Atlanta,  1890;  Boston,  1891 ;  Philadel- 
phia, 1892;  Chicago,  1893;  Louisville,  1894;  Colorado 
Springs,  1896;  Syracuse,  1898;  Detroit,  1899,  and  Mil- 
waukee, 1900,  covering  the  administrations  of  Presidents 
Edward  T.  Plank,  William  B.  Prescott  and  Samuel  B. 
Donnelly.  This  period  covers  the  intermediate  history 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  includes 
the  work  of  reorganization  following  the  Kansas  City 
convention  of  1888,  the  period  of  the  introduction  of  the 
typesetting  machine  into  the  printing  industry,  together 
with  the  erection  and  early  development  of  the  Union 
Printers  Home,  publication  of  the  Typographical  Jour- 
nal, the  creation  of  a  burial  fund,  the  six-day  law,  the 
referendum  and  other  interesting  and  important  data. 

Convention   at   Denver 

[1889]  —  The  attendance  at  the  International  conven- 
tion in  Kansas  City,  1888,  encouraged  the  delegates  from 
\\  rstern  states  to  insist  that  the  next  session  be  held  at 
I  h -iiver.  A  few  years  prior  to  this  period  such  a  proj>< 
t i •  *  11  would  have  been  considered  impossible  of  accom- 
plishment, but  the  gradual  growth  in  numbers  of  the 
organization,  the  many  new  charters  issued  in  the  west 
and  middle  west,  encouraged  the  belief  that  a  convention 
in  that  section  was  not  only  quite  possible  but  altogether 
desirable.  That  the  judgment  of  the  delegates  attending 
the  Kansas  City  convention  in  choosing   l>enw  as  the 

425 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

next  convention  city  was  well-timed  is  evidenced  by  the 
fact  that  when  the  first  session  of  the  thirty-seventh  con- 
vention was  called  to  order  by  President  Plank  94  subor- 
dinate unions  were  represented  by  129  delegates. 

Reorganization  —  Following  the  lead  of  the  Kansas 
City  convention,  the  delegates  at  Denver  proceeded  with 
the  task  of  completing  the  thorough  reorganization  of  the 
union.  Numerous  amendments  to  the  constitution  and 
general  laws  were  offered,  many  of  which  stand  as  part 
of  the  organic  law  of  the  present  time.  It  was  at  this 
convention  that  the  Typographical  Journal,  the  official 
paper  of  the  union,  was  created,  the  first  issue  of  that 
publication  bearing  date  of  Indianapolis,  July  15,  1889. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  Perhaps  the  most  important 
action  of  the  convention  was  the  acceptance  of  a  proposi- 
tion offered  by  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Colorado  Springs, 
donating  a  site  for  the  Union  Printers  Home.  The  follow- 
ing suggestions  bearing  on  the  subject  were  received  by 
the  convention : 

The  Albany,  Denver,  Colo.,  June  12,  1889. 
To  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

Understanding  that  you  are  considering  the  advisability  of 
founding  a  home  for  the  sick  and  indigent  members  of  your 
union,  we  take  the  liberty  of  presenting  the  following  proposi- 
tions for  your  worthy  consideration : 

We  offer  to  deed  to  your  union,  in  fee  simple,  eighty  acres  of 
land  lying  within  one  mile  east  of  the  city  of  Colorado  Springs 
subject  to  the  following  conditions : 

First.  That  your  union  begin  the  erection  of  a  home  on  said 
land  within  the  period  of  two  years  from  the  date  of  said  deed, 
said  home  to  cost  not  less  than  the  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  to  be  completed  within  one  year  from  the  date  of  the 
commencement  of  said  building. 

Second.  That  your  union  shall  have  the  right  to  sell  any 
portion  of  said  tract  not  exceeding  sixty  acres  at  any  time  after 
the  date  of  said  deed,  the  proceeds  of  said  sale  or  sales  to  be 
placed  in  the  hands  of  a  trustee  mutually  acceptable,  to  be 

426 


Convention  at  Denver,  1889 

applied  by  him,  if  by  you  desired,  toward  the  erection  of  a  home 
on  this  tract,  or  to  be  paid  over  to  the  present  owners  of  said 
tract  in  event  of  failure  to  commence  the  erection  of  a  home 
within  two  years,  as  above  specified. 

Third.  That  the  taxes  on  said  land  for  the  two  years  shall 
be  borne  by  the  union  (it  being  guaranteed  that  the  taxes  shall 
not  exceed  one  hundred  dollars  per  annum),  the  amount  of  said 
taxes  to  be  reimbursed  to  the  union  in  event  of  failure  on  your 
part  to  acquire  said  tract  of  eighty  acres. 

Fourth.  That  the  deed  for  said  tract  shall  be  placed  in 
escrow  with  some  mutually  acceptable  party,  to  be  delivered  to 
your  union  upon  compliance  with  the  foregoing  conditions. 

In  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Colorado  Springs,  by 

Louis  R.  Ehrich,  President. 

The  Albany,  Denver,  Colo.,  June  12,  1889, 
To  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

In  further  explanation  of  the  accompanying  proposition,  we 
call  your  attention  to  the  following  facts : 

First.  That  the  eighty  acres  offered  for  the  location  of  your 
home  is  valued  at  four  hundred  dollars  per  acre. 

Second.  That  the  value  of  that  part  of  the  tract,  available 
for  purposes  of  sale,  if  the  growth  of  the  city  of  Colorado 
Springs  in  the  next  five  years  is  at  all  proportionate  to  its 
growth  in  the  past  five,  will,  in  the  year  1894,  represent  a 
market  value  of  from  one  hundred  thousand  to  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

Third.  That  the  cool,  bracing  summer  climate,  combined 
with  its  mild,  equable  winter  climate,  in  addition  to  its  superior 
social  character  and  beautiful  scenic  surroundings,  make  Colo- 
rado Springs  an  ideal  place  of  residence. 

Fourth.  That  the  leading  physicians  of  our  country  have 
\*irtually  agreed  in  characterizing  Colorado  Springs  as  the  most 
perfect  natural  sanitarium  and  health  resort  in  the  world  for 
the  cure  of  all  forms  of  throat  and  lung  diseases,  diseases  to 
which  printers  are  especially  liable. 

I  11  in.  That  Colorado  Springs  is  on  the  natural  highway 
hit wirn  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  roasts,  ami  that,  geographic- 
ally speaking,  it  is  marly  in  the  center  of  the  United  States. 

Sixth.  That  in  the  acceptance  of  our  proposition  the  union 
has  everything  to   gain   and   nothing   t  thai    it   places 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

eighty  acres  of  valuable  land  within  your  option  of  acceptance, 
giving  you  a  period  of  two  years  in  which  to1  resolve  to  prose- 
cute the  erection  of  a  home,  or  to  relinquish  the  project;  that 
the  expenditure  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  will  supply  an  insti- 
tution, well  built  of  brick  or  stone,  containing  ample  accom- 
modations for  thirty  persons;  that  the  proper  maintenance  of 
such  an  institution  would  not  exceed  seventy-five  hundred  dol- 
lars per  annum,  a  tax  of  about  twenty-five  cents  per  year  on 
each  member  of  your  union ;  that  the  establishment  of  such  a 
home  on  the  highway  of  continental  travel  would  naturally  draw 
to  itself  the  attention  of  many  wealthy  and  charitably  disposed 
citizens,  and  that  endowments  and  bequests  would  inevitably 
come  which  would  assist  you  in  building  up  a  home  worthy  of 
the  strength  and  influence  of  your  union ;  that  we  are  perfectly 
satisfied  to  extend  to  you  the  privilege  of  a  two-year  considera- 
tion, of  our  proposition  because  we  are  persuaded  that  a  mature 
deliberation  as  to  what  will  be  for  the  highest  and  best  interests 
of  your  organization,  added  to  a  careful,  conservative  investi- 
gation as  to  all  the  relative  advantages  of  location,  will  lead 
you  to  an  irresistible  conviction  that  your  union  ought  to 
maintain  a  home  for  the  sick  and  indigent  of  your  craft,  and 
that  it  ought  to  be  located  in  the  city  of  Colorado  Springs. 
In  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Colorado  Springs,  by 

Louis  R.  Ehrich,  President. 

Other  communications  and  resolutions  offering  sites 
for  a  home  were  received,  but,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
convention,  the  Colorado  Springs  proposition  was  the 
most  acceptable. 

Colorado  Springs  Selected  —  On  the  day  following 
the  receipt  of  the  foregoing  communications,  President 
Ehrich  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Colorado  Springs 
addressed  the  convention  in  favor  of  locating  the  home 
in  that  city.  At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Ehrich's  address, 
Delegate  Lambert  (Austin,  Tex.)  moved  that  the  offer 
of  the  citizens  of  Colorado  Springs  be  accepted  by  a 
rising  vote.  The  proposition  was  formally  accepted 
in  this  manner.  A  resolution  was  then  adopted  appoint- 
ing the  president,   vice-presidents,    and   the   secretary- 

428 


Convention  at  Denver,  1889 

treasurer  a  special  committee  to  arrange  the  details  of 
formally  accepting  the  proposed  site,  taking  such  legal 
steps  as  were  necessary  in  connection  therewith. 

The  proposition  to  accept  the  proposed  site  for  the 
Union  Printers  Home  in  Colorado  Springs  was  also 
approved  by  the  referendum,  the  vote  being  4,828  for, 
1,532  against. 

Relations  With  American  Federation  of  Labor  — 
President  Plank  in  his  annual  report,  referring  to  the 
International  Union's  relations  with  the  American  Fed- 
eration of  Labor,  said:  "At  the  last  session  of  the 
International  Union  four  delegates  were  elected  as  rep- 
resentatives to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  which 
met  in  St.  Louis  in  December  last.  To  these  gentlemen 
was  referred  the  report  of  their  predecessors  of  the  year 
preceding,  and  they  were  instructed  to  have  the  recom- 
mendations contained  in  the  report  adopted  by  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor.  The  relations  existing 
between  the  International  Union  and  the  federation  are  in 
an  unsettled  condition,  and  the  whole  matter  was  really 
placed  in  the  charge  of  the  delegates  elected.  The  Inter- 
national Union  had  paid  nothing  to  the  federation  for  the 
previous  year,  and  under  the  laws  of  the  federation  was 
not  entitled  to  representation  until  payment  was  made. 
The  matter  was  submitted  to  the  council,  and  the  conclu- 
sion reached  was  that  we  were  bound  to  meet  our  indebt- 
edness. The  question  was  then  submitted  to  the  delegates, 
and  it  was  finally  decided  to  pay  pro  rata  of  expenses  to 
June  last  and  per  capita  from  that  date.  Of  the  gentle- 
men elected  as  delegates,  Messrs.  1\  in  of  Boston  and 
Lawlor  of  Columbus  declined  to  serve.  Mr.  Taylor  of 
I.nuisvilU',  bring  alternate,  was  furnished  credentials 
in  place  of  Mr.  Pym.  MtBMtt  Mrcnnan  of  New  York  and 
Snyder  of  Topeka  declined  to  serve;  Mr.  Michaels- 
Brooklyn  could  not  be  heard  from  after  repeated  efforts 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

(he  being  away  from  home),  and,  wishing  a  full  delega- 
tion present,  I  appointed  a  St.  Louis  man  on  the  day  the 
federation  met.  Mr.  Lake  accepted  the  appointment 
and  joined  the  other  representatives.  The  convention  was 
in  session  several  days,  and  among  other  conclusions 
arrived  at  was  one  setting  a  time  for  the  inauguration 
of  an  eight-hour  working  day.  Another  was  the  adop- 
tion of  an  amendment  to  the  constitution  providing  for 
an  assessment  to  raise  means  to  aid  the  different  organiza- 
tions in  cases  of  trouble. 

"The  following  letter  in  reference  to  the  inauguration 
of  the  eight-hour  movement  has  been  received  from 
Mr.  Gompers,  president  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor,  under  date  of  May  20th : 

"My  attention  has  been  called  to  an  erroneous  impression 
that  has  gone  forth  that  the  resolution  adopted  at  the  St.  Louis 
convention  of  labor  implies  a  simultaneous  strike  of  all  the 
working  people  of  the  country  for  eight  hours,  May  I,  1890. 
I  beg  to  assure  you  that  nothing  was  further  from  the  intention 
of  the  convention  than  the  adoption  of  a  resolution  implying  a 
general  strike.  I  was  in  continual  communication  with  the  com- 
mittee having  that  subject  under  consideration,  I  presided  at 
the  convention  during  the  discussion  upon  this  report,  and  not 
one  of  the  advocates  uttered  a  single  remark  that  could  bear 
such  an  interpretation.  The  fact  of  fixing  upon  a  certain  date 
was  advocated  because  it  would  concentrate  the  efforts  of  the 
working  people  about  a  certain  given  point,  it  would  crystallize 
the  discussion  of  this  important  question  and  would  encourage 
the  workingmen  to  remain  true  to  and  become  members  of  their 
respective  trade  organizations.  You  are  no  doubt  aware  of 
how  ardent  an  advocate  I  am  for  the  reduction  in  the  hours  of 
labor,  but  I  assure  you  that  in  the  present  condition  of  organized 
labor  no  movement  looking  to  a  general  strike  upon  so  early  a 
date  would  receive  my  countenance  or  support.  We  want  'eight 
hours,'  we  are  determined  to  have  'eight  hours,'  we  shall  try  to 
aid  those  who  are  in  a  condition  by  May  I,  1890,  to  obtain 
'eight  hours,'  and  hope  to  receive  their  assistance  in  return  at 
some  future  time.   The  agitation  for  the  reduction  of  the  hours 

430 


Convention  at  Denver,  1889 

of  labor  will  not  end  in  1 890.  So  long  as  there  is  a  wrong  in 
existence,  so  long  as  there  is  one  person  seeking  employment  and 
can  not  obtain  it,  so  long  will  there  be  work  for  our  organiza- 
tions. *  *  *  Trusting  that  your  approaching  convention 
may  be  largely  attended  (as  I  know  it  will  be),  that  your  de- 
liberations be  harmonious  and  successful,  I  have  the  honor  to 
subscribe  myself, 

"Yours  fraternally, 

"Samuel  Gompers, 
"President  American  Federation  of  Labor." 

Biennial  Elections  and  Conventions  —  At  the  previous 
convention  the  laws  had  been  amended,  extending  the 
term  of  office  of  all  officials  to  cover  a  period  of  two 
years,  instead  of  one  year.  It  was  also  provided  that 
conventions  should  be  held  biennially,  beginning  after  the 
convention  of  1889.  This  peculiar  condition — holding 
conventions  biennially,  on  odd  years,  and  electing  officers, 
biennially,  on  even  years — created  considerable  confu- 
sion. During  the  progress  of  the  convention  at  Denver 
an  attempt  was  made  to  proceed  with  the  election  of 
officers  for  the  ensuing  term.  President  Plank  ruled  that 
such  action  would  be  out  of  order,,  the  officers  having 
been  elected  at  Kansas  City  for  a  period  of  two  years. 
This  decision  was  upheld  by  a  vote  of  59  ayes,  57  noes, 
but  the  constitution  was  later  amended  providing  for 
annual  elections  and  annual  conventions. 

Pascoe  Defalcation  —  Under  the  order  of  the  Kansas 
City  convention  the  president  had  been  instructed  to 
appoint  a  member  of  Philadelphia  Typographical  Union 
to  prosecute  David  M.  Pascoe,  but  it  was  later  determined, 
upon  legal  advice,  that  the  president  could  not  appoint 
any  one  to  prosecute  Pascoe,  but  might  do  so  himself. 
Acting  accordingly,  a  warrant  was  sworn  out  by  President 
Plank  and  Pascoe  was  arrested.  An  indictment  wa< 
"turned  by  the  grand  jury  and  the  case  proceeded  to 
trial.     Upon  a  ruling  by  the  court  that  the  ex -secretary's 

431 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

books,  having  passed  through  numerous  hands  since  they 
left  his  possession,  could  not  be  offered  as  evidence,  thus 
destroying  all  chance  of  conviction,  the  case  was  dropped. 
The  Referendum  —  The  constitution  was  amended  so 
as  to  require  a  referendum  vote  on  all  proposed  constitu- 
tional amendments  and  laws  involving  increased  taxation 
offered  in  the  future.  This  referendum  proviso  as  orig- 
inally enacted  was-  as  follows : 

Amendments  to  this  constitution  shall  be  referred  by  the 
convention  of  International  Union  to  subordinate  unions.  The 
convention  of  the  International  Union  shall  have  power  to  enact 
general  laws  for  the  government  of  the  craft;  provided,  how- 
ever, that  laws  involving  an  increased  taxation  shall  be  sub- 
mitted to  subordinate  unions.  Subordinate  unions  shall  discuss 
the  proposed  amendments  at  their  regular  meetings  in  July  and 
August  and  at  the  conclusion  of  the  discussion  at  the  August 
meeting,  or  within  ten  days  thereafter,  a  vote  shall  be  taken 
for  and  against  the  proposed  amendments,  and  the  vote  in  detail 
forwarded,  under  seal,  to  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  on  or  before  September  30th, 
when  the  president,  second  vice-president  and  secretary-treas- 
urer shall,  at  the  headquarters  of  the  International  Union, 
canvass  the  vote  and  declare  the  result  to  the  craft,  and  should 
a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  be  in  favor  of  the  amendment  it 
shall  from  that  date  be  in  force. 

Executive  Council — President  Plank,  in  his  annual 
report,  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  section  6,  article 
vi,  of  the  constitution  provided  for  an  executive  council 
consisting  of  the  president,  the  vice-presidents,  the  secre- 
tary-treasurer and  the  seven  district  organizers.  It  was 
provided  that  the  council  should  hold  stated  meetings 
in  the  city  of  Indianapolis  during  the  first  week  in  May 
and  November  of  each  year  for  the  transaction  of  general 
business,  and  that  it  should  assemble  at  any  time  at  the 
call  of  the  president,  or  at  the  request  of  five  members, 
for  the  consideration  of  any  special  business  named  in  the 
call.     On  account  of  the  depleted  condition  of  the  union's 

432 


Convention  at  Denver,  1889 

treasury  and  because  of  the  great  expense  attached  to 
a  meeting,  it  had  been  found  necessary  to  transact  the 
council's  business  during  the  year  by  correspondence, 
it  not  having  been  possible  to  call  the  executive  body 
together.  One  of  the  propositions  submitted  to  the  refer- 
endum by  the  convention  provided  for  an  executive 
council  consisting  of  the  president,  vice-presidents  and 
the  secretary-treasurer,  eliminating  the  organizers.  This 
law  was  adopted  by  a  three  to  one  majority. 

Insurance  Plan  —  After  the  discontinuance  of  the 
insurance  feature  and  the  donation  of  $10,000  by  Messrs. 
Childs  and  Drexel,  many  schemes  to  create  a  satisfactory 
insurance  plan  had  been  suggested,  and  in  order  to  dis- 
pose of  the  question  three  propositions  were  placed  before 
the  referendum  following  the  Denver  convention — the 
first  was  known  as  the  Cobb  plan,  introduced  by  Jacob 
Cobb,  Cincinnati ;  another  was  called  the  cigar  makers' 
plan,  and  a  third  requested  a  vote  either  for  or  against 
an  insurance  feature  of  any  kind.  The  Cobb  plan  received 
859  votes,  the  cigar  makers'  plan  841  votes  and  3,805 
votes  were  cast  disapproving  any  insurance  plan. 

Minor  Legislation  —  Minor  legislation  enacted  by  the 
convention  included  a  provision,  introduced  by  Delegate 
Sutton  of  Washington,  D.  C,  that  on  all  charters  issued 
in  future  no  other  name  be  recognized  than  that  of  the 
city  or  town  in  which  the  union  was  located.  It  was  also 
ordered  that  the  constitution,  by-laws,  rules  of  order  and 
general  laws  be  printed  in  pamphlet  form,  separate  from 
the  proceedings.  It  was  further  provided  that,  in  order 
to  meet  the  introduction  of  typesetting  machines  in  all 
offices  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  where 
typesetting  machines  were  used,  practical  printers  only 
should  be  employed  to  operate  them,  and  subordinate 
unions  wen-  instructed  to  regulate  the  scale  of  wages  on 
h  machines.     A   resolution  was  adopted   recognizing 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  Inland  Printer  of  Chicago  as  the  technical  trade 
journal  of  the  printing  industry  and  cordially  recommend- 
ing it  to  the  support  and  patronage  of  the  craft. 

The  Typographical  Journal — Secretary  -  Treasurer 
McClevey,  in  issuing  the  first  number  of  the  Typograph- 
ical Journal,  said : 

One  of  the  best  results  of  the  recent  session  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  is  the  birth  of  the  Typographical 
Journal,  the  official  paper  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  of  North  America.  The  immediate  cause  of  its  coming 
into  existence  was  the  adoption  of  the  following  amendment  to 
article  xiii  of  the  constitution : 

"Section  i.  There  shall  be  published  monthly,  by  the 
secretary-treasurer,  a  paper  of  four  pages,  14x10^  in  size, 
to  be  non-political  and  non-sectarian,  and  to  be  known  as  the 
Typographical  Journal,  official  paper  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  of  North  America,  which  shall  be,  so 
far  as  practicable,  the  International  Typographical  Union's 
official  organ  of  communication  to  subordinate  unions.  It  shall 
contain  the  substance  of  appeals  and  the  president's  decision 
thereon ;  reports  of  the  auditing  committees ;  balancing  of  the 
monthly  bank  accounts,  monthly  receipts,  disbursements  and 
arrearages ;  official  orders ;  charters  granted ;  charters  sus- 
pended, and  the  causes;  shall  publish  a  list  of  names  and 
addresses  of  corresponding  and  financial  secretaries  of  subor- 
dinate unions  free,  and  such  unions  as  desire  to  publish  a  list 
of  the  names  of  their  officers  shall  be  charged  therefor  at  the 
rate  of  one  dollar  per  line  per  year;  state  of  trade;  notices  of 
changes  in  the  scale  of  prices ;  all  applications  for  membership, 
and  such  other  matter  as  may  be  of  interest  and  importance  to 
the  craft  generally ;  provided,  nothing  herein  contained  shall 
prohibit  said  officers  from  printing  more  than  four  pages  of 
said  paper  when  deemed  necessary;  provided  further,  that  one 
copy  of  said  paper  shall  be  furnished  free  to  each  chapel,  and 
three  copies  to  the  president,  secretary  and  chairman  of  execu- 
tive committee  of  each  union ;  additional  copies  to  be  furnished 
to  members  of  subordinate  unions,  or  other  persons,  at  twenty- 
five  cents  per  year." 

The  Journal's  field  for  usefulness  is  wide,  its  possibilities 
for  good  are  great ;  and,  coming  as  it  does,  as  the  official  paper 

434 


Convention  at  Denver,  1889 

of  an  organization  whose  record  is  the  very  essence  of  stability, 
it  is  destined  to  be  still  in  its  prime  and  full  vigor  when  our 
present  youngest  members  shall  have  passed  away.  It  is  estab- 
lished for  the  general  good  of  all  our  members — not  for  the 
special  benefit  of  any  individual — and  its  successfulness  is  the 
concern  of  not  only  the  management  but  of  every  member  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and 
whether  it  shall  penetrate  every  part  of  the  field  which  lies 
open  to  it ;  whether  the  full  strength  of  its  power  for  organizing 
new  unions  shall  be  wielded ;  whether  the  looked-for  solidarity 
of  the  unions  already  in  existence  shall  be  more  thoroughly 
realized;  whether  all  these  shall  be  accomplished — and  it  is 
for  the  success  of  these  that  the  Journal  is  established — depends 
largely  upon  the  spirit  of  the  co-operation  afforded  by  the 
membership. 

As  the  strength  of  an  organization  is  measured  by  the  degree 
of  interest  manifested  in  it  by  its  members,  so,  too,  will  be 
gauged  the  power  of  the  Journal.  Let  us  all,  then,  do  our 
part  toward  making  it  a  paper  much  to  be  desired.  Let  the 
secretaries  of  the  different  unions  perform  promptly  the  duty 
of  furnishing  information  as  to  the  "state  of  trade,  notices  of 
changes  of  prices,  and  applications  for  membership"  and  take 
cognizance  of  and  forward  all  "matters  as  may  be  of  interest 
and  importance  to  the  craft  generally,"  and  thus  make  the 
Journal,  what  in  the  full  sense  of  the  term  it  is  intended  to  be, 
the  official  representative  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union. 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  was  selected  as  the  convention  city 
for  1890. 

/> tic gates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor  and  Paris 
Exposition  —  Philip  Corcoran,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  was 
elected  organizer  for  the  seventh  district,  vice  Charles 
W.  Hills,  Minneapolis.  Thomas  J.  Harrison.  Philadel- 
phia, and  J.  D.  Vaughan,  Denver,  were  elected  delegates 
to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor.  It  was  determined 
to   send   delegates  to   the   International   Typographical 

Congress  and  t<»  the  I  ntei  national  I  ,al>or  Congress,  to  be 
held  in  Paris  during  the  exposition  period.  J.  A.  Caron. 
Montreal,  and  Thomas  Crowley,  Cincinnati,  were  elected 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

to  attend  the  Typographical  Congress,  and  W.  S. 
Waudby,  an  honorary  member  of  Washington,  D.  C, 
Union,  was  selected  to  represent  the  International  at  the 
Labor  Congress. 

Convention    at   Atlanta 

[1890]  —  iThe  thirty-eighth  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  convened  in  the  city  of 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  June  9,  1890,  149  delegates  representing 
in  unions  being  in  attendance. 

President  Plank  congratulated  the  convention  upon  the 
excellent  condition  of  the  organization.  He  called  atten- 
tion to  the  many  propositions  which  would  be  offered 
for  consideration  and  dwelt  upon  the  necessity  of  giving 
close  attention  to  all  subjects  presented.  The  president 
took  occasion  to  compliment  and  congratulate  the  mem- 
bership upon  the  establishment  of  the  Typographical 
Journal  and,  after  commenting  upon  the  usefulness  and 
saving  realized  by  the  issuance  of  the  Journal,  recom- 
mended "that  the  Typographical  Journal  be  issued 
semi-monthly  and  the  secretary-treasurer  authorized  to 
insert  advertisements  appropriate  for  such  a  journal." 

American  Federation  of  Labor  —  The  relation  of  the 
International  Union  with  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor  was  next  treated  in  the  president's  report,  the 
subject  of  that  relationship  being  of  general  interest  at 
the  time.    A  portion  of  the  report  is  herewith  reproduced : 

At  the  thirty-seventh  session  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  its  attention  was  called  to  the  fact  that  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor,  at  its  session  in  December  pre- 
ceding, had  set  a  time  for  the  inauguration  of  an  eight-hour 
working  day,  and  had  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  membership 
an  amendment  to  the  constitution  of  that  body  providing  for 
an  assessment  to  raise  means  to  aid  the  different  organizations 
in  cases  of  trouble.  The  amendment  was  in  effect  that  an 
assessment  of  two  cents  per  member  per  week  may  be  levied 

436 


Convention  at  Atlanta,  1890 

for  a  term  of  five  weeks.  The  International  Typographical 
Union  took  no  action  relative  to  the  establishment  of  a  shorter 
workday,  or  submission  of  the  amendment  relative  to  the 
assessment  to  a  vote  of  our  members. 

At  the  session  of  the  "federation  in  Boston  last  December 
the  International  Typographical  Union  was  represented  by 
Messrs.  Robert  Ogg,  of  Detroit;  E.  C.  Ives,  of  St.  Paul;  John 
Vaughan,  of  Denver,  and  H.  M.  Ives,  of  Topeka.  In  their 
instructions,  those  gentlemen  were  informed  of  the  following 
resolution  adopted  at  the  Denver  session :  "That  the  delegates 
to  the  Boston  session  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  be 
instructed,  to  advocate  a  reduction  of  per  capita  tax  to  not 
exceed  one  dollar  per  month  for  each  one  thousand  members," 
and  that  it  was  in  accord  with  previous  instructions  and  recom- 
mendations of  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  secure 
decrease  of  her  per  capita  tax.  Their  attention  was  also  called 
to  the  fact  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  has 
given  unmistakable  expression  to  its  determination  to  preserve 
its  autonomy  and  jealously  guard  and  control  matters  pertain- 
ing to  our  craft,  as  illustrated  by  its  refusal  to  lose  its  identity 
in  the  Knights  of  Labor,  or  take  a  charter  from  any  other 
organization.  Your  representatives  were  not  successful  in  se- 
curing a  decreased  per  capita  tax.  The  article  relative  to 
assessments  was  declared  to  have  been  adopted,  and  under  it  a 
claim  was  made  upon  your  officers  early  in  the  year  for  an 
assessment  of  two  cents  for  each  of  our  members.  There  being 
no  authority  for  the  payment  of  this  money,  it  remains  unpaid. 
Recently  a  claim  has  been  presented  for  an  assessment  of  ten 
<  ints  per  member  (which  is  the  limit  of  assessments  which  may 
be  levied  in  one  year  as  represented  to  us),  and  it  has  not  been 
paid  for  the  reason  given  above.  The  latter  assessment  included 
the  former  one  of  two  cents. 

Under  date  of  May  16,  1890,  the  following  letter  from  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  was  received  by  your  secrctary- 
treasun  r : 

"I)i:ar  Sir  and  BKWHUM  In  compliance  with  the  decision 
nf  the  Boston  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor, 
held  December  last,  the  executive  council  selected  the  United 
Brotherhood  of  Carpenters  and  Joiners  of  America  to  make 
the  demand  fur  the  inauguration  <>f  the  eight-hour  workday 
May  1,  1890.   As  you  are  well  aware,  the  demand  was  made  on 

437 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  date  named,  and  that  in  a  large  number  of  cities  and  towns 
the  demand  has  been  acceded  to.  Official  information  from  the 
headquarters  of  the  United  Brotherhood  states  that  there  are 
nearly  13.000  members  of  the  United  Brotherhood  of  Carpen- 
ters and  Joiners  of  America  yet  on  strike  to  enforce  the  demand, 
and  in  all  likelihood  they  may  be  out  on  strike  for  several 
weeks  yet  to  come.  The  brotherhood  pledges  itself  to  exhaust 
every  dollar  in  its  own  treasury  before  calling  upon  the  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Labor  for  any  of  the  funds  raised  by  the 
assessment,  but  urges  that  should  the  necessity  arise  the  funds 
should  be  available.  A  call  for  the  first  assessment  of  two  cents 
per  member  was  made,  and  the  moneys  paid  in  are  in  the  hands 
of  the  treasurer  of  the  federation.  In  compliance  with  the  de- 
cision of  the  executive  council  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor,  I  now  call  upon  the  affiliated  national  and  international 
trade  unions  to  remit  the  balance  of  the  remaining  five  weeks' 
assessment  of  two  cents  per  week  per  member,  in  order  to 
carry  out  our  obligations  and  to  be  used  if  necessary  to  attain 
complete  success  in  our  eight-hour  struggle.  Should  the  funds 
raised  by  this  assessment  not  be  required  by  the  carpenters  and 
joiners  for  the  attainment  of  success  in  their  struggle,  it  may- 
be required  to  be  used  in  the  struggle  of  the  trade  or  trades 
next  selected  to  make  the  demand.  Should  they  not  be,  the 
moneys  will  remain  intact,  to  be  either  used  in  the  struggle 
■that  may  affect  our  organization  or  subject  to  be  returned  to 
the  organizations  which  forwarded  them,  subject  to  the  decision 
of  the  next  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor, 
should  no  necessity  for  the  fund  exist. 

"The  amount  due  from  your  organization  is  two  thousand 
dollars.  This  is  based  upon  the  last  report  made  to  this  office. 
Should  any  increase  or  diminution  in  your  membership  have 
taken  place  since  then,  please  make  the  change  and  remit  at 
your  earliest  convenience.  It  is  superfluous  for  me  to  add  how 
important  a  prompt  response  to  this  call  is,  and  although  having 
attained  so  large  a  degree  of  success  in  our  movement,  and  the 
encouragement  it  gives  to  the  whole  working  classes  of  the 
country  and  the  world  for  organization  and  improved  condi- 
tions for  the  toilers,  we  must  not  allow  our  movement  to  receive 
a  set-back  from  a  lack  of  promptness  in  responding  to  the  call 
for  aid.  Now,  more  than  ever,  is  it  essential  that  the  trade 
unions  of  our  country  should  recognize  the  solidarity  so  neces- 
sary for  the  success  and  advancement  of  our  movement. 

438 


Convention  at  Atlanta,  1890 

"I  desire  to  add  that  this  call  is  the  last  that  can  be  made 
for  assessments  in  one  year  under  the  constitution  of  the  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Labor. 

"Fraternally  yours, 

"Samuel  Gompers,  President." 

In  reply  thereto  the  president  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor  was  advised  that,  as  the  officers  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  were  not  authorized  to  pay  the  assess- 
ment, the  matter  would  be  referred  to  this  convention,  and  the 
subject  is  now  laid  before  you  for  your  consideration.  The  mat- 
ter of  our  relations  with  and  duty  toward  the  American  Feder- 
ation of  Labor  is  one  demanding  your  careful  and  earnest 
consideration,  and  should  be  promptly  acted  upon  by  you. 

The  convention  ordered  that  the  assessment  levied  by 
the  federation  be  paid. 

Organization  —  The  report  of  the  president  also 
showed  that  during  the  year  34  charters  had  been  issued, 
11  were  revoked  and  15  surrendered.  Of  the  charters 
surrendered,  1 1  were  from  pressmen's  unions,  "the  rea- 
sons for  which,"  says  the  report,  "is  probably  traceable 
from  the  attempt  to  secede  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
International  Union  and  build  up  an  organization  com- 
posed exclusively  of  those  engaged  in  that  portion  of  the 
business." 

Strikes  —  The  past  year  had  been  productive  of  many 
cases  of  trouble  in  the  matter  of  strikes,  lockouts,  etc., 
and  the  defense  fund  had  been  very  heavily  drawn 
"ii  because  of  these  troubles.  The  president  deplored 
the  fact  that  the  idea  was  so  prevalent  among  the  mem- 
bership that  to  strike  was  the  best  remedy  existing  for 
real  or  imaginary  grievances,  especially  ill  view  of  the 
emphatic  declaration  that  the  International  Union  recog- 
nized strikes  as  detrimental  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
craft.  That  careful  legislation  and  conservative  and 
rant  ions  action  was  necessary  was  urged  upon  the  dele- 
gates. The  convention  amended  the  general  laws, 
limiting  strike  benefits  and  conserving  the  defense  fund. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Pressmen  —  The  report  of  Vice-President  Hall  drew 
attention  to  the  repeated  efforts  to  detach  the  pressmen 
from  the  International  Typographical  Union.  In  com- 
menting on  the  situation,  Mr.  Hall  said : 

Eleven  unions  have  gone  out  from  among  us  since  the  date 
of  my  last  report,  and  but  four  have  been  added.  This  has 
involved  the  loss  of  469  members.  The  reason  for  this  diminu- 
tion is  to  be  found  in  the  assiduous  endeavors  being  made  to 
build  up  the  International  Printing  Pressmen's  Union — an  or- 
ganization enjoying  the  favor  of  the  typothetae.  It  was  my 
fortune  last  year,  under  date  of  November  15,  to  address  a 
circular  to  the  pressmen  of  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
calling  their  attention  to  the  close  connection  between  these 
two  bodies.  My  assertions  were  denied  in  the  same  month  by 
T.  J.  Hawkins,  secretary-treasurer  International  Printing  Press- 
men's Union,  but  striking  proof  of  them  is  afforded  in  the  fact 
that  both  organizations  will  meet  in  Boston  on  the  first  Tuesday 
in  September,  1890,  a  simultaneous  determination  on  the  part  of 
those  concerned  in  it. 

This  is  said  by  way  of  warning  to  all  pressmen  contemplat- 
ing leaving  the  International.  Whatever  momentary  encourage- 
ment the  International  Printing  Pressmen's  Union  movement 
may  receive,  its  backers  and  their  followers  must  finally  per- 
ceive their  error.  The  times  favor  extended  combination  among 
trade  as  well  as  other  organizations.  The  smaller  unions,  either 
local  or  national,  are  finding  their  only  safety  in  numbers  and 
universal,  compact  organization.  With  this  natural  tendency, 
it  must  be  that  those  who  are  now  lured  away  by  vain  promises 
and  false  hopes,  through  consequent  misfortunes,  will  be  com- 
pelled to  return.  Whatever  causes  of  complaint  pressmen  may 
in  the  past  have  felt  they  had  against  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  have  all  been  removed  by  its  later  action. 

Recently  repeated  efforts  have  been  made  to  detach  the 
pressmen*  in  the  government  printing  office  from  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  and  cause  them  to  join  the  Inter- 
national Printing  Pressmen's  Union.  Foremen  and  assistant 
foremen  of  the  day  force  have  brought  pressure  to  bear  upon 
members  of  our  body  for  continuing  therein,  and  solicited  them 
to  join  the  International  Printing  Pressmen's  Union.  This  has 
proceeded  so  far  that,  to  end  the  annoyances  to  which  our 

440 


EDWARD  T,  PLANK,  B*a  Fbahciico 

I'm  -si,  I.  in    liu.iii.iiiMii.il    I  v|...Kiaphic«l   Union 
June   14.   18H8     June   l|,   1891 


Convention  at  Atlanta,  1890 

brothers  are  subjected,  I  feel  compelled  to  ask  you  to  officially 
call  the  attention  of  the  public  printer  to  the  matter.  Our 
members  should  not  be  exposed  to  danger  because  of  their 
belonging  to  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

A  forcible  attempt  has  been  made  by  the  seceders  from  the 
International  Typographical  Union  to  carry  into  the  Inter- 
national Printing  Pressmen's  Union  the  property  of  the  older 
organization.  This  has  led  to  a  lawsuit  brought  by  us  to  pro- 
tect our  rights,  and  the  supreme  court  of  the  District  of 
Columbia  has  granted  an  order  restraining  James  E.  Hardy 
and  Frank  Frazer,  the  president  and  secretary  of  the  new  union, 
from  turning  over  the  property  of  Washington  Printing  Press- 
men's Union  No.  i,  International  Typographical  Union,  to  the 
International  Printing  Pressmen's  Union,  and  also  from  using 
the  name  of  Washington  Printing  Pressmen's  Union  No.  I  in 
the  official  transactions  of  any  body  not  acting  under  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union. 

Stereotypers  —  The  report  of  the  third  vice-president 
was  a  very  encouraging  document,  showing  a  gain  of  five 
new  unions  of  stereotypers  and  electrotypers  during  the 
year,  with  a  total  membership  in  that  branch  of  455. 

Printers  Home  —  Acting  upon  the  recommendations 
contained  in  the  reports  of  the  trustees  of  the  Childs- 
Drexel  fund,  and  of  the  special  committee  appointed  at 
the  Denver  convention  to  arrange  for  the  transfer  of  the 
Home  site  from  its  donors  to  the  Union,  the  convention 
adopted  a  law  creating  the  Childs-Drexel  Home  for 
Union  Printers,  as  follows: 

First.  The  Home  shall  be  incorporated  under  the  laws  of 
the  state  of  Colorado. 

Second.  The  Home  shall  be  governed  by  a  board  of  trustees, 
thirteen  In  number.  The  trustees  to  be  elected  carli  w.ir  for  a 
term  of  five  years.  The  present  trustees  of  the  Childs-Drexel 
fund  to  serve  as  trustees  of  the  Home  for  five  years ;  the  present 
trustees  of  the  Home  to,  be  continued  in  office  for  four  wars, 
and  seven  trustees  to  be  elected  by  this  body;  one  for  three 
years,  three  for  two  years,  and  three  for  one  year.  Any  person 
within  the  jiipmIw  tion  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  shall  be  eligible  as  trustee. 

441 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Third.  The  moneys  now  known  as  the  Childs-Drexel  fund 
shall  be  transferred  to  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Home  to  be 
used  by  them  in  building  and  maintaining  the  Home,  as  also 
all  moneys  now  subscribed  and  which  may  be  subscribed  and 
paid  in  as  contributions  during  the  present  fiscal  year. 

Fourth.  A  per  capita  tax  shall  be  levied — the  vote  upon 
which  shall  be  taken  before  the  31st  day  of  August,  1 890. 

Fifth.  The  treasurer  of  the  board  of  trustees  shall  give  a 
bond  in  the  sum  of  $50,000  for  the  faithful  care  of  the  moneys 
intrusted  to  him;  said  bond  shall  be  procured  from  a  solvent 
guarantee  company,  at  the  expense  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union. 

Sixth.  The  board  of  trustees  shall  have  power  to  regulate 
and  determine  the  uses  and  purposes  of  the  Home ;  they  shall 
meet  and  organize  within  ten  days  after  adjournment  of  this 
convention,  and  shall  issue  to  local  unions  an  address  outlining 
the  proposed  manner  of  conducting  the  Home,  etc. 

Seventh.  A  sum  of  money,  not  exceeding  $100,  shall  be 
appropriated  from  the  funds  of  the  union  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses necessary  to  the  carrying  out  of  the  preceding  section. 

Eighth.  The  trustees  shall  present  annually  to  this  union 
a  complete  and  comprehensive  printed  report  of  their  proceed- 
ings, together  with  such  recommendations  as  may  be  deemed 
necessary  for  the  future  security  and  welfare  of  the  Home. 

Ninth.  The  president,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Home  shall  attend  the  annual  convention  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union. 

Tenth.  The  Home  shall  be  known  as  the  Childs-Drexel 
Home  for  Union  Printers. 

Home  Trustees  —  Complying  with  the  provisions  of 
the  above  law,  a  board  of  trustees  consisting  of  thirteen 
members  was  elected  and  a  proposition  to  levy  an  assess- 
ment of  $1  per  capita,  submitted  to  the  referendum,  was 
approved,  thus  insuring  sufficient  funds  to  complete  the 
erection  of  the  main  building  of  the  Home  in  accordance 
with  the  plans  proposed.  • 

The  Referendum  —  The  spirit  of  reorganization  and 
the  desire  to  strengthen  the  International  organization 
was  still  manifest  at  the  Atlanta  convention,  25   refer- 

442 


Convention  at  Atlanta,  1890 

endum  propositions  in  all  being  submitted  to  the  member- 
ship. The  result  of  the  vote  upon  these  questions  showed 
a  lively  interest  taken  by  the  members  at  large  in  the 
various  subjects  presented  for  consideration,  23  of  the  25 
propositions  being  carried.  Two  proposed  amendments 
to  the  constitution  were  defeated — one  being  to  increase 
the  salary  of  the  president  of  the  International  from 
$1,400  to  $1,800  per  annum  and  the  second  to  establish 
a  mileage  relief  system  similar  to  the  relief  system  of  the 
cigar  makers'  union. 

Minor  Legislation  —  New  features  of  general  interest 
added  to  the  constitution  included  an  amendment  giving 
an  opportunity  to  the  smaller  unions  of  being  repre- 
sented at  the  annual  sessions  of  the  International  body 
by  combining  with  other  unions  of  less  than  100  members 
in  the  selection  of  a  delegate.  The  recommendation  of 
President  Plank  suggesting  the  semi-monthly  issuance 
of  the  Typographical  Journal,  and  accepting  suitable 
advertisements  for  the  paper,  was  concurred  in,  and  the 
wholesome  provision  to  the  effect  that  the  charter  of  any 
subordinate  union  failing  or  refusing  to  pay  its  per  capita 
or  any  moneys,  or  any  part  thereof,  within  three  months 
after  becoming  due,  should  be  suspended,  was  also 
adopted. 

Six-Day  Law  —  A  new  general  law  was  submitted  by 
Mr.  Walter,  of  Cincinnati,  as  follows  : 

No  compositors  on  newspapers  shall  l>e  permitted  to  work 

more  than  six  days  per  week  if  substitutes  can  be  obtained. 

Miss  F.  L.  Taylor,  delegate  from  Cincinnati  Union, 
moved  to  amend  the  proposed  law  by  striking  out  the 
words  "six  days"  and  inserting  the  words  "live  days  on 
an  average."  On  a  yea  and  nay  vote,  both  the  amendment 
and  the  original  section  were  laid  on  the  tabic. 

Following  the  defeat  of  the  proposition  Miss  Taylor 
introduced  another  amendment  to  the  general  laws. 

443 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

No  member  of  a  subordinate  union  shall  work  on  a  morn- 
ing newspaper  more  than  five  days  in  any  one  week  where  a 
substitute  can  be  obtained ;  provided,  that  a  member  may  give 
notice  to  the  chairman  of  the  chapel  of  an  intended  protracted 
absence  and  for  one  month  either  before  or  after  such  absence 
he  may  work  as  often  as  he  chooses. 

The  proposition  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  laws, 
which  reported  the  same  with  an  amendment  striking  out 
the  word  "five"  and  inserting  the  word  "six,"  thus  pro- 
posing a  six-day  law.  On  motion  of  Delegate  Riland, 
Omaha,  the  proviso  was  stricken  out.  The  proposition 
as  amended  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  91  ayes,  14  noes. 
A  motion  to  submit  the  law  as  adopted  to  a  popular  vote 
of  the  membership  was  laid  on  the  table.  An  amend- 
ment was  adopted  including  six-day  evening  papers  pub- 
lishing a  Sunday  morning  edition  in  the  category  of 
seven-day  morning  papers.  During  the  discussion  of  the 
proposition,  the  following  telegrams  were  read : 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,  June  11,  1890. 

Miss   Frances  L.  Taylor,  International  Typographical  Con- 
vention Hall,  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Your   five-day   amendment   is   creating  intense   indignation 

among  your  friends.  Alexander  Duguid. 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,  June  II,  1890. 
Miss  Frances  L.  Taylor,  (care  W.  S.  McClevey),  Kimball 
House. 

Many  thanks  to  you  and  those  who  stood  by  you  in  efforts 
in  behalf  of  five-day  rule.    Move  reconsideration. 

Many  Cincinnati  Printers. 

Delegates  to  Paris  Congress  —  The  reports  of  the  dele- 
gates to  the  International  Typographical  Congress  and 
to  the  International  Labor  Congress,  held  in  Paris, 
France,  were  submitted  to  the  convention.  Both  were 
interesting  documents,  containing  much  information 
regarding  conditions   of  labor  in   Europe,   and   it  was 

444 


Convention  at  Boston,  1891 

ordered  that  the  same  be  printed  in  full  in  the  minutes 
of  the  convention. 

The  convention  adjourned  to  meet  in  Boston,  Mass., 
in. June,  1891. 

Officers,  1890  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year,  includ- 
ing organizers  and  trustees  of  the  Childs-Drexel  Home 
for  Union  Printers,  were  elected  as  follows :  President, 
Edward  T.  Plank,  San  Francisco;  first  vice-president, 
H.  J.  Loser,  Nashville;  second  vice-president,  J.  Von 
Buettner,  Galveston,  Tex.;  third  vice-president,  P.  J. 
Weldon,  Chicago;  secretary-treasurer,  W.  S.  McClevey, 
Chicago.  District  organizers — Edmund  Beardsley, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  George  Harry  Stone,  St.  Louis,  Mo.; 
Samuel  R.  Freeman,  Birmingham,  Ala. ;  Victor  B.  Will- 
iams, Chicago;  James  C.  Reynolds,  Ottawa,  Ont. ;  John 
R.  Winders,  San  Francisco;  Michael  A.  Cummings,  St. 
Paul.  Trustees  of  the  Childs-Drexel  Home  for  Union 
Printers — August  Donath,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  J.  D. 
Vaughan,  Denver,  Colo.;  W.  S.  McClevey,  Indianapolis; 
James  J.  Dailey,  Philadelphia;  Frank  S.  Pelton,  Chicago; 
Edward  T.  Plank,  Indianapolis;  Columbus  Hall,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. ;  Amos  J.  Cummings,  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
William  Aimison,  Nashville;  James  G.  Woodward, 
Atlanta,  Ga. ;  George  W.  Morgan,  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  Will 
Lambert,  Austin,  Tex.,  and  W.  H.  Parr.  Toronto,  Ont. 
Delegates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor — Alexander 
J.  Mullen,  Minneapolis;  Frank  L.  Rist,  Cincinnati;  G.  B. 
M.  Houston,  Lynn,  Mass.;  Thomas  P.  White,  New 
Orleans. 

Convention   at   Boston 

[1801]  —  The  thirty-ninth  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  met  in  Fancuil  Hall,  Boston, 
June  8,  1 89 1.  with  170  delegates  in  attendance,  repre- 
senting 120  subordinate  unions. 

445 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

The  report  of  President  Plank  showed  a  gratifying 
growth  during  the  year,  there  having  been  chartered 
38  typographical,  10  pressmen's,  6  stereotypers'  and  elec- 
trotypers'  and  3  pressfeeders'  unions. 

American  Federation  of  Labor — Of  the  relations  of 
the  Typographical  Union  with  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor,  the  report  said,  in  part: 

The  movement  last  year  in  the  building  trades  to  establish 
a  short-hour  workday  taxed  the  resources  of  the  federation, 
and  when  the  season  was  drawing  to  a  close  correspondence 
was  opened  with  President  Gompers  relative  to  the  support 
which  might  be  looked  for  and  the  time  when  such  support, 
moral  and  financial,  could  be  given  to  a  movement  for  a 
shorter  workday  for  our  craftsmen.  In  reply  I  was  informed 
that  the  matter  would  be  referred  to  the  executive  council  of 
the  federation,  at  its  meeting  at  Detroit,  on  December  7th  last, 
and  unquestionably  by  that  body  referred  to  the  convention  to 
be  held  the  next  day.  As  the  general  law  (section  13 1)  pro- 
vides that  if.  conferences  of  the  executive  council  with  the 
officers  of  the  federation  be  favorable  to  the  adoption  of  a 
movement  in  the  direction  of  shorter  hours  it  shall  be  submitted 
to  a  popular  vote  of  subordinate  unions,  it  was  thought  best  to 
get  a  personal  conference  with  the  executive  council  of  the 
federation,  and  Mr.  Gompers  was  requested  to  withhold  the 
correspondence  until  he  should  hear  further  from  us.  The  ex- 
ecutive council  did  not  meet  as  anticipated,  and  though  I  was 
in  Detroit  during  the  convention  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  the 
interview  desired,  as  no  meeting  of  the  council  took  place  until 
after  the  convention  adjourned.  In  the  meantime  the  miners 
made  a  claim  for  the  support  of  the  federation  the  present 
season,  and  when  the  council  met  the  correspondence  with  us 
was  laid  before  it  and  Mr.  Gompers  wrote  to  me  later  that 
he  was  directed  to  communicate  to  us  the  adoption  of  the  fol- 
lowing resolution: 

"Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  selection  of  the  miners  by 
the  convention  to  demand  the  enforcement  of  the  eight-hour 
workday  on  May  I,  1891,  the  American  Federation  of  Labor 
is  not  in  a  position  to  promise  any  financial  support  to  the 
International   Typographical   Union   pending   this  movement, 

446 


Convention  at  Boston,  1891 

and  that  it  hopes,  in  the  near  future,  to  be  able  to  select  the 
International  Typographical  Union  to  make  a  similar  demand 
and  give  it  the  federation's  support." 

Referring  to  the  assessments  which  might  be  levied 
by  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  the  report  said : 

As  the  authority  to  pay  assessments  is  not  expressly  con- 
ferred by  our  laws  (though  it  is  implied  by  section  131,  general 
laws),  your  officers  have  not  paid  the  assessment.  The  above  is 
the  only  assessment  yet  levied  this  year  as  is  learned  by  recent 
letter  from  Secretary  Evans.  It  would  be  well,  in  my  opinion, 
to  authorize  your  executive  officers  (by  resolution  to  that 
effect)  to  pay  such  assessments  as  may  be  levied  by  the  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Labor,  in  accordance  with  the  constitution  of 
that  body,  and  thus  relieve  them  of  the  uncertainty  of  their 
duty  in  many  cases.  To  pay  out  to  the  federation  large  sums 
of  money  as  assessments  is  very  apt  to  make  the  officials  hesi- 
tate where  authority  to  pay  is  not  more  clearly  defined  than  it 
is  in  our  laws  at  present. 

The  convention  authorized  the  payment  of  the  assess- 
ment levied  by  the  federation. 

The  report  of  the  delegates  to  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor  contained  a  synopsis  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Detroit  session  from  which  is  taken  the  following  para- 
graph : 

We  have  submitted  to  the  attention  of  members  an  extract 
from  the  report  of  the  eight-hour  committee,  which  was 
adopted,  wherein  the  federation  reaffirms  its  intention  to  secure 
the  eight-hour  workday  for  all  affiliated  crafts,  taking  up  one 
at  a  time.  The  miners  were  selected  this  year  and  should  the 
members  of  the  Boston  session  deem  the  time  propitious  to  ask 
f«>r  the  eight-hour  day,  they  should  lote  M  time  in  presenting 
their  claimi  to  the  executive  council  of  the  American  Federa- 
tion of  Labor. 

The  committee  to  whom  the  npnrt  was  referred  made 
no  recommendation  further  than  that  the  same  be 
accepted. 

The  Referendum  —  Under  the  heading  "Constitutional 

447 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Amendments,"  attention  was  directed  to  the  workings  of 
the  law  requiring  all  constitutional  amendments  to  be 
referred  to  the  subordinate  unions  for  ratification  or  rejec- 
tion, and  the  opinion  was  expressed  that,  as  all  such 
amendments  were  sent  to  the  referendum,  there  was  a 
tendency  among  delegates  to  be  less  careful  in  considering 
such  amendments  than  they  probably  would  be  if  their 
action  was  a  finality.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was  apparent 
that  the  membership  in  voting  upon  the  proposed  amend- 
ments was  apt  to  give  less  consideration  or  thought 
to  matters  that  had  already  been  passed  upon  and 
approved  by  the  delegates. 

Membership,  etc.  —  A  recapitulation  of  the  financial 
affairs  of  the  union  for  the  year  showed  a  satisfactory 
condition,  although  the  expenditures  had  somewhat 
exceeded  the  receipts.  The  average  membership  during 
the  year,  based  upon  the  amount  of  per  capita  tax 
received,  was  25,165.  That  the  Typographical  Journal 
had  proved  to  be  a  valuable  asset  was  shown  by  the 
report  of  the  secretary-treasurer,  it  being  pointed  out 
that  14  new  unions  had  been  started  as  a  result  of  mailing 
sample  copies  of  the  Journal.  An  unusual  number  of 
strikes  and  lockouts  had  occurred,  75  disturbances  of  that 
character  having  taken  place  during  the  year,  27  of 
which  had  been  supported  by  the  executive  council. 

Pressmen  —  The  second  vice-president,  in  his  report, 
deplored  the  lack  of  general  data  and  the  absence  of  fra- 
ternal feeling  necessary  to  the  furtherance  of  the  interests 
of  the  pressmen.  He  said : 

There  is  but  one  way  to  preserve  intact  the  pressmen  mem- 
bership of  our  organization,  and  that  is  to  frame  our  laws  and 
so  consolidate  the  pressmen  with  the  printer,  in  our  social  and 
fraternal  relations,  as  to  make  each  branch  of  the  trade  feel 
the  protection  and  help  of  the  other. 

I  would  suggest  that  local  unions  be  requested  to  give  more 
attention  to  unionizing  pressrooms  connected  with  union  print- 

448 


Convention  at  Boston,  1891 

ing  offices,  and  that  a  more  determined  effort  be  made  to  induce 
pressmen  to  become  members  of  typographical  unions  in  towns 
where  no  pressmen's  union  exists ;  and,  furthermore,  that  press- 
men would  take  more  interest  in  the  Journal  and  bring"  into 
its  columns  for  discussion  matters  pertaining  to  their  branch 
of  the  printing  trade. 

Commenting  upon  the  status  of  the  seceding  pressmen, 
the  vice-president  said : 

These  men  are  certainly  not  lacking  in  union  principles, 
and  yet  we  can  not  receive  their  cards  or  recognize  them  as 
union  men.  I  think  it  would  be  wise  for  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  the  International  Printing  Press- 
men's Union  to  come  to  some  understanding  whereby  each 
organization  could  recognize  the  cards  of  the  other,  and  which 
would  sooner  or  later  result  in  consolidation ;  for  surely  nothing 
good  can  come  from  an  internal  war  among  the  union  pressmen 
of  the  country.  By  meeting  upon  a  basis  of  fairness  and  fellow- 
ship an  understanding  can  very  likely  be  reached,  as  the 
printer  and  pressmen  are  of  one  calling  and  natural  allies, 
and  can  only  find  their  highest  interests  by  mutual  co-operation. 

The  committee  to  which  was  referred  the  report  of  the 
second  vice-president  subsequently  submitted  the  follow- 
ing, which  was  adopted: 

Your  committee  would  recommend  that  it  be  enjoined  upon 
typographical  unions  everywhere  to  use  every  possible  effort  to 
unionize;  pressrooms. 

Your  committee  would  also  recommend  that  the  interchange 
of  cards  between  the  International  Typographical  Union  and 
the  International  Printing  Pressmen's  Union  be  not  permitted. 

Copyright  Law  —  The  committee  on  copyright  lcgisla- 
tinn  appointed  at  the  previous  session  reported  that  a  bill 
ao  eptable  to  the  International  Typographical  Union  had 
passed  tin  congress  and  become  a  law  By  the  term* 
of  the  law,  it  was  provided  that  in  future  every  book 
copyrighted  In  the  United  States  must  be  manufactured 

here.  "Not  only  will  the  first  edition  be  put  in  type  in  this 
country,"    said    the    report,    "but    any   subsequent    edition 

446 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

during  the  existence  of  the  copyright — 28  years;  and  the 
copyright  may  be  renewed  so  as  to  make  the  period  of 
existence  of  the  copyright  42  years."  Continuing,  the 
report  said,  "The  Thurman  amendment  which  would  have 
permitted  the  unlimited  importation  of  books,  subject  to 
the  tariff  duty,  if  any,  was  eliminated  and  in  its  stead  was 
inserted  a  provision  permitting  the  importation,  subject 
to  duty,  if  any,  of  two  copies,  for  use,  and  not  for  sale." 

The  report  contained  a  number  of  extracts  from  the 
senate  and  house  proceedings  and  the  correspondence 
between  the  committee  and  the  representatives.  Numerous 
accounts  of  the  efficacy  of  the  committee's  labors  were 
received  from  publishers,  authors  and  others,  conceding 
that  the  printers  were  the  principal  factor  in  the  fight 
which  culminated  in  the  enactment  of  the  law. 

In  concluding  its  report,  the  committee  made  the  fol- 
lowing recommendations : 

We  are,  therefore,  somewhat  apprehensive  for  the  future 
of  that  (typesetting  clause)  feature  of  the  new  law;  and  to  the 
end  that  our  officers  may  at  any  time  have  authority  to  move 
in  defense  of  that  clause,  your  committee  recommends  that  the 
present  session  clothe  the  officers  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  with  power  to  appoint  a  committee  and  take 
all  other  necessary  precautions  in  the  future,  should  it  become 
necessary,  to  preserve  the  integrity  of  the  typesetting  clause  of 
the  new  international  copyright  law. 

The  new  law  will  not  become  operative  until  July  I,  189 1. 
It  will  probably  require  a  year  and  a  half  or  two  years'  time 
to  fully  demonstrate  its  advantages  to  our  craft.  It  is  im- 
portant that  our  officers  should  have  data  with  which  to  make 
comparisons  to  prove  the  utility  of  the  law  to  the  book  printers. 
We,  therefore,  recommend  that  this  body  require  its  officers 
to  ascertain  the  number  of  compositors  employed  on  July  I, 
1 891,  in  the  principal  book  publishing  houses  in  New  York, 
Boston,  Philadelphia  and  Chicago,  the  price  of  composition, 
the  number  of  hours  of  the  day's  work  in  each  house,  the  num- 
ber of  time  hands,  piece  hands,  pressroom  data,  and  such  other 
information  as  will  be  useful  in  the  work  of  comparison. 

450 


Convention  at  Boston,  1891 

The  committee  to  whom  the  foregoing  was  referred 
subsequently  submitted  the  following  as  its  report,  which 
was  adopted : 

On  the  first  recommendation  of  the  committee  on  copyright, 
that  the  International  Typographical  Union  officers  appoint  a 
committee  to  take  necessary  precautions  to  preserve  the  type- 
setting clause  in  the  international  copyright  law,  the  committee 
reports  favorably. 

On  the  second  recommendation  of  the  same  committee,  that 
the  union  require  its  officers  to  ascertain  number  of  compositors 
'employed,  hours  of  work,  price  of  composition,  and  other  data, 
in  publishing  houses  in  New  York,  Boston,  Philadelphia  and 
Chicago,  committee  reports  favorably. 

Important  Legislation  —  Of  the  legislation  enacted  by 
the  Boston  convention  perhaps  the  most  important  was 
the  creation  of  a  burial  fund,  the  amplification  of  the 
six-day  law  and  the  increase  of  the  per  capita  tax  to  25 
cents  per  month,  including  10  cents  per  month  to  be  set 
aside  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Union  Printers  Home. 

Nine-Hour  Day  —  A  proposition  to  declare  a  nine- 
hour  day  in  the  printing  industry  was  submitted  to  the 
referendum  and  failed  of  adoption,  the  vote  in  its  favor 
lacking  332  of  that  required  for  ratification.  The  total 
vote  cast  on  the  proposition  was  12,896.  Under  a  ruling 
of  the  International  president  that  a  three-quarter  vote 
was  necessary  to  ratify,  it  would  have  required  9,672 
affirmative  votes.  Of  the  total  vote,  9,340  were  in  favor 
and  3,556  against  the  proposed  law.  That  the  proposi- 
tion had  been  submitted  without  due  consideration  was 
apparent  because  of  the  near  date  when  it  was  proposed- 
to  declare  the  law  in  effect  and  because  of  the  many 
-ting  agreements   with    cmpl-  aid    n<>t 

expire  until  after  the  date  for  the  law  to  go  into  effect 

and  for  which  no  provision  arM  niadc      Tin-  result  of  the 

rote  on  the  nine-hour  proposition,  however,  marked  a 
stage  in  the  growing  sentiment  for  a  shorter  workday. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

While  the  measure  failed  to  receive  endorsement  by  a 
three-quarter  vote,  the  evidences  of  the  near  approach 
to  the  time  when  the  final  effort  would  be  made  were 
unmistakable.  The  positive  instructions  to  prepare  there- 
for were  expressed  in  the  vote.  Editor  McClevey  of 
the  Typographical  Journal,  in  announcing  the  failure 
of  the  proposition,  said  that  through  correspondence  re- 
ceived at  his  office  it  was  evident  that  the  members  in 
general  were  favorable  to  the  shorter  day  move- 
ment, and  he  could  not  recall  a  single  instance  where 
objection  was  made  to  the  measure  itself,  and  that  this 
feeling  was  also  shared  by  not  a  few  of  the  employers 
who  recognized  the  drift  toward  the  shorter  workday, 
conceding  that  their  acquiescence  could  be  withheld  but 
a  short  time  longer. 

Amendments  to  Constitution  —  Changes  in  the  consti- 
tution, all  of  which  were  adopted  by  the  referendum, 
were  as  follows: 

( I )  Authorizing  the  issuance  of  charters  to  unions 
of  editors  and  reporters;  (2)  providing  that  a  member 
to  be  eligible  to  election  as  a  delegate  must  reside 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  union  which  he  seeks  to 
represent,  and  be  a  member  thereof  at  least  six  months 
prior  to  the  date  of  election;  (3)  amending  the  certificate 
of  election  as  delegate  to  cover  the  foregoing  require- 
ment; (4)  making  the  president  of  the  International  a 
delegate  to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor;  (5)  pro- 
viding for  hotel  expenses  of  the  president  when  compelled 
to  travel  on  account  of  business;  (6)  creating  a  salary 
for    the    vice-president    representing    the    stereotypers ; 

(7)  striking  out  the  six  months'  exemption  for  the  pay- 
ment of  per  capita  tax  allowed  newly  organized  unions ; 

(8)  striking  out  the  stated  hours  of  meeting  of  the  con- 
ventions and  placing  the  power  to  fix  the  hours  of  meeting 
and  adjournment  with  the  delegates;    (9)    striking  out 

452 


Convention  at  Boston,  1891 

the  section  prescribing  the  acceptance  of  invitations 
unlawful;  (10)  instructing  the  president  to  collect  and 
publish  data  relative  to  sick,  out  of  work  and  death 
benefits;  (11)  the  creation  of  a  burial  fund;  (12)  author- 
izing the  president  to  appoint  a  member  of  the  local  union 
to  assist  in  canvassing  the  vote  on  amendments ;  ( 13)  pro- 
viding that  all  laws  shall  be  in  effect  on  and  after 
November  I,  except  when  otherwise  provided;  (14) 
levying  an  assessment  of  10  cents  per  month  for  the 
Childs-Drexel  Home  for  Union  Printers. 

Burial  Benefits  —  The  burial  benefit  law  was  without 
question  the  most  important  of  the  new  measures.  It 
was  a  new  departure  by  the  International  and  marked 
the  beginning  of  a  new  epoch  in  the  history  of  the 
organization,  an  era  of  greater  attractiveness,  stronger 
adhesion  and  increased  utility.  Commenting  editorially, 
the  Typographical  Journal  said  that  the  introduction 
of  a  measure  of  this  character  by  the  International  Union 
brought  with  it  the  introduction  of  business  principles 
which  must  be  strictly  adhered  to  by  subordinate  unions. 

Priority  —  A  "priority"  law,  introduced  by  Delegate 
Seaman,  Cincinnati,  and  amended  by  the  laws  committee, 
was  made  a  special  order  of  business  by  the  convention 
and  a  prolonged  debate  followed.  The  proposed  law  had 
been  discussed  from  time  to  time  by  correspondents  in 
the  Typographical  Journal  and  much  interest  was  mani- 
((1  in  the  disposition  of  the  question  by  tin-  Boston 
convention.  The  proposed  law,  after  the  consideration 
<>f  numerous  amendments,  was  defeated. 

Typesetting  Machines  —  That  the  membership  was 
beginning  to  awaken  to  the  possibilities  of  the  typesetting 
machine  is  evidenced  by  a  report  on  that  subject  sub- 
mitted by  a  special  committer  ><\  investigation.  The 
report  is  herewith  reproduced,  it  having  been  adopted 
by  the  com  ention. 

453 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Your  committee  appointed  to  consider  the  need  of  additional 
legislation  in  the  matter  of  typesetting  machines  beg  leave  to 
report  as  follows: 

From  statistics  presented  to  them,  they  are  satisfied  that  the 
manufacture  and  introduction  of  apparatus  for  mechanical 
typesetting  is  rapidly  increasing,  and  that  under  certain  condi- 
tions machines  can  be  economically  operated. 

It  therefore  behooves  this  body  to'  enact  such  laws  as  will 
secure  to  the  members  of  our  subordinate  unions  a  fair  share 
of  the  lessened  cost  of  production  resulting  from  their  use. 

We  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  principal  factor  in  the  eco- 
nomical operation  of  typesetting  machinery  is  the  employment 
of  highly  skilled  and  intelligent  labor,  and  that  this  is  to  be 
found  in  the  ranks  of  our  union. 

We  find  that  the  disregard  of  the  equitable  claims  of  organ- 
ized labor  by  the  proprietors  or  manufacturers  of  some  machines 
renders  it  difficult  for  their  competitors  who  are  well  disposed 
toward  our  body  to  give  as  full  consideration  to  our  wishes  as 
they  otherwise  would  do. 

We  find  that  the  cost  of  production  on  machines  varies  to 
such  an  extent  with  the  circumstances  of  their  operation  as  to 
prevent  us  making  a  general  and  tabulated  report  on  this 
matter. 

Our  recommendations  in  this  matter  are : 

First.  That  the  executive  council  be  empowered  to  negoti- 
ate with  the  manufacturers  of  the  various  typesetting  machines, 
to  the  end  that  none  but  members  of  the  subordinate  unions  may 
be  employed  as  operators  on  them;  and  that  a  list  of  all  such 
manufacturers  as  are  willing  to  co-operate  with  the  executive 
council  in  this  matter  be  furnished  to  the  secretary  of  every 
subordinate  union  for  the  information  of  its  members. 

Second.  That  the  scale  of  prices  and  other  regulations  re- 
garding the  operation  of  machines  be  left  to  subordinate  unions. 

Third.  That  a  weekly  or  time  scale  be  adopted  for  the 
operation  of  machines. 

Fourth.  That  the  work  upon  machines,  being  of  a  more 
exhaustive  character,  both  physically  and  mentally,  than  hand 
composition,  that  the  hours  of  labor  upon  them  be  reduced  to 
the  lowest  possible  number — eight  hours  being  the  maximum. 

Fifth.  That,  as  under  certain  circumstances  the  operation 
of  some  machines  may  result  in  the  impairment  of  the  health 

454 


Convention  at  Boston,  1891 

of   the   operator,    this   body   take   steps   that   will    insure   the 
hygienic  conditions  being  as  perfect  as  possible. 

This  committee  acknowledges  its  obligations  to  Messrs. 
Myrick  Waites  (No.  13),  Boston,  and  Franklin  P.  Eddy 
(No.  33),  Providence,  R.  I.,  for  valuable  information 
furnished. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  The  report  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Childs-Drexel  Home  for  Union  Printers 
was  a  document  covering  many  pages  of  the  proceedings 
and  including  a  volume  of  correspondence  together  with 
many  matters  of  statistical  interest  regarding  the 
expenditures  made  for  the  erection  of  the  Home  build- 
ings and  the  contracts  entered  into.  It  also  contained 
a  set  of  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the 
Home.  The  document  was  referred  to  a  committee, 
which  reported  that  all  legal  instruments  necessary  in 
connection  with  the  Home  had  been  executed  by  com- 
petent persons,  learned  in  the  law,  and  that  every  pre- 
caution had  been  taken  to  assure  the  organization,  through 
its  board  of  directors,  possession  of  the  valuable  property 
that  was  being  acquired.  Regarding  the  composition  of 
the  board,  some  desire  had  been  expressed  to  reduce 
its  number.  After  consideration  of  this  question,  it  was 
ordered  by  the  convention  that  the  board  be  requested 
to  reduce  the  number  of  trustees  from  thirteen  to  seven. 
Regarding  the  dedication  of  the  Home  buildings,  the  con- 
vention concurred  in  the  suggestion  that  the  birthday  of 
George  VV.  Childs  be  celebrated  thereby. 

Philadelphia  was  selected  as  the  meeting  place  for  the 
convention  of  1892. 

Officers,  1891  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  term  were 
elected  as  follows:  President,  William  B.  Prescott, 
Toronto;  first  vice-president,  James  McKcnna,  New 
Y<wi<;  second  vice-president,  J.  Von  Bucttncr.  Chatta- 
nooga,   Tcnn. ;     third     vice-president,     P.    J.     Wcldon. 

m 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Chicago;  secretary-treasurer,  \V.  S.  McClevey,  Chicago. 
District  organizers — Edmund  Beardsley,  Brooklyn;  J.  F. 
Klunk,  Kansas  City;  Samuel  R.  Freeman,  Birmingham; 
Victor  B.  Williams,  Chicago ;  J.  W.  Patterson,  Ottawa, 
Ont. ;  John  R.  Winders,  San  Francisco;  Charles  Aber- 
nathy,  Ogden,  Utah.  Trustees  Childs-Drexel  Home  for 
Union  Printers — August  Donath,  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
J.  D.  Vaughan,  Denver,  Colo. ;  W.  S.  McClevey, 
Indianapolis;  James  J.  Dailey,  Philadelphia;  Frank  S. 
Pelton,  Chicago;  Edward  T.  Plank,  Indianapolis; 
Columbus  Hall,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  William  Aimison, 
Nashville;  James  G.  Woodward,  Atlanta;  George  W. 
Morgan,  Atlanta.  Delegates  to  American  Federation  of 
Labor — O.  A.  Williams,  Pittsburgh ;  William  C.  Boyer, 
Omaha ;  W.  E.  Shields,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Frank  A. 
Kidd,  Chicago. 

Convention    at    Philadelphia 

[1892] — The  fortieth  convention  of  the  .International 
Typographical  Union  assembled  in  the  Drexel  Institute 
at  Philadelphia,  June  13,  1892,  with  187  delegates  in 
attendance. 

REVIEW     OF     OFFICERS'     REPORTS 

In  his  annual  report  President  Prescott  congratulated 
the  craft  on  the  progress  made  during  the  year,  both  in 
the  increased  number  of  unions  and  members  and  in  the 
degree  of  animated  spirit  and  ability  to  cope  with  unfore- 
seen obstacles  which  had  so  astonished  its  detractors 
and  won  the  respect  and  admiration  of  all.  While  there 
had  been  no  diversion  from  the  policy  of  settling  disputes 
between  employers  and  employes  by  means  of  conference 
or  arbitration,  the  union  had  resolutely  and  persistently 
insisted  upon  the  recognition  by  employers  of  the  labor- 
er's right  to  a  voice  in  determining  what  remuneration 

456 


w  ii  i  [AM   !••    PftlftCOTT,  Tobomto 

I'l.M.l.nt    liiiriiMiional  Typographical  Union 
JmM   II|   1801  -October  ||,   189S 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1892 

he  should  receive  for  his  labor  and  the  conditions  under 
which  it  might  be  sold.  The  report  deplored  the  fact 
that  there  still  remained  in  the  trade  many  who  con- 
sidered it  beneath  their  dignity  to  consult  with  their 
employes  on  matters  of  mutual  interest.  Continuing,  the 
president  said : 

If  I  were  asked  what  points  in  our  armor  were  the  most 
vulnerable,  I  should  unhesitatingly  reply  that  lack  of  ample 
means  for  effective  resistance  and  inability  to  concentrate  our 
forces  in  aiding  each  other  in  maintainig  our  just  and  equitable 
rights  and  privileges  were  our  weakest  points.  Much  as  we  may 
deprecate  conflicts,  they  can  not  be  avoided  unless  we  consent 
to  accept  conditions  repugnant  to  our  ideas  of  true  manhood. 
If  we  are  to  successfully  cope  with  our  adversaries  and  render 
assistance  in  the  moral,  mental  and  material  improvement  of 
our  members,  we  must  realize  the  truth  of  the  axiom  that  wealth 
is  power  and  is  the  god  of  industrial  battles,  and  have  at  our 
disposal  a  plethoric  treasury ;  that  the  existence  of  a  large  fund 
for  defensive  purposes — demonstrating  our  ability  to  prolong  a 
struggle  once  entered  into — would  have  a  salutary  effect  on 
unfair  employers  is  amply  demonstrated  in  the  case  of  Pitts- 
burgh, where  the  most  pugnacious  of  the  employers  freely  admit 
that  had  they  any  idea  that  our  resources  were  so  inexhaustible 
as  they  afterward  proved  to  be  there  would  have  been  no  strike. 
Taking  this  case  as  a  fair  illustration,  it  is  for  us  to  consider 
which  is  the  greater  economy — to  amass  a  large  defense  fund, 
which  will  save  us  from  strikes,  add  to  our  respect  for  our- 
selves, and  consequently  gain  the  respect  of  others,  or  to 
spend  more  money  in  difficulties  which  the  lack  of  a  proper 
defense  fund  has  brought  upon  us?  Of  course,  a  large  defense 
fund  means  higher  dues — and  higher  dues  it  must  be  if  wc  are 
to  keep  upward  and  onward  with  the  inarch  of  the  age  and 
ultimately  attain  those  OfojOl  ts  fur  which  we  arc  striving.  In 
the  past  much  has  been  accomplished  on  slim  treasuries,  but 
the  conditions  have  changed.  Formerly  mm  -union  men  could 
not  be  so  easily  mobilized.  m>r  were  «e  menaced  by  organised 
us   in    that    direCtiott,   tad    it    is   manifest    that    we   can   not 

hope;  to  Improve  our  position  bv  Ignoring  the  difficulties  that 

ItUTOQnd  us  I  ( t  us  look  ill  rtch  matters  square  in  the  face 
and  provide  the  necessary  remedy.  The  conclusion  of  progress 

457 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

on  this  line  means  the  establishment  of  what  is  known  as  a 
strong  organization — an  organization  that  can  achieve  results, 
and  in  whose  welfare  every  member  and  every  dependent  on 
that  member  is  vitally  interested,  in  a  financial  sense.  If  we 
take  the  trouble  to  look  at  sister  organizations,  both  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe,  we  find  that  those  unions  which  have 
the  minimum  of  difficulties,  whose  wishes  are  deferred  to  by 
employers,  and  whose  members  take  the  most  interest  in  their 
organization's  welfare,  are  strong  unions,  charging  dues  largely 
in  excess  of  ours,  and  that  this  has  in  a  large  measure  con- 
tributed to  their  success  is  undisputed. 

Organization  Work —  Organization  work  for  the  year 
had  proceeded  vigorously,  46  charters  having  been  issued, 
although  22  had  been  surrendered  and  9  suspended.  The 
president  directed  attention  to  the  need  for  greater 
activity  in  the  field  of  organization,  also  to  the  extraor- 
dinary efforts  of  self-seeking  men  to  mislead  printers 
working  outside  of  the  beneficial  influences  of  the 
organization,  which  of  necessity  and  as  a  matter  of  self- 
preservation  imposed  upon  the  union  the  high  and  impor- 
tant duty  of  seeing  to  it  that  the  country  printers  were 
not  misled  by  these  parties  and  manipulated  to  the  detri- 
ment of  themselves  and  the  debasement  of  the  craft.  Con- 
tinuing, the  president  said : 

I  am  convinced  that  the  first  step  necessary  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  appreciable  results  in  this  direction  is  a  thorough 
reformation  of  our  laws  governing  districts  and  organizers. 
When  the  state  deputy  system  was  discarded  and  the  present 
extensive  district  scheme  adopted  it  was  thought  the  extended 
area  would  make  it  possible  to  secure  the  services  of  more 
active  and  suitable  men  than  were  previously  obtainable.  While 
the  change  may  have  attained  the  desired  end,  the  parsimonious 
appropriation  placed  at  the  disposal  of  our  organizers  pre- 
cluded the  achievement  of ,  notable  results.  Another  baneful 
feature  is  the  one-year  term — altogether  too  short  a  term  for 
such  an  official  as  organizer.  A  novice,  be  he  ever  so  energetic 
and  enthusiastic,  barely  gets  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
territory  over  which  he  has  supervision,  or  the  manifold  duties 

458 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1892 

which  the  office  imposes  upon  him,  in  less  than  twelve  months, 
and  as  the  law  now  stands,  his  term  expires  just  as  he  is  best 
fitted  to  do  himself  justice  and  perform  effective  work  for  the 
organization. 

A  most  convincing  argument  in  support  of  the  contention 
that  our  present  district  system  is  inadequate  to  meet  the 
exigencies  which  confront  us  is  that  during  the  past  year  there 
have  been  organized  six  state  unions  and  one  sub-district  union, 
and  this  in  face  of  the  fact  that  such  combinations  are  purely 
voluntary,  not  being  fostered  or  even  recommended  by  Inter- 
national law.  The  printers  of  Indiana  are  the  pioneers  in  this 
movement,  and  the  union  in  that  state  has  been  instrumental 
in  producing  good  results,  not  only  in  organizing  new  unions 
but  in  assisting  the  several  subordinates  owing  it  allegiance  to 
rid  themselves  of  deterrent  influences  and  in  fusing  life  into 
those  which,  through  lack  of  interest  or  other  cause,  gave  evi- 
dence of  decay.  There  are  many  of  our  members  who  seek  the 
abolition  of  our  present  cumbersome  district  system,  substitut- 
ing therefor  a  state  organization,  and  with  them  I  agree,  but 
would  not  at  present  vest  such  bodies  with  more  power  than  is 
sufficient  to  make  them  an  effective  part  of  our  proselyting 
machinery. 

Apportionment  of  Funds  —  Under  the  heading 
"Defense  and  Burial  Funds,"  the  president  called 
attention  to  the  inadequacy  of  the  apportionment  for  these 
funds  and  suggested  that  the  assignment  to  each  be 
increased  2^4  cents,  such  increase  to  be  secured  by 
reducing  the  tax  for  the  Childs-Drexel  Home  to  5  cents 
per  month.  The  recommendation  was  concurred  in  by 
the  convention  and  approved  by  the  referendum. 

Nine-Hour  Day  —  The  president  also  called  attention 
to  the  large  affirmative  vote  cast  on  the  nine-hour  prop- 
osition. Hi-  said  that  events  of  the  past  few  years  had 
.demonstrated  that  if  a  decrease  in  the  hours  was  to  be 
obtained,  steps  must  first  be  taken  by  the  union,  and  that 
it  was  useless  to  wait  for  some  distant  date  when  any 
considerable  number  of  employers  would  be  found  willing 
to  inaugurate  a  reduction  of  their  own  volition.     Expcri- 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ence  did  not  justify  the  hope  that  the  much  desired 
reform  would  be  secured  without  a  struggle,  and  it  was 
suggested  that  if  any  proposition  be  submitted  to  the 
membership,  that  it  be  requested  only  to  consider  a  plan 
whereby  the  necessary  funds  could  be  accrued  and  the 
bare  question  of  whether  a  demand  for  shorter  hours 
should  be  made,  naming  of  a  day  and  preliminary 
arrangements  being  left  in  the  hands  of  a  committee, 
which  should  be  vested  with  power  to  meet  and  confer 
with  any  parties  desirous  of  effecting  a  settlement.  This 
committee,  acting  in  conjunction  with  the  executive  coun- 
cil, could  so  arrange  matters  that  the  union  would  receive 
material  assistance  from  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor  and  could  also  obviate  the  necessity  of  prematurely 
notifying  the  world  of  its  intention  to  demand  a  shorter 
workday  and  the  date  on  which  it  was  proposed  to  put 
the  proposition  in  effect.  The  necessity  for  being  well 
equipped  financially  before  any  move  was  made  was 
apparent  to  all.     In  conclusion,  President  Prescott  said : 

Our  competitive  system  does  not  permit  the  average  em- 
ployer to  concede  shorter  hours  or  increased  wages  from 
philanthropic  motives,  or  the  self-gratification  of  seeing  a 
worthy  theory  in  active  operation.  I  am  aware  that  many  will 
look  upon  the  suggestion  that  we  attempt  a  settlement  by  con- 
ference or  arbitration  as  an  empty  one,  owing  to  the  apparent 
contempt  with  which  previous  delegations  charged  with  the 
same  mission  have  been  treated  by  some  representative  em- 
ployers, but  I  submit  that  contempt  for  such  a  principle  on  the 
part  of  others  should  rather  stimulate  us  to  a  more  persistent 
and  earnest  advocacy  of  it,  and  not  dampen  our  ardor.  Certain 
it  is  that  something  more  potent  than  resolutions  is  necessary 
before  a  shorter-hour  proposition  will  be  treated  with  that  con- 
sideration from  employers  which  its  justice  and  importance 
demands.  When  a  move  is  made  in  that  direction,  our  prepa- 
ration from  the  initial  step  should  be  such  as  to  convince  every 
opponent  of  the  reform  that  we  are  fully  cognizant  of  the 
obstacles  to  be  overcome,  and  have  the  will,  ability  and 
determination  to  surmount  them. 

460 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1892 

Pressmen — The  report  of  the  second  vice-president 
stated  that  pursuant  to  a  resolution  of  the  International 
Union,  passed  at  the  Boston  session  in  1 89 1 ,  a  committtee 
to  visit  the  so-called  International  Printing  Pressmen's 
Union  had  performed  that  duty,  but  from  the  tone  of  the 
correspondence  which  passed  between  the  committee  and 
the  seceders  it  was  concluded  that  an  affiliation  was  not 
desired  by  the  pressmen.  A  table  was  submitted  showing 
that  there  were  22  pressmen's  unions  in  operation  under 
charter  of  the  International  Union,  with  a  membership 
of  1,210,  and  that  in  addition  to  this  there  were  237 
pressmen  attached  to  various  typographical  unions, 
making  a  total  of  1,447  pressmen  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union.  The  same 
report  showed  the  existence  of  4  pressfeeders'  unions. 

Finances  —  Membership  —  Burial  Fund  —  The  finan- 
cial transactions  of  the  International  during  the  year  far 
exceeded  those  of  any  similar  period  in  the  life  of  the 
organization.  The  report  of  the  secretary-treasurer 
showed  receipts  aggregating  $113,134.49  and  attention 
was  called  to  the  fact  that  this  amount  had  been  collected 
without  friction.  It  was  also  worthy  of  note  in  this  con- 
nection that  the  decrease  in  the  number  of  derelictions 
of  financial  officers  of  subordinate  unions  and  the  high 
degree  of  business  progress  which  prevailed  in  conduct- 
ing the  affairs  of  the  union  was  attributable  to  the  fact 
that  the  laws  of  the  organization  covering  such  matters 
had  been  materially  strengthened.  It  was  also  show  I 
by  the  report  that  the  average  membership  during  the 
year  was  28,187,  an  increase  of  more  than  3,000  over  that 
of  the  previous  year.  In  referring  to  the  burial  fund, 
the  id : 

The   first    seven   months'    practical   operation   of   the  burial 
fund    demonstrates    the    iiiade.|iia.  v    of    the    1  per 

capita  tax   ap portioned   for  meeting  current   liabilities  of  said 

461 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

fund,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  statement  of  receipts 
and  expenditures  made  a  part  of  this  report,  wherein  it  is  shown 
that  the  disbursements  are  $2,836.58  greater  than  natural 
revenue  yielded — this  amount  being  paid  from  the  general  fund 
pursuant  to  authorization  by  the  executive  council,  and  agree- 
ably to  the  first  estimates  contemplating  a  deficiency.  A  careful 
estimate  shows  that  the  revenue  required  to  enable  the  burial 
fund  to  meet  its  liabilities  will  necessitate  a  change  in  the 
apportionment  so  that  the  fund  shall  receive  not  less  than  7^4 
cents  per  capita. 

A  table  was  also  submitted  giving  the  age,  cause  of 
death  and  the  number  of  deaths  at  given  ages.  The  total 
number  of  deaths  during  the  seven  months  which  the 
table  covered  was  228  and  the  average  age  at  death  was 
41  years;  the  greatest  number  of  deaths  at  any  one  age 
occurred  at  the  age  of  28.  Of  the  total  number  of  deaths 
almost  one-half  were  caused  by  tuberculosis  and  kindred 
diseases. 

State  Unions  —  The  organizers  of  the  various  districts 
submitted  very  complete  reports  of  the  work  in  their  re- 
spective jurisdictions.  State  unions  had  been  organized 
during  the  year  in  New  York,  Massachusetts,  Michigan 
and  Pennsylvania,  and  other  state  unions  previously  in 
existence  were  reported  to  be  in  a  healthy  condition.  The 
organizer  of  the  fourth  district  recommended  the  forma- 
tion of  allied  trade  councils  wherever  possible,  the  events 
of  the  year  having  proved  the  necessity  of  such  combina- 
tions. The  reports  were  all  referred  to  the  committee  on 
president's  address,  but  were  not  reported  by  that  com- 
mittee. 

A  merican  Federation  of  Labor  —  The  report  of  the 
delegates  to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  gave  an 
interesting  and  complete  summary  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  session  of  the  American  Federation  held  at  Bir- 
mingham, December,  1891.  The  delegates  disagreed 
with  the  delegates  attending  the  Detroit  session  of  the 

462 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1892 

federation  as  to  the  manner  of  voting  to  the  effect  that 
the  "voting  should  be  according  to  number  of  delegates — 
and  one  vote  for  each  delegate,"  and  recommended  a 
"vote  according  to  membership  as  the  only  way  to  defeat 
schemers  for  their  own  aggrandizement  and  perpetuation 
in  power."  The  report  was  concluded  with  an  expression 
of  the  belief  that  the  federation  of  labor  should  be 
reorganized  in  the  near  future,  on  a  wider  basis 
than  then  constituted,  and  it  was  contended  that  its  then 
narrow  lines  of  action  would  never  be  successful  in  eman- 
cipating labor. 

Constitutional  Amendments — Perhaps  no  convention 
in  the  history  of  the  International  Union  was  productive 
of  more  legislative  enactments  than  the  session  held  in 
Philadelphia  in  1892.  Thirty-five  amendments  to  the 
constitution  were  favorably  considered  by  the  delegates 
and  were  adopted  by  the  referendum.  A  summary  of 
these  amendments  follows : 

(1)  To  permit -members  of  the  allied  crafts  to  become 
members  of  typographical  unions  in  cities  where  unions 
of  their  respective  crafts  do  not  exist;  (2)  making  a 
constitutional  provision  of  the  right  of  officers  to  refuse 
to  issue  a  charter  if  they  have  reason  to  believe  the 
organization  will  not  be  permanent,  and  requiring  that 
the  names  of  applicants  for  charter  shall  be  published 
in  the  Journal  at  least  thirty  days  prior  to  the  issuance 
of  charter;  (3)  changing  the  date  for  holding  the  annual 
conventions  from  June  to  October;  (4)  creating  the  office 
of  additional  organizer,  who  shall  be  a  practical  book- 
binder; (5)  providing  for  the  election  of  second  and 
third  vice-presidents  by  the  pressmen  and  stercotypers, 
respectively;  (6)  striking  out  the  provision  requiring 
■nana]  report!  from  subordinate  unions;  (7)  changing 
the  rate  of  per  capita  tax  from  1 5  to  25  cents — which  will 
include  the  revenue  for  the  Childs-I  >r<  \< !    Home;    (8) 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

changing  the  fiscal  year  to  commence  with  April  and 
end  with  March;  (9)  requiring  that  every  member  shall 
pay  per  capita  tax,  even  though  he  be  not  working  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  any  subordinate  union;  (10)  changing 
the  apportionment  of  the  revenue  so  as  to  increase  to  7^2 
cents  each  the  defense  and  burial  funds  and  reduce  the 
amount  heretofore  allotted  to  the  Childs-Drexel  Home 
to  5  cents ;  ( 1 1 )  setting  aside  certain  days  of  each  annual 
session  for  the  transaction  of  matters  of  interest  to  com- 
positors, exclusively,  and  specifying  days  when  measures 
of  interest  to  the  allied  crafts  may  be  introduced ; 
(12)  a  change  of  phraseology  regarding  auditing 
accounts  of  the  Childs-Drexel  Home;  (13)  providing 
that  the  Journal  shall  contain  not  less  than  eight  pages ; 
(14)  to  transfer  article  xiv  to  the  general  laws ;  ( 1 5 )  pro- 
viding that  the  president  of  a  district  union  may  be  noti- 
fied in  case  of  a  disagreement  between  a  subordinate 
union  and  an  employer  which  in  the  opinion  of  the  union 
may  result  in  a  strike;  (16)  requiring  the  organizer  in 
case  of  a  difficulty  in  cities  where  allied  trade  councils 
exist  to  call  meetings  of  the  allied  trades;  (17)  repealing 
the  section  requiring  the  executive  council  to  call  into 
consultation  the  presidents  of  the  allied  trades  in  case 
of  trouble  involving  said  crafts;  (18)  striking  out  section 
1,  article  xv — the  subject  being  covered  by  proposition 
10,  (19)  creating  new  article  providing  for  the  support 
of  the  Childs-Drexel  Home,  and  providing  that  moneys 
for  the  Home  shall  be  paid  over  to  the  treasurer  at  least 
once  a  month;  (20)  ratifying  the  action  of  the  trustees 
in  transferring  to  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Childs- 
Drexel  Home  the  land  at  Colorado  Springs,  defining 
eligibility  to  admission  to  the  Home,  requiring  a  report 
from  the  trustees  annually,  prohibiting  the  trustees  from 
amending  the  articles  of  incorporation,  constitution  or  by- 
laws of  the  corporation  except  as  directed  by  the  Interna- 

464 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1892 

tional  Typographical  Union,  and  providing  that  the  laws 
of  the  Home  shall  be  published  in  the  digest  of  laws  of  the 
International  Union;  (21)  amending  certificate  of  mem- 
bership so  as  to  show  the  date  to  which  bearer  has  paid 
per  capita  tax;  (22)  exempting  the  allied  crafts  from 
the  operation  of  the  law  providing  for  district  unions; 
(23)  creating  new  district,  comprising  Oregon,  Washing- 
ton and  British  Columbia;  (24)  providing  that  the  vari- 
ous allied  trades  shall  form  trade  districts;  (25)  making 
it  compulsory  on  the  part  of  unions  of  each  district  to 
form  district  unions;  (26)  providing  that  the  vice- 
president  representing  each  of  the  allied  crafts  shall  be 
president  of  the  respective  allied  trade  district;  (27)  pro- 
viding for  the  organization  of  state  unions ;  (28)  requir- 
ing that  only  such  amendments  as  are  favorably  acted 
upon  by  the  convention  shall  be  referred  to  subordinate 
unions;  (29)  adding  to  elective  officers,  nominees  for 
membership  on  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Childs-Drexel 
Home,  and  an  agent  of  the  International  Union  for  the 
purposes  of  the  Home;  (30)  making  any  member  of  any 
subordinate  union  eligible  to  election  as  trustee  of  the 
Home;  (31  and  32)  making  the  president  and  secretary- 
treasurer  of  the  International  Union  president  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Childs-Drexel  Home,  respectively;  (33) 
prescribing  impeachment  proceedings  which  may  be 
applied  in  case  of  offenses  by  any  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  Childs-Drexel  Home;  (34)  prescribing 
the  duties  of  the  agent  of  the  International  Union  in 
case  the  trustees  of  the  Home  fail  to  comply  with  the 
iiistnu itioni  of  the  International  Union;  and  (35)  requir- 
ing that  detailed  reports  of  expenditures  of  the  board  of 
es  and  proceeding!  of  meetings  of  said  board  shall 
l>c  published  in  the  Journal. 

Day  Law       Priority  —  The  abo\<-  U  an  epitome 
of  the  changes  in   the  organic  law  as  the  result  of  the 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

fortieth  session  of  the  International  Union.  Other  legis- 
lation comprehended  in  the  general  laws  of  the  organiza- 
tion worthy  of  notice  was  the  repeal  of  the  six-day  law 
adopted  at  the  Atlanta  convention  and  the  final  passage 
of  a  priority  law.  The  action  of  the  convention  in  repeal- 
ing the  six-day  law  was  received  throughout  the  jurisdic- 
tion with  many  formal  protests  and  the  enactment  of  the 
priority  law  also  brought  forth  strong  opposition.  Feeling 
among  the  members  on  these  two  propositions  was  so 
pronounced  that  the  executive  council  determined  that 
before  the  action  of  the  Philadelphia  convention  should 
have  effect  the  two  propositions  should  be  submitted  to  the 
referendum,  and,  immediately  following  the  referendum 
vote  on  the  thirty-five  constitutional  amendments,  a  vote 
was  had  on  the  priority  law  and  the  repeal  of  the  six-day 
law.  The  action  of  the  convention  in  passing  the  priority 
law  was  affirmed  by  the  referendum  by  a  majority  of 
i, 66 1  votes,  and  the  action  of  the  delegates  in  repealing 
the  six-day  law  was  reversed  by  a  majority  of  2,094 
votes. 

Strike  Fund  —  While  President  Prescott  had  strongly 
urged  the  creation  of  a  strike  or  resistance  fund  pre- 
paratory to  the  demand  for  the  nine-hour  workday,  and 
while  the  committee  to  which  the  president's  recommenda- 
tion was  referred  outlined  a  plan  contemplating  an  assess- 
ment of  1  cent  per  day  upon  all  members  of  the  union, 
beginning  September  1,  1892,  the  proposition  was 
defeated  by  the  referendum,  and  the  inauguration  of  a 
shorter  workday  received  another  setback. 

Minor  Legislation  —  Minor  legislation  was  enacted, 
including  a  provision  requiring  subordinate  unions  to 
elect  three  auditors,  instructed  to  examine  the  books  of 
the  financial  officers  of  subordinate  unions  quarterly,  and 
report  to  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International 
within  fifteen  days  after  such  examination.     By  a  resolu- 

466 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1892 

tion  adopted,  the  executive  council  was  instructed  to  ask 
for  a  conference  with  the  officers  of  the  National  Machin- 
ists' Union,  with  a  view  to  bringing  about  co-operation  in 
offices  where  typesetting  machines  were  used.  The  execu- 
tive council  was  empowered  to  make  any  arrangement 
deemed  best  for  the  interest  of  the  craft. 

Union  Printers  Home —  The  relations  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union  with  the  Childs-Drexel  Home  for  Union 
Printers,  under  the  charter  of  the  latter  body,  were  not 
what  the  International  had  intended  they  should  be,  nor 
what  the  craft  thought  they  were.  At  the  Atlanta  session, 
it  was  generally  understood  that  the  trustees  of  the 
Home  were  elected  to  act  in  the  capacity  of  agents  for 
the  members  of  the  International  in  the  erection  of  the 
buildings  and  in  the  management  and  control  of  the  prop- 
erty. It  was  learned,  however,  that  this  intention  had  not 
been  carried  out,  and  the  fact  was  reported  to  the  dele- 
gates at  Philadelphia.  The  publicity  given  the  matter 
by  the  executive  council  at  the  time  resulted  in  a  complete 
rearrangement  of  the  relationship  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees of  the  Home  to  the  International  Union. 

Pittsburgh  Strike  —  Although  the  referendum  had  de- 
flated the  proposition  to  establish  the  nine-hour  day 
in  all  jurisdictions,  by  failure  to  return  a  three-quarter 
majority,  in  several  subordinate  unions  the  sentiment  in 
favor  of  a  shorter  workday  was  such  that  incipient  strikes 
urn-  proposed  by  the  more  enthusiastic  members  of  the 
organization,  and  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh  the  book  and 
job  printers  and  pressmen  presented  •>  ICtli  of  wages 
which  called  for  a  reduction  of  hours  from  ten  to  nine. 
A  meeting  of  the  employing  printers   was   immediately 

callcd  and  an  organisation  formed  to  resist  the  demand! 

of  the  local  printers  and  pressmen.      This  local  organiza- 
tion <>f  cmpl  ide  application  and  received  I 
from  the  United  Typothctse,  the  latter  body  promising 

467 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

both  money  and  men  to  assist  in  defeating  the  demands 
of  the  union. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  two  unions  involved  was 
called  to  hear  the  report  of  their  committee  and  to 
decide  upon  what  future  course  to  pursue.  After  a  full 
and  free  discussion,  it  was  determined  to  refuse  to  return 
to  work  on  October  I,  1891,  unless  the  demand  for  a 
reduction  in  hours  was  granted.  The  employers  failing 
to  concede  the  nine-hour  day,  a  strike  was  inaugurated 
on  the  day  set,  involving  140  printers  and  40  pressmen. 
This  strike  was  the  first  real  clash  by  the  typographical 
union  and  the  typothetae,  and  its  history,  extending 
over  a  period  of  more  than  a  year,  gave  real  evidence  of 
the  determined  purpose  of  the  union  to  secure  the  shorter 
workday.  During  the  progress  of  this  struggle  appeals 
were  made  for  financial  assistance  and  voluntary  con- 
tributions amounting  to  many  thousands  of  dollars  were 
forwarded  to  Pittsburgh  Union. 

After  the  strike  had  been  in  progress  for  a  period  of 
two  months,  the  executive  council  of  the  International 
Union  convened  in  Pittsburgh  for  the  consideration  of 
methods  for  carrying  the  strike  to  a  successful  conclusion. 
A  thorough  investigation  was  had  into  the  existing  con- 
ditions in  that  city  and,  the  conduct  of  the  strike  being 
satisfactory,  it  was  ordered  by  the  executive  council  that 
a  proposition  be  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  entire  member- 
ship levying  an  assessment  of  10  cents  per  week,  com- 
mencing January  I,  1892,  and  to  be  declared  off  at  the 
discretion  of  the  council.  This  proposition  was  endorsed 
by  the  referendum  by  a  vote  of  10,909  ayes,  3,259  noes. 
The  assessment  was  carried  for  a  period  of  several 
months,  when  it  was  declared  off  and,  later  on,  an  assess- 
ment of  5  cents  per  capita  was  voted  and  continued  until 
the  necessity  for  financial  assistance  in  Pittsburgh  had 
passed,  when  the  executive  council  declared  it  off. 

468 


Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1892 

While  the  strike  for  the  nine-hour  day  in  Pittsburgh 
was  not  entirely  successful,  considering  that  the  effort 
was  purely  local  and  that  the  union  met  with  stubborn 
resistance  from  the  typothetae,  the  results  obtained  were 
highly  satisfactory. 

The  Injunction  —  During  the  progress  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh strike,  the  typographical  union  for  the  first  time  in 
its  history  felt  the  heavy  hand  of  the  injunction  judge. 
The  application  to  the  court  filed  by  the  typothetae  against 
the  members  of  the  local  typographical  and  pressmen's 
unions,  restricting  them  from  picketing  and  from  con- 
versing on  the  street  with  non-union  employes  of  the 
typothetae  ofHces,  was  handed  down  by  Judge  Porter. 
When  the  fact  became  known  that  an  injunction  had  been 
issued  against  members  of  the  strike  committee  there 
was  no  small  amount  of  indignation  expressed  by  many 
of  the  most  influential  and  intelligent  leaders  of  organ- 
ized labor  in  Pittsburgh,  and  in  order  to  give  vent  to  the 
pent-up  indignation  which  the  court's  decision  had  pro- 
duced a  mass  meeting  was  called  to  protest.  Previous 
to  the  meeting  members  of  the  typographical  union 
formed  in  line  at  headquarters  and  about  700  men  pro- 
ceeded to  the  meeting  hall,  passing  en  route  all  of  the 
large  non-union  offices.  In  order  to  permit  the  men  to 
parade,  all  of  the  morning  newspapers  in  the  city  sus- 
pended work  for  an  hour.  The  German  Typographical 
Union  of  Pittsburgh  also  turned  out  to  a  man.  Many 
persons  of  prominence  attended  the  meeting  and  strong 
1  (solutions  of  protest  were  adopted.  The  effect  of  the 
injunction  was  more  firmly  to  cement  the  ranks  of  the 
inkers,  and  activity  following  the  injunction  and 
tin-  mass  meeting  was  noticeable  to  a  marked  degree 
for  a  long  period  tin 

Chicago  was  selected  as  the  meeting  place  for  the  con- 
vention of  1893. 

469 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Officers,  i8q2  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were 
elected  as  follows :  President,  William  B.  Prescott, 
Toronto;  first  vice-president,  James  A.  J.  Hanifin,  Nash- 
ville; second  vice-president,  H.  C.  McFarland,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. ;  third  vice-president,  P.  J.  Weldon,  Chicago; 
secretary-treasurer,  W.  S.  McClevey,  Chicago.  District 
organizers — George  J.  Curtin,  Lynn,  Mass. ;  J.  F.  Klunk, 
Kansas  City ;  F.  N.  Whitehead,  Galveston ;  W.  M.  Jones, 
Louisville;  J.  W.  Patterson,  Ottawa,  Ont. ;  C.  E.  Hawkes, 
Seattle;  F.  M.  Pinneo,  Salt  Lake  City.  Trustees  Childs- 
D  rex  el  Home  for  Union  Printers — W.  B.  Prescott, 
Toronto;  W.  S.  McClevey,  Chicago;  James  J.  Dailey, 
Philadelphia ;  Frank  S.  Pelton,  Chicago ;  Edward  T. 
Plank,  San  Francisco ;  Columbus  Hall,  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  James  G.  Woodward,  Atlanta.  Delegates  to 
American  Federation  of  Labor — W.  B.  Prescott  (presi- 
dent) ;  R.  M.  Campbell,  Memphis;  P.  J.  Mclntyre, 
Denver;  H.  P.  Spaulding,  Boston. 

Secretary  McClevey  Resigns  —  On  the  18th  day  of 
January,  1893,  Secretary-Treasurer  McClevey  tendered 
his  resignation  to  President  Prescott,  as  follows : 

I  hereby  tender  my  resignation  as  secretary-treasurer  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  to  take  effect  as  early  as 
practicable. 

In  severing  my  official  connection  with  the  organization  I 
desire  to  express  to  you  personally,  and  to  the  other  officers  of 
the  International  Union,  my  assurance  of  appreciation  of  the 
courtesies  shown  and  advice  given  during  our  official  life — 
which  have  been  ofttimes  and  valuable — and  desire  also  to 
express  gratefulness  for  the  kind  forbearance  on  the  part  of 
the  officers  of  local  unions,  and  for  the  assistance  rendered  by 
so  many  of  the  members — all  of  whom  have  contributed  to  any 
success  which  I  may  have  attained  during  my  successive  terms. 
Assuring  you  that  I  am  not  insensible  to  the  honors  which  have 
been  conferred  upon  me,  and  also  of  my  gratification  that  our 
separation  is  made  with  such  mutual  good  feeling  and  well 
wishes,  I  am,  etc. 

470 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1893 

Mr.  McClevey  had  occupied  the  position  of  secretary- 
treasurer  since  1887.  He  was  chosen  at  a  time  when 
the  business  of  the  office  was  in  great  confusion,  but  he 
soon  reduced  it  to  order  and  system,  conducting  it 
throughout  his  term  of  office  on  sound  business  principles 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  who  had  dealings  with  the 
office.  Having  been  proffered  a  more  desirable  position, 
Mr.  McClevey  tendered  his  resignation  as  secretary-. 
treasurer,  which  the  executive  council,  after  the  books 
were  examined  and  found  correct,  accepted,  appointing 
A.  G.  Wines,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  as  Mr.  McClevey's  suc- 
cessor. 

Convention   at   Chicago 

[1893]  —  The  forty-first  convention  of  the  International 
Union  was  called  to  order  by  President  P.rescott  in  Mad- 
ison Hall,  Chicago,  on  Monday,  June  12,  1893.  The  roll 
call  showed  229  delegates,  representing  unions  from  all 
the  allied  trades. 

After  the  announcement  of  committee  appointments  by 
the  president,  Delegate  John  Leddy  informed  the  conven- 
tion that  Harry  E.  Gamble,  chairman  of  the  New  York 
delegation,  had  come  to  an  accidental  death  by  drown- 
ing on  the  day  previous.  A  special  committee  was 
appointed,  with  instructions  to  report  suitable  resolution- 
expressing  the  sentiment  of  the  convention,  and  to  make 
arrangements  for  burial  services. 

RE  VI  EM     01      OFFICERS'     REfOtTS 

In  his  annua]  address,  President    Prssoott  urged  the 
to  give  the  officers'  report-  careful  perusal,  for 

tfle  reason,  as  he  said,  that  he  felt  convinced  that  they 
would  demonstrate  that  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the 

•  1.1ft   was  in  the  midsl  of  what  might  In'  tinned  a  1 

01  transition,  due  mainly  to  the  rapid  introduction  of 

47i 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

machinery,  the  International  Union  had  made  satisfac- 
tory progress  in  both  method  and  accretions  of  member- 
ship. It  was  pointed  out  that  at  no  time  in  the  previous 
history  of  the  union  had  the  benefits  of  organization 
been  more  manifest.  The  union  was  the  instrument  by 
which  the  ever  present  spirit  of  selfishness  had  been 
curbed  during  the  introduction  of  typesetting  machines. 
The  president  also  said  that  machines  would  undoubtedly 
exercise  a  most  potent  influence  in  the  economy  of  the 
trade,  btrt  that  fact  should  not  dismay  the  membership, 
but  rather  serve  as  a  stimulus  to  renewed  effort  in  pre- 
serving and  strengthening  the  organization.  It  was 
urged  upon  the  delegates  to  heed  the  mistakes  of  past 
conventions  and  make  such  amendments  to  the  organic 
laws  as  were  necessary  to  place  the  union  in  the  most 
favorable  position  successfully  to  cope  with  the  many 
difficult  problems  the  future  undoubtedly  had  in  store 
for  the  organization.      Continuing,   the  president   said : 

My  experience  as  an  official  has  convinced  me  that  we  devote 
too  much  time  and  energy  to  the  rectification  of  trivial  evils, 
which,  when  remedied  at  considerable  expense,  it  may  be,  relieve 
but  very  few  and  vindicate  no  abiding  principle,  but  effectually 
obscure  weightier  and  more  important  problems,  relegating  the 
greatest  and  most  beneficial  reforms  that  can  be  obtained 
through  the  medium  of  trade  unionism.  While  other  crafts 
were  giving  their  entire  attention  to  devising  ways  and  means 
for  securing  shorter  hours  and  obtaining  work  for  their  idle 
members,  we,  for  the  most  part,  concerned  ourselves  about  minor 
matters,  affecting  only  those  in  employment,  apparently  for- 
getful that  our  real,  serious  menance  is  the  unemployed.  Of  all 
classes  of  members  comprehended  in  our  organization,  none 
should  receive  more  attention  than  the  constantly  increasing 
class  that  tirelessly  and  unavailingly  seeks  employment.  No 
combination  of  employers,  however  grasping  and  heartless,  can 
inflict  upon  us  the  injury  that  it  is  possible  for  idle  craftsmen 
to  impose.  The  axiom  that,  in  conflicts  between  employers  and 
employes,  it  is  the  worker  that  gives  victory  to  our  adversary 

472 


A.  G.  WINES.  St.  Louu 

SecrctaryTrraaurcr  International  Typographical  Union 

January  jH.  iHoj  ■   Nnvrmlirr   ij.   1806 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1893 

should  be  constantly  borne  in  mind.  So  deep-seated  is  the 
penchant  for  picayunish  legislation  that  nothing  but  an  educa- 
tional campaign  in  the  higher,  broader  and  nobler  aims  of  trade 
unionism  is  competent  to  eradicate  the  evil.  Being  an  old  organ- 
ization, there  has  been  engrafted  on  our  system  and  policy 
methods  and  ideas  that,  under  existing  conditions,  retard  rather 
than  accelerate  our  progress.  It  is  sincerely  hoped  that  on 
returning  home  from  the  convention  you  will  labor  earnestly  to 
prevent  the  consideration  of  unprofitable  and  animosity-breed- 
ing trifles  which  consume  the  union's  time,  and  have  the  mem- 
bers devote  their  attention  to  the  greater  questions  that  are 
awaiting  solution.  If  it  be  found  on  investigation  that  our  old, 
though  perhaps  dignified,  methods  are  inadequate  to  meet  the 
exigencies  of  the  occasion,  new  departures  must  be  made,  for 
these  points  are  pressing  themselves  upon  us  with  an  insistence 
which  bodes  us  no  good  if  they  are  longer  disregarded.  In 
urging  the  adoption  of  measures  of  a  strengthening  and.  pre- 
cautionary nature,  I  am  aware  that  the  avoidance  of  conflicts 
with  employers  is  a  cardinal  principle  with  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  and  it  is  with  this  object  in  view  that  I 
counsel  you,  for  I  realize  that  success  in  any  undertaking  favors 
most  frequently  the  comprehensive,  compact  and  well-disciplined 
labor  organization. 

Organization  Work — Under  the  head  of  "Organiza- 
tion," the  president  urged  that  this  particular  work  wai 
most  important — sufficiently  so  to  justify  the  creation 
of  a  regular  system  of  carrying  on  this  activity  and  the 
placing  of  an  active  member,  with  capacity  for  organiza- 
tion, at  its  head.  Referring  to  the  fact  that  the  office  of 
general  organizer  had  been  abolished  a  few  years  before, 
alter  it  had  been  in  existence  for  a  period  of  four  years, 
it  was  pointed  out  that  the  records  did  not  show  just 
what  prompted  the  Kansas  City  convention  to  take  that 
.ution,  but  the  presumption  was  that,  with  the  establish- 
ment of  permanent  headquarters,  and  making  the  presi- 
dent a  salaried  official,  the  work  of  the  general  organiser 
could  be  taken  over  and  handled   from   the  headquarters 

473 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

office.  It  was  also  stated  that  the  failure  of  the  general 
organizer  to  give  satisfaction  at  times  was  perhaps  due 
more  to  lack  of  funds  than  to  any  other  cause. 

Black-balling  —  The  president  deprecated  the  custom 
of  permitting  an  insignificant  number  of  members  of  a 
subordinate  union  to  reject  applicants,  and  held  that  while 
in  fraternal  societies,  where  social  qualifications  are  of 
paramount  importance,  such  restrictions  doubtless  served 
a  useful  purpose,  but  in  a  business  organization,  such  as 
a  trade  union  should  be,  their  existence  was  hurtful.  The 
basic  principle  of  the  union  was  that  the  majority  rule, 
and  there  was  no  good  reason  why  the  principle  should 
be  departed  from  in  this  instance  unless  it  was  shown 
that  three,  four,  five,  or  one-fourth  of  the  members,  are 
better  fitted  to  judge  of  the  wisdom  of  admitting  appli- 
cants than  a  majority.  Many  cases  had  come  to  light 
where  an  obstinate  and  silent  minority,  by  persistently 
black-balling  a  candidate,  had  not  only  frustrated  the 
will  of  the  majority  but  had  prevented  the  unionizing  of 
offices.  Repeatedly  International  officials  had  received 
complaints  showing  that  a  few  members  had  not  failed 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  afforded  to  vent 
their  personal  spleen  on  applicants  and  not  infrequently 
this  was  because  of  offenses  committed  by  the  friends 
or  supporters  of  the  applicant. 

Charters  —  The  report  showed  that  charters  had  been 
issued  to  46  subordinate  unions,  embracing  811  charter 
members;  16  unions,  embracing  252  members,  had  lapsed, 
and  10  unions,  with  120  members,  had  been  suspended. 

Allied  Trades  —  After  reviewing  the  various  funds, 
which  apparently  were  in  a  satisfactory  condition,  the 
president  referred  to  the  laws  governing  the  allied  trades, 
deeming  them  inadequate  to  meet  the  exigencies  which 
constantly  arose.  He  concluded  that  the  most  feasible 
and   acceptable  plan   for  obviating  any   dangers   which 

474 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1893 

might  lurk  in  the  continuance  of  the  prevailing  methods 
in  this  respect  would  be  the  investure  of  special  powers 
in  the  executive  council,  giving  that  body  authority  to 
call  out  affiliated  crafts  should  the  rights  of  any  one 
organization  be  invaded.  This  would  not  necessarily 
give  rise  to  the  abuses  that  at  first  sight. might  seem 
probable,  as  the  members  of  the  council,  hedged  in  as 
they  were  by  the  constant  necessity  of  conserving  the 
funds,  and  being  removed  from  the  influence  of  local 
conditions,  did  not  rush  in  heedlessly  and  inaugurate 
a  movement  unless  it  could  be  shown  that  prospects  of 
success  were  bright.  The  tendency  of  such  a  move  would 
be  to  bring  the  various  crafts  closer  together,  with  con- 
certed action  on  all  scale  matters  as  an  ultimate.  While 
the  action  suggested  contemplated  a  centralization  of 
power  that  would  be  distasteful  to  many  members, 
no  other  remedy,  apparently,  was  at  hand  to  destroy 
the  germs  of  discontent  that  were  plainly  discernible 
in  the  shiftless  law  and  policy  of  the  organization  at  that 
time. 

Shorter   Hours — Under    the    heading    of    "Shorter 
Hours,"  the  president  said: 

If  one  may  base  judgment  on  the  volume  and  tone  of  articles 
that  have  recently  appeared  in  the  craft  press,  the  demand  for 
shorter  hours  is  gathering  strength,  and  daily  becoming  more 
urgent.  The  great  feeling  in  this  direction  was  manifested  in 
the  issuance  of  a  call  for  a  convention  to  be  held  in  (.  "incinnati 
last  October,  Though  this  assemblage  was  without  sctnbl.i 
of  authority  so  far  as  the  International  Union  was  concerned,  I 
accepted  an  invitation  to  attend  and  participate  in  the  delibera- 
tions, which  resulted  in  the  adoption  of  a  plan,  the  main 
ires  of  which  are  commended  to  your  favorable  considera- 
tion. In  it  provision  is  mad.-  for  the  accumulation  of  a  large 
sum  of  money  and  accretion  of  members  before  any  demand  is 
\nd  though  propositions  looking  to  gradual  reductions 
until  we  reach  nine,  or  even  eight  hours,  will  be  laid  before 
you,   the  adoption  of  any  one  of  them  will  not  relieve  us  of 

475 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  necessity  of  providing  ways  and  means.  Experience  justifies 
us  in  assuming  that  no  matter  how  slight  and  gradual  the  reduc- 
tion we  propose,  it  will  generate  opposition,  and  failure  at  the 
outset  on  a  proposition  of  this  nature  would  have  a  disastrous 
effect  on  all  subsequent  movements  comprehended  in  the  scheme. 
In  canvassing  this  situation  you  should  not  lose  sight  of  the 
fact  that  while  this  reform  is  the  most  desirable  we  can  hope 
to  obtain,  many  employers  consider  that  alone  sufficient  reason 
for  offering  vigorous  opposition.  They  conjure  up  a  succession 
of  ills  that  are  expected  to  follow  its  inauguration,  and  appeal 
to  the  cupidity  of  their  fellows,  wholly  oblivious  of  the  fact 
that  in  other  industries — and  even  in  our  craft  in  Great  Britain 
and  Australia — a  reduction  of  the  hours  of  labor  has  had  any- 
thing but  a  detrimental  effect  upon  the  employer's  interests.  In 
dismissing  this  subject,  I  can  but  reiterate  the  admonition  of 
last  year,  viz.,  that  no  plan  be  approved  for  submission  to  a 
general  vote  that  has  not  for  a  condition  precedent  to  its 
adoption  the  accumulation  of  sufficient  funds  to  meet  any 
emergency  that  may  arise.  If  our  members  are  not  prepared  to 
devote  time,  energy  and  money  for  this  purpose,  it  indicates 
either  that  they  do  not  fully  realize  the  situation  or  that  the 
agitation  is  being  carried  on  by  the  more  advanced  and  far- 
seeing,  who  will  have  to  continue  the  campaign  of  education 
until  such  time  as  we  are  almost  unanimously  convinced  of  the 
advisability — aye,  necessity — of  adopting  practical  measures  for 
pushing  this  controversy  to  a  satisfactory  conclusion. 

Copyright  Law  —  Referring  to  the  copyright  law,  it 
appeared  that  no  progress  had  been  made  in  gathering 
information  as  to  the  effect  of  the  operation  of  the  law 
for  the  reason  that  the  United  States  labor  commissioner, 
whose  co-operation  had  been  secured  in  the  matter,  had 
urged  delay  on  account  of  the  fact  that  the  law  had  not 
been  long  enough  in  operation  to  gather  reliable  data. 

Reorganization  —  The  question  of  reorganization  was 
considered  at  some  length  by  the  president  and  it  was 
pointed  out  that  a  decided  sentiment  prevailed  favorable 
to  a  change  in  the  direction  of  enhancing  the  general 
attractiveness   and   cohesiveness   of  the   organization  by 

476 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1893 

the  adoption  of  some  benefaction.  It  was  urged  that  any 
propositions  sent  to  the  referendum  should  be  presented 
in  a  simple  and  clear-cut  manner,  thus  avoiding  the 
possibility  of  the  convention's  work  being  abortive  when 
submitted  for  ratification  by  the  membership.  President 
Prescott  urged  the  establishment  of  a  sick  benefit  fund 
and  a  provision  for  biennial  sessions  and  suggested  that 
these  two  propositions  be  submitted  to  subordinate  unions. 
The  experience  of  a  majority  of  the  staple  and  successful 
trade  unions,  and  over  sixty  subordinate  unions  and  the 
numerous  chapel  organizations,  was  ample  justification 
for  the  adoption  of  a  sick  benefit  law.  This  law  would 
not  only  help  materially  in  securing  new  members,  but 
would  assist  greatly  in  retaining  them.  Much  as  it  might 
be  deplored,  large  numbers  of  craftsmen  were  not  suffi- 
ciently discriminative  or  far-sighted  to  perceive  the 
mighty  influence  organization  has  on  wages  and  con- 
ditions, and  an  immediate  and  tangible  benefit  must 
be  shown  in  order  to  secure  their  attention.  Once  their 
attention  was  obtained,  the  greater  the  hope  of  success  in 
convincing  them  of  the  efficacy  of  unionism.  The  inability 
to  discern  the  necessity  of  combination  among  workers 
appeared  to  be  inherent  in  some  natures,  and  from  a  spirit 
of  self-interest  the  union,  wherever  possible,  should  bend 
to  those  constitutional  failings  which  no  amount  of  logic 
or  argument  can  eradicate. 

In  making  this  suggestion,  the  president  estimated 
that  10  cents  per  month  per  capita  would  enable  the  union 
to  provide  a  benefit  of  $5  for  a  period  of  five  weeks  if  the 
fund  were  surrounded  with  the  stringent  restrictions 
which  ordinary  business  precaution  would  did 

Machinists — In  accordance  with   institution-  by   the 
previous  convention,  directing  the  executive  cowcil 
confer  with   the  officials  of  the  machinist!1    union    with 
a  view  <>f  bringing  about  co-operition  between  machinists 

477 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  printers  in  offices  where  machines  were  operated  by 
union  men,  the  president  reported  that  negotiations  were 
opened  with  the  International  Machinists'  Union  which 
resulted  in  the  presentation  of  a  proposed  agreement 
to  the  executive  board  of  that  union.  It  had  been  impos- 
sible to  conclude  the  adoption  of  the  agreement,  however, 
because  of  the  fact  that  the  machinists'  union  insisted 
upon  inserting  the  following  clause : 

The  International  Typographical  Union  of  North  America 
shall  insist  that  none  but  union  men  be  employed  in  the  manu- 
facture of  linotype  machines. 

Seceding  Pressmen  —  The  report  of  Second  Vice- 
President  McFarland  opened  with  reference  to  relations 
with  the  pressmen  and  the  secession  of  about  one-third 
of  their  membership  from  the  ranks  of  the  International 
Union  and  asked  that  ways  and  means  be  devised  to  bring 
together  again,  in  bonds  of  amity  and  fraternity,  the 
diverging  and  combating  bodies  of  pressmen.  Con- 
tinuing, the  report  said: 

This  is  the  day  of  the  machine.  The  machine  is  not  coming, 
it  is  with  us,  and  it  behooves  us  as  craftsmen  to  get  closer 
together,  en  masse,  and  take  care  of  it  in  a  manner  to  show 
our  appreciation  of  so  important  an  invention  and  reap  whatever 
benefits  it  may  be  possible  for  labor  to  derive  from  labor  and 
dollar-saving  machines.  The  web  press  is  with  the  pressmen  as 
the  typesetting  machine  is  with  the  compositor.  They  are  boon 
companions,  and  with  a  dissatisfied  typothetae  as  their  main 
ally,  are  capable  of  terrible  devastation  to  our  ranks.  While 
the  output  of  production  will  increase  an  hundred  fold,  our 
numercial  strength  will  remain  about  the  same.  The  job 
printers  and  pressmen  are  about  the  only  ones  of  the  allied 
trades  who  have  not  been  seriously  affected  by  recent  invention. 
In  view  of  the  immense  strides  of  invention,  we  must  view  with 
alarm  any  effort  to  divide  or  disrupt  our  present  organization. 
I  am  firm  in  the  belief  that  all  persons  who  contribute  labor  to 
the  production  of  a  common  output  should  be  allied  together, 
with  due  reference  to  their  respective  branches,  to  assist  capital 

478 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1893 

in  regulating  the  price  and  the  hours  of  labor  and  mutually 
assist  each  other  in  adversity  and  the  fight  for  justice  and  right. 
I  feel  satisfied  that  it  would  be  almost  an  impossibility  for  any 
one. of  our  allied  trades  to  undertake  alone  the  fight  for  hours 
and  wages. 

It  was  reported  that  the  efforts  to  bring  about  an 
affiliation  with  the  seceding  pressmen  had  so  far  proved 
unavailing,  but  it  was  urged  upon  the  convention  to  con- 
tinue efforts  in  that  direction.  In  this  connection  a  basis 
of  organization  under  the  International  typographical 
charter  was  presented.  It  embraced  features  which 
it  was  believed  would  effectually  destroy  all  differences 
and  lead  to  a  harmonious  affiliated  organization.  The 
plan  embraced  a  somewhat  more  independent  organiza- 
tion of  pressmen  than  had  prevailed,  although  the  general 
authority  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  was 
to  be  fully  recognized. 

Stereotypers —  The  report  of  the  third  vice-president, 
Clarence  S.  Roberts,  was  somewhat  brief,  no  matter  of 
special  International  concern  having  transpired  among 
stereotypers  during  the  year.  Two  unions  had  been 
organized  during  the  term,  at  Philadelphia  and  Toronto 
No  strikes  occurred  during  the  year. 

Secretary-Treasurer' s  Report —  In  opening  his  report, 
Secretary-Treasurer  Wines  said:  "I  must  acknowledge 
that  it  was  with  much  delicacy  and  diffidence  that  I 
assumed  the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  the  office  to 
which  I  was  called  and  assigned  by  the  executive  council, 
doubly  so  because  of  the  many  and  important  duties  to  be 
therein  performed  and  of  the  fact  that  I  was  to  assume 
the  carrying  out  in  detail  of  the  plans  and  actions  of  my 
worthy  predecessor,  to  whom  the  organization  is  indebted 
for  the  correct  business  manner  in  which  the  affairs  of  the 
office  had  been  conducted  for  the  five  years  previous 
to  my  entry." 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

A  recapitulation  of  the  accounts  for  the  year  followed. 
A  cash  balance  above  $25,000  and  financial  transactions 
evidenced  a  healthy  increase  of  business  over  any  former 
year.  The  report  submitted  showed  that  the  receipts 
for  the  year  aggregated  $128,000.  In  pace  with  the 
financial  prosperity  of  the  organization,  there  had  been 
a  healthy  increase  in  membership.  The  average  during 
the  fiscal  year  ended  April  30,  1893,  as  shown  by  the 
payment  of  per  capita  tax,  was  30,454,  as  against  28,187 
the  previous  year,  an  increase  of  2,267.  A  table  was 
submitted  showing  that  the  total  number  of  deaths  during 
the  year  was  449.  The  average  age  at  death  was  41^2 
years.  The  greatest  number  of  deaths  occurred  at  the 
age  of  28.  Of  the  total  number  of  deaths,  almost  one-half 
(219)  were  caused  by  tuberculosis  and  kindred  diseases. 

Constitutional  Amendments  —  Of  the  legislation  pro- 
posed at  the  Chicago  convention,  22  constitutional 
amendments  were  approved  by  the  delegates  and  sent 
to  the  referendum.  All  of  the  amendments  were  carried 
by  substantial  majorities,  including  the  repeal  of  the 
priority  law.     A  summary  of  the  amendments  follows : 

(1)  Removed  the  necessity  for  publishing  the  names 
of  applicants  thirty  days  prior  to  issuing  a  charter; 
(2)  in  jurisdictions  where  pressmen's  unions  were  in 
existence  and  other  allied  craftsmen  were  not  sufficiently 
numerous  to  secure  independent  charters,  they  could 
apply  for  membership  in  pressmen's  unions;  (3)  per- 
mitted issuance  of  charters  to  web-pressmen  under  certain 
conditions;  (4)  authorized  the  issuance  of  charters  to 
bindery  girls;  (5)  permitted  the  admission  of  applicants 
to  newspaper  writers',  feeders',,  mailers'  and  web-press 
helpers'  unions  who  had  not  served  four  years'  appren- 
ticeship; (6)  identical  in  phraseology  and  effect  with 
the  second  proposition;  (7)  required  credentials  of  dele- 
gates to  be  returned  to  the  secreflaryrtreasurer  on  or  before 

480 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1893 

April  15;  (8)  provided  for  biennial  sessions  of  the 
International  conventions,  to  take  effect  after  the  Louis- 
ville meeting;  (9)  authorized  the  International  officials 
to  make  arrangements  for  convention  meetings;  (10) 
made  provision  for  alternating  dates  in  the  constitution, 
so  that  they  would  harmonize  with  the  mandate  calling 
for  October  meetings ;  (n)  provided  for  the  publication 
of  convention  proceedings  in  the  Typographical  Journal, 
thus  dispensing  with  the  necessity  of  publishing  them 
in  book  form;  (12)  relieved  the  secretary-treasurer  from 
mailing  two  copies  of  "the  regular  official  blank  report," 
which  was  not  more  specifically  set  forth  elsewhere  in 
the  laws;  (13)  required  that  organizers  should  publish 
the  names  of  applicants  for  provisional  membership 
in  the  Journal  and  if,  after  thirty  days,  no  valid  objec- 
tion was  filed  they  could  issue  cards  to  such  applicants 
on  the  payment  of  $1  as  initiation  fee;  (14)  extended 
the  scope  of  an  organizer's  duty  by  authorizing  him 
to  visit  towns  where  no  unions  existed;  (15)  increased 
the  constitutional  amount  allowed  organizers  for  organ- 
izing purposes  to  $200  per  year,  but  which  could,  as 
before,  be  increased  by  the  executive  council ;  ( 16)  struck 
out  a  superfluous  instruction  to  the  secretary-treasurer, 
known  as  section  6,  article  xvi,  which  found  its  way 
among  the  constitutional  provisions  without  authority  ; 
(17)  gave  the  executive  council  power  to  appoint  organ- 
izers in  districts  where  vacancies  occurred  from  any 
cause  whatever;  (18)  repealed  section  2,  article  \ 
and  substituted  in  lieu  thereof  1  provision  which  reduced 
the  area  of  districts  and  doubled  the  number,  making 
sixteen  in  all;  (19)  relieved  subordinate  unions  from  the 
necessity  of  attaching  themselves  to  district  and  state 
unions,  making  inch  affiliation  optional;  (20)  made  it 
a  duty  of  the  executive  council  to  submit  to  popular  vote 
any  proposed  law  or  amendment  which  was  supported 

4»t 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

by  twenty  subordinate  unions;  (21)  repealed  the  priority 
law  and  vested  foremen  with  the  right  to  employ  and 
discharge  help  at  will,  provided  such  discharge  did  not 
contravene  any  local  law  and  was  not  for  maintaining 
union  principles;  (22)  empowered  subordinate  unions, 
in  conjunction  with  the  executive  council,  to  test  the  prac- 
ticability of  the  McKellar  system  of  type  measurement. 

Nine-Hour  Day  —  The  convention  submitted  to  the 
referendum  another  proposition  to  establish  the  nine-hour 
day.  Like  previous  votes  on  the  same  question,  a  major- 
ity was  returned  in  favor  of  the  plan,  but  the  requisite 
three-fourths  affirmative  vote  was  not  polled.  It  was 
explained,  however,  that  the  distressing  condition  of  labor 
throughout  the  country  and  the  heavy  pressure  upon 
the  trade  caused  by  the  introduction  of  machinery  had 
largely  influenced  the  membership  against  adopting 
the  nine-hour  day  at  that  time.  An  unfortunate  incident, 
the  failure  of  the  Indianapolis  National  Bank,  which 
held  upward  of  $30,000  of  International  Typographical 
Union   funds,   had  a  depressing  effect  on  the  situation. 

Typesetting  Machines  —  The  committee  on  typesetting 
devices  presented  a  majority  and  minority  report,  the 
minority  report  referring  only  to  section  138,  general 
laws,  as  follows : 

The  International  Typographical  Union  demands  that  in  all 
offices  within  its  jurisdiction,  where  typesetting  machines  are 
used,  practical  union  printers  shall  be  employed  to  run  them, 
and  also  that  subordinate  unions  regulate  the  scale  of  wages 
and  time  on  such  machines. 

This  report  of  the  minority  was  adopted  and  part 
of  the  majority  report,  as  follows : 

At  the  outset  of  the  president's  report,  the  typesetting 
machine  question  is  dealt  with,  and  from  data  and  information 
furnished  your  committee  by  the  executive  council  and  delegates 
prompts  us  to  incorporate  the  following  in  our  report  relative 
to  typesetting  devices : 

Circulars  were  sent  out  and  replies  were  received  from  thirty 

482 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1893 

unions  where  machines  are  in  use,  employing  555  men,  operat- 
ing 282  machines.  These  machines  are  reported  to  have  dis- 
placed 463  men  and  given  employment  to  forty  non-union  men 
as  operators.  The  tendency  of  migration  would  appear  to  be  to 
the  larger  towns,  as  few  are  recorded  as  having  gone  to  the 
country,  but  the  great  bulk,  remain  at  home  and  secure  work 
there.  This  procedure  bears  most  heavily  on  the  peripatetic 
printer  in  the  last  analysis. 

The  advantage  of  thorough  organization  where  machines 
are  introduced  is  shown  in  Boston,  where  the  hours  are  given 
as  seven  on  newspapers  and  nine  in  book  offices,  and  one  non- 
union news  office. 

Section  138,  general  laws,  places  eight  hours  as  the  maximum 
number.    In  several  cities  this  provision  is  not  lived  up  to. 

A  vicious  feature  that  is  fastening  itself  upon  machine 
offices  and  machine  operators  is  the  bonus  system,  whereby  the 
operator  is  paid  so  much  per  hour  or  week,  as  the  case  may  be, 
and  receives  extra  pay  per  thouand  for  every  thousand  set  over 
and  above  a  certain  stint.  This  permits  of  the  operators  earning 
big  money  for  the  time  being,  but  it  causes  a  greater  displace- 
ment of  labor,  encourages  what  may  be  aptly  termed  "hoggish- 
ness,"  and  has  a  tendency  to  cause  over-exertion  on  the  part  of 
operators,  which  ultimately  impairs  their  health  and  morals. 

The  compensating  wage  advantage  will  be  but  temporary, . 
as  wages  are  but  the  amount  on  which  the  workers  as  a  classy 
are  prepared  to  subsist,  and  the  abnormal  high  rates  of  pay.,  t 
which  obtain  in  some  places  are  sure  to  hasten  a  reduction,  witlr'i 
the  result  that  we  will  in  a  few  years  be  getting  a  smaller  per- 
centage of  the  product  of  our  labor  than  would  be  the  case  if 
abnormally  high  wages  were  not  paid  at  present.   The  present 
period  of  inflated  wages  can  not  be  maintained  much  longer, 
and  when  the  period  for  reductions  is  upon  us  we  should  rcmcin-  \ 
ber  that  the  main  and  most  important  question  for  consideration    | 
is  the  conservation  of  our  organization.    Failure  to  recognize   * 
the  conditions  that  confront  us  will  lead  not  only  to  our  losing 
the  control  of  the  machines,  but  the  disruption  of  the  union. 

Sec.  139.  That  none  but  members  of  the  typographical 
union  be  allowed  to  operate  or  learn  to  operate  machines,  pro- 
vided  that  apprentices  may  work  on  machines  in  last  year  of 
apprenticeship,  who  shall  be  paid  two-thirds  of  the  wages 
i;ular  operators  until  their  time  of  apprenticeship  shall  have 
expired.    Local  laws  must  govern  apprentices  on  machines. 

483 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Sec.  14O.  No  member  of  a  subordinate  union  should  be 
allowed  to  accept  work  in  any  newspaper  or  job  printing  office 
where  a  task,  stint  Or  deadline  is  imposed  by  the  employer  on 
operators  of  typesetting  devices.  Any  infraction  of  this  pro- 
vision shall  be  punished  by  expulsion. 

Sec.  141.  Subordinate  unions '  shall  insist  that  expert 
machinists  having  charge  of  typesetting  devices  be  members  of 
the  local  machinists'  union,  where  said  union  exists. 

Sec.  142.  Operators  are  prohibited  from  accepting  a  bonus 
per  thousand  above  the  regular  scale. 

We  recommend  that  the  executive  council  be  directed  to 
confer  with  officials  of  the  National  Machinists'  Union  with 
a  view  to  bringing  about  co-operation  between  machinists  and 
printers  in  offices  where  machines  are  operated  by  union  men. 

International  Fund  —  Sick  Benefits  —  Following  the 
suggestion  contained  in  the  annual  address  of  President 
Prescott  that  the  union  establish  some  benefaction  which 
would  add  to  the  attractiveness  of  membership  in   the 
organization,  the  convention  submitted  to  the  referendum 
a  proposition  to  create  an  International  fund  of  not  less 
than  $5  per  member,  out  of  which  should  be  paid  all  the 
expense  and  benefits  of  the  International  Union,  the  fund 
?,to  be  held  pro  rata  by  the  subordinate  unions.     Through 
.  the  fund  thus  created  it  was  proposed  to  amplify  the  death 
I  benefit  to  the  extent  of  paying  $50  on  death  of  members 
of  6  months'  standing,  $100  on  5  years,  $150  on  10-year 
members,  $200  on   15 -year  members,  and,  as  a  further 
benefit,  it  was  proposed  that  members  incapacitated  by 
'  sickness  should  be  paid  $5  per  week  for  a  period  of  13 
weeks.      These  three  propositions,   properly   segregated, 
were  placed  upon  the  referendum  ballot,  and  a  vote  taken 
subsequent  to  the  convention.     All  three  of  the  proposi- 
tions met  with  defeat. 

Five-Day  Law  —  Under  the  provision  of  the  constitu- 
tion regulating  propositions  to  be  submitted  to  the 
referendum,  a  sufficient  number  of  subordinate  unions, 
at  the  suggestion   of   New  York  Typographical   Union 

484 


Convention  at  Chicago,  .1893 

No.  6,  petitioned  the  executive  council  to  submit  an 
amendment  to  the  general  laws  establishing  a  five-day 
week. 

The  fact  that  typesetting  machines  had  so  affected 
conditions  in  newspaper  composing  rooms  as  to  displace 
several  thousand  members  from  their  regular  employ- 
ment was  the  incentive  behind  the  suggestion  for  relieving 
the  condition  by  enacting  a  five-day  law.  The  measure, 
however,  was  defeated  by  the  referendum  by  a  vote  of 
7,564  ayes,  5,473  noes. 

Typographies  Amalgamation  —  In  obedience  to  instruc- 
tions of  the  Philadelphia  convention,  the  executive  council 
drafted  a  basis  on  which  the  organization  could  unite 
with  the  German-American  Typographia.  On  being 
submitted  to  the  membership,  the  proposition  was 
approved  by  a  vote  of  8,324  ayes,  3,333  noes.  Following 
the  adoption  of  the  treaty  by  the  referendum  of  the 
International  Union,  it  was  approved  by  the  membership 
of  the  Typographia.  It  will  be  seen  by  the  agreement 
that  the  office  of  fourth  vice-president  was  created,  this 
officer  to  be  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  German 
branch,  with  headquarters  at  Indianapolis.  The  amal- 
gamation treaty  is  herewith  reproduced : 

First.  The  members  of  the  German-American  Typographia 
lhall,  in  accordance  with  their  present  laws  and  customs,  elect 
by  general  vote  a  fourth  vice-president  and  three  mcml>crs,  who 
shall  constitute  an  advisory  board,  said  fourth  typographia 
Vice-president  to  be  the  secretary-treasurer  <>t'  thf.  <  lerman 
branch,  whose  headquarters  shall  he  located  at  Indianapolis; 
he  shall  have  general  supervision  of  sue  h  features  of  the  I 
man  branch  as  are  not  contemplated  by  the  existing  laws  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union;  he  shall  decide  all  quea- 
ii'tis  which  may  arise  between  members  and  unions  regarding 
benefit  features  and  the  practices  thereunder.  The  advisory 
hoard  shall  decide  all  appeals  from  the  dco-don  of  the  fourth 
vice-president  and  any  person  feeling  aggrieved  at  the  decision 
of  the  advisory  hoard  may  take  an  appeal  to  the  International 

485 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Typographical  Union  in  convention  assembled,  when  the  case 
shall  be  referred  to  a  committee  composed  of  all  the  delegates 
from  German  unions,  and  a  finding  of  a  majority  of  the  com- 
mittee shall  be  recorded  as  the  decision  of  the  International 
Union,  which  shall  be  final. 

Second.  The  fourth  vice-president  shall  receive  from  the 
International  Typographical  Union  the  sum  of  $500  yearly  in 
part  payment  of  that  official's  salary,  the  balance  thereof  and  all 
running  expenses  attaching  to  his  office  to  be  provided  for  by 
the  German-American  Typographia.  Provided,  however,  that 
the  residue  remaining  in  the  International  Union's  general 
fund  to  the  credit  of  the  German  members  shall  revert  to  the 
advisory  board,  to  be  applied  to  defraying  the  legitimate 
expenses  of  that  branch. 

Third.  All  laws  or  rules  governing  or  appertaining  to  the 
benefit  features  of  the  German-American  Typographia  in  force 
January  1,  1893,  to  remain  in  force  and  be  subject  to  amend- 
ment as  prescribed  on  the  aforementioned  date. 

Fourth.  Upon  all  other  subjects,  other  than  those  men- 
tioned in  paragraph  3  and  type  measurement,  together  with 
laws  and  customs  governing  foremen,  the  laws  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  in  force  January  1,  1893,  and  as 
thereafter  amended,  shall  prevail ;  provided,  this  shall  not  be 
construed  to  prohibit  the  special  privileges  granted  members  of 
the  German  branch  as  to  their  rights  under  traveling  cards,  as 
hereinafter  more  specifically  set  forth. 

Fifth.  Members  in  good  standing  desirous  of  transferring 
their  membership  to  a  union  of  the  opposite  language,  shall  be 
entitled  to  receive  the  International  Union  certificate,  which 
shall  be  furnished  upon  payment  of  current  month's  dues ; 
which  certificate  shall  be  deposited  with  the  proper  officers  of 
the  union  of  opposite  branch  within  forty-eight  hours.  The 
conditions  under  which  such  certificates  are  issued  and  received 
shall  be :  Members  of  the  German  branch  depositing  certificates 
with  English  unions  shall  have  option  of  retaining  membership 
in  the  German  union  for  beneficial  purposes,  such  beneficial 
membership  to  be  retained  by  the  payment  to  the  local  German 
union  of  all  dues  imposed  by  the  German  union  for  purely 
beneficial  purposes,  viz. :  that  part  of  the  dues  apportioned  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  sick  and  funeral  funds ;  and  such  mem- 
bers upon  redepositing  their  certificates  with  the  German  branch 
shall  be  entitled  to  all  benefits  the  same  as  though  their  mem- 

486 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1893 

bership  in  the  German  branch  had,  in  every  respect,  been  con- 
tinuous; German  members  of  English  unions,  retaining  benefit 
membership  in  the  German  union,  shall  have  the  right  to 
participate  in  the  discussion  of,  and  to  vote  upon,  all  proposed 
amendments  in  the  laws  and  rules  governing  or  bearing  upon 
the  benefits  to  which  he  is  a  contributor ;  members  of  the  Ger- 
man branch,  depositing  a  certificate  with  the  English  union, 
who  may  fail  to  pay  to  the  German  union  the  dues  required  to 
maintain  benefit  membership,  and  at  the  time  and  in  the  manner 
prescribed  by  the  laws  and  rules  of  the  German  union,  shall  be 
deemed  to  have  severed  their  connection  with  the  German  union, 
and  upon  redepositing  their  certificates  shall,  as  to  benefits,  be 
considered  new  members,  viz. :  subject  to  the  laws  requiring 
that  members  shall  be  such  for  certain  specified  terms  to  entitle 
them  to  benefits ;  benefit  members  of  the  German  union  who 
may  be  working  within  the  jurisdiction  of  an  English  union, 
and  who  may,  for  any  cause,  be  expelled  from  said  English 
union,  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  simultaneously  expelled 
from  the  German  union,  and  shall  be  deprived  from  benefits 
from  date  of  expulsion,  it  being  understood  that  said  expelled 
member  shall  have  the  right  of  appeal,  and  that  if  upon  appeal 
he  be  reinstated,  such  reinstatement  shall  also  apply  to  the 
German  branch  as  well,  and  he  shall  be  continued  in  benefits 
without  prejudice;  members  in  the  English  union  not  benefit 
members  of  the  German  branch,  depositing  certificates  with  the 
German  union  shall  be  considered  new  members,  and  shall  be 
subject  to  the  laws  requiring  that  members  be  such  for  certain 
specified  terms  to  entitle  them  to  benefits ;  in  all  cases  a  duly 
accredited  certificate  shall  of  itself  be  sufficient  to  entitle  the 
holder  to  membership  in  any  union  in  which  he  may  desire  to 
deposit,  shall  entitle  the  depositor  to  all  benefits  (unless  he  be 
physically  disqualified),  and  no  union  shall  have  power  to 
reject  such  certificate. 

Sixth.  The  laws  and  rules  governing  and  bearing  upon  ben- 
efits in  the  German  branch  shall  be  amended  in  the  manner 
prescribed  by  the  constitution  of  the  German-American  Typo- 
graphia,  and  no  member  shall  have  the  right  to  vote  thereon, 
except  members  of  the  German -American  Typographia  and 
benefit  members  attached  to  BngUtfa  unions,  l*>th  to  vote  at  tin- 
time  and  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  the  constitution  of  the 
German-American  Typographia. 

Seventh.  While  tin-  members  of  the  German  branch  shall. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

as  heretofore,  have  absolute  control  of  their  out-of-work,  sick, 
traveling  and  death  benefits,  except  as  otherwise  stipulated 
herein,  the  laws  of  that  organization  regarding  strikes  and 
strike  benefits  are  to  be  superseded  by  the  laws  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  upon  strikes  and  strike  benefits. 

Eighth.  In  any  city  or  town  affording  employment  to  seven 
or  more  printers  on  German  work,  those  so  employed  shall  or- 
ganize a  German  branch. 

Ninth.  German  unions  shall  attach  themselves  to  allied 
trades  joint  standing  committee,  and  any  differences  as  to  juris- 
diction between  English  and  German  unions  shall  be  referred 
to  this  body  for  adjudication,  but  nothing  herein  shall  be  con- 
strued as  preventing  the  aggrieved  party  from  taking  an  appeal 
from  its  decision  to  the  executive  council. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  That  the  direction  and  main- 
tenance of  the  Union  Printers  Home  was  not  accom- 
plished without  numerous  difficulties  will  be  seen  from 
the  report  of  the  committee  on  Home  affairs  submitted 
to  this  convention.  While  the  main  building  had  been 
completed  and  the  Home  had  been  formally  opened  for 
the  reception  of  residents,  much  dissatisfaction  was 
apparent  and  rumors  of  incompetency  on  the  part  of  those 
having  in  charge  the  erection  of  the  buildings  and  the 
management  of  the  Home's  affairs  were  current.  The 
matter  was  considered  in  executive  session  by  the  dele- 
gates. At  the  conclusion  of  their  deliberations,  however, 
a  brief  committee  report  was  ordered  to  be  made  public, 
a  part  of  which  follows  : 

We  have  examined  much  correspondence  relative  to  the 
building  of  the  Home,  establishing  gross  negligence  by  those  to 
whom  its  construction  was  intrusted.  There  has  been  a  general 
denial  of  responsibility  by  those  interested,  each  shifting  the 
culpability  of  faulty  construction,  but  each  and  all  connected 
immediately  with  it  seem  in  some  way  and  to  some  extent  to  be 
to  blame.  The  contractors,  except  the  plumber,  appear  to  have 
construed  to  their  own  interest,  without  protest  or  interference, 
every  doubtful  portion  of  the  plans  and  specifications  and  to 
have  deviated  from  them  at  will,  obtaining,  in  violation  of  the 
contract,  several  thousand  dollars,  and  this  was  done,  though  the 

488 


Convention  at  Chicago,  1893 

Home  had  in  its  employ  those  whose  duty  it  was  to  have  guarded 
and  protected  its  interests.  It  is  unprofitable,  in  your  commit- 
tee's opinion,  that  we  further  pursue  this  portion  of  our  investi- 
gation, as  we  do  not  believe  that  the  recovery  of  money  so  ap- 
parently unjustly  obtained  is  probable,  but  we  suggest  that  this 
matter  be  referred  to  the  trustees  for  their  careful  consideration. 
Your  committee,  with  the  information  and  testimony  before 
them,  are  not  able  to  single  out  individuals  upon  whom  the 
blame  should  rest. 

The  expert's  report  indicates  that  the  Home  is  not  only  de- 
fective but  dangerous.  We  are  not  able,  from  lack  of  time  and 
witnesses,  to  substantiate  or  disprove  his  statements,  but  were 
furnished  the  information  that  he  is  a  gentleman  of  repute  in 
his  profession.  There  was  also  corroborative  evidence  of  mem- 
bers who  have  visited  the  Home  that  the  building  is  defective  in 
construction,  and  to  preserve  it  from  further  injury  it  should  be 
repaired#  without  delay.  The  estimated  cost  of  the  repairs  re- 
quired is  $4,260.96.  We  would  therefore  recommend  that  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Home  employ  a  competent  architect  and 
advertise  for  bids  for  such  repairs  as  may  be  needed,  the  cost 
of  the  same  to  be  paid  out  of  any  Home  fund  in  their  possession 
not  otherwise  appropriated. 

We  believe  that  the  Home  should  be  continued  as  contem- 
plated by  its  charter  and  as  at  present  conducted ;  to  provide 
and  maintain  a  home  for  afflicted  and  aged  and  infirm  union 
printers.  The  necessity  has  not  in  the  opinion  of  your  com- 
mittee yet  arisen  for  the  separation  of  those  who  go  there  for 
the  purpose  of  a  home  from  those  who  are  classed  as  hospital 
patients. 

Death  of  former  President  Hammond — During  the 
progress  of  the  convention,  a  communication  was  received 
from  New  Orleans  announcing  the  death  of  former 
President  William  J.  Hammond.  The  following  resolu- 
tions were  adopted  by  the  convention  as  a  mark  of  respect 
to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Hammond: 

Whereas  full  of  years,  loved  and  honored  by  his  fellow 
citizens  and  idolized  by  the  printers  of  tin-  country.  to  whom  he 
In-stowed   the  best   vcars  ,.t"   his   vigorous  manhood,    William    1 
Hammond,  of  New  <  >rhans,  has  passed  over  to  the  side  of  the 
silent  majority  ;  and 

489 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Whereas  the  early  history  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  is  bound  up  in  the  history  of  William  J.  Hammond, 
its  early  administration  is  glorified  by  his  name,  and  its  per- 
petuation is  the  best  monument  to  his  memory,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  death  of  William  J.  Hammond,  which 
occurred  during  the  deliberations  of  this  session,  has  cast  a 
gloom  over  the  whole  International  body  and  heartfelt  sorrow 
among  the  oldtime  printers  of  the  land: 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  preamble  and  resolutions 
be  engrossed,  and  a  copy  forwarded  to  the  family  of  Mr. 
Hammond,  and  another  to  New  Orleans  Typographical 
Union  No.  17. 

Resolved,  As  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  William 
J.  Hammond,  that  when  this  convention  adjourns  it  do  so  out 
of  respect  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Hammond. 

Death  of  Harry  E.  Gamble  —  The  report  of  the  com- 
mittee to  draft  resolutions  on  the  death  of  Harry  E. 
Gamble  was  read  and  adopted. 

The  president  appointed  the  following  gentlemen  as 
a  committee  to  accompany"  the  remains  of  Mr.  Gamble 
to  New  York:  Messrs.  Winders  (San  Francisco),  Deck 
(Chicago)   and  Runkles   (Omaha). 

Louisville,  Ky.,  was  selected  as  the  meeting  place  for 
the  convention  of  1894,  the  date  of  meeting  being  changed 
from  June  to  October. 

Officers,  189J  —  Officers  for  the  ensuing  term  were 
elected  as  follows :  President,  William  B.  Prescott, 
Toronto;  first  vice-president,  J.  W.  Hopkins,  Pittsburgh; 
second  vice-president,  H.  C.  McFarland,  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  third  vice-president,  W.  B.  Lewis,  Chicago ; 
secretary-treasurer,  A.  G.  Wines,  St.  Louis.  District 
organizers — E.  A.  Keyes,  Albany ;  M.  T.  White,  Lincoln ; 
O.  A.  Eylar,  Dallas;  V.  B.  Williams,  Chicago;  George 
W.  Dower,  Toronto;  J.  L.  Robinette,  Sacramento;  F.  M. 
Pinneo,  Salt  Lake  City;  C.  E.  Hawkes,  Seattle.  Trus- 
tees Childs-Drexel  Home  for  Union  Printers — W.  B. 
Prescott,   Toronto;  A.    G.   Wines,   St.    Louis;   James  J. 

490 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

Dailey,  Philadelphia;  Frank  S.  Pelton,  Chicago;  Edward 
T.  Plank,  San  Francisco;  Columbus  Hall,  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  F.  A.  Colby,  Colorado  Springs.  Delegates  to 
American  Federation  of  Labor — W.  B.  Prescott  (presi- 
dent) ;  William  J.  Miller,  Boston  (mailer)  ;  Henry 
Dorsey,  Dallas  (pressman)  ;  C.  L.  Drummond,  Fort 
Wayne. 

New  Organizing  Districts  —  The  Chicago  convention 
having  submitted  to  the  referendum  a  proposition  to 
increase  the  organizing  districts  from  eight  to  sixteen, 
and  the  same  being  approved,  the  law  became  effective 
November  1,  1893.  The  new  districts,  together  with  the 
organizers,  were  announced  in  the  Typographical  Journal 
as  follows : 

First  District — P.  A.  White.  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massa- 
chusetts,  Connecticut  and  Rhode   Island. 

Second  District — E.  A.  Keyes.     New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

Third  District — A.  W.  Thomson.  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Dela- 
ware and  District  of  Columbia. 

Fourth  District — George  Stoll.  Virginia,  West  Virginia  and  North  Caro- 
lina. 

Finn  District — M.  C.  Wallace.     Georgia,  Florida  and  South  Carolina. 

Sixth   District — Robert  Y.  Ogg.     Michigan  and  Wisconsin. 

Seventh  District— V.  D.  Williams.     Indiana,  Illinois  and  Kentucky. 

Eighth  District — J.  J.  Aberle.  Tennessee,  Alabama,  Mississippi  and 
Louisiana. 

Ninth  District— W.  E.  O'Blcnness.     Missouri,  Iowa  and  Arkansas. 

Tenth  District— H.  W.  Dennett.     The  Dakatos,  Manitoba  and  Minnesota. 

Eleventh  District — M.  T.  White.  Kansas,  Colorado,  Nebraska,  Indian 
Territory  and  Oklahoma. 

Twelfth  District — H.  B.  Johnson.     Texas  and  New  Mexico. 

Thirteenth  District— J.  W.  Purcell.  Montana,  Wyoming.  Idaho  and 
Utah. 

Fourteenth  District— J.  I*  Robinette.  Nevada,  California,  Ariaona  and 
Sandwich  Islands. 

Fifteenth  District— C.  E.  Hawkea.  Oregon.  Washington  and  British  Co- 
lumbia. 

Sixteenth  District— George  W.  Dower.  All  the  provinces  of  Canada  «*• 
cept  Manitoba  and  British  Columbia. 

Convention   at   Louisville 

[1804] — The  forty-second  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union  was  called  to  order  by  President  Prescott 
in  Louisville,  Ky.,  Monday,  October  8,   1894.  delegates 

401 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

being  present  representing  typographical,  pressmen's, 
stereotypers'  and  electrotypers',  web  pressmen's  and 
pressfeeders'  unions  and  the   German-American  Typo- 

graphia. 

officers'   reports 

The  president,  in  opening  his  annual  address,  called 
attention  to  the  period  of  business  depression  that 
enveloped  the  printing  industry  immediately  following 
the  adjournment  of  the  forty-first  session  at  Chicago.  In 
the  universal  contraction  of  business  it  was  not  to  be 
expected,  he  said,  that  labor  organizations  would  escape, 
and  with  extreme  regret  it  was  admitted  that  many  had. 
suffered  both  in  numbers  and  finances.  Notwithstanding 
this  condition,  and  the  added  havoc  produced  by  the 
introduction  of  machinery,  the  president  congratulated 
the  craft  on  a  substantial  increment  of  actual  paying 
members — about  1,000 — exclusive  of  1,000  German- 
speaking  printers  who  had  affiliated  in  accordance  with 
an  agreement  satisfactory  to  both  that  body  and  the 
International  Union.  Though  it  had  been  necessary  to 
grant  unusual  latitude  to  individuals  and  to  subordinate 
unions  in  localities  where  the  currency  stringency  had 
reached  its  acutest  stage,  the  financial  business  of  the 
organization  as  a  whole  had  been  conducted  with  prompt- 
itude and  accuracy.  This  was  due  in  a  great  measure  to 
t  the  intelligent  application  of  business  methods,  which 
'  had  been  a  noticeable  feature  of  polity  beginning  with 
the  administration  of  Secretary  McClevey.  Had  the 
organization  pursued  the  haphazard  system  of  transact- 
ing business  which  formerly  prevailed,  undoubtedly  the 
union  would  have  been  seriously  shaken  by  the  financial 
«  depression.  The  paramount  lesson  to  be  drawn  from 
this  was  that  the  union  should  continue  adding  attractive, 
cohesive  and  strengthening  features,  conducting  them 
in  accordance  with  the  most  approved  business  principles. 

492 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

While  the  union  might,  with  pardonable  pride,  con- 
gratulate itself  on  the  splendid  demonstration  of  stability 
made  by  the  membership,  it  would  be  an  ineffectual  and 
cowardly  evasion  of  a  manifest  duty  to  assume  that  under 
existing  circumstances  this  would  continue.  The  member- 
ship should  be  directing  its  best  thought  to  devising  ways 
and  means  of  meeting  the  changed  conditions  resultant 
from  machinery  having  been  introduced  into  the  craft. 

Organization  Work —  Under  the  head  of  "Organiza- 
tion," it  was  reported  that  there  had  been  no  diminution 
of  effort  in  this  direction  during  the  year,  though  results 
had  been  far  from  encouraging,  conditions  being  such 
as  to  exclude  the  possibility  of  establishing  unions  in 
many  places  that  under  ordinary  circumstances  would 
be  promising  fields.  More  literature  had  been  distributed 
than  ever  before  in  the  history  of  the  craft,  but  the 
responses  were  so  few  that  it  deterred  and  discouraged 
the  officials  handling  this  work.  It  was  apparent  that 
printers  throughout  the  country  were  despondent,  and 
the  general  uncertainty  prevalent  as  to  the  stability  of 
their  situations  caused  them  to  look  askance  at  those  who 
advocated  organization,  but  it  was  hoped  that  the  seed 
sown  would  bear  fruit  when  trade  revived.  When  the 
extent  and  scope  of  the  commercial  disaster  became 
manifest,  organizers  were  advised  to  devote  particular 
attention  to  the  conservation  of  existing  unions,  and  to 
this  policy  was  attributed  in  a  great  degree  tin-  very 
satisfactory  showing  made  by  the  International  during 
this  period.  The  president  again  mewed  his  raom- 
mendation  that  a  traveling  organizer  be  placed  in  tin 
field,  subject  to  the  direction  of  the  executive  council 
or  president.  Such  an  official  could  not  only  organ 
subordinate  unions  where  none  existed,  especially  among 
the  allied  crafts,  but  could' be  of  great  ser\  u c  in  strength- 
ening weak  organizations  by  creating  enthusiasm   and 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

instructing  officials  in  the  proper  method  of  transacting 
business.  Speaking  further  on  the  subject  of  organizers, 
the  president  strongly  urged  the  greatest  care  in  selecting 
for  these  positions  men  of  good  judgment,  energy  and 
force  of  character;  men  who  possessed  strength  to  ignore 
the  taunts  of  the  disappointed  and  the  disgruntled — who 
could  meet  honest  and  legitimate  criticism  calmly  and  dis- 
passionately and  treat  with  contempt  the  jeers  of  the 
uninformed  and  the  unthinking. 

Including  the  German-American  unions,  61  charters 
had  been  issued  during  the  year,  embracing  a  total  mem- 
bership of  2,182.  Twenty-seven  charters  had  been 
surrendered,  affecting  a  membership  of  582,  and  13 
charters  had  been  suspended,  embracing   176  members. 

American  Federation  of  Labor  Political  Platform  — 
Referring  to  the  report  of  the  delegates  of  the  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Labor,  the  president  called  attention 
to  the  political  platform  submitted  by  that  body  to 
affiliated  unions,  with  the  request  that  delegates  to  the 
next  federation  convention  be  instructed  on  this  important 
subject.  The  platform  of  the  federation  contained  eleven 
planks,  ten  of  which  were  endorsed,  as  follows :  Com- 
pulsory education ;  direct  legislation ;  a  legal  eight-hour 
workday;  sanitary  inspection  of  workshop,  mine  and 
home;  liability  of  employers  for  injury  to  health,  body 
or  life;  the  abolition  of  contract  system  in  all  public 
work ;  the  abolition  of  the  sweating  system ;  the  municipal 
ownership  of  street  cars  and  gas  and  electric  light  plants 
for  public  distribution  of  light,  heat  and  power;  the 
nationalization  of  telegraphs,  telephones,  railroads  and 
mines,  and  the  principle  of  referendum  in  all  legislation. 
The  following  plank  in  the  federation's  platform,  "the 
collective  ownership  by  the  people  of  all  means  of  pro- 
duction and  distribution,"  was  amended  as  follows :  "The 
abolition  of  the  monopoly  system  of  land  owning  and 

494 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

substituting  therefor  a  title  of  occupancy  and  use  only." 
Two  additional  planks  were  also  incorporated  by  the 
convention  and  approved  by  the  referendum,  as  follows: 
"The  state  and  national  destruction  of  liquor  traffic"  and 
"the  abolition  of  monopoly  privilege  of  issuing  money 
by  individuals  or  corporations  and  substituting  therefor 
a  system  of  direct  issuance  to  and  by  the  people." 

Indianapolis  Bank  Failure  —  Referring  to  the  failure 
of  the  Indianapolis  National  Bank,  which  carried  deposits 
of  the  International  Union  amounting  to  more  than 
$30,000,  the  president  said : 

On  July  25,  1893,  your  officers  and  the  citizens  of  Indianap- 
olis were  surprised  to  learn  that  the  Indianapolis  National  Bank 
had  suspended  payment.  At  first  it  was  not  thought  by  the 
commercial  world  and  the  general  public  that  any  loss  would 
accrue  to  the  depositors,  as  the  institution  carried  on  a  very 
lucrative  business  and  was  conducted  by  an  experienced  man, 
whose  probity  was  undoubted  and  who  was  regarded  as  the 
financial  nestor  of  the  city  and  surrounding  country.  The 
statements  presented  to  the  public  and  controller  of  the  cur- 
rency indicated  a  prosperous  concern,  but  a  searching 
investigation  showed  that  almost  inconceivable  rascality  had 
been  indulged  in,  and  as  a  result  the  assets  had  been  impaired 
to  a  very  great  extent.  It  is  unnecessary  to  recount  here  the 
criminal  prosecution  and  discharge  of  incompetent  government 
inspectors  that  were  culpably  negligent  in  the  performance  of 
their  duty.  The  affairs  of  the  defunct  institution  were  plant  I 
in  the  hands  of  a  receiver  who  has  declared  two  dividends 
amounting  to  35  per  cent  on  the  total  claim  and  expects  to 
realize  20  to  25  per  cent  more.  This  will  make  a  net  loss  of 
about  $12,000.  With  the  idea  of  again  reducing  this  amount. 
vmir  president  and  secretary-treasurer  had  a  suit  instituted 
against  the  directors  as  individuals  to  recover  the  balance  from 
them  on  the  ground  that  we  were  induced  to  do  business  with 
tin  hank  on  the  strength  of  what  were  ultimately  shown  to  be 
misleading  sworn  statements  as  to  the  condition  of  its  affairs. 
It  seems  to  be  the  general  impression  among  the  legal  frater- 
nity that  we  have  an  excellent  case  and  several  others  have 
since  been  entered  on  the  same  theory.  The  cost  of  the  suit  will 

495 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

be  comparatively  small,  as  the  lawyer  having  the  case  in  hand 
accepts  it  on  the  following  terms : 

"I  will  prosecute  the  claim  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union,  of  which  you  are,  respectively,  president  and 
secretary-treasurer,  on  these  terms.  Retainer,  $100  paid  at 
start.  On  compromise  before  trial  an  amount  equal  to  25  per 
cent  of  the  difference  between  face  value  of  the  claim  and  the 
total  amount  of  dividend  declared  by  receiver. 

"On  collection  by  process  of  court  after  judgment  an  amount 
equal  to  50  per  cent  of  the  difference  between  the  face  value  of 
claim  and  the  total  amount  of  dividend  declared  by  the 
receiver;  provided,  however,  that  in  no  event  shall  my  con- 
tingent fee  exceed  $7,500." 

From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  we  are  called  upon  to  risk 
little  in  comparison  with  the  possible  return.  An  explanation 
as  to  why  so  much  money  should  be  kept  in  one  depositary  is 
due  the  craft,  though  I  am  not  sensible  that  any  one  cognizant 
of  the  standing  of  the  Indianapolis  National  Bank  will  ques- 
tion the  business  discretion  of  those  who  relied  upon  its  stability 
and  the  fidelity  of  the  management.  Its  stock  was  35  to  40  per 
cent  above  par  and  up  to  the  day  of  suspension  eagerly  sought 
after  by  financial  investors,  and  among  its  depositors  were  such 
astute  business  institutions  as  the  New  York  Equitable  Life 
Insurance  Company,  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  several  large 
railroad  corporations,  many  prominent  and  successful  merchants 
and  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  trusts.  Our  failure  to  distribute 
the  funds  among  the  banks  was,  and  is,  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
law  requires  that  interest  shall  be  procured  where  possible.  The 
account  is  necessarily  an  open  one — subject  to  check — and  under 
the  Indianapolis  clearing  house  rules  interest  is  not  allowed  on 
this  class  of  deposits.  We  succeeded  in  securing  interest,  how- 
ever, on  condition  that  all  our  business  was  done  with  one 
concern. 

Typesetting  Machines  —  President  Prescott  spoke  at 
some  length  on  the  subject  of  typesetting  machines 
and  their  effect  on  the  printing  trade,  dwelling  particu- 
larly upon  the  fact  that  the  introduction  of  machinery 
was  coincidental  with  and  perhaps  in  a  small  meas- 
ure attributable  to  the  depression  through  which  the 
country    had   been    passing.     Based  on  the  most  reliable 

496 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

information  obtainable,  about  3,500  members  of  the  union- 
had  been  deprived  of  employment  by  the  1,450  machines 
then  in  use.  True  to  the  history  and  ethics  of  real  trade 
unionism,  the  organization  had  not  antagonized  the  intro- 
duction of  machines,  but  had,  admittedly  with  some 
reluctance,  formulated  scales  and  entered  into  agreements 
suitable  to  the  changed  conditions.  Many  new  questions 
had  arisen  to  harass  and  aggravate,  but  in  dealing  with 
these  questions  the  future  of  the  craft  had  been  kept 
in  mind  while  accepting  the  inevitable  and  securing  the 
best  terms  possible.  It  was  a  foolish  evasion  of  facts 
to  attempt  to  deny  the  unwelcome  truth  that  the  machines 
for  a  time  had  placed  the  union  at  a  decided  disadvantage 
with  employers,  but  this  condition  could  be  overcome  by 
the  application  of  the  basic  principle  of  unionism — hearty 
acquiescence  in  the  will  of  the  majority.  It  had  been 
advocated  in  some  quarters  that  the  International  Union 
secure  control  of  patents  of  existing  machines,  or  offer 
inducements  for  the  invention  of  new  ones,  renting  them 
to  publishers  and  others,  but  these  suggestions  were 
dismissed  as  chimerical. 

One  bright  spot  amid  the  gloom  that  surrounded  the 
introduction  of  machinery  was  the  fact  that  in  a  majority 
of  instances  employers  had  shown  a  disposition  to  engage 
their  old  employes  as  operators,  thus  affecting  the  least 
possible  disturbance  in  the  personnel  of  affected  unions. 
While  the  International  had  been  unable  to  condone  any 
subordinate  union  legislation  that  sought  to  deprive  card- 
holders of  their  legal  rights,  whatever  influence  the 
officers  had  had  been  exercised  in  urging  employers  to 
forego  the  importation  of  staffs  and  advising  unions 
to  impress  this  upon  members,  even  going  to  the  extent 
of  urging  the  adoption  of  liberal  students'  scales  in  order 
to  .itt.iin  this  end. 

Machinists — At  the  Philadelphia  comention.  in  189a, 

407 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  executive  council  had  been  instructed  to  enter  into 
negotiations  with  the  National  Machinists'  Union  "with 
a  view  of  bringing  about  co-operation  between  the 
machinists  and  printers  in  offices  where  machines  were 
operated  by  union  men."  The  executive  council  of  1892 
undertook  to  give  effect  to  the  instructions,  but  finally 
referred  the  matter  to  the  forty-first  convention  at  Chi- 
cago, 1893,  as  the  machinists'  union  demanded  that  the 
International  Union  pledge  itself  to  "insist  that  none  but 
union  men  be  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  linotype 
machines."  The  Chicago  convention's  action  was  a  reiter- 
ation of  the  Philadelphia  convention's  mandate,  coupled 
with  a  suggestion  that  the  constitution  be  amended  so  as 
to  permit  the  issuance  of  charters  to  machinists  having 
care  of  typesetting  machines.  The  constitution  was  not 
amended,  however,  and  when  the  executive  council  again 
took  the  matter  up  it  did  not  succeed  in  securing  an  agree- 
ment with  the  machinists.  This  question  was  most 
perplexing,  and  especially  so  while  attempting  to  legis- 
late upon  it.  It  was  estimated  that  of  the  125,000 
machinists  in  the  country  not  more  than  25,000  were 
under  the  banner  of  organized  labor,  even  these  being 
divided  into  three  organizations,  the  most  popular  of 
which  was  the  International  Association  of  Machinists, 
with  a  membership  of  20,000,  but  which  was  not  con- 
nected with  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  on  account 
of  the  constitutional  barrier  against  colored  men.  The 
National  Machinists'  Union  (with  which  the  executive 
council  was  instructed  to  negotiate)  had  about  1,000 
members.  The  balance  were  local,  unaffiliated  organiza- 
tions and  Knights  of  Labor.  It  will  be  seen  from  this 
that  if  an  agreement  had  been  entered  into  it  would,  per 
force,  have  been  with  the  least  potent  of  the  two  organiza- 
tions, ignoring  the  one  whose  members  the  union  would 
most  likely  come  in  contact  with.     The  wisdom  displayed 

498 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

in  entering  into  any  agreement  under  such  circumstances 
was  questionable,  to  say  the  least,  especially  when  it  was 
remembered  that  the  typographical  union  jeopardized 
an  average  of  ten  situations  to  the  other  contracting 
party's  one.  Another  inevitable  feature  of  such  a  treaty 
would  have  been  that  only  members  of  the  contracting 
machinists'  union  might  be  employed.  At  the  same  time 
experience  was  demonstrating  that  many  persons  who  had 
never  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  machinists'  trade, 
but  through  some  fortuitous  system  became  acquainted 
with  the  mechanism  of  typesetting  machines,  had  made 
excellent  managers  of  machine  plants.  These  men  were 
mere  machine  tenders,  but  their  success  was  a  warning 
to  the  union  that  as  the  mechanism  of  the  typesetting 
devices  became  simplified  it  would  not  take  expert 
machinists  to  fill  such  positions;  in  fact  it  was  even  then 
predicted  that  the  day  would  soon  come  when  operators 
would  be  required  and  expected  to  take  charge  of  their 
machine  much  as  pressmen  do  of  'their  presses,  the 
machinist  only  being  called  in  to  repair  some  serious  mis- 
hap. In  concluding  his  remarks  on  the  question  of 
making  any  agreement  with  the  machinists'  union,  the 
president  gave  it  as  his  opinion  and  firm  conviction  that 
the  interests  of  all  would  be  best  subserved  by  requiring 
that  machinists  or  machine  tenders  should  affiliate  with 
the  International  Typographical  Union,  at  the  same  time 
admitting  that  by  so  doing  the  union  would  be  compelled 
to  violate  or  ignore  the  safe  union  doctrine  of  trade 
autonomy  and  naturally  become  embroiled  in  dispute* 
with  the  machinists'  organization  and  possibly  with  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor.  It  was  suggested  that 
the  incoming  officers  be  instructed  to  continue  negotia- 
tions as  the  opportunity  might  offer  and  also  that  section 
143,  general  laws,  be  repealed,  which  action  would  not 
only   relieve  the  members  of  local   unions  of   irksome 

499 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

conditions,  but  give  the  officers  greater  latitude  and  free- 
dom with  which  to  carry  on  negotiations  and  protect  the 
interests  of  the  organization. 

Allied  Trades  Councils  —  Vigorous  work  had  been 
carried  on  during  the  year  in  the  matter  of  forming 
allied  printing  trades  councils,  repeated  urgings  from 
headquarters  having  brought  about  the  institution  of 
these  bodies  in  twenty-one  cities.  This  action  had  pro- 
duced a  beneficial  effect  and  evidence  of  it  was  had 
through  the  fact  that  publishers  and  employers  generally 
were  outspoken  in  their  objection,  in  several  places  posi- 
tively refusing  to  recognize  such  a  body,  some  employers 
even  going  so  far  as  to  deny  the  right  of  organization 
to  mailers,  stereotypers  and  others  on  the  ground  that 
a  very  high  degree  of  skill  was  not  necessary  to  master 
the  trade  in  question.  It  was  pointed  out  that  just  in  pro- 
portion as  the  union's  adversaries  feared  a  compact  and 
cohesive  organization  of  all  the  printing  trades  should 
the  membership  urge  and  uphold  it,  for  there  was  no 
element  of  justice  or  right  in  the  main  causes  of  objec- 
tion. The  attitude  of  the  employers  was  not  the  only  nor 
the  most  serious  obstacle  to  the  progress  of  the  allied 
trades  movement.  The  unsatisfactory  relationship  be- 
tween some  of  the  trades  was  more  to  be  feared.  This 
was  particularly  noticeable  in  the  case  of  trades  having 
close  connection  with  book  and  job  printers.  Many  mem- 
bers of  the  International  were  working  for  firms  who  had 
pressrooms  and  binderies  filled  with  non-union  help 
(bookbinders  and  bindery  girls  especially),  who  were 
relied  upon  in  cases  of  trouble  to  remain  at  work.  This 
was  not  as  it  should  be,  but  the  high  dues  of  the  typo- 
graphical union  precluded  perfect  organization  of  such 
meagerly-paid  vocations  as  feeders  and  bindery  girls. 
The  relations  with  the  bookbinders  were  not  such  as  were 
conducive  to  concerted  action  with  that  trade.     For  many 

500 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

years  organization  of  that  craft  was  prosecuted  in  an  alto- 
gether desultory  manner,  some  bookbinders  attaching 
themselves  to  isolated  local  unions,  while  others  had 
become  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Labor.  At  the 
thirty-fifth  session  of  the  International  Union,  1887, 
in  compliance  with  the  request  of  some  bookbinders,  the 
constitution  was  amended  permitting  the  issuing  of  char- 
ters to  bookbinders.  In  the  seven  years  that  had  elapsed 
but  eight  charters  had  been  issued,  and  of  these  four 
had  gone  out  of  existence.  Early  in  1892,  a  call  was 
issued  asking  these  heterogeneous  organizations  to  send 
delegates  to  Philadelphia  for  the  purpose  of  forming 
a  central  body.  At  this  gathering  the  International 
Union  was  represented  and  an  invitation  was  extended 
to  the  delegates  to  throw  in  their  lot  with  the  printers, 
but  craft  pride,  and  calumnies  circulated  by  enemies 
of  the  typographical  union,  together  with  the  desire  to 
have  a  pliable  organization,  in  order  to  harmonize  con- 
flicting interests  represented,  contributed  to  the  rejection 
of  the  typographical  union's  proposal.  A  low-dues 
organization  was  instituted,  which  allowed  an  affiliated 
body  to  retain  its  allegiance  to  any  central  body  with 
which  it  was  connected.  On  two  occasions  following 
the  Philadelphia  meeting  the  officials  of  the  typographical 
union  endeavored  to  open  negotiations  with  the  bookbind- 
ers, but  their  efforts  were  fruitless. 

Shorter  Hours —  Referring  to  the  agitation  for  shorter 
hours,  the  president  said: 

As  the  necessity  of  securing  shorter  hours  of  labor  Ixrcomes 
more  urgent  it  may  be  safely  presumed  that  the  question  will 
be  presented  for  your  consideration.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
last  year  then-  was  submitted  to  the  meml>ership  a  proposition 
declaring  that  on  and  after  \i.veml>er  t,  iS»)^.  nine  hour* 
should  constitute  a  day's  work,  and  levying  an  assessment  ol 
cents  per  week  for  a  period  of  fifteen  or  twenty  weeks.  As  tins 
would  undoubtedly  have  precipitated  a  strike,  a  three-fourths 

Soi 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

vote  was  required  to  adopt,  and  this  the  proposition  did  not 
receive,  the  vote  being  7,927  for,  as  against  6,464,  a  total  of 
^OS^,  something  less  than  one-half  of  our  membership.  While 
this  was  discouraging  to  the  advocates  of  reform,  the  vote 
should  not  be  taken  as  meaning,  as  is  urged  in  some  quarters, 
that  our  membership  is  not  in  favor  of  shorter  hours  of  labor, 
but  the  complexion  of  the  vote  can  be  attributed  to  several 
reasons,  the  main  one  being  the  unpropitious  condition  of  trade, 
while  many  thought  the  amount  of  money  that  could  possibly 
be  accumulated  under  the  assessment  feature  too  small  to 
justify  our  entering  on  what  would  undoubtedly  be  a  fierce  and 
perhaps  protracted  struggle.  As  it  has  ever  been  the  policy  of 
our  organization  to  reach  a  settlement  of  such  questions  by 
means  of  conferences,  your  president  took  advantage  of  the 
United  Typothetae's  annual  convention  last  September  and 
appointed  a  committee  of  members  of  Chicago  Typographical 
Union  No.  16  to  confer  with  that  body.  In  reply  to  a  com- 
munication the  typothetae  informed  us  that  no  committee  would 
be  appointed  to  consider  the  hours  of  labor.  The  previous  year 
this  subject  was  not  only  referred  to  a  committee  but  exhaustive 
debate  was  entered  into.  This  evidences  that  the  causes  which 
go  to  make  shorter  hours  such  a  necessity  at  this  time  also  serve 
to  impart  hope  to  the  opposition  and  should  warn  us  that 
adequate  preparation  is  more  necessary  than  ever.  In  a  busi- 
ness where  the  profits  are  not  usually  inordinate,  and  in  which 
the  cost  of  material  and  rent  are  such  potent  factors  in  the 
cost  of  production,  it  is  futile  to  suppose  employers  will  make  a 
change  so  long  as  there  is  a  seeming  opportunity  for  successful 
resistance.  Therefore  it  will  be  your  duty  to  formulate  some 
plan  for  submission  to  the  membership  which  contains,  as  a 
pre-requisite  to  the  adoption  of  a  shorter  work-day,  a  means 
for  accumulating  a  large  fund  for  the  purpose  of  prosecuting 
the  fight.  The  most  cursory  observer  of  recent  events  in  the 
labor  world  must  be  convinced  that  to  overlook  this  most 
essential  feature  will  but  be  a  prelude  to  a  worse  state  than  the 
existing  one.  Though  the  industrial  outlook  is  not  encouraging 
just  now,  I  submit  that  this  is  the  proper  time  to  make  prepara- 
tion, for  the  history  of  trade  unions  has  ever  been  that  after 
periods  of  depression  there  is  a  reaction  in  their  favor,  and 
such  trades  as  are  fully  prepared  to  take  advantage  of  the  tide 
of  industrial  activity  at  its  flood  never  fail  to  receive  a  measure 

502 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

of  those  improved  conditions  for  which  we  are  incessantly 
battling.  Now  is  the  time  to  buckle  on  our  armor  and  prepare 
for  the  fray. 

Pressmen  and  Bookbinders  —  Referring  to  the  em- 
broglio  of  the  pressmen,  the  president  called  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  this  unfortunate  schism  had  lasted  for 
five  years,  and  that  it  was  agreed  by  all  reputable  trade 
union  authorities  that  when  less  than  one-third  of  the 
pressmen  members  decided  to  secede  from, the  typograph- 
ical union  that  they  committed  an  offense  against  the 
canons  of  unionism  and  in  the  estimation  of  many  well 
qualified  judges  inflicted  material  injury  upon  them- 
selves and  their  craft.  Notwithstanding  the  untenable 
position  they  assumed,  the  International  Typographical 
Union  had  sought  to  harmonize  the  differences  by  dis- 
patching committees,  charged  with  propositions,  to  two 
pressmen's  conventions.  These  envoys  failing  in  their 
mission,  the  president  took  advantage  of  a  secession 
movement  in  Chicago  and  offered  a  proposition  on  his 
own  responsibility,  which  was  rejected  under  circum- 
stances calculated  to  convey  the  impression  that  the 
pressmen  did  not  desire  a  peaceful  settlement.  Previous 
to  this  incident  the  policy  of  the  executive  council  had 
been  in  keeping  with  that  of  the  convention  and  efforts 
to  displace  scceders  were  discouraged  as  much  as  possible 
in  the  hope  that  common  sense  and  reason  would  assert 
If  in  their  ranks.  Speaking  directly  to  the  subject, 
the  president  said : 

While  firmly  believing  that  in  leaving  our  fold  these  press- 
men were  not  only  guilty  of  gross  breach  of  faith  with  us,  but 
injuring  themselves,  I  also  realized  that  with  two  organisations 
claiming  supremacy  over  that  branch,  history  would  in  a  short 
time  be  repeating  itself,  ami  as  an  ultimate  there  would  be  an 
era  of  wage  reductions  arising  from  the  tight  for  supremacy. 
It  has  always  been  thus  in  other  trades  when  men  were 
environed  as  the  pressmen  arc,  and  I  know  of  no  alchemy  which 

5<>3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

would  justify  us  in  believing  we  would  enjoy  exemption  from 
the  evil.  It  is  a  fact  that  in  a  war  between  labor  organizations 
the  workers  only  are  victims.  In  order  to  effect  a  peace  in  this 
instance  it  was  imperative  that  a  conference  be  held  so  that  an 
arrangement  as  to  future  action  could  be  come  to,  and  the 
rights  of  pressmen  who  remained  loyal  to  our  organization 
protected  at  all  hazards.  If  we  took  action  of  our  volition — as 
was  suggested  by  some — and  deprive  all  pressmen  of  member- 
ship in  the  International  Typographical  Union,  we  would  not 
only  be  doing  an  unjust  and  illegal  act,  but  be  guilty  of 
cowardice  in  betraying  men  to  the  mercy  of  those  who  had 
threatened  vengeance  on  them  on  account  of  their  adhesion  to 
the  obligation  taken  in  common  with  the  rest  of  us.  I  could  not 
bring  myself  to  the  belief  that  our  grand  old  organization  would 
besmirch  its  escutcheon  by  such  base  treachery.  Having  ample 
evidence  that  under  a  passive  policy  there  was  little  hope  of  a 
settlement,  and  believing  that  the  seceders'  indifference  was  due 
largely  to  the  belief  that  we  either  could  not,  or  would  not, 
protect  and  advance  the  interests  of  our  pressmen  members,  your 
officers  determined  upon  the  inauguration  of  a  vigorous  organ- 
ization campaign,  and  to  fully  protect  our  pressmen  in  all  their 
rights.  Several  small,  and  of  themselves  unimportant,  happen- 
ings about  this  time  indicated  that  individual  members  of  the 
other  organization  had  decided,  if  possible,  to  obtain  control 
of  newspaper  stereotyping  rooms,  in  violation  of  our  laws  and 
invading  the  rights  of  our  members.  At  this  juncture  what  is 
known  as  the  Akron  affair  occurred.  Though  my  course  in  this 
matter  has  generated  much  adverse  criticism,  based  on  false 
premises  and  misrepresentations,  I  have  no  apologies  to  offer. 
My  action  is  amply  justified  by  a  desire  to  maintain  union  prin- 
ciples and  union  laws  and  can  seemingly  be  regarded  as  a  most 
politic  procedure.  Twice  had  the  seceders  informed  us  officially 
"that  it  was  not  advisable  to  bind  pressmen  or  pressmen's  unions 
to  any  obligations  or  compact"  with  our  organization.  The  craft 
is  to  be  congratulated  on  their  having  assumed  a  more  reason- 
able attitude.  That  it  was  a  disagreeable  duty  none  will  deny, 
but  the  interests  of  the  Akron  printers  as  well  as  considerations 
of  public  policy  demanded  that  it  be  done. 

The  seceders'  convention  being  held  at  Toronto  last  June, 
I  arranged  to  have  the  proposed  basis  of  settlement  adopted  at 
Chicago,  and  which  was  rejected  by  them  at  their  previous 
convention,   presented   again.    The   outcome   of   this   was   the 

504 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

appointment  of  conference  committees  which  met  at  St.  Louis, 
August  22,  and  agreed  on  a  basis  of  settlement  which  is  em- 
bodied in  the  second  vice-president's  report. 

.  In  urging  your  approval  of  this  agreement  and  sending  the 
necessary  amendments  to  the  referendum,  I  do  not  do  so  on  the 
ground  that  it  is  desirable,  but  rather  on  the  theory  that  it  is 
the  lesser  of  the  two  evils  that  confront  us.  The  compositors 
and  other  branches  have  questions  pressing  with  great  insistence 
for  solution  and  with  an  internecine  quarrel  waging  they  will, 
in  all  likelihood,  be  settled  in  a  manner  unsatisfactory  to  us, 
even  though  justice  and  logic  be  on  our  side.  So  far  as  it  refers 
to  lockouts  and  strikes,  the  proposition  provides  for  greater 
unity  of  action  than  has  prevailed  heretofore,  and  it  is  thought 
the  executive  methods  are  workable.  Time  will,  of  course, 
develop  imperfections,  but  with  officials  possessed  of  a  deter- 
mination to  be  equitable  and  advance  the  interests  of  all,  and 
exercising  ordinary  prudence,  these  defects  can  be  overcome 
and  requisite  changes  made.  I  will  not  attempt  to  conceal  the 
fact  that  from  my  standpoint  our  pressmen  are  making  a  sacri- 
fice (though  it  is  averred  that  a  majority  of  them  now  favor 
the  secession  movement),  but  their  patriotism  and  unionism 
will,  I  am  sure,  prompt  a  hearty  acquiescence  in  the  will  of  the 
majority,  whatever  that  may  be.  If  either  organization  rejects 
the  treaty  now  under  consideration,  a  vigorous  fight  lies  before 
us,  for  we  can  not  afford  to  cover  ourselves  with  shame  by 
deserting  even  a  small  number  if  they  are  being  persecuted  or 
harassed  by  an  enemy.  If  we  should  be  so  unfortunate  as  to 
become  involved  in  such  a  fratricidal  strife  the  quasi-traitorous 
members  who  have  not  yet  learned  the  initial  principle  of 
unionism  will  have  to  be  taught  it,  by  suasion  if  possible,  but 
by  more  stringent  methods  if  necessary. 

The  report  of  the  pressmen's  vice-president.  II.  C 
McFarland,  was  a  comprehensive  document,  relating  in 
ill  tail  the  efforts  of  tin-  pressmen  holding  charters  under 
tin'  International  to  bring  about  a  satisfactory  a^nnncnt 
or  amalgamation  with  the  seceding  members — the  Inter- 
national Printing  Pressmen's  Union.  The  report  was 
explicit.  It  justified  the  course  of  the  administration 
in  the  Akron  affair  and  included  letters  of  endorsement 
from    President  Gompers  of   tin-    American    Federation 

505 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  Labor  and  other  members  of  the  executive  council  of 
that  body. 

Running  through  the  proceedings  of  the  convention 
were  numerous  efforts,  both  on  the  part  of  the  delegates 
representing  typographical  unions  and  those  representing 
pressmen's  unions,  to  adjust  the  differences  existing 
between  the  International  body  and  the  International 
Printing  Pressmen.  The  matter,  however,  finally  failed 
of  adjustment,  but  the  executive  council  was  left  at  liberty 
to  carry  on  negotiations  looking  to  an  amicable  settlement 
of  the  dispute. 

In  July,  1895,  some  nine  months  after  the  adjournment 
of  the  Louisville  convention,  through  the  medium  of  the 
Typographical  Journal,  the  executive  officers  reported 
that  an  agreement  or  an  alliance  between  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  the  International  Printing  Press- 
men's Union  and  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Book- 
binders had  been  drafted  and  agreed  to  by  the  committees 
representing  the  three  organizations  named.  This  pro- 
posed agreement,  together  with  three  other  propositions — 
first,  to  change  the  size  of  the  Typographical  Journal; 
second,  to  empower  the  executive  council  to  consummate 
an  agreement  with  either  the  pressmen  or  the  book- 
binders' organizations,  should  either  one  of  those  bodies 
refuse  the  agreement,  and,  third,  to  ratify  an  agreement 
with  the  International  Association  of  Machinists,  a  docu- 
ment that  had  also  been  agreed  upon  by  the  committee 
representing  the  machinists — were  referred  to  the  refer- 
endum. Of  the  four  propositions,  all  were  confirmed  by 
the  referendum  with  the  exception  of  the  proposed  agree- 
ment with  the  machinists.  The  agreement  between  the 
three  international  unions  of  the  printing  trades  was  as 
follows : 

First.  That  the  International  Typographical  Union  recog- 
nizes the  right  of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen's  Union 

506 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

to  charter,  regulate  and  control  printing  pressmen,  pressfeeders 
and  helpers  in  pressrooms  in  the  United  States  and  Canada; 
also  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  recognizes  the 
right  of  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  to 
charter,  legislate  and  control  all  branches  pertaining  to  the 
bookbinding  trade ;  Provided  further,  that  the  International 
Printing  Pressmen's  Union  and  the  International  Brotherhood 
of  Bookbinders  recognizes  the  right  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  to  charter  and  control  the  compositors  and 
other  branches  of  the  printing  trade  at  present  connected  with 
that  body. 

Second.  Each  party  does  and  will  recognize  the  jurisdiction 
and  authority  of  the  other  as  set  forth  in  clause  I  of  this  agree- 
ment, and  each  party  further  agrees  to  withhold  recognition 
from  any  and  all  other  persons  following  as  a  vocation  the 
branch  of  the  printing  or  bookbinding  craft  under  control  of  the 
other  party  to  this  agreement. 

Third.  The  parties  to  this  agreement  hereby  finally  and 
forever  abandon  all  right  or  pretense  to  organize,  aid  or  abet 
morally  or  financially,  in  whole  or  in  part,  a  union,  individual 
or  clique  of  individuals  employed  at  branches  of  the  business 
under  the  control  of  the  other  parties  to  this  agreement. 

Fourth.  Local  unions  of  the  International  Printing  Press- 
men's Union  shall  receive  and  admit  to  membership  on  presenta- 
tion of  the  International  Typographical  Union  certificate  of 
membership,  without  prejudice  or  fee,  all  pressmen,  pressmen'* 
helpers,  web  pressmen  and  feeders  who  are  at  the  date  of  tak- 
ing effect  of  this  agreement  members  of  unions  chartered  by 
the  International  Typographical  Union.  Pressmen's  unions 
chartered  by  the  International  Typographical  Union  in  cities 
where  no  union  of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen's  Union 
now  exists  shall  have  issued  to  them  a  charter  by  the  Interna- 
tional Printing  Pressmen's  Union  without  charge  or  fee. 

I'n  ih.  Local  unions  of  the  International  Brotherhood  of 
Bookbinders  shall  receive  and  admit  to  membership  upon 
presentation  of  an  International  Typographical  Union  certifi- 
cate of  membership,  without  prejudice  or  fee,  all  bookbinders 
who  arc  at  the  date  of  taking  effect  of  this  agreement  members 
of  unions  chartered  by  the  International  Typographical  Union 
khinders*  unions  chartered  by  the  lnUTiution.il  Typograph- 
ical   Union   in  cities  where  no   union  of   the    International 

507 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  now  exists  shall  have  issued  to 
them  a  charter  by  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders 
without  charge  or  fee. 

Sixth.  All  funds  of  each  party  to  this  agreement  remain 
independent  of  each  other  except  when  voted  for  defensive 
purposes  as  hereafter  provided  for  in  clause  n  of  this 
agreement. 

Seventh.  Grievances  requiring  joint  strikes  must  be  decided 
by  the  executive  boards  or  councils  of  an  equal  number  of  each 
party,  and  by  agreement  between  the  boards  after  united  request 
of  local  unions  representative  of  each  party  to  this  agreement 
where  grievance  exists. 

Eighth.  Local  vote  for  general  strike  must  be  had  in 
regular  or  special  meeting,  of  which  meeting  and  contemplated 
action  there  shall  have  been  at  least  twenty-four  hours'  notice 
given  by  the  executive  committees  of  local  unions  to  all  members 
of  the  local  unions  involved  in  strike. 

Ninth.  Upon  failure  to  effect  an  amicable  settlement  of 
any  dispute  in  which  the  members  of  the  contracting  parties  to 
this  agreement  are  involved,  or  likely  to  become  involved,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  officers  of  the  respective  unions  to  notify 
the  presidents  of  the  unions  party  to  this  agreement  in  dupli- 
cate communications,  who  shall  either  in  person  or  by  proxy 
proceed  to  the  place  of  the  difficulty  and  jointly  endeavor  to 
effect  a  peaceable  settlement,  failing  in  which  they  shall  join 
in  a  report  to  the  executive  councils  of  their  respective  Interna- 
tional unions,  which  shall  for  the  purposes  of  this  agreement 
at  all  times  be  composed  of  an  equal  number  of  members,  and 
if,  on  a  vote  being  taken,  it  is  shown  that  a  majority  of  the 
bodies  acting  conjointly  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  inauguration 
of  a  strike  is  absolutely  necessary,  the  presidents  in  person  or  by 
proxy,  or  one  of  them,  as  may  be  agreed  upon  by  the  executive 
councils,  shall  again  attempt  to  effect  a  settlement,  and  if 
unsuccessful  shall,  through  the  officers  of  the  various  unions, 
order  a  general  strike  of  all  members  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  the  International  Printing  Pressmen's 
Union  and  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  working 
in  the  office  or  offices  affected,  and  any  member  disregarding 
this  order  shall  be  promptly  expelled  for  ratting  by  his  subor- 
dinate union. 

Tenth.  For  the  purpose  of  expediting  business  it  shall  be 

508 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

permissible  for  the  executive  councils  to  select  one  of  their 
members  who  shall  be  known  as  chairman  and  to  whom  all 
communications  shall  be  addressed,  and  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
to  poll  the  votes  of  the  joint  councils  as  promptly  as  possible, 
notifying  the  unions  interested  of  the  result  and  subsequently 
preparing  a  copy  of  all  answers  received  and  forwarding  it  to 
the  members  of  the  councils. 

Eleventh.  When  a  joint  strike  shall  have  been  inaugurated 
by  the  parties  to  this  agreement,  the  initiating  union  shall  pay 
those  involved  as  follows :  The  sum  of  $7  per  week  to  married 
men,  or  the  heads  of  families,  and  $5  per  week  to  single  men 
or  women  for  the  period  of  eight  weeks ;  after  that  time 
beneficiaries  shall  apply  to  their  respective  unions  for  further 
relief. 

Twelfth.  Strikes  may  be  declared  off  by  a  majority  vote 
of  the  executive  councils. 

Thirteenth.  Local  unions  called  out  in  strike  may  receive 
aid  from  their  own  International  funds  without  subjecting  such 
funds  to  demands  from  locals  calling  for  assistance. 

Fourteenth.  Any  local  of  either  party  to  this  agreement 
may  strike  as  heretofore  without  consent  of  local  unions  existing 
in  same  place,  but  in  such  case  co-operation  of  allies  can  not 
be  made  compulsory  further  than  to  refrain  from  filling  places 
thus  made  vacant. 

Fifteenth.  In  case  of  dispute  between  the  parties  to  this 
agreement  a  disinterested  board  of  arbitrators  consisting  of 
three  members  shall  be  selected,  one  by  each  organization,  whose 
award  shall  be  binding  on  all  parties. 

Sixteenth.  The  joint  allied  printing  trades  council  shall 
have  control  of  the  printing  trades  label  which  shall  be  granted 
to  all  offices  complying  with  the  regulations  of  the  allied  print- 
ing trades  council.  That  the  allied  printing  trades  label  shall 
only  be  granted  to  offices  that  are  union  throughout. 

Si  \  i  11.   It  is  tin-  duty  of  subordinate  unions  of  the 

International  Typographical   I'nion  to  use  all  honorable  meant 
to  induce  all  non-union  pressmen  and  bookbinders  within  their 
jurisdiction  to  affiliate  with  the  nearest  union  of  their  respe. 
organizations.    In  case  of  strike  or  lockout  such  members  shall 
be  governed  by  the  terms  of  this  agreement. 

I  p. 11  111     1  11    This  agreement  sh.ill  l*  perpetual,  and  shall 
be  accepted  or  rejected  as  a  whole  ;  provided,  amendments  may 

jog 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

be  proposed  hereafter  by  either  party,  and  on  ratification  by  the 
other  party  in  such  manner  as  its  laws  provide,  shall  become 
a  part  of  this  agreement. 

Following  the  referendum  vote  adopting  the  foregoing 
amendment,  the  Typographical  Journal  said,  editorially : 

Whether  the  vote  on  the  proposition  recently  submitted  is 
gratifying  or  not  to  the  reader,  it  will  have  to  be  admitted  by 
all  that  the  efficaciousness  and  comparative  inexpensiveness  of 
the  referendum  has  again  been  demonstrated.  A  burning  ques- 
tion has  been  settled  in  an  emphatic  manner,  and  much  more 
satisfactorily  than  it  otherwise  could  have  been.  By  agreement 
the  jurisdiction  proposition  does  not  become  operative  until 
January  i,  1896,  which  affords  ample  time  for  the  arrangement 
of  details,  provided  it  is  concurred  ih  by  either  of  the  other 
organizations,  of  which  there  is  not  much  doubt.  On -the  date 
mentioned  all  bookbinders  and  pressmen  now  affiliated  with 
the  International  Typographical  Union  will  sever  their  con- 
nection with  us  so  far  as  being  contributing  members  is 
concerned.  The  pressmen  as  a  whole  do  not  appear  to  have  been 
much  exercised  about  the  result,  as  their  vote  is  light  and  not 
very  decisive  on  the  question  about  which  they  have  been  cre- 
ating so  much  pother  the  last  five  years.  That  some  will  object 
to  recognizing  the  agreement  is  a  foregone  conclusion,  if  we 
can  judge  from  the  tone  of  communications  which  are  being 
received.  Painful  though  it  may  be,  our  duty  is  plain.  The 
terms  of  the  agreement  must  be  adhered  to,  and  it  is  hoped  that 
those  who  feel  disposed  to  object  will  give  the  matter  serious 
consideration,  always  keeping  in  mind  that  the  test  of  good 
unionism  is  subserviency  to  the  majority's  will  in  all  trade 
affairs.    Here  the  majority  has  undoubtedly  spoken. 

The  defeat  of  the  machinist  proposition  was  not  unexpected. 
Those  who  had  given  the  subject  any  thought  felt  it  would  be 
impossible  to  draft  an  agreement  allowing  our  members  to  take 
charge  of  machines  unless  we  reciprocated  by  permitting  ma- 
chinists to  become  operators.  This  was  a  stumbling  block  to 
formulating  an  agreement  in  the  winter  of  1892.  Though  the 
machinists  were  anxious  to  enter  into  an  arrangement,  neither 
the  old  or  new  executive  boards  would  do  so  without  a  recip- 
rocal section,  even  after  being  warned  that  such  a  provision 
meant  defeat  for  the  measure.   They  argued  that  to  go  into  any 

5IO 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

"jughandled"  arrangement  would  be  unfair  to  their  constitu- 
ents, though  admitting  that  under  the  compact  finally  agreed 
upon  their  members  would  gain  little  or  nothing.  Much  has 
been  said — and  it  was  anticipated — about  machinists  flooding 
the  operators'  market.  These  fears  were  to  a  very  great  extent 
groundless.  It  takes  more  than  a  knowledge  of  mechanics  to 
become  an  expert  operator,  and  some  of  those  who  were  most 
vociferous  in  announcing  their  views  and  denouncing  the  propo- 
sitions are  living  demonstrations  that,  even  under  the  most 
favorable  conditions  and  with  the  kindliest-hearted  of  employ- 
ers, all  men  can  not  become  successful  operators.  This  was  one 
of  the  humors  of  the  controversy.  Another  is  that  some  machin- 
ists object  to  the  proposition  on  the  ground  that  it  requires  so 
slight  a  degree  of  mechanical  skill  to  oversee  a  machine  plant 
that  such  situations  would  be  in  the  hands  of  oldtime  printers. 
They  argue  that  publishers  and  foremen  would  naturally  prefer 
to  employ  those  acquainted  with  ways  of  printing  offices  than 
novices.  And  we  think  more  weight  attaches  to  their  contentions 
than  those  of  us  who  reasoned  on  similar  lines.  The  result  of 
the  vote  is  to  allow  subordinate  unions  to  enter  into  such  agree- 
ments as  they  see  fit.  If  any  do  so,  they  should  be  careful  not 
to  enter  into  an  alliance  which  will  bring  them  in  conflict  with 
the  great  labor  organizations,  and  see  that  the  other  contracting 
party  has  a  sufficient  bank  account,  or  the  means  of  obtaining 
one,  to  discharge  its  financial  obligations  under  the  agreement. 
This  is  the  time  for  business,  and  not  sentiment. 

Stereotypers  —  The  report  of  the  third  vice-president, 
Wv  B.  Lewis,  representing  the  stereotypers  and  electro- 
typers'  trade  district,  was  a  brief  document,  showing  that 
that  branch  of  the  International  had  passed  through  the 
crisis  created  by  depressed  conditions  in  the  trade  in  a 
itisfactory  manner.  Although  only  one  new  union  was 
chartered  during  the  year,  there  had  been  no  loss  in  mem- 
bership. In  concluding  his  rcpo/t,  Vice-President  Lewis 
said  that  the  stereotypers  and  electrotypers'  trade  dist 
system  bad  given  the  utmost  satisfaction  and  he  had  no 
hesitancy  in  pronouncing  it  a  success  and  predicting  that 
it  would  In-  the  means  of  promoting  and  solidifying  the 
unions  of  stereotypers  and  electrotypers. 

5« 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Secretary-Treasurer's  Report  —  The  report  of  the 
secretary-treasurer  showed  that  the  financial  transactions 
of  the  International  during  the  year  continued  to  exhibit 
an  increase  over  previous  years  and  it  was  remarked  that 
the  business  transactions  of  subordinate  unions  with  the 
general  office  had  been  uniformly  prompt  and  accurate. 

The  supply  department  established  at  headquarters 
had  demonstrated  its  efficacy  in  assisting  subordinate 
officers  in  the  performance  of  their  duties  and  to  its 
effectiveness  was  credited  the  added  promptness  and 
accuracy  of  detail  so  necessary  to  the  proper  conduct  of 
the  affairs  of  the  organization.  While  there  had  been 
an  evident  decrease  of  membership  in  many  of  the  lead- 
ing labor  organizations  of  the  country  during  the  money 
stringency  of  the  year,  there  had  been  a  gradual  and 
steady  increase  in  the  membership  of  the  International, 
31,379  members  being  reported  in  good  standing  at  the 
close  of  the  fiscal  year.  Of  the  total  number  of  deaths, 
507,  the  greatest  number  occurred  at  the  age  of  24  and 
33  years,  there  being  24  in  each  case  recorded.  The 
average  age  at  death  was  41^  years.  There  were  248 
deaths   from  tuberculosis  and  kindred  diseases. 

Constitutional  Amendments  —  Nineteen  constitutional 
amendments  were  submitted  to  the  referendum,  eighteen 
of  which  were  ratified — the  one  being  defeated  proposing 
a  return  to  annual  sessions  of  the  International.  A 
summary  of  the  amendments  follows  : 

( 1 )  Required  that  credentials  of  delegates-elect  be  re- 
turned to  the  secretary-treasurer  within  fifteen  days  after 
election;  (2)  the  purpose  of  this  amendment  was  to  re- 
turn to  annual  sessions,  but  was  defeated,  as  stated  above; 
(3)  provided  for  the  alteration  of  certain  designated  sec- 
tions so  as  to  have  the  constitution  conform  with  biennial, 
instead  of  annual,  International  conventions;  (4),  ($), 
(6),   (7)   gave  constitutional  effect  to  certain  provisions 

512 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

of  the  treaty  of  amalgamation  entered  into  between  the 
International  Typographical  Union  and  German-Amer- 
ican Typographia  which  was  approved  by  the  member- 
ship; (8)  provided  for  publication  of  list  of  arrearages  of 
subordinate  unions  in  the  Typographical  Journal,  instead 
of  in  circular  form;   (9)   fixed  the  date  when  the  secre- 
tary-treasurer should  send  out  delegate  certificates  of  elec- 
tion ;   (10)   permitted  the  officers  to  deposit  the  funds  in 
more  than  one  bank ;  ( 1 1 )  struck  out  superfluous  instruc- 
tions to  the  secretary-treasurer,  in  section  5,  article  vi,  as 
the  same  were  given  under  standing  orders;  (12)  referred 
to  free  distribution  of  copies  of  the  Typographical  Jour- 
nal to  certain  persons  therein  defined;  (13)  relieved  the 
president  of  the  impracticable  duty  of  collecting  data  as 
to  strength  and  financial  conditions  of  various  organiza- 
tions for  publication  in  the  Journal;   (14)  provided  for 
the  payment  of  sixty  dollars  upon  the  death  of  a  member 
from  the  burial  fund,  instead  of  fifty  dollars;  (15)  pro- 
vided that  in  the  case  of  feeders  and  bindery  girls  the 
payment  from  the  burial  fund  should  be  forty-five  dollars 
only;  (16)  fixed  the  monthly  dues  payable  to  the  Inter- 
national fund  by  feeders  and  bindery  girls  at  fifteen  cents, 
instead*  of  twenty-five  by  other  members;    (17)    related 
altogether  to  the  dues  of  feeders  and  bindery  girls.   [Their 
dues  being  fifteen  cents,  instead  of  twenty-five  cents,  paid 
by  other  members,  no  portion  of  the  per  capita  tax  re- 
ceived from  them  was  accredited  to  the  Childs-Prexel 
Home  fund,  nor  were  any  of  the  members  classed  as 
feeders  and  bindery  girls  eligible  to  the  privileges  of  the 
Home].    (18)   Regulated  the  issuance  of  "certificates  of 
membership"  and  "withdrawal  eards"  and  fully  explained 
tin  status  of  members  privileged  to  the  uses  of  the  same. 
\\  ho  were  entitled  to  them,  and  upon  the  conditions  active 
membership  might  be  resumed  by  those  holding  them; 
(t<0    provided   for  meetings  of  newspaper  hands  as  one 

5t3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

branch,  and  book  and  job  hands  as  another.  [The  propo- 
sition applied  only  to  subordinate  unions,  which,  by  a 
majority  vote,  adopted  it  and  was  merely  a  privilege 
granted  by  the  union  for  the  meeting  of  members  engaged 
in  the  several  branches  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  and 
providing  legislation  for  their  own  particular  class.  No 
definite  action  could  be  taken  upon  constitutional  matters, 
scale  of  prices,  etc.,  without  referring  the  same  to  the 
union  as  a  whole,  and  obtaining  the  lawful  constitutional 
consent  thereto.  The  proposition  was  intended  merely  to 
empower  unions  to  provide  means  for  discussion  and 
education.] 

General  Laws —  Of  several  amendments  to  the  general 
laws  the  following  is  worthy  of  notice : 

"Foremen  of  printing  offices  have  the  right  to  employ 
help  at  will  and  may  discharge  help :  first,  for  incom- 
petency ;  second,  for  violation  of  the  rules  of  the  office, 
chapel  or  union;  third,  for  neglect  of  duty;  fourth,  in 
order  to  decrease  the  force.  It  shall  be  further  under- 
stood that  if  a  workman  be  competent  to  sub  in  an  office, 
he  is  competent  to  hold  a  regular  situation.  In  all  cases 
where  a  compositor  or  machine  operator  is  discharged 
he  shall  be  furnished  a  written  statement  of  the  cause 
by  the  foreman,  if  demanded,  and  should  an  increase  of 
force  be  rendered  necessary  within  sixty  days,  those  so 
discharged  by  reason  of  such  decrease  of  force  shall 
be.  reinstated." 

Union  Printers  Home  —  Laws  affecting  the  legislation 
of  the  Union  Printers  Home  were  passed,  as  follows : 

That  the  names  of  all  inmates  of  the  Childs-Drexel  Home 
be  placed  upon  the  mail  list  of  the  Typographical  Journal. 

That  the  superintendent  of  the  Childs-Drexel  Home  be  and 
is  hereby  instructed  to  inaugurate  such  measures  as  will  tend 
to  reduce  the  expenses  of  said  Home  without  crippling  the 
efficiency  of  the  same.  Such  action  of  the  superintendent  to  be 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  finance  committee. 

514 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

That  the  superintendent  of  the  Home  furnish,  for  publica- 
tion in  the  Typographical  Journal,  a  monthly  statement  of 
admissions  to  and  expulsions  from  the  Home,  together  with 
causes  of  same,  names  of  unions  sending  inmates,  and  such 
other  information  as  may  be  of  interest  concerning  the  condi- 
tion of  the  inmates. 

That  charges  against  the  management  or  any  officer  of  the 
Childs-Drexel  Home  must  be  of  a  specific  nature,  and  made 
in  the  regular  manner  provided  by  the  rules  of  the  institution 
and  endorsed  by  the  union  which  secured  the  admission  of  the 
inmate  preferring  the  same. 

That  in  purchasing  supplies  for  the  Childs-Drexel  Home, 
the  superintendent  shall  invite  bids  from  different  wholesale 
houses  and  a  yearly  contract  be  made  for  furnishing  the  same ; 
said  supplies  to  be  furnished  as  desired  by  the  superintendent 
or  recommended  by  the  finance  committee.  Contracts  to  be 
approved  by  the  finance  committee  before'becoming  effective. 

The  committee  on  admissions  is  instructed  to  exclude  persons 
suffering  from  tuberculosis  in  the  last  stages  and  from  infectious 
and  contagious  diseases. 

That  inmates  be  required,  when  able,  to  perform  such  duties 
as  may  appear  proper  to  the  superintendent,  subject  to  the 
judgment  of  the  attending  physician. 

Where  an  inmate  is  discharged  for  misconduct,  the  amount 
appropriated  shall  be  charged  to  the  local  union  recom- 
mending him. 

The  following  is  substituted  for  section  10,  standing  reso- 
lutions : 

Where  applicants  arc  admitted  to  the  Childs-Drexel  Home 
for  Union  Printers  the  expense  of  transportation  shall  be 
defrayed  by  the  local  typographical  union,  when  the  applicant 
is  unable  to  pay  the  same. 

Out-of-Work  Fund  —  A  proposition  to  create  an 
"out-of-work"  fund  presented  at  the  Louisville  conven- 
tion met  with  defeat  at  the  hands  of  the  delegates,  the 
body  refusing  to  submit  the  question  to  a  referendum  vote. 
On  March  15,  1806,  during  the  interim  before  the  nexfl 
convention,  New  York  Typographical  Union  proposed  an 
mundment  increasing  the  per  capita  tax  25  cents  per 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

month  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  and  maintaining  an 
out-of-work  fund.  That  the  measure  was  unpopular  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  it  failed  to  receive  the  necessary 
endorsement  from  twenty  subordinate  unions  and  in  the 
Journal  of  July  I,  1896,  it  was  announced  that  only  seven- 
teen unions  had  favored  submitting  the  proposition. 

Nine-Hoar  Fund  —  Another  proposition  to  prepare 
for  the  inauguration  of  the  nine-hour  workday  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  referendum  following  the  Louisville  conven- 
tion. It  was  proposed  that  an  assessment  of  1  per  cent 
be  levied  on  the  wages  of  all  members,  for  such  time  as 
was  deemed  necessary  by  the  executive  council,  to  accu- 
mulate a  fund  to  be  known  as  the  "shorter  workday  fund" 
and  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  inaugurating  a  shorter 
workday  in  the  book  and  job  trade.  Like  similar  propo- 
sitions passed  by  previous  conventions,  it  met  with  defeat. 

Deaths  of  Messrs.  Childs  and  Drexel —  Following  the 
Chicago  convention,  the  craft  had  been  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  death  of  two  friends  and  benefactors,  Anthony 
J.  Drexel  and  George  W.  Childs.  These  gentlemen  occu- 
pied a  position  unique  in  relation  to  organized  labor. 
Though  the  printers  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia  pre- 
viously had  experienced  manifestations  of  the  good  will 
of  Messrs.  Childs  and  Drexel,  the  unconditional  donation 
of  $10,000  to  the  International  Typographical  Union  at 
the  Pittsburgh  convention  of  1886  insured  a  warm  place 
in  the  hearts  of  trade  unionists  in  general  and  the  printing 
fraternity  in  particular,  for  these  men  had  been  among 
the  first  of  their  class  on  this  continent  to  give  material 
recognition  to  the  trade  union  movement.  As  an  indica- 
tion of  the  esteem  in  which  Mr.  Childs  was  held  by  the 
organization,  the  convention  adopted  the  following 
resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  membership  throughout  the  jurisdiction 
be  asked  to  contribute  50  cents,  on  or  before  May  12,  1895,  the 

516 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 

anniversary  of  Mr.  Childs'  birthday,  such  sum  to  be  forwarded 
to  Typographical  Union  No.  2  at  Philadelphia,  to  be  used  in 
the  erection  of  a  suitable  memorial  to  the  memory  of  George 
W.  Childs. 

Six-Day  Law — Another  referendum  proposition, 
emanating  from  Seattle,  proposed  to  amend  the  general 
laws  by  adding  the  following  to  section  123  (the  six-day 
law)  :  "Provided,  that  members  holding  situations  in 
seven-day  offices  shall  have  the  disposal  of  the  entire 
seven  days  and  the  designating  of  substitutes  for  certain 
days  or  the  exemption  of  'rotary  situations'  or  any  other 
rule  affecting  the  subversion  of  this  provision  shall  be 
unlawful."  The  amendment  was  carried  by  the  refer- 
endum, the  vote  being  4,522  ayes,  1,556  noes.  About  one- 
half  of  the  subordinate  unions  made  no  returns  on  the 
proposition. 

Colorado  Springs  was  selected  as  the  meeting  place 
for  the  next  convention. 

Officers,  1894-1895  —  Officers  were  elected  as  follows: 
President,  William  B.  Prescott,  Toronto;  first  vice- 
president,  Theodore  Perry,  Nashville ;  pressmen's  vice- 
president,  F.  J.  Boyle,  St.  Paul ;  stereotypers'  and  electro- 
typers'  vice-president,  C.  B.  Lahan,  Chicago;  German- 
American  Typographia  vice-president,  Hugo  Miller, 
Indianapolis;  secretary-treasurer,  A.  G.  Wines,  St.  Louis. 
Organizers — S.  H.  Dyer,  Springfield,  Mass.;  Thomas  F. 
McHale,  Albany;  James  A.  Power,  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
W.  II.  Wells,  Norfolk;  Jacob  Eitel,  Savannah;  John  D. 
Flanagan,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.;  J.  K.  Brewer,  Spring- 
field, 111.;  J.  A.  Lane,  Knoxville,  Tenn. ;  John  P,  Mar- 
nell,  St.  Louis;  H.  S.  Woodward,  Minneapolis;  S.  Dc 
Nedrey,  Omaha;  A.  M.  Htitler,  Dallas;  J.  W.  Purccll, 
Butte,  Mont.;  E.  A.  Parker,  San  Francisco;  C 
Hawkcs,  Seattle;  G.  W.  Dower,  Toronto.  Delegates  to 
Vmcriean  Federation  <>f  Labor— W.  B.  Presi 
I    innto  (president)  ;  \V    M.  Iliggins,  Louisville;  August 

5'7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

McCraith,  Boston;  J.  W.  Bramwood,  Denver.  Trustees 
Childs-Drexel  Home  for  Union  Printers — W.  B.  Prescott, 
Toronto;  A.  G.  Wines,  St  Louis;  James  J.  Dailey,  Phila- 
delphia; Frank  S.  Pelton,  Chicago;  Henry  Dorsey, 
Dallas  (to  take  office  one  year  later)  ;  Alexander  Duguid, 
Cincinnati ;  L.  C.  Shepard,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and 
F.  A,  Colby,  Colorado  Springs. 

Convention  at  Colorado  Springs 

[1896] — The  forty-third  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  assembled  in  Durkee  Hall, 
Colorado  Springs,  on  Monday,  October  12,  1896.  The 
session  was  opened  by  G.  C.  Ash,  president  of  the  local 
union,  who  introduced  W.  A.  Piatt,  editor  of  the  Colorado 
Springs  Gazette.  Mr.  Piatt  welcomed  the  delegates  and 
guests  on  behalf  of  the  press  of  Colorado  Springs.  Presi- 
dent Prescott  briefly  responded  to  the  addresses  and  then 
declared  the  convention  ready  for  business. 

THE     BROTHERHOOD 

After  the  list  of  delegates  had  been  read  by  the 
secretary-treasurer  and  a  committee  appointed  to  consider 
the  irregular  credentials,  Delegate  O'Rourke,  of  New 
York,  rising  to  a  question  of  privilege,  offered  the  follow- 
ing preamble  and  resolution,  which  were  unanimously 
adopted,  by  a  rising  vote : 

Whereas  it  having  become  known  that  there  has  been  and 
is  still  in  existence  one  or  more  secret  societies,  composed 
wholly  or  partly  of  printers,  having  for  an  object  the  control 
or  influence  of  the  various  local  unions  and  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  both  in  the  matter  of  legislation  and  in 
the  election  of  officers,  in  the  interest  of  the  members  of  said 
society  or  societies ;  and 

Whereas  in  order  that  the  members  of  the  various  unions 
represented  here  by  delegates  may  have  that  regard  for,  and 
regain  the  lost  confidence  in,  the  proceedings  of  this  body  and 

5i8 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

the  officers  thereof,  which  is  essential  to  the  welfare  of  the 
craft;  therefore, 

Be  it  resolved,  That  before  proceeding  to  any  of  the  regular 
business  of  this  convention  each  and  every  member  of  this 
body  be  required  to  take  and  subscribe  to  the  following  oath: 

I (repeat  name  individually)  do  solemnly  swear, 

before  Almighty  God,  by  everything  that  I  hold  sacred  and 
holy,  that  I  will  not  from  this  time  forth  belong  to  any  associa- 
tion, secret  or  otherwise,  that  has  for  its  object,  directly  or 
indirectly,  the  influence  of  the  legislative  or  other  acts,  or  the 
election  of  the  officers,  of  any  local  unions  to  which  I  now 
or  may  hereafter  belong,  or 'the  influence  of  the  legislation  or 
other  acts  of  this  convention,  or  the  election  of  any  officer  or 
officers  of  this  body;  and  I  do  also  swear  that  I  will  not  here- 
after belong  to  any  such  body,  whether  known  by  the  name  of 
Brotherhood,  Caxton  League,  Wahnetas,  or  any  other  name 
whatsoever,  or  any  other  such  body,  with  or  without  a  name, 
or  any  such  body  that  may  have  technically  dissolved  itself  at 
the  adjournment  of  its  meetings;  and,  furthermore,  I  do 
solemnly  swear  that  I  will  do  all  in  my  power  to  break  up  any 
such  body  that  may  come  to  my  knowledge  either  at  this  or  any 
other  convention  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  or 
in  any  of  the  local  unions;  and  to  all  of  the  above  I  pledge 
my  most  sacred  honor. 

REVIEW   OF  OFFICERS'  REPORTS 

The  reports  of  the  various  officers  were  duly  presented 
and  referred  to  appropriate  committees.  The  president's 
address  was  not  only  an  exhaustive  review  of  the  affairs 
of  the  International  but  was  replete  with  suggestions 
to  further  strengthen  and  upbuild  the  organization.  In 
opening  his  report,  President  Prescott  said: 

I  am  not  unmindful  of  the  fact  that  I  am  addressing  the 
representatives  of  a  labor  organization  that  has  within  the  past 
half  decade  successfully  withstood  such  a  flood  of  adverse 
circumstances  and  conditions  as  few.  if  any.  industrial  organisa- 
tions have  been  called  upon  to  contend  with.  Within  that  period 
the  wave  of  secession  among  pressmen  reached  Its  apex :  a 
depression  of  unparalleled  severity  decimated  the  ranks  of  young 
and  immature  labor  organizations;  and  the  newspaper  branch 

519 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  our  business  has  been  revolutionized  by  machinery.  Not- 
withstanding that  few  similar  bodies  in  the  past  have  emerged 
from  like  conflicts  so  well  fitted  to  meet  the  exigencies  that 
business  reverses  or  improvements  in  the  methods  of  production 
have  begot,  during  the  time  mentioned  our  average  paying  mem- 
bership has  increased  over  7,000,  the  high-water  mark  having 
been  reached  in  1894.  But  even  now,  making  allowance  for 
the  defection  of  pressmen  and  bookbinders  agreeably  to  our 
wishes  as  expressed  by  popular  vote,  our  union  is  stronger 
numerically  and  financially  than  ever  before  in  its  tempestuous 
and  beneficent  career  of  nearly  half  a  century.  It  is  a  sterling 
tribute  to  the  firm  grasp  the  older  members  had  on  the  prin- 
ciples of  unionism  and  the  thorough  manner  in  which  they 
inoculated  the  younger  and  rising  generation  with  them  that  we 
are  able  to  say  that,  judged  by  material  and  actual  advancement, 
the  International  Union  has  never  been  more  successful  than 
during  the  most  trying  period  of  its  existence — the  last  two 
years.  That  there  have  been  mistakes  of  judgment  can  not  be 
gainsaid,  but  we  have  resisted  the  flood  of  demands  for  decreases 
in  wages  and  increases  of  hours  in  a  reasonably  satisfactory 
manner.  This  must  not  be  taken  as  a  complete  measure  of  our 
accomplishments,  for  with  few  exceptions  we  have  improved  the 
conditions  of  those  so  fortunate  as  to  secure  situations  on  the 
introduction  of  machines.  It  is  undeniable  that  our  operator 
members  today  are  receiving  more'  per  hour  for  their  services 
than  ever  before. 

After  noting  the  dark  days  the  union  had  passed 
through  and  pointing  to  the  probability  of  still  darker 
ones  in  the  future,  the  president  continued : 

The  question  for  decision  and  your  earnest  consideration  is  not 
whether  what  is  is  satisfactory,  but  whether  existing  conditions 
can  not  be  improved  upon.  It  has  been  well  said  that  discontent 
is  the  mother  of  progress,  and  those  who  fondly  nurse  and 
enunciate  the  delusion  that  our  past  achievements  testify  to  our 
invincibleness,  and  therefore  change  is  unnecessary,  are  the  most 
dangerous  of  all  within  or  without  our  ranks.  They  differ  from 
the  renegade  and  marplot  by  preaching  the  insidious,  pleasing 
and  consoling  philosophy  of  idleness,  advancing  the  theory  that 
there  is  no  need  of  improvement,  consequently  the  drudgery 
and  painstaking  efforts  of  our  law-makers  and  self-sacrificing 

520 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

local  officers  should  go  for  naught.  In  an  intelligent  discontent, 
coupled  with  a  determination  to  improve  our  system  of  organiza- 
tion so  as  to  adequately  meet  possible — aye,  probable — con- 
tingencies, lies  the  hope  of  our  future  prosperity.  The  absolute 
necessity  and  general  desire  for  a  strong  organization  with 
almost  unlimited  capital  to  support  it  in  times  of  stress  and 
danger  is  evidenced  by  every  local  union  that  becomes  involved 
in  difficulty,  even  though  it  may  have  previously  scouted  the 
idea.  In  their  direst  distress  members  look  to  the  parent  body 
for  succor  and  help,  irrespective  of  their  former  views  on  "local 
autonomy." 

Organisation  Work —  Under  the  head  "Organization," 
emphasis  was  given  to  former  protests  against  what  was 
called  antiquated  methods  of  organization.  The  system 
of  district  organizers  was  regarded  as  faulty  and  responsi- 
ble for  many  serious  mistakes  and  should  be  supplanted 
by  the  appointment  of  paid  organizers.  It  was  thought 
that  it  would  be  incomparably  better  to  have  one  or  two 
men  devote  their  entire  time  to  the  work — that  such 
officials  would  soon  become  adepts  in  treating  with 
employers  and  managing  strikes. 

The  report  showed  that  60  charters  had  been  issued 
from  August  31,  1894,  to  September  I,  1896,  bringing 
into  the  fold  of  the  International  Union  1,063  members. 
Twenty-six  unions  had  been  suspended  for  non-payment 
of  dues;  45  unions,  representing  pressmen  and  bookbind- 
ers, surrendered  their  charters  in  accordance  with  a  juris- 
diction agreement,  taking  with  them  1,378  members;  18 
unions,  representing  162  members,  surrendered  their 
charters  between  August  3,  1894,  and  September  1 1,  1896. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  The  difficulties  attending  the 
management  of  the  Home  were  reviewed  at  length.  After 
tailing  attention  to  the  inadequate  accommodations  pre- 
vailing at  the  Home,  the  president  said: 

it  will  be  your  duty  to  rabmh  t<>  vmir  constituent!  some 
s<  tunic  having  for  its  object  the  perpetuation  of  that  institu- 

5*« 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tion,  for  so  far  as  my  information  extends  the  most  consistent 
and  rabid  opponent  of  the  Home  will  not  seriously  maintain 
that  a  majority  of  the  craft  are  favorable  to  its  abandonment 
or  even  continuance  in  its  present  unfinished  and  unsatisfactory 
condition.  The  preponderance  of  opinion  among  the  member- 
ship favors  placing  it  in  such  shape  as  will  afford  shelter  for 
all  fellow-craftsmen  embraced  in  the  proposition  adopted  by  an 
overwhelming  majority  in  1889 — caring  for  sick  and  indigent 
members.  It  is  hoped  neither  you  nor  the  members  will  be 
enticed  from  the  straight  and  honorable  path  by  the  alluring 
bait  of  securing  endowments  from  the  wealthy  by  a  species 
of  refined  and  fashionable  medicancy.  Eleemosynary  and  other 
societies  may  find  it  congenial  to  sustain  so-called  "charities" 
in  such  a  way,  but  in  my  estimation  it  is  not  in  keeping  with 
the  tenets  of  trade  unionism  to  beg  favors  at  the  hands  of 
either  erstwhile  enemies  or  present  friends.  So  far  as  known 
this  is  the  first  venture  of  the  kind  ever  attempted  by  a  purely 
economic  labor  organization,  and  let  us  write  failure  upon  its 
doors  rather  than  be  recreant  to  the  underlying  principles  of 
unionism — self-reliant  independence  and  honest  manliness. 

The  Label — In  relation  to  the  label,  the  many  diffi- 
culties in  the  way  of  its  general  use  were  gone  over,  as 
well  as  the  efforts  made  to  protect  it  from  infringement. 
A  vigorous  and  persistent  campaign  to  continue  its  use 
was  suggested. 

Important  Recommendations  —  Further  efforts  to 
establish  a  shorter  workday  were  earnestly  urged  and 
a  complete  system  of  reorganization  was  proposed,  the 
main  features  of  which  were  the  election  of  International 
officers  by  popular  vote  and  the  abolition  of  conventions. 
Strengthening  the  system  of  gathering  statistics  was 
advised,  as  was  also  a  continuance  of  the  campaign  in  the 
interest  of  governmental  ownership  and  control  of  the 
telegraph.  In  relation  to  the  cost  of  administration,  the 
president  said : 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  convey  a  fair  idea  of  the  magni- 
tude of  the  routine  work  now  devolving  upon  the  chief  officers, 
but  some  conception  of  it  may  be  obtained  when  the  work  done 

522 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

at  this  time  is  compared  with  that  which  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
officers  eight  years  ago.  Then  it  was  reported  that  the  cor- 
respondence for  the  year  aggregated  3,700  letters,  while  now 
the  monthly  average  since  November,  1895  (when  an  accurate 
record  of  such  matters  was  first  kept),  has  been  5,244  packages, 
exclusive  of  the  Typographical  Journal  and  similar  litera- 
ture. With  this  increase  in  correspondence  and  incidental  busi- 
ness there  has  necessarily  been  an  increment  in  the  expense 
account,  but  an  examination  of  the  figures  will  show  that  the 
members  are  getting  as  good,  if  not  better,  service  at  a  vastly 
cheaper  rate  per  capita  than  ever  before. 

Stereotypers  —  The  report  of  Vice-President  Charles 
B.  I.ahan,  representing  the  stereotypers'  and  electro- 
typers'  branch  of  the  union,  showed  that  5  charters  had 
been  issued  during  the  year  and  that  3  had  been  sur- 
rendered, leaving  23  in  existence.  No  events  of  special 
importance  marked  the  history  of  the  stereotypers  during 
the  period. 

Typographia  —  The  report  of  Vice-President  Hugo 
Miller  contained  the  information  that  the  German- 
American  branch  of  the  International  Union  was  in  a 
flourishing  condition  notwithstanding  the  introduction 
of  machines  and  the  commercial  depression. 

Secretary's  Report — Secretary-Treasurer  Wines'  re- 
port was  a  complete  and  comprehensive  exposition  of  the 
fiscal  affairs  of  the  union  for  the  two  years  ending  June 
30,  1896,  each  year's  business  being  arranged  separately 
and  all  being  itemized.  Commenting  on  the  business  for 
the  term,  the  report  said : 

Notwithstanding  the  depression  in  commercial  and  business 
circles  during  the  past  two  years,  our  finances  show  a  healthy 
condition,  and  to  the  membership  itself,  which  has  promptly 
met  its  obligations  to  the  International,  the  credit  b  dm  Cot  our 
present  prosperity.  The  receipts  for  the  two  years  aggregate 
Il87.945.5rt,  while  the  expenditures  for  the  same  time  total 
$1X2,860.80,  showing  n  gain  of  $5,084.7^)  in  our  assets.  This 
large  sum  has  i.,,n  collected  without  any  degree  of  frict 

5*3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

indicating  that  our  financial  condition,  though  the  resources 
are  inadequate  to  existing  needs  and  the  system  unsuited  to  an 
organization  of  our  present  magnitude,  is  of  greater  stability 
than  at  any  previous  time  in  the  history  of  the  International. 

The  expenditures  show  $48,087.18  to  have  been  paid  during 
the  two  years  in  strike  and  lockout  benefits;  $45,755  in  burial 
claims,  while  $36,500.72  was  transferred  to  the  Home  fund. 
These  beneficiary  features  undoubtedly  add  strength  to  the 
organization  and  are  the  means  of  holding  together  many  of 
the  smaller  unions,  as  well  as  bringing  into  our  ranks  some 
who,  but  for  these  features,  would  never  affiliate  with  us.  Each 
and  every  member  of  the  International  can  well  be  proud  of 
the  showing  made  during  the  past  two  years,  for,  although  the 
membership  shows  a  decrease  from  31,379,  in  1894,  to  29,295, 
in  1895,  and  28,838  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  June  30,  1896,  it 
must  be  remembered  that  we  have  had  to  contend  with  machines 
as  well  as  the  business  depression.  In  addition  to  these  obstacles, 
legislation  permitting  the  withdrawal  from  our  ranks  of  the 
pressmen,  feeders,  bookbinders  and  bindery  girls  (some  1,500  in 
all)  was  enacted.  It  is  not  surprising  under  these  conditions 
that  our  membership  should  show  a  decrease. 

With  some  regret  I  refer  to  our  claim  against  the  Indianap- 
olis National  Bank.  A  dividend  of  10  per  cent  has  been  paid 
since  my  previous  report,  reducing  the  claim  to  $16,857.12,  or 
55  per  cent  of  the  original  sum.  Three  dividends,  aggregating 
45  per  cent,  have  been  paid,  and  at  least  one  and  perhaps  two 
more  will  be  paid,  which  will  reduce  the  claim  and  loss  several 
thousand  dollars. 

Typographical  Journal —  In  relation  to  the  publication 
of  the  Typographical  Journal,  which  was  dwelt  upon 
at  some  length,  the  following  is  extracted : 

The  cost  of  publishing  the  paper  in  its  present  shape  is 
somewhat  greater  than  in  the  old  form,  but  its  appearance  is 
much  improved  and  it  is  now  justly  accorded  a  place  in  the 
front  ranks  of  magazine  literature,  as  becomes  the  journalistic 
representative  of  America's  greatest  and  grandest  typographical 
association.  By  referring  to  the  official  figures  it  will  be  found 
that  the  cost  of  the  paper  for  the  past  two  years  aggregates 
$16,907.48.  The  revenue  for  the  same  length  of  time  was 
$5,490.19,  leaving  the  net  cost  for  the  two  years  $11,417.29,  or 

524 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

39  cents  and  a  fraction  per  member.  When  it  is  remembered 
that  of  the  23,000  papers  printed  each  month  over  one-half 
are,  by  requirements  of  law,  distributed  free  to  local  officers  and 
chairmen  of  chapels,  the  cost  of  the  paper  is  not  exorbitant. 

Deaths  —  The  report  also  showed  that  during  the 
period  covered  there  were  813  deaths,  the  average  age 
at  death  being  40  years.  The  benefits  paid  out  on  account 
of  these  deaths  amounted  to  $45,755. 

Organizers  —  The  reports  of  the  organizers  for  the 
sixteen  districts  gave  with  more  or  less  detail  the  history 
of  events  in  their  respective  districts  during  the  two-year 
period. 

American  Federation  of  Labor  —  The  delegates  to  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  presented  a  compact  and 
interesting  summary  of  the  proceedings  of  that  body 
and  the  report  of  the  committee  on  governmental  owner- 
ship and  control  of  the  telegraph  gave  a  comprehensive 
history  of  its  work.  While  no  definite  results  had  been 
reached  in  this  line  of  work,  the  committee  believed 
substantial  progress  had  been  made. 

Home  Trustees  —  The  report  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Union  Printers  Home,  coupled  with  that  of  the  superin- 
tendent, was  complete  in  all  of  its  details  and  afforded 
ample  information  as  to  the  operations  of  those  officer- 
in  caring  for  the  aged  and  infirm  members.  There  were 
68  inmates  on  June  30,  1896.  For  the  ten  months  of  the 
last  year  and  with  the  retirement  of  Superintendent 
Schuman  in  April  the  cost  per  week  for  each  inmate  was 
$7.35.     In  concluding  their  report,  the  trustees  said: 

The  unwarranted  and  unfair  tttadci  that  have  been  made 
upon  the  management  have  materially  detracted  from  the  peace 
tnd  tranquillity  <>f  life  among  the  inmates  of  this  IhihIu  cut 
institution,  and  made  it  more  difficult  for  vmir  trustees  to  attend 
to  tluir  duties  than  under  more  favorable  conditions  It  has 
been  our  earnest  endeavor  M  administer  the  nflfnir*  of  the  h 
tution  to  the  end  that  our  efforts  might  redound  to  the  « red  it 

5^5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  our  organization  and  add  to  the  comfort  of  those  domiciled 
at  the  Home. 

Out-of-Work  Fund —  The  second  day's  proceedings 
were  largely  taken  up  in  consideration  of  a  report  from 
the  laws  committee,  the  most  important  feature  of  which 
was  a  proposition  to  establish  an  out-of-work  fund,  which 
was  approved  and  later  presented  to  the  referendum. 
Like  similar  propositions  to  create  an  out-of-work  fund, 
it  failed  of  endorsement  by  the  membership. 

Unique  Incident  —  Unique  in  the  history  of  the  organ- 
ization was  the  session  of  the  third  day,  which  was 
held  on  the  summit  of  Pike's  Peak,  where  the  delegates 
were  taken  for  a  day's  sight-seeing. 

While  in  session  on  the  Peak  the  convention  adopted 
resolutions  extending  thanks  and  appreciation  for  the 
splendid  entertainment  afforded  the  delegates  and  visitors 
by  Colorado  Springs  Union  and  the  press  of  Colorado 
Springs  for  courtesies  extended.  After  this  action  Dele- 
gate Morrison,  of  Chicago,  offered  the  following : 

Resolved,  By  the  International  Typographical  Union  in 
convention  assembled  on  the  summit  of  Pike's  Peak,  this  14th 
day  of  October,  1896,  that  we  believe  in  the  free  and  unlimited 
coinage  of — 

Delegate  Howell,  of  Portland,  Ore.,  raised  a  point  of 
order  that  the  resolution  was  political  in  character  and 
should  not  be  entertained. 

The  chair  (First  Vice-President  Theodore  Perry  pre- 
siding) held  the  point  of  order  not  well  taken. 

Delegate  Kavanaugh,  Salt  Lake  City,  appealed  from 
the  decision  of  the  chair.  Pending  a  decision  of  the  ap- 
peal the  convention  adjourned  to  meet  at  Colorado 
Springs  at  8  P.  M. 

At  the  evening  session,  Delegate  Browne,  of  New  York, 
moved  that  that  portion  of  the  morning's  business  relative 

526 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

to  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver  be  expunged.    The 
motion  was  carried. 

MISCELLANEOUS     BUSINESS 

Typesetting  Devices  —  The  committee  on  typesetting 
devices  submitted  a  report  to  the  Colorado  Springs  con- 
vention adverse  to  the  granting  of  a  charter  to  New  York 
local  association  No.  1  of  the  Associated  Typesetting  Ma- 
chine Engineers,  and  recommended  that  they  apply  to  the 
International  Association  of  Machinists  for  a  charter, 
representatives  of  each  of  the  rival  machinists'  organiza- 
tions having  been  given  a  hearing  before  the  convention. 

Referendum  Elections  —  Another  important  action  was 
the  adoption,  over  an  adverse  recommendation  by  the 
committee,  of  an  amendment  relating  to  the  election  of 
officers.  According  to  its  provisions  all  officers  were  to  be 
elected  by  popular  vote,  any  person  of  one  year's  con- 
tinuous membership  to  be  eligible  to  any  official  position. 

Minor  Legislation  —  Among  a  number  of  minor 
measures  adopted  was  an  amendment  strengthening  the 
law  forbidding  any  member  to  apply  for  work  to  any 
person  other  than  the  foreman ;  the  obligation  was 
extended  to  cover  secret  organizations  and  an  amendment 
was  adopted  providing  that  no  person  should  be  eligible 
to  apprenticeship  in  a  machine  office  who  was  not  a  jour- 
neyman printer  and  a  member  of  the  union. 

Upon  an  adverse  report  of  the  laws  committee,  a  large 
number  of  proposed  amendments  were  rejected,  including 
one  to  change  the  time  of  meeting  from  October  to  June 
and  to  remove  the  headquarters  from  Indianapolis. 

Increased  Per  Capita  —  A  number  of  recommendations 
from  the  committee  on  Childs-I  >nxrl  Home  were  con- 
curred in,  chief  among  which  was  an  ad\  5  cents 
in  the  per  capita  tax,  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of  the 

527 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Home.  The  management  of  the  Home  was  complimented 
and  the  officials  and  employes  eulogized. 

Hospital  Annex  —  A  resolution  was  adopted  levying 
an  assessment  of  50  cents  on  each  member  of  the  union 
to  provide  a  fund  to  build  a  hospital  annex  to  the  Home, 
the  assessment  being  due  and  payable  on  Christmas  dayj 
1896.  This  proposition  was  favorably  acted  upon  by  the 
referendum  by  a  vote  of  8,490  ayes,  6,750  noes. 

Civil  Service  —  Resolutions  were  adopted  condemning 
the  application  of  civil  service  regulations  in  the  govern- 
ment printing  office  as  being  detrimental  to  the  union's 
interests,  and  asking  that  such  regulations  be  discontinued. 

CONSTITUTIOMAL     AMENDMENTS 

Twenty-nine  constitutional  amendments  were  submitted 
by  the  Colorado  Springs  convention  of  1896  to  the  refer- 
endum, 24  of  which  were  adopted  and  5  defeated.  A 
summary  of  the  various  amendments  follows : 

(1)  To  create  an  out-of-work  benefit  fund;  defeated. 
(2)  Increasing  the  per  capita  tax  to  30  cents  per  month, 
providing  that  10  cents  of  that  amount  should  be  paid 
into  the  Home  fund;  adopted.  (3)  Abolishing  biennial 
conventions,  and  providing  that,  upon  request  of  five 
unions,  the  president  should  submit  the  question  of  hold- 
ing a  convention  to  a  vote  of  the  membership,  and,  upon 
the  proposition  meeting  with  the  approval  of  a  majority 
of  those  voting,  that  the  president  should  call  a  meeting 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  to  be  held  at 
such  place  as  the  executive  council  might  designate ; 
adopted.  (4)  Providing  that  delegates  should  serve  until 
their  successors  were  elected;  adopted.  (5)  Providing 
that  the  executive  council  should  submit  propositions  or 
amendments  semi-annually  to  the  referendum,  upon  the 
petition  of  five  subordinate  unions,  also  specifying  the 
time   in   which   subordinate   unions   should   take   a   vote 

528 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

on  the  propositions  submitted,  and  providing  for  the  pub- 
lication thereof;  this  amendment  also  increased  the  num- 
ber of  unions  necessary  to  compel  the  submission  of  a 
question  at  any  other  time  from  twenty  to  fifty;  adopted. 
(6)  The  object  of  this  amendment  was  to  abolish  the 
system  of  submitting  questions  to  the  referendum ;  it  was 
defeated  and  the  law  stood  as  amended  by  proposition 
No.  5.  (7)  Allowing  subordinate  unions  sixty  days, 
instead  of  forty  days,  in  which  to  make  returns  on  refer- 
endum votes;  adopted.  (8)  To  abolish  the  referendum; 
defeated.  (9)  Providing  for  the  election  of  International 
officers  by  popular  vote  and  specifying  the  manner  in 
which  the  nominations  should  be  made  and  elections  held; 
also  providing  that  any  member  who  was  in  continuous 
good  standing  for  one  year  in  a  subordinate  union  should 
be  eligible  for  election  to  an  International  office;  and 
that  the  election  board  should  be  composed  of  three  mem- 
bers of  Indianapolis  Union  No.  1;  adopted.  (10)  To 
strike  out  the  section  fixing  the  date  on  which  election  of 
delegates  should  be  held ;  defeated.  (11),  (12),  (13)  Pro- 
viding that  the  allied  crafts  not  then  having  vice- 
presidents  of  the  International  body  should  be  entitled 
to  such  officers,  who  should  serve  without  salary  and 
be  consulted  when  the  interests  of  their  respective  crafts 
were  involved  ;  adopted.  ( 14)  The  object  of  this  amend- 
ment was  to  have  the  executive  council  consist  of  five 
members,  and  thus  avoid  the  unwieldiness  which  would 
result  from  making  the  additional  vice-presidents  pro- 
vided for  members  of  that  body;  adopted.  (i$).  (16) 
These  amendments  provided  that  the  first  vice-president 
should  attend  all  sessions  of  the  International  Union,  and 
fixed  the  salary  of  that  officer  at  $150  per  year  and  trav- 
eling expenses  to  the  conventions;  adopted.  (17) 
Providing  a  new  form  of  obligation  for  subordinate 
unions;  adopted.      (18)    Providing  an  obligation   to  be 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

administered  to  every  delegate  to  the  International  Union 
immediately  after  the  report  of  the  committee  on  creden- 
tials of  that  body  was  acted  upon;  adopted.  (19)  Under 
this  amendment  all  allied  craftsmen  were  required  to 
make  application  to  the  nearest  union  of  their  craft; 
adopted.  (20)  This  amendment  insured  the  election 
of  one  member  of  the  allied  crafts  as  a  delegate  to  the 
Federation  of  Labor;  adopted.  (21)  Making  the  law 
conform  to  the  practice  of  depositing  International  funds 
in  more  than  one  bank;  adopted.  (22)  Striking  out  a 
repetition  appearing  in  section  6  of  article  vi  of  the 
constitution;  adopted.  (23)  Granting  power  to  the 
executive  council  to  transfer  money  from  one  fund 
to  another  whenever  necessary;  adopted.  (24)  Amend- 
ing the  law  so  that  the  executive  council  could  use  its 
discretion  as  to  the  character  of  advertisements  appearing 
in  the  Typographical  Journal;  adopted.  (25)  Fining 
subordinate  unions  $15  for  each  failure  to  make  annual^ 
returns  or  other  reports  required  by  the  International 
Union  or  its  executive  council;  adopted.  (26)  Tostrike 
out  section  dividing  the  jurisdiction  into  districts  for 
organizing  purposes;  defeated.  (27)  To  strike  out  all 
of  the  article  making  provision  for  district  and  state 
unions,  except  section  10;  adopted.  (28)  To  strike  out 
the  section  providing  that  business  of  special  interest 
to  the  allied  crafts  be  confined  to  certain  days  at  Interna- 
tional sessions;  adopted.  (29)  Providing  that  the  number 
of  delegates  to  which  a  subordinate  union  is  entitled 
must  be  determined  by  the  average  membership  on  which 
per  capita  was  paid  during  the  twelve  months  immediately 
preceding  issuance  of  call ;  adopted. 

Various  amendments  to  the  general  laws  were  enacted, 
among  which  was  the  following: 

Any  member  holding  a  position  in  an  office  is  entitled  to 
employ  in  his  stead,  whenever  so  disposed,  any  competent  mem- 

530 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

ber  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  without  the 
consultation  or  approval  of  the  foreman  of  said  office.  A  fine 
of  $25  shall  be  imposed  upon  foremen  for  violation  of  this  law. 

NINE-HOUR     DAY      STRUGGLE 

After  a  prolonged  discussion  of  the  much  talked  of 
shorter  workday,  favorable  action  was  finally  had  on 
the  following: 

Resolved,  That  on  and  after  the  maximum 

hours  of  labor  in  book  and  job_  offices  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union  be  fixed  at  nine  hours 
per  day,  or  fifty-four  hours  per  week. 

That  subordinate  unions  be  requested  to  levy  an  assessment 
which  shall  be  under  such  unions'  entire  charge  for  the  purpose 
of  local  disbursement  only. 

That  no  part  of  such  assessment  levied  be  placed  in  the 
International  Typographical  Union  defense  fund. 

That  local  unions,  in  case  of  a  strike  for  the  inauguration  of 
the  shorter  workday,  be  empowered  to  pay  no  strike  benefits 
until  members  have  been  on  strike  two  weeks. 

That  the  co-operation  of  the  different  affiliated  organizations 
be  requested,  with  the  intention  of  securing  the  same  hours 
of  labor  for  pressmen,  stereotypers,  mailers,  bookbinders  and 
photo  engravers. 

That,  if  the  above  legislation  is  passed  by  a  majority  vote  of 
the  referendum,  a  special  committee  of  five  be  appointed  for 
its  enforcement. 

This  proposition  was  endorsed  by  the  referendum  by 
a  vote  of  8,332  ayes,  2,364  noes,  and  in  accordance  with 
the  instructions  of  the  convention  contingent  upon  the 
approval  of  the  shorter  workday  proposition  by  the  refer- 
endum,  President  Prescott  appointed  the  following  nine- 
hour  committee:  James  J.  Murphy,  New  York;  C  E. 
Hawkcs,  San  Francisco;  Gordon  H.  Russell,  Chattanooga, 
!  David  Hastings,  Hamilton,  Out.,  ami  rcn- 

dcrgast,  Chicago.  This  committee  met  at  headquarters 
in  Indianapolis  on  May  \.  1  .Kg;,  James  J.  Murphy  being 
elected  chairman  and  C.  £.  Hawkcs,  secretary      In  the 

531 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

first  report  submitted  it  was  pointed  out  that  the  com- 
mittee had  been  limited  in  the  matter  of  assessments 
to  a  request  from  local  unions,  which  request  could  be 
complied  with  or  not,  at  their  option.  It  was  unanimously 
agreed  by  the  committee  that  no  general  demand  for  a 
shorter  workday,  such  as  was  contemplated  by  the  resolu- 
tion, would  be  effective  unless  backed  up  by  funds  of 
reasonable  proportions,  and  the  committee  was  at  that 
time  unable  to  satisfy  itself  that  such  a  fundi  could 
be  obtained  in  the  manner  proposed.  It  was  felt  that 
the  membership  would  have  to  be  asked  at  some  day  in 
the  future  to  vote  on  another  proposition  for  an  assessment 
which  would  be  levied  on  and  collected  from  all  alike, 
the  fund  so  raised  to  be  available  solely  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  the  shorter  workday. 

Pending  the  preparation  and  submission  of  the  proposi- 
tion referred  to,  the  committee  decided  to  inaugurate 
an  active  propaganda  in  favor  of  a  shorter  workday,  and 
in  behalf  of  this  to  send  a  circular  to  each  subordinate 
union  inviting  its  co-operation  in  a  manner  and  in  accord- 
ance with  a  plan  which  was  to  be  explained  in  the  circular 
as  a  part  of  the  complete  plan  which  the  committee  had 
prepared.  It  was  also  decided  that  efforts  should  be 
made  to  enlist  the  assistance  of  the  pressmen  in  the  move- 
ment and  to  ask  the  executive  council  to  provide  funds 
to  enable  the  chairman  of  the  committee  to  attend  the 
convention  of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen's 
Union  in  Detroit  and  lay  the  matter  before  it. 

According  to  the  Typographical  Journal  of  July  I, 
.  1897,  following  the  visit  of  Chairman  Murphy,  the  press- 
men's convention  placed  that  branch  of  the  business  in  line 
on  the  shorter  workday  question.  After  due  considera- 
tion of  the  proposition  it  was  decided  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  co-operate  with  the  International  Typographical 
Union.     This  committee  was  composed  of  Henry  Dorsey, 

532 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

Dallas,  Tex. ;  Daniel  A.  McDonald,  Chelsea,  Mass. ; 
Lawrence  F.  Gibbons,  Philadelphia;  Will  G.  Loomis, 
Detroit,  and  Henry  L.  Kreutzer,  St.  Louis. 

In  order  to  create  additional  interest  among  the  mem- 
bers of  subordinate  unions  in  the  struggle  for  the  shorter 
workday,  the  general  committee  petitioned  local  bodies 
to  appoint  shorter  workday  committees  in  each  local 
union.  This  request  met  with  only  partial  success,  in 
many  jurisdictions  no  response  being  made  to  the  appeal 
of  the  general  committee. 

On  November  3,  1897,  after  a  campaign  extending 
over  many  months,  the  committee,  through  the  Interna- 
tional officers,  submitted  the  following  proposition  to  the 
referendum : 

That  an  assessment  of  one  (I)  per  cent  be  levied  on  the 
earnings  of  all  members  under  the  jurisdiction  of  any  subor- 
dinate union  for  a  period  of  five  months,  beginning  with  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1898.  The  funds  so  raised  shall  remain  in  the  posses- 
sion of  each  union,  for  local  disbursement  only,  and  under  the 
supervision  of  the  shorter  workday  committee. 

That  where  the  nine-hour  workday  is  already  established, 
the  assessment  shall  be  one-half  of  one  per  cent,  and  the  funds 
so  raised  shall  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  shorter  workday  committee  through  the 
executive  council,  for  the  assistance  of  those  unions  which  shall 
have  exhausted  their  funds,  and  for  the  general  purposes  of  the 
committee.  In  the  case  of  unions  securing  the  shorter  workday 
without  the  use  of  all  the  funds  raised  for  the  purpose,  one-half 
of  the  remainder  shall  be  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  UMCUlivt 
council,  for  the  use  of  the  shorter  workday  committee,  as  above. 

If,  in  the  opinion  of  the  shorter  workday  committee,  and 
the  executive  council,  the  struggle  gives  promise  of  being  a 
long  one.  those  bodies,  acting  jointly,  arc  hereby  empowered 
to  submit  to  popular  vote  the  question  of  levying  a  further 
assessment  on  all  earnings  during  the  progress  of  t! 
they  are  further  endowed  with  power  to  name  the  date  on  wlu<  h 
the  votes  shall  he  polled,  as  well  as  arrange  other  necetttiy 
details  looking  to  an  expeditious  decision.    It  is  incumbent  on 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

subordinate  unions  to  follow  the  directions  of  the  executive 
council  and  shorter  workday  committee  in  the  manner  of  taking 
this  vote,  all  other  laws  and  parts  of  laws  to  the  contrary  not- 
withstanding. • 

Notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  the  committee,  assisted 
by  the  various  local  committees,  the  membership  again 
refused  to  levy  an  assessment  for  the  purpose  of  creating 
a  fund  to  carry  on  the  shorter  workday  campaign.  While 
the  action  of  the  referendum  was  disappointing,  the  com- 
mittee determined  to  continue  its  labors,  feeling  confident 
of  ultimate  success.  Independent  action  by  subordinate 
unions  was  strongly  urged.  Many  successes  in  securing 
the  nine-hour  day  followed  the  efforts  made  in  this 
manner.  In  March,  1898,  the  committee  issued  the 
following  self-explanatory  circular  to  the  membership : 

The  International  Typographical  Union  shorter  workday 
committee  has  fixed  the  date  on  which  the  shorter  workday  shall 
go  into  effect  "in  all  book  and  job  offices  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union."  The  day  is  not 
far  distant — positively  before  the  end  of  the  present  year. 

The  committee  deemed  it  expedient  to  create  a  general  fund 
for  the  assistance  of  weaker  unions  in  case  of  serious  trouble, 
and  submitted  such  a  proposition,  but  the  membership  decided 
to  stand  by  the  original  resolution  and  oblige  each  union  to  rely 
upon  its  own  resources. 

You  are,  therefore,  now  called  upon  to  levy  an  assessment 
immediately  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  the  shorter  workday 
within  your  jurisdiction. 

The  responsibility  for  the  terms  under  which  you  gain  the 
shorter  workday  rests  upon  your  members,  and  each  and  every 
individual  is  urged  to  prepare  for  any  emergency.  Provide  a 
local  fund  of  sufficient  size  to  warrant  and  support  a  demand 
for  a  continuance  of  the  present  scale  under  a  reduction  of 
hours.  Remember,  any  loss  in  this  respect  will  be  chargeable 
to  your  own  indolence  or  indifference. 

If  you  have  not  already  done  so,  appoint  at  once  an  active 
and  energetic  shorter  workday  committee  of  five,  whose  special 
duty  it  shall  be  to  attend  to  all  matters  in  this  connection  and 

534 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

advise  with  the  International  Typographical  Union  shorter 
workday  committee  on  local  conditions  and  as  to  the  progress 
of  the  work  in  your  section. 

Do  not  get  alarmed.  Build  up  and  strengthen  your  union 
in  every  way,  and  replenish  your  treasuries. 

There  must  be  no  shirking  or  evading  of  responsibility. 
Every  union  man  has  now  an  individual  duty  to  perform. 

One  united  effort  and  the  ten-hour  day  is  a  thing  of  the  past. 

An  effort  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  bookbinders 
in  the  demand  for  the  nine-hour  day  was  duly  described 
by  David  Hastings,  one  of  the  members  of  the  Interna- 
tional shorter  workday  committee,  as  follows : 

The  convention  of  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Book- 
binders was  opened  in  Foresters'  hall,  Temple  building, 
Toronto,  on  Tuesday,  May  3,  about  fifty  delegates,  being  in 
attendance  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  At 
the  suggestion  of  Chairman  Murphy,  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  shorter  workday  committee,  I  attended  the 
convention  as  a  representative  of  that  committee,  and  was 
cordially  received  by  President  Boden  and  Chairman  Weimar 
of  the  bookbinders'  shorter  workday  committee.  With  the  latter 
I  had  a  long  conference  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  comparing 
notes  as  to  the  progress  made  toward  securing  the  shorter 
workday  for  the  printers  and  the  allied  crafts.  Mr.  Weimar 
undertook  to  arrange  for  me  to  address  the  convention  on  the 
following  day,  and  accordingly,  on  Wednesday,  I  returned  to 
Toronto,  and  in  the  afternoon  was  admitted  to  the  convention 
and  addressed  the  delegates  on  the  subject  of  the  shorter  work- 
day and  the  means  to  be  adopted  to  obtain  it  with  the  least 
possible  friction  with  the  employers  and  the  greatest  i>o«ible 
certainty  of  success  when  the  attempt  is  made.  I  endeavored 
to  impress  upon  them  the  wisdom  of  working  to  perfect  not  only 
their  own  organization  but  that  of  the  other  allied  crafts  as 
well.  I  also  touched  on  the  desirability  of  being  prepare-! 
funds  in  t he  event  of  the  employers  seeing  fit  to  put  up  a  fight 
against  a  reduction  in  the  hours  of  labor  in  our  trades,  and 
■dviMd  them  to  authorize  their  committee  to  cooperate  with 
the  International  I  ypo^raphu  a!  I'tuon  committee,  and  with 
that  of  the  pressmen,  when  the  date  set  by  our  rommittee 
arrives.    I  understand  that  this  course  was  adopted,  and  as 

535 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Mr.  Weimar,  the  chairman  of  their  committee,  was  elected 
president  by  the  delegates  there  can  be  no  reason  to  doubt  that 
the  bookbinders  will  be  in  line  all  right  for  the  shorter  workday. 

At  the  Syracuse  convention,  1898,  nearly  two  years 
after  the  appointment  of  the  shorter  workday  committee, 
a  report  was  made  by  that  committee  that  it  had,  assisted 
by  committees  from  the  Pressmen's  Union  and  the  Broth- 
erhood of  Bookbinders,  signed  an  agreement  with  a  com- 
mittee representing  the  United  Typothetae  of  America 
providing  for  the  inauguration  of  a  shorter  workday. 

Secretary-Treasurer  Wines'  Retirement  —  The  follow- 
ing resolution,  submitted  by  President  Prescott.  was 
adopted  by  a  rising  vote : 

Resolved,  That  the  especial  thanks  of  this  convention  are 
due  to  A.  G.  Wines,  retiring  secretary-treasurer,  for  the  faithful 
and  masterly  manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  his  duties  as 
secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Union. 

Immediately  following,  Mr.  Lambert  of  Bay  City, 
Mich.,  on  behalf  of  the  delegates  and  friends,  presented 
Secretary-Treasurer  Wines  with  a  gold-headed  walking 
stick. 

Officers,  i8p6-i8py —  Officers  were  elected  as  follows: 
President,  William  B.  Prescott,  Toronto;  first  vice-presi- 
dent, Theodore  Perry,  Nashville ;  second  vice-president, 
G.  W.  Williams,  Boston ;  third  vice-president,  Hugo  Mil- 
ler, Indianapolis;  secretary-treasurer,  J.  W.  Bramwood, 
Denver.  Organizers — H.  T.  Elder,  Boston;  J.  E.  Mc- 
Loughlin,  New  York  city;  E.  E.  Calhoon,  Springfield, 
Ohio;  Charles  G.  Kizer,  Norfolk;  E.  M.  Evans,  Atlanta; 
Edward  Beck,  Detroit;  G.  W.  Harris,  Chicago;  M.  T. 
Burton,  Memphis;  J.  W.  Cline,  Kansas  City;  H.  W. 
Franklin,  St.  Paul ;  J.  A.  Staples,  Topeka ;  W.  M.  Reilly, 
Dallas ;  R.  G.  Sleater,  Salt  Lake  City ;  H.  H.  Watts,  San 
Francisco ;  G.  H.  Howell,  Portland ;  George  W.  Dower, 
Toronto.    Delegates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor — 

536 


X 


J.   \V.    IIKAMWUOl),  Dknvkr 

SecrctaryTrra-m.  i    Inn  i  national  Typographical  Union 

November   16,   i8g6-  February   I.  1909 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

W.  B.  Prescott,  Toronto  (president)  ;  Edward  Hirsh,  Bal- 
timore; D.  J.  Sullivan,  New  York  city;  Frank  Morrison, 
Chicago.  Trustees  of  the  Childs-Drexel  Home  for  Union 
Printers — W.  B.  Prescott,  Toronto;  J.  W.  Bramwood, 
Denver;  James  J.  Dailey,  Philadelphia;  Henry  Dorsey, 
Dallas;  Alexander  Duguid,  Cincinnati;  L.  C.  Shepard, 
Grand  Rapids,  Mich. ;  Thomas  McCaffery,  Colorado 
Springs. 

AFTER  THE  COLORADO  SPRINGS  CONVENTION 

After  the  Colorado  Springs  convention,  1896,  had  ad- 
journed, and  during  the  two-year  period  intervening 
before  the  Syracuse  convention  assembled,  the  initiative 
and  referendum  was  employed  by  the  membership  much 
after  the  fashion  of  a  child  enraptured  by  possession  of 
a  new  toy.  In  addition  to  twenty-nine  constitutional 
amendments  submitted  by  the  convention,  the  election  of 
officers  was  had  by  referendum  vote  for  the  first  time. 
Initiative  propositions  of  some  character  were  before  the 
membership  almost  continuously  during  this  period. 

Percentage  Dues  —  Agreeably  to  instructions  given  by 
the  Colorado  Springs  convention,  the  executive  council 
prepared  and  submitted  a  plan  for  the  collection  of  dues 
by  what  is  known  as  the  percentage  system.  The  plan 
was  distributed  to  the  membership  in  circular  form  and 
it  was  arranged  to  take  a  vote  on  the  proposition  at  any 
convenient  day  after  June  10,  1897,  and  before  August 
10,  1897.  The  vote  of  the  membership  on  this  question 
was  overwhelmingly  in  the  negative,  a  majority  of  more 
than  10,000  being  cast  against  it,  and  thus  the  percentage 
system  of  collecting  dues,  which  has  since  become  to 
popular  in  many  jurisdictions,  was  temporarily  defca* 

Additional  \'icc-Prcsiiients — In  the  Typographical 
Journal  of  June  15,  1897,  it  was  announced  that,  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  amended  constitu- 

537 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tion  calling  for  the  election  of  a  fourth  vice-president, 
to  be  a  practical  mailer;  fifth  vice-president,  to  be  a 
member  of  the  newspaper  writers'  union ;  a  sixth  vice- 
president,  to  be  a  photo  engraver,  such  officers  had  been 
elected.  All  unions  composed  of  mailers  and  of  newspaper 
writers  were  notified  of  the  change  in  the  law  and  had 
made  nominations  to  fill  the  offices,  while  James  Ryan 
of  New  York  Photo  Engravers'  Union  No.  I  became  the 
sixth  vice-president  by  previous  agreement,  after  the 
adoption  of  the  amendment  by  the  referendum.  W.  G. 
Harber,  Boston,  was  chosen  fourth  vice-president,  repre- 
senting the  mailers,  and  J.  F.  O'Sullivan,  Boston,  was 
elected  fifth  vice-president,  representing  the  newspaper 
writers.  These  positions  were  honorary,  except  that  the 
holders  thereof  had  a  vote  in  the  executive  council  on  such 
matters  as  appertained  to  their  respective  crafts. 

Biennial  Conventions  —  Immediately  following  the 
vote  on  the  twenty-nine  amendments  submitted  to  the 
referendum  by  the  convention,  a  greati  deal  of  discussion 
took  place  regarding  the  amendment  abolishing  biennial 
conventions  and  providing  that  the  president,  upon 
request  of  five  unions,  should  submit  the  question  of  hold- 
ing a  convention  to  the  membership.  The  delegates,  after 
approving  this  amendment  and  sending  it  to  the  refer- 
endum, proceeded  to  select  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  for  the  next 
convention  city.  Syracuse  Union  went  ahead  with  the 
understanding  that  it  was  to  receive  the  convention  of 
1898,  but  in  a  decision  rendered  by  President  Prescott, 
in  reply  to  a  communication  from  President  T.  M.  Gafney 
of  No.  55,  'it  was  held  that  there  would  be  no  con- 
vention in  Syracuse  in  1898  unless  the  membership, 
through  petition  and  referendum,  so  decided.  A  dis- 
cussion of  the  matter  was  carried  on  through  the  columns 
of  the  Journal,  and  many  propositions  were  submitted 
looking  to  a  repeal  of  the  action  adopting  the  amendment 

538 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

referred  to.  Cincinnati  Typographical  Union  submitted 
a  proposition  requesting  the  membership  to  vote  on  the 
question  of  holding  a  meeting  of  the  International  Union 
for  the  purpose  of  reconsidering  the  action  which  did 
away  with  the  holding  of  conventions  biennially.  The 
suggestion  received  sufficient  endorsements  to  require  the 
executive  council  to  bring  the  matter  before  the  refer- 
endum. It  having  been  explained  in  the  columns  of  the 
Journal  that  the  action  desired  by  Cincinnati  Union  could 
be  obtained  by  a  direct  referendum  vote,  without  the 
necessity  of  calling  a  convention,  the  proposition  was 
defeated. 

Shortly  after  the  defeat  of  the  Cincinnati  proposition, 
five  additional  propositions  were  submitted  to  the  refer- 
endum, including  one  to  again  provide  for  biennial 
sessions.  This  was  approved  by  the  membership,  the  vote 
being  5,754  in  favor  and  5,027  against.  The  section 
of  the  constitution  as  amended  on  this  point  was  as 
follows : 

The  International  Typographical  Union  shall  meet  bien- 
nially on  the  second  Monday  in  October  in  such  city  as  the 
preceding  convention  shall  determine  upon,  all  the  arrange- 
ments for  the  same  to  be  made  by  and  at  the  expense  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union;  provided,  that  upon  the 
request  of  five  unions,  stating  the  business  desired  to  be  con- 
sidered, the  president  shall,  with  the  approval  of  the  majority 
of  all  the  unions,  call  a  special  meeting  of  the  International 
Union ;  provided,  that  at  least  thirty  days'  notice  of  such  spe- 
cial meeting  shall  be  given  to  subordinate  unions ;  and  pro- 
vided further,  that  no  business  shall  lie  considered  at  such 
special  meeting  that  is  not  specified  in  the  call,  such  call, 
together  with  a  statement  of  tin-  business  to  be  considered,  if 
<l<  I'tned  advisable,  to  be  published  in  the  Ty|H>i!raphical 
Journal. 

Additional  Constitutional  Amendments  —  The  second 
referendum  proposition  was  ,m  amend-nent  t«>  change 
the  law  so  as  to  require  the  endorsement  of  twenty  unions 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

prior  to  submitting  questions  to  the  vote  of  the  member- 
ship.    This  was  defeated. 

The  third  proposition  was  an  amendment  restricting 
the  eligibility  of  holding  International  office,  with  the 
exception  of  organizers  and  Home  trustees,  to  delegates 
attending  the  conventions  and  to  vest  the  power  to  elect 
officers  in  conventions.  This  amendment  also  was 
defeated. 

The  purpose  of  the  fourth  proposed  amendment  was 
to  give  the  executive  council  power  to  fill  all  vacancies 
except  in  the  office  of  president.     This  was  defeated. 

The  intent  of  the  fifth  proposition  was  to  abolish  the 
reference  of  any  and  all  questions  to  the  membership 
and  to  vest  absolute  legislative  and  executive  power  in 
conventions  and  the  officers  elected  by  them.  It  also 
provided  for  annual  conventions  to  be  held  in  August 
of  each  year.  The  majority  against  this  proposition 
was  3,251. 

The  last  referendum  vote  between  the  adjournment 
of  the  Colorado  Springs  convention  and  the  convention 
at  Syracuse  included  four  propositions.  The  first  pro- 
vided for  a  sweeping  change  in  the  system  of  organizers. 
The  object  sought  by  the  amendment  was  the  appointment 
by  the  president  of  not  to  exceed  three  general  organizers, 
to  be  under  the  immediate  control  of  the  International's 
executive  council,  the  salaries  of  such  officials  to  be  fixed 
at  $1,200  per  annum  each,  and  traveling  expenses  It 
was  further  stipulated  that  the  district  system  be  abolished 
and  temporary  organizers  be  appointed  when  deemed 
necessary.  The  proposition  was  defeated,  the  vote  being 
2,800  in  favor  and  5,044  against. 

The  second  proposition,  which  was  adopted  by  a  large 
majority,  provided  that  all  unions  of  compositors  be 
debarred  from  accepting  applications  for  membership 
from  allied  craftsmen  and  that  such  of  the  latter  as  held 

540 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1896 

membership  in  typographical  unions  "must  deposit  their 
cards  with  the  nearest  union  of  their  craft." 

Favorable  action  was  taken  on  the  third  proposition, 
amending  the  constitution  so  as  to  provide  that  the  elec- 
tion of  delegates  to  the  International  Union  should  be 
held  on  the  last  Wednesday  in  May  preceding  the 
International  convention. 

More  interest  was  manifested  in  the  fourth  proposition 
than  those  previously  mentioned.  It  had  for  its  object 
the  withdrawal  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
from  the  American  Federation  of  Labor.  The  proposition 
was  defeated  by  a  majority  of  3,422  in  a  total  vote 
of  8,120. 

Officers  Elected  by  Referendum  —  Under  the  provi- 
sions of  the  amended  constitution,  the  first  referendum 
vote  taken  on  the  election  of  officers  was  had  during 
the  month  of  May,  1898,  the  law  permitting  subordinate 
unions  to  regulate  the  time,  place  and  manner  of  voting. 
The  officers  elected  for  the  ensuing  two-year  term,  begin- 
ning November  1st,  1898,  were  as  follows: 

President,  Samuel  B.  Donnelly,  New  York;  first  vice- 
president,  James  M.  Lynch,  Syracuse;  second  vice- 
president  (stcreotyper),  John  G.  Derflinger,  New 
York;  third  vice-president  (German- American  Typo- 
graphy), Hugo  Miller,  Indianapolis;  fourth  vice-presi- 
dent (mailer),  W.  G.  Harbcr,  Boston;  fifth  vice-president 
(newspaper  writer),  J.  F.  O'Sullivan,  Boston;  sixth  vice- 
president  (photo-engraver),  James  Ryan,  New  York; 
s< rrctary-trcasurcr,  J.  \V.  Bramwood,  Denver.  Trustees 
of  the  Chihls-I  >rexcl  Home  for  Union  Printers — Samuel 
B.  Donnelly,  New  York;  J.  W.  Bramwood.  lUm 
James  J.  Dailcy,  Philadelphia;  Thomas  McCafTcry, 
Colorado  Springs;  L  C.  Shcpard,  Chicago;  J.  \V  White. 
Kansas  City.  Kan  ;  William  Aimison.  Nashville;  agent, 
Victor   B,   Williams,  Chicago.      Delegates  to  American 

541 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Federation  of  Labor — Samuel  B.  Donnelly  (president), 
New  York;  Eugene  O'Rourke,  New  York;  J.  G.  Cain 
(allied  crafts),  New  York;  Frank  Morrison,  Chicago. 
Organizers — Henry  McMahon,  Maiden,  Mass. ;  J.  E. 
McLoughlin,  New  York;  W.  J.  Hanafin,  Baltimore; 
Charles  G.  Kizer,  Norfolk ;  H.  P.  Blount,  Atlanta ;  A.  H. 
Smith,  Detroit;  William  M.  Higgins,  Louisville;  M.  T. 
Burton,  Memphis;  J.  W.  Cline,  St.  Louis;  John  Hays, 
Minneapolis;  T.  F.  Sturgess,  Omaha;  L.  L.  Daniels, 
Dallas;  H.  C.  McDonough,  Salt  Lake  City;  C.  E.  Fisk, 
Los  Angeles;  G.  H.  Howell,  Portland,  Ore.,  and  George 
W,  Dower,  Toronto. 

Convention    at   Syracuse 

[1898] — The  forty-fourth  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  convened  at  Elks'  Hall, 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  October  10,  1898. 

The  convention  was  called  to  order  by  President 
Prescott,  who,  after  preliminary  remarks,  introduced 
President  P.  J.  Coogan  of  Syracuse  Typographical  Union 
No.  55.  Mr.  Coogan  welcomed  the  guests  on  behalf  of 
the  local  union  and  expressed  a  regret  that  the  mayor  of 
the  city  was  unexpectedly  unable  to  be  present  to  do  the 
same.  He,  however,  was  authorized  to  extend  the  freedom 
of  the  city  to  the  delegates. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Zimmerman  then  invoked  the  divine 
blessing,  at  the  close  of  which  he  gave  a  hearty  welcome 
and  spoke  enthusiastically  of  the  occupation  of  printers, 
stating  that  the  greatest  joy  that  comes  to  our  homes 
is  through  literature,  and  he  would  rather  never  have  been 
born  if  he  could  not  enjoy  reading.  There  were  some 
things  printed,  he  said,  of  which  he  did  not  approve,  but 
he  that  would  denounce  a  newspaper  because  he  did  not 
like  some  portions  of  it  was  devoid  of  all  sense  of  justice. 

542 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

President  Prescott  replied,  reciprocating  the  good 
feelings  proffered. 

Manner  of  Administering  Obligation  —  After  the  list 
of  delegates  entitled  to  seats  had  been  read  by  the  secre- 
tary, a  committee  on  credentials  was  appointed,  to  which 
all  irregular  credentials  were  referred.  Considerable 
discussion  arose  over  the  manner  of  administering  the 
obligation,  it  being  finally  decided  that  delegates  should 
arise  and  pronounce  their  names  and  the  union  repre- 
sented, after  which  each  took  the  obligation. 

Among  other  minor  transactions  of  the  opening  session 
was  the  creation  of  a  committee  on  officers'  reports,  grant- 
ing the  privileges  of  the  floor  to  the  International  officers- 
elect,  and  allowing  all  union  members  seats  in  the  con- 
vention. 

REVIEW     OF     OFFICER  s'     REPORTS 

President's  Address — In  opening  his  address,  Presi- 
dent Prescott  congratulated  the  craft  on  the  substantial 
progress  made  by  the  organization  during  the  two-year 
period  following  the  previous  convention.  Although 
there  had  been  a  slight  decrement  in  membership — which 
was  more  apparent  than  real — it  could  be  safely  said  that 
the  International  Union  and  many  of  its  subordinate 
bodies  had  made  pleasing  and  encouraging  advancement 
along  lines  making  for  better  discipline,  and  therefore 
greater  stability  and  effectiveness.  The  evidences  of  this 
were  manifold,  and  were  especially  manifest  in  the 
amount  being  disbursed  for  benefits  and  the  com  pa  rat  i\ 
few  delinquent  unions,  or  of  members  being  dltclplliml 
for  dereliction  in  the  payment  <>f  dues,  etc.  Testimony 
justifying  self-congratulation  was  nN<»  felt  in  the  fact 

kth.it.  notwithstanding  the  almost  uniformly  downward 
tendency  of  wages,  the  typographical  unions  had  gcn< 
ally  upheld  the  wage  earning  capabilities  of  their  mem- 
S43 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

bers,  and  might,  without  boastful  egotism,  even  claim  to 
have  improved  conditions  in  that  respect. 

After  some  remarks  to  the  delegates  relating  to  law 
making,  expressing  the  hope  that  the  careful  policy  that 
had  characterized  the  proceedings  of  the  past  decade 
would  again  prevail,  the  president  said : 

C  We  now  occupy  the  proud  position  of  being  in  numbers 
i  /  the  greatest  labor  organization  in  America,  and  it  is  opined 
Vour  prestige  is  in  keeping  with  our  numerical  strength.  This 
honor  brings  with  it  responsibilities  and  duties  which  I  am 
afraid  we  can  not  plume  ourselves  on  having  fully  appreciated, 
and  if  we  have  realized  them,  we  certainly  can  not  be  said  to 
have  acquitted  ourselves  creditably.  It  is  time  we  gave  expres- 
sion on  a  point  that  has  been  the  subject  of  much  controversy 
and  thought  among  many  well-wishers  in  the  trade  union 
movement,  and  that  is  the  lack  of  intelligent  interest  in  what  is 
commonly  and  euphemistically  called  "the  labor  movement." 
Not  for  one  moment  would  I  advocate  the  gradual  conversion 
of  our  organization  into  a  partisan  political  body,  or  even 
make  it  an  auxiliary  to  one,  by  applying  a  political  test — 
tiirectly  or  indirectly,  openly  or  covertly — to  applicants  for 
membership.  *  *  *  Notwithstanding  my  occupying  such 
strong  ground  in  opposition  to  a  political  typographical  union, 
I  am  nevertheless  convinced  we  should  devote  more  attention 
to  the  study  of  questions  relating  to  the  social  and  economic 
phenomena  which  confront  us  at  every  turn.  Trade  unionists 
should  be  to  the  forefront  in  creating  a  healthy  public  sentiment 
on  all  questions  affecting  wage-earners,  but  we  can  not  hope 
to  sensibly  impress  public  opinion,  or  otherwise  benefit  our- 
selves or  our  class,  unless  we  pay  more  heed  to  and  participate 
in  political  discussions  of  the  higher  type.  It  is  erroneous 
to  presume  that  the  injection  of  such  an  enlivening  and  edify- 
ing feature  into  our  meetings  would  be  in  any  respect  similar 
to  the  introduction  of  partisan  politics.  The  purpose  of  the 
former  is  to  gain  knowledge  regarding  matters  of  vital  import- 
ance to  us  as  individuals  and  as  an  organization,  with  the 
ultimate  aim  of  aiding  us  in  efforts  to  better  our  condition  in 
life.  The  object  of  partisanship  in  a  union  is  the  exact  opposite 
of  this,  inasmuch  as  it  is  always  accompanied — irrespective  of 
its  professions — by  an  effort  to  cajole  or  coerce  the  members, 

544 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

individually  and  collectively,  into  accomplishing  something  for 
another  body  or  person.  The  one  inures  to  the  benefit  of  many, 
while  the  other  utilizes  many  for  the  benefit  of  one  or  a  few. 
We  may  safely  scout  the  idea  that  there  is  danger  of  disruption 
or  serious  dissension  in  this  proposition,  as  it  is  unreasonable 
and  illogical  to  hold  that  organizations  which  have  times  with- 
out number  endorsed  men  applying  for  positions  within  the 
gift  of  political  managers  can  not  with  safety  discuss  subjects 
of  overpowering  interest,  and  probably  remote  from  the  prac- 
tical politics  of  the  day.  Considered  from  an  immediately  selfish 
standpoint,  we  should  advance  in  this  direction,  as  our  back- 
wardness is  causing  us  to  lose  the  active  sympathy  of  many  lib- 
eral-minded citizens  who,  having  been  impressed  with  the 
imbruting  conditions  imposed  upon  the  poor,  are  investigating 
and  being  convinced  that  there  is  something  rotten  in  modern 
society.  At  present  there  ss  no  avenue  by  which  this  large, 
influential  and  increasing  class  can  co-operate  with  what  should 
be  the  main  body  of  the  reform  army — the  trade  unionists.  We 
should  draw  them  to  us  rather  than  repel  them  by  obstinately 
neglecting  or  refusing  to  investigate  or  study  social  and  political 
science.    *    *    * 

But  apart  from  those  considerations,  and  the  further  one 
that  we,  as  citizens,  should  be  ever  ready  to  express  ourselves 
on  all  public  affairs — and  then,  if  true  to  our  professions,  to 
strike  a  blow  for  good  government — it  is  imperative  that  we 
do  something  to  stimulate  interest  among  our  members.  There 
is  not  an  earnest  worker  in  our  ranks  who  has  not  been  pained 
and  grieved  at  the  slight  interest  taken  in  union  meetings,  as 
testified  by  the  attendance,  and  I  am  constrained  to  admit  that 
from  the  best  possible  information  obtainable  this  lethargy  is 
becoming  more  deep  seated  and  widespread,  which  does  not 
augur  well  for  our  future.  And,  sad  to  relate,  the  Uighfl  is  not 
peculiar  to  our  organization,  but  has  been  responsible  for  the 
steady  decrease  in  mcml>ership  of  every  considerable  American 
union  except  ours.  In  the  midst  <«f  this  deplorable  deprc^ 
men  are  earnestly  asking  themselves  if  existing  trade  unions  are 
capable  of  meeting  present  exigencies.  It  is  no  answer  to  this  to 
In  foul  our  mouths  by  emitting  invective  and  vituperation  against 
the  questioner  or  his  union  record — though  thd  most 
of  these  doubters  are  within  our  rank*,  and  have  nerved  10  long 
and  honorably  their  probity  is  beyond  cavil.   Nor  docs  it  suffice 

S48 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

to  direct  attention  to  a  long  list  of  so-called  remedial  laws 
secured  in  the  past,  or  a  creditable  array  of  victories  in  the 
economic  field.  The  inquirer  knows  that  the  passage  of  laws  by 
legislatures  is  of  little  moment  if  they  are  not  enforced  by  the 
executive  branch  of  the  government,  and  even  if  the  enforce- 
ment of  an  enactment  is  confided  to  one  thoroughly  in  sympathy 
with  its  aims,  the  intelligent  workingman  has  come  to  learn 
that  the  courts — to  state  the  case  kindly — by  an  overwhelming 
fondness  for  technicalities  and  precedents,  and  an  unreasoning 
and  unjust  antagonism  to  legislative  innovations,  competent  to 
meet  changed  industrial  conditions,  are  likely  to  encompass  the 
nullification  of  the  majority  of  measures  of  an  alleviatory 
nature.  Our  inquiring  friends  are  influenced  by  these  facts,  for 
they  know,  as  we  should  recognize,  that  capitalism  has  perfect 
machinery  for  its  self-aggrandizement,  with  wonderful  success 
within  the  last  few  years.  In  the  industrial  world,  all  have  to 
admit  the  accomplishments  of  unions  and  their  capability  for 
continued  effectiveness  in  many  instances,  but  there  can  be  no 
denial  of  the  fact  that  perhaps  the  majority  of  those  who 
formerly  composed  the  union  forces  are  not  now  working  for 
employers  whose  actions  are  circumscribed — and  hostility 
curbed — by  fear  of  competition,  but  they  are  employes  of  great 
trusts,  who  calmly  make  their  demands  and  resort  to  the  bar- 
barous method  of  starving  the  workers  into  submission,  and, 
aided  by  the  skilful  attorneys — whose  yearly  retainers  probably 
exceed  the  union's  income — and  pliant  officeholders,  the  trust 
is  supported  by  all  the  power  of  government  in  the  delectable 
work  of  reducing  wages  through  the  agency  of  starvation.  All 
this  time  the  corporation  is  secure.  It  has  no  fear  of  loss  of 
market,  and  any  pecuniary  damage  resultant  from  the  rupture 
may  be  readily  repaired  when  the  famished  workers  return  to 
their  labors  vanquished,  and  the  wheels  of  industry  again  begin 
to  increase  the  wealth  of  the  land.  Though  there  is  usually 
unrestricted  competition  in  the  printing  business,  and  we  have 
not  failed  to  profit  by  reason  of  it,  there  are  not  wanting  indica- 
tions we  may  in  future  be  called  upon  to  face  situations  similar 
to  those  before  which  weaker — aye,  and  some  stronger — and  less 
well  equipped  unions  have  gone  down.  Recently  the  Chicago 
publishers,  acting  in  concert,  resisted  a  demand  of  the  stereo- 
types by  suspending  publication  and  agreeing  to  issue  every 
paper  simultaneously,  or  not  at  all.    Their  subscribers  could 

546 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

obtain  no  papers,  nor  could  ambitious  citizens  publish  one 
worthy  the  name,  and  the  employes  had  either  to  work  for  the 
provokers  of  this  condition  or  leave  Chicago.  This  was  sur- 
prising to  many — though  not  all  of  us — as  it  was  unique  in 
the  annals  of  news  publishing.  But  the  publishers  did  nothing 
more  than  employers  in  other  branches  of  industry  have  been 
doing  for  years,  viz.,  suspended  work,  with  the  determination 
that  they  would  not  resume  until  their  terms  were  complied 
with.  This  brings  home  to  us  with  especial  force  the  question : 
"Is  trade  unionism  capable  of  coping  with  latter-day  organized 
capitalism?"  If  it  is,  then  it  should  be  demonstrated  so  clearly 
as  to  convince  those  insistent  interrogators,  else  we  will  suffer 
from  their  defection  before  many  years  have  passed,  as  it  is 
irrational  to  assume  men  will  remain  loyal  to  an  organization 
that  possesses  for  them  no  uplifting  ideal,  and  which,  to  their 
mind,  lives  and  has  its  being  in  the  past,  resolutely  setting  its 
face  toward  the  setting  sun  rather  than  welcome  the  dawn  of  a 
new  day.  If  the  reverse  be  true  and  investigation  develops  such 
defects  and  shortcomings,  even  of  an  organic  character,  as  com- 
pels a  negative  answer  to  the  question,  it  is  the  part  of  wisdom 
and  our  duty  to  so  change  our  methods  as  will  best  advance 
humanity's  cause  and  preserve  those  principles  we  cherish. 
In  order  to  pass  upon  these  subjects  rationally,  it  will  be 
necessary  for  us  to  consider  carefully  our  industrial  environ- 
ment, and  there  is  no  place  better  fitted  for  this  than  the  union 
room,  with  its  freedom  of  discussion  and  usual  honesty  of 
expression,  nor  could  we  select  a  more  suitable  place  to  convince 
those  who  are  at  fault  of  their  error. 

Organization  Work  —  Under  the  head  of  "Organiza- 
tion," the  president  dealt  at  some  length  with  the  prevail- 
ing system,  which  he  characterized  as  antiquated  and 
not  meeting  the  needs  of  the  time,  concluding  that  "it 
would  be  incomparably  better  to  have  one  or  two  men 
devoting  their  entire  attention  to  the  work  now  devolving 
upon  organizers.  As  practice  makes  for  perfection,  these 
officials  would  soon  become  adepts  in  the  art  of  organ- 
izing, treating  with  employers  and  managing  strikes, 
which  always  require  a  certain  amount  of  personal  super- 
\  ision.    The  latter  qualification  is  no  minor  considcrnt 

547 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

for  in  these  days  the  conduct  of  industrial  disturbances 
calls  for  the  exercise  of  tact  and  skill.  When  an  open 
rupture,  occurs,  one  trained  and  experienced  in  com- 
batting the  enemy  should  be  on  the  ground.  The  most 
effective  blows  are  struck  in  the  first  few  days,  when 
enthusiasm  is  at  its  height,  and  it  is  folly,  under  these 
circumstances,  to  gain  knowledge  by  experience,  as  that 
is  not  obtained  until  after  the  battle  is  won  or  lost.  By 
this  arrangement  much  effective  work  could  be  done  in 
organizing  new  unions,  strengthening  weak  ones  and  sub- 
stituting business  principles  for  the  slipshod  methods  that 
prevail  in  too  large  a  number  of  our  subordinate  bodies, 
to  their  disgrace,  and  sometimes  resulting  in  disaster." 
It  was  believed  by  the  president  that  such  officials  should 
have  power  to  inspect  or  audit  the  books  of  subordinate 
unions. 

Amnesty  —  After  calling  attention  to  the  danger  from 
non-unionists  and  urging  special  efforts  for  complete 
organization,  the  president  continued : 

It  can  not  be  denied  that  in  most  localities  book  and  job 
printers  are  not  characterized  by  proper  activity  in  union  work, 
and  to  this  apathy  is  largely  due  the  existing  state  of  affairs. 
I  am  not  unmindful  that  the  mere  suggestion  of  an  amnesty  is 
distasteful  to  many ;  but,  nevertheless,  in  justice  to  those  unions 
which  are  well  maintained  and  control  the  business  in  their 
jurisdictions,  it  is  imperative  that  a  remedy  be  found  for  the 
condition  here  mentioned.  To  that  end  it  is  recommended  that 
your  executive  council  be  clothed  with  authority — should 
occasion  require — to  invade  the  territory  of  a  local  union, 
suspend  all  laws  regarding  the  admission  of  applicants,  and 
proceed  to  thoroughly  organize  the  city.  This  is  a  long  step 
from  the  much-cherished  doctrine  of  local  autonomy,  but  that 
should  not  deter  you  from  adopting  legislation  which  would 
simultaneously  strengthen  a  weak  union  and  remove  threatening 
danger  from  stronger  ones. 

Allied  Trades — Charters — In  touching  upon  the  or- 
ganization of  the  allied  trades,  the  president  reported 

548 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

measurable  success.  During  the  two-year  period  covered 
by  the  report  seventy-five  charters  had  been  issued,  three 
being  for  mailers,  seven  photo-engravers,  sixteen  stereo- 
typers  and  electrotypers,  two  newspaper  writers,  and  one 
typefounders,  the  balance  being  for  printers,  altogether 
bringing  in  a  membership  of  1,156.  During  the  same 
period  twenty  unions  surrendered  their  charters  and 
twenty-four  were  suspended  for  delinquency,  involving  a 
membership  of  520. 

Proofreader  Members  —  On  the  question  of  proof- 
reader members,  attention  was  called  to  the  matter  of 
further  legislation,  the  president  affirming  that  the  reason 
proofrooms  were  not  under  union  authority  was  not  due 
to  the  apathy  of  subordinate  unions  or  its  members.  To 
assist  unions  not  in  control  of  proofrooms,  two  plans  were 
proposed — one  by  insisting  that  all  future  vacancies  be 
filled  from  the  membership  of  the  union ;  but  the  incon- 
veniences incident  to  such  an  arrangement  were  obvious. 
The  other  resource  was  to  admit  all  non-printer  proof- 
readers to  membership.  While  not  advocating  the  open- 
ing of  proofrooms  to  non-printer  readers,  the  president 
felt  constrained  to  urge  that  the  latter  suggestion  pre- 
sented the  most  feasible  and  honorable  solution  of  the 
difficulty.  It  had  been  represented  that  many  of  the  non- 
printer  proofreaders  were  desirous  of  affiliating  with  the 
union  and,  when  viewed  from  a  somewhat  sordid  stand- 
point, they  without  doubt  derived  substantial  benefit  from 
the  wages  maintained  by  union  effort  and  should  there- 
fore be  contributors  to  union  finances  as  well  as  bear  some 
of  the  burdens  inseparable  from  union  work.  It  was  sug- 
gested that  a  tentative  amendment  to  the  constitution  be 
adopted  empowering  subordinate  unions  to  admit  all 
proofreaders  who  made  application  within  six  months 
from  a  eertain  named  day. 

Machine   Tenders  —  The  president  characterized   the 

149 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

relations  of  the  union  with  machine  tenders  as  a  fruitful 
source  of  controversy,  and,  after  reviewing  the  acts  and 
incident  complications  with  the  International  Association 
of  Machinists  and  the  Associated  Typesetting  Machine 
Engineers,  concluded  that  this  class  of  legitimate  com- 
posing room  employes  ought  to  be  in  typographical 
unions. 

Union  Label  —  Regarding  the  union  label,  the  presi- 
dent said  that  although  it  had  been  neglected  by  the  In- 
ternational Union,  and  rarely  pushed  with  commendable 
vim  and  vigor  by  subordinate  unions,  no  single  agency 
had  proven  of  greater  service  than  the  union  label,  intro- 
duced seven  years  previously.  It  had  reached  an  enviable 
position  despite  the  opposition  of  some  shortsighted  mem- 
bers who,  though  unable  to  destroy  the  label  movement, 
successfully  retarded  its  development.  As  label  success 
had  silenced  the  opposition  referred  to,  delegates  could, 
without  fear  of  having  the  judiciousness  of  their  acts 
questioned,  give  official  approval  to  some  plan  whereby 
the  label's  effectiveness  and  usefulness  could  be  taken 
advantage  of. 

Sick  Benefit  Fund  —  Referendum  —  The  establish- 
ment of  a  sick  benefit  fund  was  recommended  and  a 
position  was  taken  in  opposition  to  a  change  from  the 
referendum  system  of  voting,  the  president  on  this  point 
saying:  "It  will  doubtless  be  represented  to  you  that, 
if  given  the  opportunity,  the  members  would  repudiate 
the  entire  system,  or  so  much  of  it  as  relates  to  elections. 
I  believe  it  would  be  a  delusion  for  you  to  act  on  such  a 
brash  assumption  in  the  face  of  the  overwhelming  major- 
ity which  rejected  the  last  effort  to  repeal  the  law,  and 
feel  it  to  be  your  duty  to  perfect  present  legislation,  when 
the  result  of  your  deliberations  can  be  referred  to  and 
passed  upon  by  the  membership." 

Functions  of  Local   Unions  —  The  president   decried 

550 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

against  legislation  affecting  the  internal  affairs  of  printing 
offices  properly  under  the  domain  of  local  unions  or  office 
chapels,  saying,  "When  this  organization  undertakes  to 
regulate  some  of  the  affairs  legislated  upon,  it  dignifies 
trifles  and  detracts  from  its  own  dignity  by  digressing 
from  its  most  useful  and  proper  work.  It  is  earnestly 
hoped  that  you  will  refrain  from  assisting  in  the  inordi- 
nate enlargement  of  these  trivialities  to  the  end  that  the 
International's  machinery  may  be  devoted  to  the  more 
important  needs  that  are  properly  within  its  province." 

Seals  —  The  president  asked  that  seals  be  abolished 
and  that  a  number  of  sections  in  the  general  laws  of 
minor  importance  be  repealed. 

Defense  Fund —  Under  the  head  of  "Funds,"  a  satis- 
factory condition  was  reported,  but  there  were  expressions 
of  regret  that  a  large  defense  fund  was  not  provided. 

The  Home  —  Calling  attention  to  Home  affairs,  it  was 
shown  that  the  institution  had  cost  approximately  a  quar- 
ter of  a  million  dollars,  and  that  its  maintenance  would 
cost,  on  an  average,  $35,000  annually,  with  about  no 
inmates,  even  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances. 

Minor  Recommendations  —  Among  a  number  of  minor 
matters  touched  upon  by  the  president,  it  was  recom- 
mended that  the  laws  should  be  so  changed  as  to  permit 
the  admission  of  members  by  a  majority  vote;  the  repeal 
of  the  laws  permitting  district  unions;  opposing  appro- 
priations of  money  to  subordinate  unions  by  convention*, 
the  executive  council  to  control  such  outlays;  the  consoli- 
dation of  the  offices  of  Home  treasurer  and  secretary  of 
tin:  board  on  the  score  of  convenience,  the  Home  treasurer 
being  out  of  easy  reach  with  headquarters. 

Indianapolis  Hank  Failur,- —  It  was  also  recommended 
that  the  claim  against  the  defunct  Indianapolis  National 
Hank  be  written  off,  55  pcf  cent  having  btM  paid  by  the 
receiver,  with  only  4  to  6  per  cent  more  in  sight. 

IP 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Strikes  —  No  general  strike  was  reported  for  the  two- 
year  term,  such  difficulties  as  had  occurred  for  the  most 
part  being  in  defense  of  scales  and  to  prevent  reductions, 
which  had  generally  received  International  help. 

Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers  —  G.  W.  Williams,  sec- 
ond vice-president,  in  beginning  his  report,  said :  "When 
I  took  charge  of  the  district  there  were  twenty-two  unions. 
At  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year,  June  30,  1898,  that  number 
had  been  increased  to  thirty-eight,  with  several  in  embryo 
which  we  may  expect  to  materialize  in  the  near  future. 
Today  we  have  a  membership  in  good  standing  of  about 
1,450,  showing  a  gain  of  over  50  per  cent."  In  reference 
to  the  burial  fund,  the  report  for  the  two  years  showed 
that  $1,260  had  been  paid  out  in  death  benefits  on  twenty- 
one  members  of  stereotypers  and  electrotypers.  The  strike 
fund  showed  an  outlay  of  $2,365.17  and  for  organization 
purposes  $380.21  had  been  paid  out.  Altogether  there 
was  expended  the  sum  of  $4,005.34  for  support  of  the 
stereotypers'  and  electrotypers'  branch.  Better  conditions, 
generally,  were  reported.  Among  other  recommendations 
the  second  vice-president  took  strong  ground  against 
withdrawal  from  the  International  Typographical  Union 
unless  it  could  be  accomplished  in  a  friendly  manner, 
sanctioned  by  a  referendum  vote. 

German-American  Typographia —  Hugo  Miller,  in  his 
report  as  third  vice-president,  said  of  the  two-year  period 
that  it  was  with  great  pleasure  he  could  say  that  the  Ger- 
man branch  had  been  not  only  generally  active  but  very 
successful  during  that  time,  although  the  field  was  some- 
what limited,  owing  to  the  comparatively  small  number 
of  German  printers  in  this  country.  During  the  two  years 
they  had  unionized  quite  a  number  of  important  German 
offices  and  had  gained  many  points  by  renewing  local 
scales,  but  seldom  were  compelled  to  appeal  to  that  last  of 
weapons,  the  strike — although  trouble  was  brewing  often 

552 


m;  \nk  MORldSON 

K  Imago  Typographical  Union  No.   |6> 
Secretary   Aiinn>.m    I  ■  .It-ration  of  tabor,   1897  -  l»— 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

enough,  and  was  only  prevented  by  the  solid  and  prompt 
action  of  the  membership  and  the  executive  officers  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union.  Just  as  good  or  even 
better  than  their  standing  in  the  union  world  was  their 
financial  condition  at  that  time.  A  detailed  account  of  the 
work  of  the  term  covered  was  included  in  the  report. 

Mailers  —  Third  Vice-President  Harber  for  the  maii- 
ers  detailed  the  work  in  his  department,  in  the  course  of 
which  he  complained  that  one  of  the  great  troubles  that 
had  handicapped  the  mailers  had  been  the  contracts  made 
by  local  typographical  unions,  and  he  insisted  that  con- 
tracts ought  not  to  be  made  with  publishers  that  pre- 
vented the  enforcement  of  obligations  to  sister  unions. 

Newswriters  —  The  report  of  Fifth  Vice-President 
O'Sullivan  said  that  the  past  term  had  been  confined 
almost  wholly  to  agitation  among  newswriters,  with 
fairly  satisfactory  results.  Strong  ground  was  taken  in 
favor  of  organizing  under  International  Typographical 
Union  charters  as  against  other  forms  of  press  organiza- 
tion. In  conclusion,  he  said:  "Let  me  ask  that  after  this 
convention  adjourns  you  redouble  your  efforts  to  organize 
unions  of  writers.  I  am  sure  you  will  agree  with  me  that 
no  other  organization  can  accomplish  as  much  as  ours  in 
awakening  the  public  mind  to  the  desirability  of  the 
■horter  workday  and  to  the  achievement#of  those  other 
high  aims  to  which  the  American  trade  union  movement 
is  committed. 

Photo  Engravers  —  Sixth  Vice-President  James  Ryan, 

for  the  photo  engravers,  reported  that  seven  charters  had 

tied  in  his  department  in  the  two-year  period,  with 

an  encouraging  outlook  for  the  future.     The  work  of  the 

unions  had  been  quite  successful  for  the  period  covered. 

Secretary  Bramwood's  Report  —  Secretary-Treasurer 
Bramwood  presented  a  report  covering  in  detail  all  the 
important  transactions  in  his  office  during  the  term.    Un- 

5?.< 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

der  the  head  of  "Our  Membership,"  the  secretary  said : 
"That  the  membership  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  the 
status  of  the  organization  is  recognized  by  those  who  are 
conversant  with  the  conditions  surrounding  the  printing 
business  during  the  past  two  years.  Machines  have  con- 
tinued to  invade  both  newspaper  and  book  offices.  The 
business  depression  of  many  months  past  has  been  limited 
only  by  local  environments  and  yet  the  membership  of  the 
International  has  decreased  so  slightly  as  to  make  the 
loss  of  little  moment.  From  an  average  paying  member- 
ship of  28,838  in  1896,  a  loss  of  742  brought  the  roll 
down  to  28,096  in  1897,  while  an  increase  of  518  in  the 
average  for  the  following  year  swelled  the  figures  to 
28,614  in  1898,  making  224  the  net  loss  in  membership 
since  1896,  and  establishing  an  average  of  28,355  f°r  tne 
past  two  years." 

A  summary  of  the  receipts  and  disbursements  for  the 
twenty-four  months  ended  June  30,  1898,  showed  the 
receipts  to  have  aggregated  $223,683.32,  of  which 
$14,013.95  represented  the  Home  assessment,  the  balance 
being  derived  from  per  capita  tax,  supplies,  Journal  ad- 
vertising and  subscriptions  and  sundry  other  sources.  An 
increase  of  $35,737-76  was  shown  over  the  preceding  two 
years,  while  the  total  business  reached  $290,518.86,  a 
figure  beyond  that  of  any  single  period  in  the  previous 
existence  of  the  organization.  Expenditures  amounted 
to  $237,140.99,  exceeding  the  income  by  $13,457.67.  Of 
the  expenditures,  the  sum  of  $70,209.30  was  charged  to 
the  Home  fund. 

In  strike  benefits  the  report  showed  that  there  was  ex- 
pended, in  the  time  covered,  the  sum  of  $57>752-56,  or  a 
little  more  than  $2.03  per  member.  This  was  $9,665.38 
in  excess  of  what  was  paid  for  similar  purposes  in  the 
preceding  two  years.  Of  the  amount  included  under  the 
head  of  strike  and  lockout  benefits,  $45,262.55  went  di- 

554 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

rectly  to  local  unions,  $12,202.18  was  expended  in  defray- 
ing the  traveling  expenses  of  organizers  and  officers, 
whose  assistance  was  invoked  by  local  unions  in  the  settle- 
ment of  difficulties,  and  $287.83  was  used  for  work 
entrusted  to  the  executive  council  by  a  secret  session  of 
the  Colorado  Springs  convention.  Including  strike 
and  lockout  benefits  of  the  two  years  the  International 
had  paid  for  such  purposes,  since  1889,  the  sum  of 
$270,876.15,  an  average  of  $30,097.34  yearly.  Burial 
benefits  paid  in  the  fiscal  year  of  1897  amounted  to 
$23,700,  and  in  1898  to  $23,040,  making  a  total  of 
$46,740,  or  $1.65  per  member  for  the  two  years,  and 
swelled  the  total  burial  claims  paid  since  the  establish- 
ment of  the  fund,  in  189 1,  to  $151,445,  an  average  of 
$21,635  a  year. 

The  report  also  showed  that  101,672  pieces  of  mail  and 
express  matter  had  been  sent  from  headquarters  during 
the  two-year  period,  exclusive  of  the  Journal.  Of  this 
mail,  almost  30,000  pieces  were  typewritten  letters. 

Typographical  Journal  —  The  official  paper  wa9  dealt 
with  at  length,  the  following  being  an  extract  from  the 
report : 

As  editor  of  the  Typographical  Journal,  the  secretary- 
treasurer  feels  that  special  attention  should  be  given  this 
important  feature  of  the  organization.  The  official  paper  was 
established  in  1889,  appearing  for  the  first  time  on  July  15  of 
that  year,  the  issue  containing  eight  pages,  of  which  almost 
four  were  devoted  to  official  matter,  the  balance  of  the  space 
being  given  up  to  correspondence  and  general  craft  news.  The 
paper  was  continued  in  its  original  shape  until  April  1.  1895, 
when  a  cover  was  added  and  the  policy  of  accepting  advertise- 
ments inaugurated.  As  the  referendum  decided  in  1895  that 
the  size  and  form  of  the  paper  should  remain  optional  with 
the  officers,  it  was  determined  to  issue  a  publication  that  would 
be  more  creditable  typographically,  and  the  first  number  of  the 
present  form  appeared  January  1,  1896.  Throughout  its  career 
the  original  intent  of  the  Journal  has  remained  unchanged. 

555 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

It  came  into  the  field  as  a  disseminator  of  information  of  an 
official  character  among  the  members,  and  has  continually  grown 
in  usefulness  in  this  direction  as  the  years  have  passed  away, 
besides  doing  inestimable  good  in  keeping  before  the  public 
the  aims,  objects  and  accomplishments  of  the  International 
Union,  and  giving  the  membership  general  information  upon 
economic  subjects  and  doings  in  the  labor  world,  until  our 
official  paper  is  justly  accorded  recognition  as  a  leader  in  craft 
journalism  and  one  reflecting  credit  upon  the  organization. 

The  cost  of  publishing  the  Journal  for  the  past  two  years 
can  not  well  be  compared  with  the  same  preceding  period,  as  but 
twelve  issues  of  the  paper  were  printed  in  its  present  form 
during  the  two  years  ending  June  30,  1896.  The  report  of  the 
secretary-treasurer  to  the  Colorado  Springs  convention  shows 
the  Journal  to  have  cost  (ten  months  in  its  original  shape, 
eight  months  with  a  cover,  and  six  months  in  its  present  form), 
$16,907.48,  with  receipts  for  the  same  period  to  the  amount  of 
$5,490.19,  leaving  a  deficit  of  $11,417.29.  By  reference  to  the 
reports  for  the  fiscal  years  of  1897  and  1898,  in  which  there 
appeared  forty-eight  issues  of  the  Journal  in  magazine  shape, 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  gross  expenditures  reached  $25,259.22. 
Advertising  brought  in  $6,921.53,  union  cards  and  subscriptions 
produced  $860.84,  the  sale  of  halftones,  bound  volumes  and 
extra  copies  yielded  $55.91,  $175  was  rebated  on  paper  bills, 
and  the  individual  subscriptions  amounted  to  $2,108.29, 
making  the  total  receipts  from  all  sources  for  the  two  years, 
$10,121.57,  and  leaving  a  deficit  of  $15,137.65  ($8,216.41  in 
1897,  and  $6,921.24  in  1898)  or  29  and  24  cents  per  member 
per  year,  respectively,  an  average  of  26J/2  cents  per  member 
per  year  for  the  time  before  mentioned.  Should  the  amount  due 
from  advertisers  ($484.94)  ^  on  June  30,  1898,  be  deducted 
from  the  foregoing  deficit  ($15,137.65)  the  net  cost  of  the 
paper  for  the  two  years  amounts  to  but  51  cents,  or  25^  cents 
per  member  per  year.  In  the  past  two  years  there  were  printed 
and  mailed  494,350  Journals,  of  which  247,175,  or  one-half, 
were  mailed  to  chairmen  and  local  officers  in  accordance  with 
our  laws.  These  papers  cost,  delivered  to  the  reader,  a  fraction 
over  3  cents  each  net,  or  a  total  of  $7,568.82.  This  sum, 
deducted  from  the  net  cost  of  the  paper  shown  above,  without 
allowing  for  money  due  for  advertising,  reduces  the  amount  to 
$7,568.83,  or  263/2  cents  per  member  for  twenty-four  months. 

556 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

From  these  figures  it  is  readily  recognized  that  the  burden  of 
the  Journal's  expense  finds  its  origin  in  the  law  before  men- 
tioned, which  provides  for  its  distribution  to  chairmen  and 
local  officials.  The  small  sum  received  from  individual  sub- 
scriptions represents  less  than  4,300  contributing  readers,  out 
of  a  membership  of  almost  seven  times  that  number,  and  the 
excess  accruing  from  individual  subscriptions  for  two  years 
($2,108.29)  over  the  postage  on  the  paper  ($1,319.03)  for  the 
same  time  amounts  to  only  $789.26. 

Past  reports  of  the  secretary-treasurer  have  compared  the 
present  cost  of  the  Journal  as  a  means  of  official  communica- 
tion between  the  officers  and  the  membership  with  the  cost  of 
administering  the  business  of  the  International  by  the  system 
of  quarterly  statements  and  the  use  of  craft  papers,  which  pre- 
vailed in  1888,  and  have  fully  covered  the  subject.  It  is 
therefore  deemed  unnecessary  to  do  more  at  this  time  than  direct 
attention  to  the  fact,  that  with  a  membership  almost  doubled, 
the  addition  of  all  our  beneficial  features,  and  a  three-fold 
increase  in  the  financial  transactions  of  the  organization,  the  net 
cost  of  the  Journal  per  member  per  year  is  not  more  than 
would  be  entailed  by  the  old  methods  were  they  now  in  vogue. 
The  Journal  accomplishes  all  and  much  more  than  did  the 
old-fashioned  quarterly  statement,  which  reached  the  officers 
alone,  and  is  of  untold  advantage  in  winning  for  the  Inter- 
national the  respect  and  favor  of  the  public  and  preserving  the 
position  of  the  organization  among  kindred  ones. 

The  claim  has  been  made  that  the  Journal  would  even- 
tually be  a  source  of  revenue  to  the  International  Union,  but  an 
experience  of  two  years  as  secretary-treasurer  and  editor  of  the 
Journal  convinces  me  that  this  idea  is  a  fallacy.  Trade  papers, 
uid  especially  official  ones,  in  which  the  Journal  is  classed, 
are  necessarily  limited  in  the  acceptance  of  adwrtwinrnK  and 
although  every  possible  effort  has  been  made  to  increase  tin* 
I '  uronage  of  our  official  paper,  the  results  have  Ixrcn,  and  are 
still,  far  from  satisfactory.  By  purchasing  paper  direct  from 
the  manufacturers,  additional  advertising  was  obtained,  ami  the 
deficit  in  the  Journal  account  was  reduced  from  $8. 2 1 6.41  in 
1  S< ,7  to  $6,921.24  in  the  fiscal  year  of  |K«>H.  nsulting  in  a  sav- 
ing of  $1,295.17,  notwithstanding  the  fad  tlut  the  magaiine 
lias  contained  more  matter  of  all  classes  than  in  preceding  yean. 
Information  received  at  headquarters  indicates  the  system  of 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

sending  the  Journal  to  chapel  chairmen  is  full  of  abuses,  and 
complaints  to  the  effect  that  the  chairmen  take  the  paper  home, 
and  thus  prevent  it  coming  into  the  hands  of  the  members  of  the 
chapel  for  perusal,  constantly  reach  headquarters. 

For  the  reason  that  the  publication  and  form  of  dis- 
tribution of  the  Journal  was  a  heavy  drain  on  the  general 
fund  of  the  International,  in  making  up  the  deficit,  the 
secretary-treasurer  suggested  the  following  changes  in 
the  law  governing  the  publication  : 

First.  Amend  article  xiii,  of  the  constitution,  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  provide  for  the  furnishing  only  of  one  copy  each 
to  the  president  and  secretary  of  each  local  union ;  increase  the 
subscription  rate  to  50  cents  per  year,  postage  in  addition  to  be 
charged  foreign  subscribers ;  the  rate  for  single  copies  to  be 
fixed  at  5  cents  each. 

Second.  Amend  the  constitution  as  set  forth  in  the  first 
proposition,  and  further  amend  the  article  mentioned  so  as  to 
provide  that  the  Journal  shall  be  published  monthly  instead 
of  semi-monthly. 

Nine  Years'  Finances  —  The  secretary  presented  a 
tabulated  statement  of  the  financial  transactions  of  the 
organization  for  the  previous  nine  years,  giving  receipts 
and  disbursements  from  May  21,  1889,  to  June  30,  1898, 
showing  the  total  receipts  to  have  been  $871,212.15. 

Mortality  Statistics  —  A  mortality  table  was  also  pre- 
sented showing  the  cause  of  death,  age  and  number  of 
deaths.  It  showed  a  total  of  779  deaths,  of  which  328 
were  on  account  of  tuberculosis  or  related  diseases,  the 
average  age  at  death  being  42  years. 

Funds  —  The  report  showed  the  following  under  the 
head  of  "Funds" : 

By  the  present  law  the  burial  fund  received,  as  one-fourth 
of  the  per  capita  tax  during  the  past  two  years,  $51,039.15, 
which,  with  $16,026.19,  the  balance  to  its  credit  on  July  I, 
1896,  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  fund  a  total  of  $67,065.34, 
from  which  burial  benefits  in  the  sum  of  $46,740  were  paid,  and 
$8,537.49    was    transferred    to    the    general    fund,    leaving 


558 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

$11,787.85  to  the  credit  of  the  burial  fund  on  June  30,  1898. 

At  the  disposal  of  the  executive  council,  as  a  defense  fund, 
there  accumulated  in  the  two  years  of  this  report,  from  one- 
fourth  of  the  per  capita  tax  and  the  return  of  cash  advanced 
unions,  $51,615.76.  Add  to  this  $20,706.65,  to  the  credit  of  the 
fund  at  the  beginning  of  the  fiscal  year  of  1896,  deduct  the 
expenditures  ($57,752.56)  and  a  balance  of  $14,569.85  results. 

The  Home  fund,  to  which  is  apportioned  one-third  of  the 
per  capita  tax,  obtained  from  this,  the  special  assessment  and 
other  sources,  $70,275.47.  This  sum,  with  the  balance  of 
$957.95  on  July  1,  1896,  less  $70,209.30  transferred  to  Treas- 
urer Dailey,  and  $100  advanced  Superintendent  Clark,  left 
$924.12  to  the  credit  of  the  Home  fund  at  headquarters  on 
June  30,  1898,  of  which  amount  $706.15  represents  the  portion 
of  this  fund  involved  in  the  Indianapolis  National  Bank  claim. 

Referring  to  the  fund  showing  made  elsewhere  it  is  noted 
that  the  aggregate  amount  in  the  several  funds  is  reported  as 
$27,519.92.  Deducting  $231.10  due  by  local  unions  for  sup' 
plies,  the  result  is  $27,281.82,  from  which  the  Indianapolis 
National  Bank  claim  of  $13,792.20  must  be  taken,  if  it  is 
desired  to  know  that  the  available  cash  in  the  hands  of  the 
secretary-treasurer  on  June  30,  1898,  reached  only  $13,489.62. 
*  *  *  The  claim  against  the  bank  has  been  reduced  from 
$16,857.12  to  $13,792.20  since  the  Colorado  Springs  conven- 
tion. A  further  dividend  is  promised  by  the  receiver  within  the 
next  few  months,  but  the  amount  as  yet  has  not  been  announced. 

Government  Bonds  —  In  order  to  secure  interest  on 
surplus  funds,  the  Indianapolis  banks,  declining  any  fur- 
ther favors  in  this  direction,  the  secretary  reported  that 
the  executive  council,  in  1897,  had  approved  the  invest- 
ment of  $6,000  in  United  States  5  per  cent  bonds  on 
which  a  premium  of  15)4  per  cent  was  paid,  making  a 
total  investment  of  $6,945.  This  bond  deal,  if  carried  to 
its  maturity  (1904)  would  yield  a  benefit  of  $1,005. 

Organizers  —  American  Federation  of  Labor  —  The 
reports  of  the  organizers  for  the  sixteen  districts  and  of 
the  delegates  to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  cov- 
ered in  detail  the  work  of  the  two-year  period,  but  pof- 

559 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

sesses  no  features  that  can  be  profitably  summarized, 
though  there  was  much  of  interest  to  trade  unionists  in 
the  reports. 

Shorter  Workday  Committee  —  The  shorter  workday 
committee  closed  an  elaborate  account  of  its  work  since 
the  Colorado  convention,  with  the  following  summary : 

Owing  to  the  distance  separating  the  members  of  the  com- 
mittee, all  communication  after  the  first  meeting  was  necessarily 
by  mail.  In  every  important  matter  letters  were  addressed  to 
the  secretary,  giving  the  views  of  the  various  members;  these 
were  then  compiled,  copies  sent  to  each  member,  and  his  revised 
opinion  and  vote  returned.  All  reports  received  were  sum- 
marized and  copies  sent  each  member  of  the  committee.  Copies 
have  been  preserved  of  all  communications  sent  and  received. 
All  circulars  issued  here  have  been  submitted  to  the  full  com- 
mittee for  suggestions  and  approval.  *  *  *  Since  February 
15,  1898,  it  has  been  necessary  to  employ  a  stenographer  from 
time  to  time  as  the  work  accumulated,  as  in  the  opinion  of  the 
secretary  more  could  be  accomplished  in  this  way  than  by  devot- 
ing his  time  to  the  work  and  charging  per  diem  to  expense. 
Up  to  that  time  the  only  expense  of  the  committee  was  for 
postage  and  printing,  outside  of  the  visit  of  the  chairman  to  the 
pressmen's  convention  in  Detroit.  Since  that  time  the  expendi- 
tures have  amounted  to  about  $1,400.    *    *    * 

Up  to  the  time  of  filing  this  report  fourteen  different  cir- 
culars have  been  issued,  or  about  one  each  month.  *  *  * 
Over  750  personal  letters  have  been  written  by  the  secretary  on 
shorter  workday  matters  to  various  unions  and  committees,  and 
this  does  not  include  correspondence  with  headquarters  or 
between  the  members  of  the  committee. 

Childs-Drexel  \Home  —  The  report  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Childs-Drexel  Home  for  Union  Printers  and  Allied 
Crafts  was  quite  voluminous,  covering  in  detail  all  matters 
relating  to  that  institution.  The  report  of  Superintendent 
Clark  for  1897  showed  the  net  cos.t  of  maintenance  to 
have  been  $19,032.90;  the  average  number  of  inmates 
being  placed  at  sixty-nine.  It  was  shown  that  the  hospital 
annex  had  been  erected  at  a  cost  of  $13,829.72,  leaving  a 

560 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

balance  of  $185.23  in  the  special  fund  collected  by  assess- 
ment for  that  purpose.  The  report  of  Treasurer  Dailey 
showed  that  on  June  30,  1898,  there  was  a  balance  to  the 
credit  of  the  Home  fund  of  $10,662.85,  and  the  report  of 
the  superintendent  for  1898  showed  an  average  cost  for 
each  inmate,  per  month,  of  $21.66. 

The  various  reports  were  concise  and  faithful  accounts 
of  the  more  important  matters  which  had  engaged  the 
management's  attention  during  the  term. 

MISCELLANEOUS       PROPOSITIONS 

Organizing  System  Changed  —  The  convention  de- 
voted considerable  time  to  consideration  of  the  recom- 
mendation of  President  Prescott  providing  for  the 
appointment  of  a  general  organizer,  with  the  result  that 
it  was  finally  determined  to  submit  to  the  referendum  a 
proposition  that  the  territory  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  should  constitute  one 
organizing  district,  and  for  the  purpose  of  organization 
the  president  was  empowered  to  appoint  organizers  sub- 
ject to  the  approval  of  the  executive  council.  In  the 
appointment  of  organizers  it  was  provided  that  the  needs 
of  the  different  locals  comprising  the  district  should  be 
taken  into  consideration  and  the  expenditure  for  such 
work  should  not  exceed  $6,000  per  annum.  The  compen- 
sation of  organizers  was  limited  to  the  time  lost  from 
regular  employment,  but  not  to  exceed  $4  per  day  and 
traveling  and  hotel  expenses.  This  proposition  was  de- 
feated by  the  referendum. 

Referendum  Laws  Amended — A  number  of  amend- 
ments to  the  referendum  laws  were  adopted,  most  impor- 
tant of  which  was  the  fixing  of  the  third  Wednesday  in 
May  as  general  election  day  instead  of  "during  the  month 
of  Mav  "  Other  amendments  were  passed  tending  to  sim- 
plify the  laws  and  remove  demonstrated  encumbrances. 

5*1 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

New  Obligation  —  Among  other  minor  propositions 
adopted  was  a  new  obligation  for  members,  somewhat 
shorter  than  the  old  one  but  embracing  largely  identical 
features. 

Propositions  Rejected  —  Of  the  propositions  rejected 
was  one  making  conventions  subject  to  call  by  five  unions; 
another  providing  for  the  abolition  of  seals  and  one 
empowering  the  executive  council,  for  organization  pur- 
poses, to  invade  the  jurisdiction  of  local  unions,  suspend 
local  laws  and  organize  the  city  or  town.  A  proposition 
to  establish  a  politico-economic  department  in  the  Typo- 
graphical Journal  was  defeated. 

Use  of  Defense  Fund  —  An  amendment  was  made  to 
the  general  laws  that  no  strike  or  lockout  be  deemed  legal, 
or  money  expended  from  the  defense  fund  on  any  ac- 
count, unless  the  strike  or  lockout  had  been  authorized  by 
the  executive  council. 

A  nnual  Conventions  —  Another  proposition  was 
adopted,  providing  for  holding  annual  conventions  of  the 
International  Union,  to  open  on  the  second  Monday  in 
August.  This  went  through  over  an  unfavorable  recom- 
mendation by  the  laws  committee. 

Discussion  of  Economic  Subjects  at  Union  Meetings  — 
After  a  prolonged  and  animated  discussion  the  convention 
adopted,  by  a  vote  of  99  to  16,  the  following  resolution: 

Whereas  an  intelligent  investigation  of  social  and  economic 
phenomena  is  not  only  a  duty  imposed  upon  all  mankind,  but 
an  understanding  of  questions  relating  to  industrial  conditions 
and  the  science  of  government  is  necessary  in  order  that  we  may 
reap  in  full  the  possible  benefits  of  trade  unionism ;  and 

Whereas  there  is  a  lamentable  lack  of  interest  among  our 
members  on  such  vital  questions,  and  believing  no  better  oppor- 
tunity for  the  dissemination  of  knowledge  exists  than  is  afforded 
by  discussion  within  union  rooms  and  at  union  meetings; 
therefore, 

Be  it  Resolved,  That  the  International  Union  strongly  urge 

562 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

upon  its  subordinate  bodies  the  necessity  of  providing  in  their 
respective  "orders  of  business"  for  the  discussion  of  the  various 
phases  of  the  labor  question  and  other  matters  of  public  moment 
having  a  direct  bearing  upon  the  welfare  of  wage-earners. 

A  motion  also  prevailed  instructing  the  delegates  to 
the  American  Federation  of  Labor  to  endeavor  to  secure 
the  adoption  of  a  resolution  on  economic  discussion. 

NINE-HOUR     DAY     ACHIEVED 

Probably  the  most  important  event  of  the  convention 
transpired  at  the  morning  session  of  the  fourth  day,  being 
the  endorsement  of  an  agreement  entered  into  with  the 
typothetae  committee  relating  to  the  establishment  of  a 
shorter  workday.  A  conclusion  was  reached  after  an  ex- 
ecutive session,  participated  in  by  representatives  from 
the  Printing  Pressmen's  International  Union  and  Inter- 
national Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders,  at  which  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  was  unanimously  adopted : 

That  the  report  of  the  committee  be  received  and  the  agree- 
ment entered  into  with  the  United  Typothetae  of  America 
receive  the  endorsement  and  approval  of  this  convention. 

The  report  mentioned  was  from  the  International 
shorter  workday  committee  and  outlined  the  various  con- 
ferences held  with  the  typothetae  committee.  The  agree- 
ment referred  to  was  signed  by  representatives  of  the 
United  Typothetae  of  America  and  the  shorter  workday 
committees  of  the  three  International  unions,  and  was  as 
follows : 

This  agreement,  entered  into  between  the  committee  of  the 
United  Typothetae  of  America  and  the  shorter  workday  com- 
mittees of  tlu-  International  Typographical  Union,  the  In- 
ternational Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  and  the 
International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  provides: 

That  the  said  United  Typothetae  of  America  agrees  to  inaug- 
urate a  shorter  workday  on  the  following  basis:    The  nine  ami 
a-half-hour  day,  or  the  fifty  seven  hour  week,  to  commence  on 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

November  21,  1898,  and  the  nine-hour  day,  or  fifty-four-hour 
week,  on  November  21,  1899. 

That  said  International  Typographical  Union,  International 
Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  and  International 
Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  will  endeavor  in  the  meantime  to 
equalize  the  scale  of  wages  in  the  competitive  districts  where 
at  present  there  are  serious  inequalities  upon  the  basis  outlined 
by  the  representatives  of  the  pressmen's  and  typographical 
unions  at  the  Milwaukee  convention  of  the  United  Typothetae 
of  America. 

Provided,  That  nothing  in  this  agreement  shall  be  construed 
or  operate  to  increase  the  hours  in  any  city  where  they  are  now 
less  than  those  specified. 

Provided  further,  That  nothing  in  this  agreement  shall  be 
construed  to  prevent  local  unions,  or  establishments,  from 
mutually  arranging  the  fifty-seven  or  fifty-four  hours,  respect- 
ively, so  that  Saturdays  may  be  observed*  as  half-holidays. 

Provided  also,  That  wherever  the  employers  of  any  city 
will  not,  prior  to  November  21,  1898,  enter  into  an  agreement 
with  the  local  unions  to  carry  out  the  above-mentioned  reduction 
of  hours  on  the  dates  specified,  the  said  union  shall  not  be  con- 
sidered as  restrained  from  endeavoring  to  obtain  from  such 
employers  the  nine-hour,  day,  or  fifty-four-hour  week,  on  any 
such  earlier  date  as  they  in  their  judgment  may  select. 

Supplementary  to  this  agreement,  the  shorter  workday 
committee  immediately  forwarded  circulars  to  subordi- 
nate unions,  giving  official  notice  of  the  agreement,  to 
which  the  following  instructions  and  suggestions  were 
attached : 

While  this  agreement  may  not  be  all  the  unions  desire,  or 
their  members  have  been  led  to  expect,  it  practically  removes 
the  danger  of  a  prolonged  and  possibly  disastrous  strike  for  the 
purpose  of  reducing  the  hours,  and  it  is  hoped  you  will  loyally 
carry  out  its  provisions,  as  we  are  confident  the  United 
Typothetae  of  America  will  do. 

You  are  therefore  advised  to  immediately  call  a  special  meet- 
ing of  your  union,  that  this  matter  may  be  laid  before  it,  the 
employers  given  the  agreed  thirty  days'  notice,  and  proper  steps 
taken  to  enforce  the  provisions  of  the  agreement. 

564 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

The  question  of  wage  scale,  as  you  have  been  repeatedly 
informed,  is  entirely  a  matter  of  local  jurisdiction,  but  you  are 
urged  to  maintain,  so  far  as  is  possible  and  consistent  with  our 
agreement,  the  present  wage  scale. 

You  are  directed  to  act  in  concert  with  all  the  printing  and 
binding  trade  unions  in  your  city,  either  through  the  respective 
shorter  workday  committees  or  the  allied  printing  trades  council, 
where  such  exist,  in  order  that  the  unanimity  of  action  which 
is  the  essence  of  this  movement  should  be  brought  about. 

In  cities  where  no  agreement  can  be  reached  with  local 
employers  for  a  nine-and-a-half-hour 'VJay,  or  a  fifty-seven-hour 
week,  and  a  nine-hour  day,  or  fifty-four-hour  week,  on  the  dates 
specified  in  the  agreement,  you  are  at  liberty  to  secure,  if 
possible,  the  reduction  to  nine  hours  on  November  21,  1898. 

Employing  printers  or  bookbinders  not  affiliated  with  the 
United  Typothetae  are  entitled  to  the  privileges  of  the  above 
agreement  should  they  desire  to  avail  themselves  of  them. 

This  circular  supersedes  and  nullifies  any  instruction  on  this 
question  heretofore  received  from  this  committee. 

Following  the  adoption  of  the  report  of  the  shorter 
workday  committee,  President  Bowman  of  the  Interna- 
tion  Printing  Pressmen's  Union  addressed  the  convention, 
congratulating  the  delegates  upon  what  had  been  accom- 
plished. He  said  :  "Formerly,  employer  and  employe  got 
together  with  a  club;  now  they  meet  in  a  friendly  and 
businesslike  way."  Not  all  had  been  secured,  but  a  great 
step  had  been  accomplished.  He  had  sacrificed  the  nine- 
hour  aspirations  of  the  Chicago  pressmen  for  the  time 
being,  but  he  had  recognized  the  well-being  of  the  weaker 
as  well  as  the  stronger  unions,  and  peace  would  be 
preserved. 

President  Weimar  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders 
stated  that  it  gave  him  great  pleasure  to  commend  the 
action  taken.  Out  of  their  fifty-six  locals,  fifty  to  fifty- 
two  had  levied  assessments  to  enforce  the  nine-hour  day. 
They  were  actively  preparing  for  the  attempt,  but  peace 
was    preferable,  '  under    all    the    circumstances.     There 

565 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

never  was  a  fight  without  losses  to  both  sides.  This  was 
the  best  settlement,  and  he  was  glad  to  say  he  had  some- 
thing to  do  with  it;  it  was  an  historical  event.  In  closing, 
he  asked  the  delegates  to  lend  their  aid  to  more  thor- 
oughly organize  the  bookbinders  in  certain  localities. 

In  appreciation  of  the  shorter  workday  committee,  the 
following  resolution  was  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  draw 
up  a  memorial,  to  be  sent  out  by  the  secretary-treasurer  to  all 
subordinate  unions,  whereby  a  suitable  and  fitting  souvenir 
of  the  appreciation  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
for  the  splendid  and  faithful  work  of  the  shorter  workday 
committee  may  be  devised  and  adopted,  said  souvenir  to  be 
presented  the  shorter  workday  committee  at  the  next  national 
convention. 

In  compliance  with  the  above,  the  chair  appointed 
Delegates  Lavery  (Poughkeepsie),  Greenberg  (New 
York),  and  Fuchs  (St.  Louis). 

Stereoty pets'  Trade  District  —  Another  important  act 
of  the  convention  was  the  creation  of  a  trade  district 
union,  to  be  composed  of  the  stereotypers'  and  electro- 
typers'  unions,  giving  the  district  union  autonomy  in  all 
matters  relating  to  internal  affairs  of  the  stereotypers  and 
electrotypers. 

Location  of  Headquarters  —  A  proposition  to  change 
the  headquarters  of  the  International  Union  from  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.,  to  Washington,  D.  C,  was  tabled  by  a  de- 
cisive vote,  as  was  also  a  proposition  to  establish  a  defense 
fund  involving  a  special  assessment. 

Death  of  Henry  George  —  The  death  of  Henry  George 
was  noted  by  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions  : 

Whereas  since  the  last  session  of  this  body,  the  printers  of 
America  have  suffered  the  loss  of  one  who  had  risen  from  their 
ranks  to  occupy  a  pre-eminent  position  among  the  great  thinkers 
of  the  age ; 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  that  great  philosopher  and 

566 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

statesman,  Henry  George,  humanity  has  lost  a  true  friend,  and 
the  wage-earners  of  the  world  a  fearless  leader,  and  a  con- 
scientious worker. 

Resolved,  That  the  sympathy  of  this  body  be  tendered  to  his 
family  in  their  great  bereavement. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  forwarded 
to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

Journal  Free  List — Concurring  in  the  recommenda- 
tions of  Secretary  Bramwood  regarding  the  publication  of 
the  Typographical  Journal,  two  important  changes  were 
made,  one  increasing  the  subscription  price  to  50  cents 
per  annum  and  the  other  practically  cutting  off  the  entire 
free  list,  one  copy  only  being  furnished,  which  was  to  be 
sent  to  the  secretary  of  each  local  union. 

Machine  Tenders  —  In  dealing  with  some  of  the  rec- 
ommendations contained  in  the  report  of  President  Pres- 
cott,  two  propositions  met  with  favorable  action  among  a 
number  submitted — one  providing  that  until  July  1,  1899, 
non-printer  machine-tenders  might  make  application  for 
membership  in  the  union,  and  subordinate  unions  were 
empowered  to  admit  them  to  membership  irrespective  of 
other  laws  and  customs.  After  that  date  it  was  provided 
that  all  machine  tenders  should  be  members  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union.  The  other  proposition 
stipulated  that  non-printer  members  should  only  be  per- 
mitted to  work  at  the  particular  subdivision  of  the  craft 
at  which  they  were  employed  at  time  of  admission,  and 
when  issuing  cards  to  such  non-printer  members  the  sec- 
retaries of  subordinate  unions  were  required  to  designate 
that  particular  subdivision  on  the  card. 

Minor  Home  Affairs  —  After  consideration  of  a  report 
from  the  committee  on  the  Childs-Drexel  Home,  it  was 
ordered  that  residents  of  the  Home  be  relieved  from  the 
payment  of  per  capita  tax.  It  was  also  provided  that 
the  trustees  be  instructed  to  make  inquiries  as  to  the 
advisability  <>f  establishing  an  electric  light  plant  .it  tin- 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Home,  the  cost  not  to  exceed  $2,000,  and  it  was  further 
ordered  that  the  board  of  trustees  hold  its  annual  meet- 
ings at  the  Home  in  Colorado  Springs.  A  resolution 
heartily  approving  the  administration  of  the  Home's 
affairs  by  Superintendent  Deacon  was  passed. 

Photo  Engravers  —  A  proposition  was  adopted  author- 
izing photo  engravers,  or  any  of  the  other  allied  trades 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International,  to  form  a 
trade  district  union,  after  the  manner  already  provided 
for  the  stereotypers  and  electrotypers. 

Postal  Telegraph  —  Acting  on  a  report  from  the  com- 
mittee on  officers'  reports,  the  following  resolutions  were 
concurred  in,  among  a  number  submitted:  "That  the 
delegates  to  the  next  convention  of  the  American  Federa- 
tion of  Labor  be  instructed  to  request  of  that  body  that 
postal  telegraphy  be  made  a  preferred  measure  and  that 
its  legislative  committee  be  directed  to  co-operate  with  the 
International  Typographical  Union  committee  in  pushing 
the  work  among  the  membership  and  the  committees  of 
both  houses  of  congress  and  all  organizations  represented 
in  the  federation  be  requested  to  take  the  necessary  steps 
toward  putting  into  practical  effect  the  resolutions  of 
1893,  which  had  been  readopted  annually  following  that 
period." 

District  Organizers — District  organizers  were  elected 
as  follows,  it  being  understood  these  officials  should  hold 
office  only  until  March  I,  1899,  in  case  the  action  taken 
relative  to  organizers  and  districts  was  endorsed 
by  the  membership :  First  district,  Henry  McMahon, 
Boston;  second  district,  John  E.  McLoughlin,  New  York; 
third  district,  W.  J.  Hanafin,  Baltimore;  fourth  district, 
Charles  G.  Kizer,  Norfolk;  fifth  district,  H.  P.  Blount, 
Atlanta;  sixth  district,  Alex  H.  Smith,  Detroit;  seventh 
district,  William  M.  Higgins,  Louisville;  eighth  district, 
M.  T.  Burton,  Memphis;  ninth  district,  J.  W.  Cline,  St. 

568 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

Louis;  tenth  district,  J.  W.  Hays,  Minneapolis;  eleventh 
district,  T.  F.  Sturgess,  Omaha;  twelfth  district,  L.  L. 
Daniels,  Dallas;  thirteenth  district  (no  delegation  being 
present,  the  president  stated  the  incumbent  would  stand)  ; 
fourteenth  district,  C  E.  Fisk,  Los  Angeles;  fifteenth 
district  (no  delegation  present,  incumbent  stands)  ;  six- 
teenth district,  George  W.  Dower,  Toronto ;  West  Indies, 
J.  A.  Gregory  was  elected  special  organizer  by  the 
convention. 

Indianapolis  Bank  Failure  —  The  secretary-treasurer 
was  instructed  to  write  off  the  Indianapolis  bank  account, 
being  carried  as  an  asset,  amounting  to  $13,792.20,  after 
the  payment  of  the  next  dividend,  future  dividends  to  be 
paid  into  the  general  fund. 

Union  Label  —  Legislation  affecting  the  label  provided 
for  registration  in  the  various  states,  territories  and 
provinces.  A  proposition  to  establish  a  universal  union 
label  was  referred  to  the  delegates  to  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor,  with  instructions  to  present  same 
to  that  body  with  the  aim  of  securing  its  adoption  on  a 
basis  that  would  be  mutually  agreeable  to  all  the  interests 
involved. 

To  Abolish  Referendum  —  A  proposition  to  establish 
annual  conventions,  to  be  supreme  law-making  bodies, 
carrying  with  it  the  abolition  of  the  referendum  system 
of  law-making  and  the  election  of  officers,  was  adopted 
and  sent  to  the  referendum  for  approval  or  rejection. 

Retiring  Official  Honored — At  this  point,  the  secre- 
tary's desk  being  clear,  President  Prescott  was  called  from 
the  platform  and  First  Vice-President  Perry  took  the 
chair.  Delegate  Hays  of  Minneapolis  then  took  the  floor, 
paying  a  glowing  tribute  to  the  work  of  President  Pres- 
cott during  the  many  years  he  had  served  the  Interna- 
tional Union  as  its  highest  officer.  Mr.  Hays  closed  Ml 
remarks  by  introducing  a  motion  proposing  that  suitable 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

resolutions  be  drawn  up  and  presented  to  the  president 
upon  his  retirement,  expressing  the  appreciation  of  the 
assembled  delegates.  The  motion  was  adopted.  Secretary- 
Treasurer  Bramwood,  in  addressing  the  convention,  spoke 
feelingly  of  the  work  of  President  Prescott.  It  being 
announced  that  the  delegates  also  desired  to  present  a 
suitable  token  of  regard  to  President'  Prescott  before 
he  left  Syracuse,  the  chair  appointed  Delegates  Hays, 
Greenberg  and  Smith  to  act  in  the  matter.  On  motion 
of  Delegate  Greenberg,  the  council  was  authorized  to 
present  President  Prescott  with  an  engrossed  testimonial 
on  the  occasion  of  his  retirement  from  office. 

Delegate  Boulton  stated  that  the  stereotypers  and  elec- 
trotypers  had  voted  the  convention  their  appreciation  of 
the  treatment  accorded  them.  He  also  desired  it  recorded 
that  they  had  voted  a  contribution  to  the  offering  to 
President  Prescott. 

After  the  convention  had  adjourned,  an  informal  gath- 
ering of  delegates,  ex-delegates,  wives  and  visitors  took 
place  in  the  ladies'  parlors  of  the  Vanderbilt  Hotel. 
Secretary  Bramwood  presided  and  introduced  Chairman 
Murphy,  of  the  shorter  workday  committee,  who,  on 
behalf  of  many  friends,  presented  President  Prescott  with 
an  elegant  silver  tea  set  as  a  slight  testimonial  of  their 
appreciation  of  his  qualities  as  a  man  and  the  excellent 
service  rendered  the  organization  during  his  term  of 
office.  Mr.  Prescott  responded  in  a  feeling  manner,  after 
which  retiring  First  Vice-President  Perry  was  the  re- 
cipient of  a  present  in  the  form  of  a  silver  water  service 
and  chocolate  set,  the  presentation  being  made  by 
Delegate  Hays  of  Minneapolis. 

On  June  25,  1899,  President  Donnelly,  on  behalf  of 
the  executive  council,  which  had  complied  with  the 
instructions  of  the  Syracuse  convention  in  preparing  and 
having  engrossed  suitable  resolutions  commending  former 

570 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

President  Prescott  for  valuable  services  rendered,  pre- 
sented the  token,  which  was  worded  as  follows: 

Resolutions    Adopted     by    the    Executive     Council    of    the 
International  Typographical  Union 

Whereas  William  B.  Prescott  retired  from  the  presidency 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  November  I,  1898, 
after  serving  continuously  in  that  position  over  seven  years ;  and 

Whereas  the  period  of  the  administration  of  Mr.  Prescott 
was  a  most  important  and  eventful  one  in  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  affairs,  witnessing  the  introduction  of  machin- 
ery, the  success  of  which  has  caused  a  transformation  amounting 
to  a  revolution  in  the  printing  trade ;  and 

Whereas  this  transition  was  effected  under  the  guidance  of 
Mr.  Prescott,  without  loss  in  membership  or  reduction  in  wages, 
while  a  noteworthy  event  of  the  closing  hours  of  his  administra- 
tion was  the  agreement  reached  for  the  inauguration  of  a  shorter 
workday  in  the  book  and  job  branch,  a  reform  which  has  been 
zealously  championed  by  him ;  and 

Whereas  the  International  Typographical  Union,  hereto- 
fore respected  for  its  honorable  age  and  its  long  and  consistent 
record  of  fair  dealing,  has  in  the  period  referred  to,  not- 
withstanding the  great  changes  in  trade  conditions  and  the 
difficulties  attending  the  adjustment  of  the  same,  grown  in  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  publishers  and  the  employing  printers, 
and  in  usefulness  to  its  members ;  therefore, 

Be  it  Resolved,  by  the  executive  council  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  acting  for  the  membership  at  large,  That 
we  hereby  place  on  record,  on  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Prescott 
as  a f unsaid,  our  recognition  and  appreciation  of  his  resourceful 
diplomacy,  untiring  energy  and  promptness  in  the  discharge 
of  his  executive  duties,  the  faithful  performance  of  which  has, 
In  a  large  measure,  contributed  to  the  advancement  of  the 
organization  during  the  time  of  his  administration. 

Resolved,  That  we  hereby  tender  to  the  said  William  B. 
Prescott  our  thanks  for  the  honesty  and  singleness  of  purpose 
which  he  brought  to  the  performance  of  his  duties  as  president, 
and  express  our  unqualified  admiration  of  the  marked  ability. 
firmness  and  high  courage  which  characterized  his  ofli 
acts ;  and 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  resolutions  be  published  is 

571 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  Typographical  Journal,  and  that  they  be  suitably  en- 
grossed and  framed  for  presentation  to  Mr.  Prescott,  bearing 
the  signatures  of  the  executive  officers  of  the  International 

Typographical  Union.  „  _,    _ 

Samuel  B.  Donnelly, 

President. 

).  W.  Bramwood, 

Secretary-  Treasurer. 

Indianapolis,  November  28,  1898. 

CONSTITUTIONAL     AMENDMENTS 

Twenty-two  propositions  to  amend  the  constitution  of 
the  International  Union  were  submitted  to  the  refer- 
endum, eighteen  of  which  were  endorsed  by  the  member- 
ship and  four  defeated.  Three  of  the  propositions 
defeated  related  to  abolishing  the  referendum  and  pro- 
vided that  delegates  should  have  full  power  to  elect 
officers  and  enact  all  laws.  The  fourth  defeated  proposi- 
tion attempted  to  establish  a  new  system  of  organization 
to  be  under  control  of  the  president  and  executive  council. 
A  summary  of  the  twenty-two  propositions  submitted  and 
the  majorities  for  and  against,  follows: 

( I )  To  provide  for  admission  of  non-printer  proof- 
readers until  a  certain  date,  and  that  all  proofreaders 
should  thereafter  be  members.  Total  vote,  10,721. 
Majority  favoring,  2,675.  (2)  To  provide  for  admission 
of  non-printer  machine-tenders  until  a  certain  date,  and 
the  controlling  of  such  positions  by  the  union.  Total 
vote,  10,698.  Majority  favoring,  3,288.  (3)  To  fix  the 
third  Wednesday  in  May  as  date  for  delegate  elections. 
Total  vote,  10,221.  Majority  favoring,  6,299.  (4)  To 
provide  for  annual  sessions  on  second  Monday  in  August, 
with  full  power  vested  in  the  delegates  to  elect  officers 
and  enact  all  laws.  Total  vote,  10,599.  Majority  against, 
2>5!9-  (5)  To  provide  for  annual  conventions  on  second 
Monday  in  August.  Total  vote,  10,343.  Majority  favor- 
ing, 289.    (6)  To  abolish  all  laws  relating  to  election  of 

572 


Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 

International  officers  by  the  membership.  Total  vote, 
10,653.  Majority  against,  4,293.  (7)  To  abolish  all 
laws  relating  to  submission  of  questions  to  the  member- 
ship. Total  vote,  10,578.  Majority  against,  4,884.  (8) 
To  amend  laws  relating  to  election  of  International 
officers  by  the  membership.  Total  vote,  10,217.  Majority 
favoring,  1,003.  (9)  To  establish  a  new  system  of 
organization,  under  control  of  the  president  and  council. 
Total  vote,  10,169.  Majority  against,  429.  (10)  To 
endow  the  executive  council  with  power  to  fill  all 
vacancies  in  office.  Total  vote,  10,221.  Majority  favor- 
ing, 2,703.  (11)  To  debar  organizers  from  granting 
cards  under  certain  conditions.  Total  vote,  10,086. 
Majority  favoring,  4,124.  (12)  To  fix  the  compensation 
of  all  unsalaried  officials.  Total  vote,  10,290.  Majority 
favoring,  6,062.  (13)  To  place  the  Journal  on  a  better 
financial  basis.  Total  vote,  10,307.  Majority  favoring, 
6,277.  (14)  To  insert  in  the  constitution  a  decision 
regarding  payment  of  burial  benefits.  Total  vote,  10,358. 
Majority  favoring,  4,896.  (15)  To  make  certain  changes 
in  the  certificate  of  membership.  Total  vote,  9,820. 
Majority  favoring,  4,730.  (16)  To  grarft  complete  trade 
autonomy  to  stereotypers  and  other  allied  trades.  Total 
vote,  10,850.  Majority  favoring,  6,852.  (17)  To  amend 
the  laws  relating  to  submission  of  questions  to  the  mem- 
bership. Total  vote,  9,907.  Majority  favoring,  3,001. 
(18)  To  amend  the  law  relating  to  submission  of  ques- 
tions to  the  membership.  Total  vote,  9,397.  Majority 
favoring,  1,861.  (19)  To  strike  out  an  unnecessary 
section  of  the  referendum  law.  Total  vote,  9,75 1 . 
Majority  favoring,  3,331.  (20)  To  require  petitions  from 
ten  unions  for  submission  of  questions  semi-annually. 
Total  vote,  <),<>S;.  Majoritv  favoring.  2,885.  (21)  To 
change  the  obligation  so  as  to  make  it  apply  to  all  mem- 
bers.     Total    vote,    10,196.      Majority    favoring.    7,580. 

573 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

(22)  To  give  constitutional  recognition  to  labels,  etc. 
Total  vote,  10,274.     Majority  favoring,  8,734. 

General  Laws  —  Resolutions  —  Several  changes  were 
made  by  the  convention  in  the  general  laws  of  the  union, 
but  these  changes  were  chiefly  of  a  minor  character.  A 
resolution  was  passed  directing  the  executive  council 
to  ask  for  a  conference  with  the  cognate  trades  under  the 
tripartite  agreement  at  which  an  effort  be  made  to  have 
uniform  laws  enacted  regulating  contracts,  labels,  and 
other  such  matters,  so  as  to  remove  the  friction  caused 
by  the  then  existing  agreement,  and  also  for  the  purpose 
of  legally  amending  the  agreement  to  the  end  that  such 
modifications  of  the*  regulations  governing  the  distribu- 
tion of  labels  be  made  as  would  conserve  the  interests 
of  proprietors  of  small  offices  who  were  members  of  the 
union  and  observed  union  customs;  also  that  the  Interna- 
tional Union  attempt  to  have  the  tripartite  agreement 
amended  so  as  not  to  allow  the  stereotypers,  or  any  other 
organization  connected  with  the  International  Union,  the 
right  to  compel  the  International  to  maintain  any  allied 
trades  council  by  per  capita  tax  without  representation 
on  the  same  basis.  It  was  also  ordered  that  the  charters 
issued  to  district  and  state  unions  under  an  obsolete 
Resolution  be  declared  null  and  void  and  the  custodians 
ordered  to  return  them  to  headquarters.  Subordinate 
unions  were  instructed  to  take  measures  looking  to  the 
publication  by  them  in  the  several  states  of  text-books 
used  in  the  common  schools  providing  the  work  could  be 
secured  for  union  labor. 

Defense  Fund  —  Following  the  convention  at  Syracuse 
a  referendum  proposition,  providing  for  an  assessment  of 
5  cents  a  week  per  capita,  to  be  levied  for  a  period  of 
twelve  weeks,  the  fund  so  raised  to  be  credited  to  the 
defense  fund  and  used  for  the  assistance  of  such  unions 
as  the   executive  council   might   deem   necessary,   or   in 

574 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

advancing  the  principles  of  unionism,  was,  by  petition 
of  more  than  the  requisite  number  of  unions  required, 
submitted  to  the  membership  and  adopted  by  a  vote  of 
9>337  ayes,  6,677  noes. 

Tripartite  Conference  —  Complying  with  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  convention,  the  executive  council  arranged 
for  a  conference  with  representatives  of  the  pressmen  and 
bookbinders.  The  conference  was  held  at  Pittsburgh, 
January  9,  1899.  An  editorial  paragraph  in  the  Typo- 
graphical Journal  of  February  1,  1899,  says:  "Our 
executive  council  declined  to  ratify  the  conclusions 
reached  by  the  Pittsburgh  conference  of  the  allied  print- 
ing trades,  relating  to  uniform  rules  governing  allied 
trades  councils  and  the  distribution  of  the  allied  trades 
label,  owing  to  the  position  taken  by  the  representatives 
of  the  pressmen  and  bookbinders  regarding  small  offices. 
The  report  of  our  representative  at  the  conference  and  a 
statement  outlining  the  efforts  of  the  council  to  carry  out 
the  instructions  of  the  Syracuse  convention  will  be  pre- 
sented at  the  next  session  of  the  International  body. 
As  a  result,  the  rules  drafted  by  the  conferees  amount 
to  naught  until  such  time  as  an  understanding  can  be 
arrived  at  on  the  points  involved." 

Convention   at   Detroit 

[1899] — The  forty-fifth  convention  of  the  International 
Union  was  called  to  order  by  President  Donnelly  in 
Strassburg  Academy,  Detroit,  Mich.,  on  August  14,  1899. 
The  session  was  attended  by  182  delegates,  representing 
135  subordinate  unions. 

The  president  introduced  Chairman  Black  of  the  recep- 
tion committee,  who  gave  an  outline  of  what  was  going 
to  happen  in  the  way  of  entertainment  and  then  pre- 
sented President  Messier  of  Detroit  I'liion.  who  welcomed 
the  delegates  and  expressed  the  hope  that  their  work 

575 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

would  prove  as  profitable  to  the  craft  as  their  presence 
was  pleasurable  to  Detroiters.  Governor  Pingree  was 
absent  from  the  city,  as  was  also  Mayor  Maybury,  but 
Private  Secretary  Hall  welcomed  the  convention  on 
behalf  of  the  mayor.  After  the  Rev.  H.  D.  McCowan 
invoked  the  divine  blessing,  President  Donnelly  returned 
thanks  for  courtesies  extended  and  to  be  extended, 
as  well  as  for  the  kind  expressions  voiced  by  all  who 
had  spoken. 

ANNUAL     REPORTS 

On  presenting  his  annual  report,  President  Donnelly 
complimented  the  membership  on  the  excellent  condition 
of  the  organization,  at  that  time  composed  of  429  char- 
tered locals  with  a  paid-up  membership  on  June  30  of 
30,646,  of  whom  2,969  were  allied  craftsmen  and  27,677 
compositors.  This  was  not  regarded,  however,  as  a  fair 
exhibition  of  the  union's  real  numerical  strength  and  it 
was  estimated  that  the  entire  number  who  considered 
themselves  members  was  not  less  than  38,000.  The  presi- 
dent regarded  the  year  just  closed  as  having  been  the 
most  successful  from  a  business  standpoint  of  any  since 
1892.     Speaking  of  general  trade  conditions,  he  said: 

There  has  been  a  general  revival  of  trade,  Avhich  has  been 
felt  in  all  branches  of  industry.  It  is  pleasing  to  note  that 
the  job  printing  trade  has  been  excellent  during  the  past  season, 
many  local  unions  finding  it  impossible  on  frequent  occasions 
to  supply  the  offices  under  their  jurisdiction  with  a  sufficient 
force  of  competent  printers.  The  printing  trade  is,  to  a  great 
extent,  a  thermometer  of  business  conditions,  the  volume  of 
work  done  being  continually  on  the  increase  during  good  times 
and  rapidly  falling  off  as  periods  of  industrial  depression 
develop.  The  printing  trade  is  affected  as  no  other  trade  by 
general  business  conditions,  as  it  is  allied  not  particularly  to  any 
industry,  or  industrial  occupation,  but  is  general  in  its  operation, 
printing  being  consumed  by  every  industry,  business,  occupation 
and  every  intelligent  citizen  in  the  land. 

That  form  of  combination  of  capital  known  as  the  trust  has 

576 


SWU1  I     II     liiiNNI  I. IV.  N,«    Yo.r 

I'iim.I.iii   linn  national  Typographical  Union 

November  i,  1898 -October  |t,  1000 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

not  as  yet  affected,  to  any  appreciable  extent,  the  printing  trade, 
and  so  long  as  typesetting  machines,  printers'  supplies  and 
machinery  are  sold  without  restrictions  in  an  open  market  there 
is  little  possibility  of  the  formation  of  successful  trusts  or  com- 
binations. Although  books  and  publications  are  considered 
a  necessity,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  with  a  great  portion 
of  our  population  they  are  a  luxury,  and  the  demand  for  such 
products  is  one  which  greatly  fluctuates,  necessitating  vast 
expenditures  on  the  part  of  the  producer  in  offering  inducements 
to  consumers.  This  condition  results  in  an  intense  competition, 
which  of  itself  is  an  obstacle  to  combinations. 

Since  the  introduction  of  the  typesetting  machine  there  has 
been  a  tendency  manifested  toward  the  creation  of  specialists 
in  the  printing  trade.  This  tendency  should  be  opposed  by  the 
typographical  union  and  general  laws  should  be  adopted  for 
the  governing  of  apprentices,  not  only  as  a  protection 
to  the  competent  printer,  but  as  a  protection  to  the  employer. 
The  "all-round"  printer  has  not  been  displaced  by  the  type- 
setting machine,  but  the  specialist  has.  The  man  whose 
knowledge  of  the  printing  trade  was  limited  to  his  ability 
as  a  typesetter  on  straight  composition  forms  95  per  cent  of  the 
unemployed  printers  of  today.  The  technical  school  for  the 
apprentice  should  be  the  composing  room,  and  his  guardian 
should  be  the  typographical  union.  Apprentices  should  be 
guaranteed  an  opportunity  to  learn  the  printing  trade,  and  boys 
who,  after  a  few  months'  experience,  show  no  adaptability 
in  the  printing  office  should  be  discharged  and  their  places 
taken  by  apprentices  more  competent.  I  would  recommend  that 
a  committee  be  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  an 
address  ti>  the  United  Typotheta  on  the  subject  of  apprentice 

regulations. 

In  the  New  England  states,  women  as  compositors  have  DMO 
Hied  by  employers  to  demoralize  the  trade  ami  reduce  the  rate 
of  wage*.    The   International   Typographical   Union  maim 
that   i.rxx)  ems  of  type  delivered  to  the  makeup  is  worth  •» 
tain  amount,  and  that  the  question  should  not  he  asked  by  the 

Mishmetit.  "Was  this  type  set  hv  a  woman?"   Typograp! 
Union  No.  13  has  bfta  endeavoring  to  enforce  a  uniform  scale 
for  compositors,  and  we  earnestly  hope  that  the  present  negotia- 
tions witli  the  employing  printers  within  their  Jul  will 
result  in  amicable  adjustment  of  thi>  important  question. 

577 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Organization  Work —  In  discussing  the  subject  of 
"Organization,"  the  president  reminded  the  convention 
that  working  printers  in  the  Philippines  and  the  Greater 
Antilles  looked  to  the  International  Typographical  Union 
for  assistance  and  encouragement  in  their  efforts  to  im- 
prove their  condition.  The  essential  feature  of  this 
portion  of  the  report  of  the  president,  however,  was  a 
recommendation  that  the  law  providing  for  the  system 
of  sixteen  organizers  and  their  numerous  family  of 
deputies  be  repealed.  In  lieu  thereof  it  was  suggested 
that  the  president  be  empowered  to  appoint  a  sufficient 
number  of  organizers,  provided  the  total  yearly  expendi- 
ture on  account  thereof  did  not  exceed  $6,000.  This  view 
was  concurred  in  by  several  of  the  organizers,  who, 
speaking  from  experience,  declared  the  system  in  vogue 
as  cumbersome  and  unsatisfactory. 

Strikes  —  During  the  eight  months  covered  by  the 
report  there  were  four  general  strikes.  Out  of  a  total  of 
nineteen  strikes  ordered  by  the  International  or  by  local 
unions  seven  resulted  in  victories,  with  three  defeats  and 
nine  affairs  pending.  Through  the  timely  mediation  of 
International  officials  and  organizers  five  general  strikes 
were  averted  and  forty-four  threatened  disputes  were 
satisfactorily  adjusted.  Nine  of  the  nineteen  strikes  were 
precipitated  by  proprietors  who  attempted  to  violate  scale 
rates  and  three  of  the  nine  were  fomented  by  employers 
alleged  to  be  desirous  of  wrecking  establishments  so  that 
they  might  profit  personally  at  the  expense  of  their 
partners.  The  president  took  strong  ground  for  con- 
servative action,  when  a  strike  was  imminent,  in  these 
words : 

The  strike,  as  a  weapon  of  organized  labor,  has  been  greatly 
abused.  Its  too  frequent  use  has  tended  to  lessen  its  effective- 
ness. Under  no  circumstances  should  local  unions  be  permitted 
to  engage  in  aggressive  strikes  without  complying  with  all  the 

578 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

laws  of  the  International  Union,  and  not  then  unless  the  union 
shall  have  sufficient  funds  on  hand  to  pay  strike  benefits  and 
expenses  for  a  period  of  at  least  eight  weeks.  With  a  thorough 
organization,  sufficient  finances,  and  the  sympathy  of  the  public, 
strikes  are  successful.  The  officers  and  members  of  subordinate 
unions  should  make  great  preparation  before  engaging  in 
a  strike.  The  most  important  work  is  to  secure  hearty 
co-operation  and  a  prompt  response  to  the  call  of  the  union 
on  the  part  of  the  men  directly  affected,  and  in  future  local 
unions  requesting  the  endorsement  of  strikes  will  be  compelled 
to  first  assure  the  executive  council  that  they  have  such 
co-operation,  and  will  be  able  to  call  out  every  man  and  boy 
employed  in  the  shop  or  shops  affected.  The  preliminary  work 
incident  to  a  strike  is  the  most  important,  and  neglect  of  this 
work  has  been  in  a  majority  of  cases  the  direct  cause  of  the  loss 
of  the  contest. 

Shorter  Workday  —  In  speaking  of  the  shorter  work- 
day the  president  declared  that  if  the  future  could  be 
judged  by  past  progress  the  nine-hour  workday  would 
within  a  short  time  be  an  established  rule  in  all  branches 
of  the  trade  throughout  the  continent.  With  few  excep- 
tions, the  unions  failing  to  enforce  the  Syracuse  agree- 
ment were  those  which  neglected  the  work  of  organiza- 
tion and  in  whose  jurisdictions  the  spirit  of  unionism  was 
weak.     Of  them  the  president  said,  and  suggested : 

Organization  work  is  their  first  need.  In  many  cases  they 
have  shown  themselves  incompetent  to  perform  the  preliminary- 
work  of  organization,  and  it  is  necessary  for  the  International 
Union  to  place  in  the  field,  with  the  beginning  of  the  fall 
season,  for  a  period  of  at  least  three  months,  energetic  organ- 
izers, who  are  experienced  in  the  work  of  local  organization,  and 
know  how  to  bring  non-union  men  into  the  fold. 

While  discussing  this  rubject  the  proposition  to 
endeavor  to  equalize  wage  scales  was  adverted  to.    It  was 

pointed  out  that  under  the  system  existing  the  formulation 
and  enforcement  of  scales  was  rssrntially  the  privilege 
and   duty    of   subordinate   unions,   and    although    other 

579 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

trades,  especially  the  iron,  glass  and  mining  industries, 
had  adopted  level  scales  in  competitive  districts,  those 
organizations  had  not  been  freer  from  troubles  or  more 
successful  than  the  International  Typographical  Union. 
In  the  president's  opinion  there  was  but  one  system  of 
"wage  equalization"  which  the  union  could  propose  that 
would  prove  satisfactory  to  all  employers,  and  that  was 
"to  reduce  the  rates  to  the  level  of  the  cheapest  towns. 
It  is  not  supposed  that  the  typothetae  will  expect  us  to 
take  such  a  ridiculous  step.  The  proper  method  is  the 
gradual  increase  of  the  wage  rates  in  towns  where  low 
rates  prevail.  Our  efforts  to  increase  the  rates  in  low- 
priced  towns  have  been  met  with  determined  opposition 
from  the  employers." 

Relations  With  Allied  Crafts — Much  of  the  space 
devoted  to  the  allied  craftsmen  in  the  president's  report 
was  consumed  by  a  review  of  the  Chicago  situation, 
arising  out  of  the  stereotypers'  strike  of  the  year  previous, 
which  had  from  time  to  time  been  commented  on  in  the 
Typographical  Journal.  Further  information  was  prom- 
ised the  delegates  when  the  convention  went  into  executive 
session.  The  president,  however,  vigorously  inveighed 
against  legislation  vesting  allied  craft  unions  with  too 
much  power.  He  showed  how  the  obnoxious  laws 
operated  to  give  the  allied  crafts  a  weight  in  the  higher 
councils  of  the  organization  entirely  out  of  keeping  with 
their  numbers  or  financial  contributions.  In  fact  it  was 
held  that  if  the  regulations  were  construed  literally  it 
would  produce  a  condition  whereby  the  allied  crafts 
could  reduce  the  International's  revenues  while  making 
it  responsible  for  greatly  increased  expenditures.  Rather 
than  be  subjected  to  the  conflicting  authority  and  bur- 
dens which  the  existing  law  imposed,  the  president  said 
it  would  be  much  better  for  the  membership  of  the  Inter- 
national to  say  to  the  stereotypers  and  electrotypers,  "You 

580 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

can  try  the  'go-it-alone'  policy;  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  waives  all  jurisdiction  or  control  over 
you;  the  International  Typographical  Union  will  attend 
to  its  own  affairs,  and  permit  you  to  attend  to  your  own 
affairs."  But  the  International  Typographical  Union 
had  distinctly  stated  on  numerous  occasions  that  there 
should  be  no  further  division  in  the  printing  trade.  In 
this  attitude  it  had  the  support  of  the  International  Print- 
ing Pressmen's  Union  and  the  International  Brotherhood 
of  Bookbinders.  "If  we  still  insist  in  our  opinion  that 
there  should  be  no  further  division  or  subdivision,  let 
us  strike  out  entirely  section  5  of  the  constitution,  and 
in  lieu  thereof  permit  them  to  maintain,  at  their  own 
expense,  an  executive  board  which  shall  have  power  to 
adjust  all  disputes  as  between  the  unions  of  their  branch 
of  the  craft,  treat  each  other  honestly  and  fairly  and 
cease  this  ridiculous  talk  of  autonomy,  when  we  know  that 
autonomy  means  nothing  but  division  and  dissension." 

The  president  said,  in  concluding  the  subject,  that 
under  equal  conditions  no  objection  would  be  raised  to 
granting  stereotypers,  etc.,  the  same  privileges  as  those 
extended  to  German  printers  but  for  the  fact  that  there 
u.is  no  similarity  between  the  Typographia  arrangement 
and  the  existing  law.  Some  designing  and  greedy 
employers  had  endeavored  to  create  a  secession  movement 
among  electrotypers,  but  their  plans  were  frustrated, 
except  in  one  case  where  the  local  officers  returned  the 
charter  in  an  illegal  manner. 

The  president  reported  the  mailers  as  having  attained 
measurable  success,  they  experiencing  great  difficulty  in 
securing  recognition  of  their  unions  and  enforcement 
of  their  scales.  On  the  other  hand,  employers  had  not 
to  any  appreciable  extent  opposed  the  formation  of  photo 
engravers'  unioni  The  newspaper  writers  were  slow 
to  organise,  one  of  the  drawbacks  being  an  impression 

5*1 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

among  the  publishers  that  the  object  in  forming  writers' 
unions  was  a  desire  to  establish  a  press  censorship  in  the 
interest  of  the  International  Union.  After  demonstrating 
that  the  International  was  opposed  to  even  the  existing 
censorship,  the  president  declared  that — 

The  International  Typographical  Union  does  not,  in  any 
sense,  desire  to  control  printing  establishments  or  publications. 
Our  object  is  to  maintain  fair  conditions,  sustain  the  rights  of 
labor  and  secure  a  fair  day's  pay  for  an  honest  day's  toil, 
and  the  organized  newspaper  writer  will  be  expected  to  follow 
the  instructions  of  the  management  in  the  performance  of  his 
labor  in  the  same  manner  as  the  compositor  follows  the  instruc- 
tions of  his  foreman  in  performing  the  mechanical  work  upon 
the  newspaper. 

With  the  hope  of  lessening  opposition  to,  and  thereby 
promoting  the  organization  of,  writers'  unions,  it  was 
recommended  that  they  be  exempt  from  the  laws  regulat- 
ing allied  trades  crafts,  as  well  as  those  affecting  sympa- 
thetic strikes.  The  president  took  a  hopeful  view  of  future 
relations  with  affiliated  allied  crafts,  saying  that,  so  far  as 
the  pressmen  were  concerned,  antagonism  toward  the 
International  had  apparently  ceased.    He  said  : 

The  pressmen  realize  that  the  tendency  of  capital  at  the 
present  time  is  to  concentrate,  and  that  the  interests  of  the  print- 
ing trade  unions  demand  closer  affiliation  and  concentration. 
The  International  Typographical  Union  is  not  only  the  organ- 
izer, but  is  the  bulwark  of  the  trade  unions  in  the  panting 
trade.  We  learn  by  experience,  and  I  take  pleasure  in  prophesy- 
ing that  the  experience  of  the  next  few*years  will  be  sufficient 
to  convince  all  persons  employed  in  the  various  branches  of  the 
printing  trade  that  one  successful,  invincible  union  is  far  better 
than  three  organizations,  whose  interests  frequently  conflict, 
and  who  are  hampered  by  those  disputes  which  are  always 
engendered  by  division  of  forces. 

The  president  recalled  the  fact  that  the  single  cause 
of  controversy  between  the  parties  to  the  tripartite  agree- 
ment was  the  label,  and  reproduced  verbatim  a  portion 

582 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

of  the  proceedings   had   at   the    Pittsburgh   conference. 
Commenting  on  this,  he  said : 

On  the  question  of  the  issuance  of  the  label  your  representa- 
tive found  that  it  was  impossible  to  secure  the  consent  of  two 
of  the  parties  to  the  tripartite  agreement  to  the  enactment 
of  the  law  recommended  by  the  Syracuse  convention.  Your 
representative,  after  discussing  the  matter  at  length  with  the 
conferees,  rested  on  the  tripartite  agreement  as  it  is  today 
printed  in  our  International  constitution.  This  agreement 
provides  that  the  label  shall  only  be  issued  to  such  offices  as 
comply  with  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  unions  affiliated 
with  the  local  allied  printing  trades  councils,  and  a  resolution 
embodying  this  provision  of  the  tripartite  agreement  was 
adopted.  The  executive  council  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  could  not,  however,  in  view  of  the  instructions 
of  the  Syracuse  convention,  approve  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
conference  as  they  affected  the  distribution  of  labels.  It  should 
be  apparent  to  every  delegate  to  this  convention  that  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  has  forever  relinquished  all 
control  or  jurisdiction  over  presses,  pressrooms  and  binderies, 
and  that  the  allied  label  can  not  be  legitimately  issued  to  what 
is  known  as  the  one-man  shop,  under  the  terms  of  the  tripartite 
agreement. 

ft  was  pointed  out  that  while  in  some  instances  the 
bad  blood  generated  by  the  pressmen's  secession  move- 
ment had  fostered  disputes  arising  out  of  the  distribution 
of  labels,  local  unions  being  to  blame  in  some  instances, 
the  great  majority  of  difficulties  had  found  origin  in 
demands  of  platen  pressmen  and  feeders,  employers  not 
having  been  disposed  t<>  recognize  the  rights  of  th< 
craftsmen  to  organise.  The  subject  was  dismissed  with 
the    following   recommendation  :      "That   the   convention 

onsider  the  instructions  given  the  executive  council  in 
the  Syracuse  convention  and  permit  the  council  to  ex 

full  discretion  in  all  label  and  allied  trade  disputes. 
In  consideration  of  the  fact  that  the  International  Typo- 
graphical   Union   was    responsible   for   the   introduction 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  the  label  as  a  factor  in  the  printing  trade,  and  that 
the  International  Typographical  Union  had  up  to  that 
time  borne  the  expenses  incident  to  label  agitation  and 
registration,  it  was  expected  that  the  pressmen  and  book- 
binders would  consent  to  permitting  latitude  on  the  label 
question  to  the  typographical  unions  which  might  become 
involved  in  a  struggle  to  maintain  the  rates  of  wages 
and  the  right  to  organize." 

Machine -Tenders  —  Machine-tenders  next  engrossed 
the  president's  attention  and  he  laid  before  the  craft  a 
lucid  resume  of  occurrences  incident  to  enforcement  of 
the  Syracuse  law  on  the  question.  It  was  pointed  out  that 
the  American  Federation  of  Labor  could  not  interfere 
with  the  enforcement  of  the  law  without  stultifying  itself. 

Funds  —  The  funds  of  the  union  were  reported  to  be 
in  a  healthy  condition,  and  greater  economy  in  making 
expenditures  from  the  various  funds  was  said  to  be  out 
of  the  question,  except  in  case  of  the  defense  fund,  and 
any  shortening  of  expenditures  in  that  way  could  only 
be  accomplished  by  pursuing  a  parsimonious  policy  after 
a  strike  had  been  inaugurated.  It  was  recommended 
that  the  executive  council  be  authorized  to  levy  a  special 
assessment  should  the  defense  fund  at  any  time  fall  below 
$20,000,  the  levy  not  to  exceed  50  cents  per  member  in 
any  three  months.  With  a  fund  of  such  magnitude  it  was 
thought  to  be  possible  that  the  executive  council  could 
assist  unions  that  were  endeavoring  to  prevent  labels 
being  counterfeited  by  unfair  employers. 

Proprietor  Members  —  The  question  of  whether  work- 
ing employers  should  or  should  not  be  members  of  the 
union  was  discussed  at  some  length.  It  was  recommended 
by  the  president  that  this  matter  should  be  settled  by 
requiring  all  persons  performing  the  work  of  journeymen 
or  foremen  to  be  members  of  their  local  unions. 

584 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

Government  Ownership  —  Copyright  Law —  The  re- 
port closed  with  the  following  reference  to  the  legislative 
committee  at  Washington  : 

Our  committees  on  governmental  ownership  of  the  telegraph 
and  copyright  law  have  not  been  authorized,  during  the  past 
eight  months,  to  incur  any  expenditures.  The  agitation  for 
governmental  ownership  of  the  telegraph  should  be  continued, 
but  it  is  doubtful  if  this  agitation  merits,  at  the  present  time, 
any  considerable  outlay  of  money.  Unfortunately,  the  attention 
of  the  organized  workers  has  been  diverted  lately  by  the  unwise 
action  of  many  of  our  leaders,  and  a  portion  of  the  labor  press, 
to  the  political  issue  of  expansion  and  so-called  imperialism, 
and  while  the  conditions  are  such  that  it  is  impossible  to  secure 
municipal  ownership  of  street  railway  franchises,  a  question 
which  directly  affects  every  worker  and  every  citizen,  it  is  very 
doubtful  if  "any  great  headway  can  be  made  in  agitation  for 
governmental  ownership  of  the  telegraph,  as  the  use  and  abuse 
of  our  present  system  is  of  interest  only  to  a  small  proportion 
of  our  population,  and  principally  to  the  business  world.  An 
agitation  which  at  the  present  time  promises  to  result  in  more 
benefit  to  organized  labor,  and  which,  if  successful,  would 
result  in  direct  benefit  to  our  organization,  would  be  a  systematic 
agitation  against  what  is  known  as  government  by  injunction. 

Stereotypcrs  and  Elcctrotypcrs  —  The  report  of  Second 
Vice-President  Dcrflingcr  treated  for  the  most  part  with 
trade  disputes,  and  especially  the  Chicago  affair.  An 
attempt  had  been  made  to  absorb  the  rump  elect rotypers' 
union,  but  it  failed  owing  to  the  obstinacy  of  the  seceders. 
KfTorts  on  their  part  to  disrupt  this  branch  of  the  Inter- 
national had  proved  futile  owing  to  the  energetic  meas- 
ures taken  to  discipline  the  renegades.  Chicago  Union 
was  the  only  one  to  surrender  its  charter  and  to  advance 
the  plea  that  the  per  capita  t.ix  of  the  International  was 
excessive,  although  that  local,  during  the  ten  months 
ended  May  I.  I  Sow,  had  paid  into  the  International 
tn  a  my  $230  and  drawn  therefrom  $626.  Vice-President 
Dcrflingcr  felicitated  his  fellow  craftsmen  on  the  position 

5*J 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

they  occupied  and  expressed  the  hope  that  a  dispute 
relative  to  the  scope  of  the  autonomy  granted  by  the 
Syracuse  law  would  be  settled  to  the  satisfaction  of  all. 

German- American  Typographia  —  Third  Vice-Presi- 
dent Miller  reported  the  year  as  having  been  a  quiet  one, 
with  no  strikes  to  record.  There  had  been  no  increase 
in  membership.  Mr.  Miller  said :  "Owing  to  the  de- 
crease in  immigration,  the  German  press  of  this  country 
has  to  fight  hard  for  its  existence.  During  the  past  year 
several  German  papers  have  gone  out  of  existence,  while 
others  consolidated,  thereby  throwing  a  number  of  mem- 
bers out  of  work  and  greatly  burdening  the  out-of-work 
fund."  Although  the  German  branch  expended  over 
$11,000  in  out-of-work  benefits  there  remained  in  its 
treasury  approximately  $10,000,  or  $9  per  capita.  With 
the  exception  of  a  few  religious  papers,  there  were  but 
three  non-union  firms  under  the  jurisdiction  of  this 
branch. 

Mailers  —  "In  reviewing  my  work  for  the  past  year," 
said  Fourth  Vice-President  Harber,  "I  can  see  no  par- 
ticular event  that  can  be  chronicled  as  unprecedented, 
nevertheless  the  progress  of  the  mailers'  unions  through- 
out the  country,  as  indicated  by  correspondence,  has  been 
of  a  steady  and  permanent  nature."  After  reciting 
several  successes  attending  the  efforts  of  the  mailers 
toward  the  formation  of  four  unions,  and  the  conviction 
that  the  coming  year  would  be  fruitful  of  new  unions, 
Mr.  Harber  gave  a  hint  of  the  obstacles  that  had  been 
overcome.  He  said:  "The  presence  of  boys,  and  dis- 
couraging conditions  in  many  cities,  is  such  as  to  deter 
organizers  in  even  making  an  attempt  to  organize  our 
craft.  Yet  it  is  true  that  in  each  of  the  cities  recently 
organized,  and  in  fact  in  each  city  where  a  union  exists, 
an  organizer  at  one  time  or  another  has  claimed  that 
an  organization  was  an  impossibility,  so  that  no  matter 

586 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

how  improbable  success  may  appear  at  first  investigation, 
perseverance  and  persistent  agitation  will  almost  invaria- 
bly be  crowned  with  success."  The  existing  organizing 
system  was  not  looked  upon  with  favor  and  it  was  sug- 
gested "that  the  convention  should  look  to  some  plan 
whereby  a  maximum  return  might  be  had  for  the 
minimum  expenditure." 

N ewswr iters — Fifth  Vice-President  J.  F.  O'Sullivan 
reported  that  he  had  corresponded  with  many  cities  for 
the  purpose  of  awakening  an  interest  in  unionism  in  his 
profession  and  said  "there  isn't  a  city  in  the  country 
where  our  documents  are  not  in  the  hands  of  one  or  more 
newspaper  men."  As  the  result  of  all  this  effort,  involv- 
ing the  writing  of  745  letters,  two  unions,  New  York 
and  Kansas  City,  were  organized.  Wages  continued  to 
have  a  downward  tendency,  which  was  not  surprising 
under  the  state  of  affairs  existing: 

An  agency  in  this  country  advertises  to  furnish  employment 
to  reporters  and  editors,  and  issues  a  circular  to  publishers 
offering  to  fill  positions  in  all  branches  of  newspaper  work. 
As  showing  to  what  extent  is  the  intensity  of  the  struggle  for 
employment,  I  desire  to  state  that  this  "newspaper  exchange" 
agrees  to  supply  men  as  reporters  at  salaries  ranging  from  $7 
to  $40  per  week.  Among  one  of  its  applicants  for  employment 
is  a  gentleman  with  a  college  training,  who  is  willing  to  advance 
his  employer  $1,000,  and  who  is  also  willing  to  work  as  a 
reporter  or  special  writer  for  $10  per  week.  I  do  not  expect 
that  the  gentleman  has  yet  secured  a  position,  as  publishers  are 
urate  that  B  $io-per-week  man  can  not  be  expected  to  give 
$20  worth  of  brains  to  his  work. 

On  behalf  of  the  interests  he  represented,  Mr.  O'Sulli- 
van recommended: 

Th.it  in  all  cities  where  the  labor  movement  insists  upon  the 
label  upon  daily  papers,  the  organise!  in  whOM  district  this  con- 
dition obtains  shall  urge  the  necessity  of  the  organisation 
of  the  writers  as  a  condition  of  retention  of  the  label;  that 
the  local  unions  take  .1  more  a<  tive  interest  in  acquainting  new* 

587 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

writers  of  the  fact  that,  under  the  protecting  shield  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  they  may  come  together 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  advantages  for  their  profession, 
which  can  best  be  secured  by  and  through  straight  trade-union 
methods. 

Photo  Engravers  —  James  Ryan,  sixth  vice-president, 
did  not  report  concerning  the  troubles  of  his  trade,  but 
indulged  in  a  review  of  the  work  of  labor  organizations  as 
a  whole,  retrospectively  and  prospectively,  concluding  in 
this  way : 

Who  could  have  thought  fifty  years  ago  that  a  trade  union 
could  have  produced  a  trade  magazine  like  the  Typograph- 
ical Journal  of  the  International  Typographical  Union?  As 
a  monument  of  intelligent  perseverance  it  is  a  credit  to  the 
printers  of  the  United  States,  as  also  its  Home  at  Colorado 
Springs.  Progress !  Looking  back  from  where  we  started 
it  is  indeed  phenomenal.  All  has  been  achieved  by  co-operative 
unionism.  Helping  those  who  are  desirous  to  help  themselves ; 
closing  out  none,  expanding  our  opportunities,  and  helping  all 
along  who  are  struggling,  with  moral  and,  if  need  be.  financial 
support,  ever  bearing  in  mind  that  moral  victories  gained 
in  peace  are  far  more  valuable  and  of  greater  endurance  than 
those  of  war,  although  our  generals  and  officers  do  not  strut 
about  in  gold  lace  paid  for  out  of  our  taxes. 

Trade  unionism  is  today  a  factor  in  our  civilization,  and 
society  as  at  present  constituted  can  not  move  without  consult- 
ing with  it.  Let  the  good  work  continue  and  society  will  have 
to  consult  us.  These  are  reflections  of  one  who  has  exceeded 
the  scriptural  limit  of  age,  and  in  every  probability  will  not 
have  the  honor  of  again  addressing  you. 

Secretary-Treasurer's  Report  —  To  those  interested  in 
the  statistics  and  finances  of  the  organization,  a  summary 
of  Secretary  Bramwood's  report,  at  once  complete  and 
conclusive,  will  be  of  interest. 

Attention  was  first  devoted  to  the  growth  of  the 
organization  during  the  fiscal  year,  and  of  this  the 
secretary  said : 

An  increase  in  the  membership  and  a  healthy  financial  con- 

588 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

dition  augur  well  for  the  prosperity  of  the  year  we  are  just 
entering.  For  the  year  1897  the  average  paying  membership 
was  reported  as  28,096.  In  1898  the  figures  reached  28,614 
and  an  average  of  28,355  was  established  for  the  two  years 
intervening  between  the  conventions  at  Colorado  Springs  and 
Syracuse.  This  was  a  slight  loss  over  previous  years.  Now  the 
tide  has  turned,  and  the  per  capita  tax  received  during  the  fiscal 
year  just  closed  shows  an  average  membership  of  30,646,  which 
is  only  733  short  of  the  high-water  mark  of  1804,  when  the 
pressmen,  pressfeeders,  bookbinders  and  bindery  girls  were 
under  the  banner  of  the  International  Typographical  Union. 
It  is  an  increase  of  2,550  over  1897,  of  2,032  over  1898,  and 
2,291  over  the  two  years  of  1896-1898.  As  will  be  seen,  the 
increase  in  membership  is  not  wholly  due  to  the  formation  of 
new  unions.  Apathetic  organizations  have  been  imbued  with 
new  life,  and  much  valuable  organization  work  has  been  done 
in  the  larger  and  smaller  cities,  which  still  present  a  fertile  field 
for  the  seeds  of  unionism. 

Of  the  receipts  and  disbursements,  the  former  reached 
the  figure  of  $128,436.70,  of  which  $8,241.50  repre- 
sented the  special  5-cent  assessment  which  began  April 
l7>  1899,  and  was  still  in  progress  of  collection  when 
the  year  closed  on  June  30.  The  balance  of  the  revenue 
for  the  year  comprised  per  capita  tax,  supplies,  Journal 
advertising  and  subscriptions  and  all  other  sundry  items. 
An  increase  in  receipts  of  $15,272.91  was  shown  over 
the  year  of  1897-1898  and  $17,917.17  over  the  twelve 
months  of  1896- 1897.  The  total  business  aggregated 
$!  55»7 18.52.  This  last  naoied  sum  was  a  decided  increase 
over  the  previous  two  yean  arid  much  credit  urafl  due 
the  officers  in  charge  of  financial  affairs  of  subordinate 
un inns  for  tin-  promptness  with  which  the  money  belong- 
ing to  the  International  body  had  been  transferred  to 
headquartera.  The  actual  expenditures  of  the  year 
amounted  to  $123,502.80.    Add  to  this  sum  $12,259.74. 

lost   in   the    Indianapolis   National    Hank,   and  a   total   o( 
$135,762.54  is' the  result 

5*> 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Attention  was  called  to  the  fact  that  aside  from  the 
special  assessment  of  $8,241.50,  the  receipts  for  the  year 
were  only  $120,195.20.  This  was  $3,307.60  less  than 
the  expenditures  and  would  indicate  that  without  the 
assessment  the  available  cash  balance  would  have  been 
reduced  by  the  work  of  the  year.  In  these  figures  was 
found  the  necessity  of  a  retrenchment  in  expenses,  or  an 
increase  in  the  per  capita  tax.  The  International  was 
asked  for  financial  assistance  by  many  locals  for 
innumerable  purposes  and  the  revenue  was  by  no  means 
adequate  to  the  requirements.  Unions  with  well-filled 
treasuries  did  not  hesitate  to  solicit  financial  assistance 
from  the  International  when  work  which  was  especially 
calculated  to  benefit  the  local's  membership  was  under 
contemplation,  while  others,  which  continually  struggled 
for  existence,  were  content  with  their  proper  portion  of 
benefits  under  the  law.  It  was  only  by  close  adherence 
to  the  constitution  that  the  revenue  could  have  been  made 
to  meet  the  claims  upon  the  organization,  as  the  laws, 
framed  in  years  gone  by,  did  not  contemplate  the  demands 
that  were  then  being  made  on  the  parent  body.  The 
amount  transferred  to  the  Home  fund  was  $36,618.15, 
while  $19,080.74  had  been  expended  in  strike  benefits 
and  special  assistance.  Officers  and  organizers  had 
received  $7,806.81  for  services  and  expenses  in  acting 
as  mediators  in  adjusting  disputes  and  building  up  weak 
unions.  The  expenditures  on  this  account  aggregated 
88  cents  per  member,  and  the  total  expenditure  since  the 
establishment  of  the  defense  fund  had  been  $297,843.70. 
The  expenses  of  the  shorter  workday  committee  amounted 
to  $1,735.91.  The  deaths  exceeded  those  of  the  fiscal 
years  1897  and  1898  by  thirty-five  and  forty-six  respect- 
ively, the  benefits  paid  amounting  to  $25,800  (a  fraction 
over  84  cents  per  member)  on  430  deaths.  Since  the 
inception  of  the  burial  fund  the  payments  from  it  had 

590 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

aggregated  $177,245.  To  the  secretary's  mind,  all  funds 
except  the  general  fund  were  in  a  healthy  condition.  The 
drain  on  the  general  fund  had  from  time  to  time  increased 
with  the  growth  of  the  organization  and  there  had  been 
no  corresponding  increase  in  the  apportionment,  conse- 
quently there  was  annually  a  deficit,  but  it  was  hoped 
that  the  existing  and  contemplated  economies  in 
connection  with  the  Journal  would  obviate  even  this. 

Some  attention  was  devoted  to  the  work  at  headquar- 
ters and  the  cost  of  doing  it.  During  the  fiscal  year 
47,950  pieces  of  mail  and  express  matter  were  delivered 
(exclusive  of  the  Journal),  of  which  11,347  were  type- 
written letters,  27,306  being  other  first  class  mail  and  the 
balance  composed  of  packages  of  supplies,  literature,  etc. 

Typographical  Journal  —  The  Typographical  Journal 
was  discussed  with  much  regard  for  detail  in  accounting 
for  items  of  income  and  expense.  While  the  secretary- 
treasurer  suggested  the  publication  of  the  Journal 
monthly,  he  defended  the  official  organ  stoutly  in  the 
following  paragraph : 

The  abolishment  of  the  Journal  and  a  return  to  the  meth- 
ods of  years  ago  has  been  advocated  on  different  occasions 
and  it  has  been  claimed  that  the  obsolete  methods  would  prove 
less  expensive  than  the  publication  of  the  Journal  as  an 
official  medium.  Figures  of  the  most  careful  compilation 
do  not  prove  this  to  be  true,  and  the  incorrectness  of  such 
theories  was  answered  by  one  of  my  predecessors  in  the  follow- 
ing words:  "In  1888,  when  the  official  statements  and  business 
of  headquarters  were  communicated  to  our  members  in  the  shape 
of  quarterly  reports  and  circulars,  with  a  membership  of  17.4*1 1 . 
it  cost  13  cents  per  member  per  year  to  thus  eonvey  quarterly 
to  less  than  250  secretaries  what  is  now  printed  in  the 
Journal,  where  it  can  be  read  by  the  entire  membership  semi 
monthly  at  a  cost  of  K)1/'  CBOtl  per  member.  With  the  business 
of  the  office  treble  what  it  was  m  1HX8.  with  a  membership 
almost  doubled,  and  the  various  benefit  features  in  full  opera 
tion.  it  is  safe  to  say  that,  under  the  old  system  of  doing  busi- 

591 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ness,  the  cost  of  conveying  official  statements  alone  would  have 
doubled,  and  would  reach  26  cents  per  member  per  year,  or  an 
increase  over  the  cost  of  the  Journal  of  6l/2  cents  per  year 
per  member.  It  is  evident  that  the  projectors  of  the  Journal 
saw  the  possibilities  of  the  future  when  it  was  launched,  and 
realized  that  it  would  prove  to  be  not  only  less  expensive  but 
a  more  approved  and  satisfactory  way  of  giving  the  membership 
knowledge  of  the  business  of  the  International."  The  foregoing 
being  true  in  1896,  how  much  more  cause  is  there  for  satis- 
faction now.  In  the  last  fiscal  year  the  publication  of  official 
matter,  made  necessary  by  law,  comprised  one-fourth  of  the 
contents  of  the  Journal.  The  actual  cost  of  printing  this 
matter,  and  the  value  of  papers  distributed  free  under  the  pres- 
ent and  former  laws,  was  $4,892.50,  almost  16  cents  per 
member — within  $860.80  (or  2^  cents  per  member)  of  the 
net  cost.  The  cost  per  member  of  the  Journal  shows  a 
decrease  over  the  year  referred  to  in  the  above  quotation,  as 
well  as  all  others  since  it  assumed  magazine  form.  A  corre- 
sponding decrease  in  the  cost  of  printing  official  matter  is 
therefore  established,  and  there  is  no  good  reason  for  dissatis- 
faction, since  everything  goes  to  prove  that  the  net  cost  of  the 
paper  is  mainly  the  cost  of  printing  and  distributing  the  official 
matter  of  the  organization,  which  would,  without  doubt,  entail 
a  greater  expense  if  sent  out  in  any  other  manner.  In  addition 
to  this,  the  issuance  of  the  Journal  in  its  present  form  is  of 
inestimable  value  to  the  organization,  and  it  may  well  be  ques- 
tioned whether  as  good  a  return  (though  it  can  not  be  reduced 
to  dollars  and  cents)  is  derived  from  any  other  source. 

Organizers'  Reports  —  With  the  exception  of  the  fifth 
and  thirteenth  districts,  respectively,  the  organizers  all 
presented  reports,  the  subject  matter  dealing  chiefly  with 
local  disputes.  One  point  on  which  these  local  organizers 
seemed  to  be  nearer  agreement  than  any  other  was  that 
there  was  much  organization  work  to  be  done,  but  that 
success  could  not  be  hoped  for  under  the  existing  system. 
Several  organizers  recommended  the  repeal  of  the  law 
creating  district  organizers. 

American  Federation  of  Labor  —  The  delegates  to  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  submitted  a  resume  of  the 

592 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

business  transacted  at  the  convention  of  that  body  in 
Kansas  City  in  December,  1898.  The  report  was  an 
excellent  compilation  of  what  was  done  by  the  convention. 
Shorter  Workday  Committee  —  The  shorter  workday 
committee  presented  an  interesting1  report,  recounting 
the  work  accomplished  following  the  Syracuse  convention, 
summing  the  matter  up  in  the  following  paragraph : 

The  membership  of  typographical  unions  on  November  21, 
1898,  was  27,435,  and  the  number  of  unions  chartered  was  317. 
Of  these  24,967  members  and  234  unions  were  in  the  enjoyment 
of  the  nine-hour  day,  or  working  under  the  Syracuse  agreement, 
being  91  per  cent  of  the  membership  and  76  per  cent  of  the 
unions.  The  83  unions,  not  having  secured  the  shorter  workday 
include  but  2,468  members,  an  average  of  but  30  each.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  but  6  of  these  unions  have  50  members  or  over, 
17  range  between  25  and  50  members,  while  60  unions  have 
less  than  25  members  each.  These  unions  are  widely  scattered 
and  owe  their  delinquency  to  various  causes.  Six  of  them 
report  that  agreements  with  employers  prevented  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  shorter  workday  on  the  date  fixed,  7  report  partial 
success,  and  3  are  at  war  over  old  disagreements.  At  the  time 
of  writing  this  report  conferences  are  in  progress  in  5  unions, 
with  good  prospects  of  success,  while  I  has  secured  an  agree- 
ment for  a  shorter  workday  at  a  date  other  than  November  21. 
One  union  has  a  half-holiday  during  the  summer  months,  and 
3  report  their  members  as  working  under  an  hour  scale  and  less 
than  ten  hours  per  day.  Reports  as  to  the  effect  of  the  reduction 
of  hours  on  the  weekly  wage  scale  are  incomplete,  but  sufficient 
are  in  hand  to  show  that  less  than  20  per  cent  of  the  unions 
suffered  by  reductions,  these  ranging  from  20  cents  on  the  week 
to  a  pro  rata  reduction.  At  the  same  time  7  unions  secured 
an  increase  of  wages  while  reducing  the  hours.  In  several 
instances,  also,  unions  working  nine  hours  or  less  seized  the 
opportunity  to  reduce  the  working  hours  still  lower. 

Home  Trustees  —  The  report  of  the  Home  trustees  was 
a  voluminous  document  containing  much  detailed  infor- 
mation, together  with  the  proceedings  of  the  board 
meeting  held  in  November,  1898.  The  financial  affairs 
of  the  institution  were  felt  to  be  in  a  healthy  condition. 

593 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

It  was  shown  that  during  the  year  Ji  residents  had  been 
admitted,  14  had  died,  23  vacated  and  11  were  expelled. 
The  charge  of  extravagance  against  the  management  of 
the  Home  was  convincingly  resented  by  the  superintend- 
ent in  these  words : 

The  argument  is  frequently  made  that  the  Home  is  more 
expensive  than  other  institutions  of  its  kind.  Assertions  of  this 
character  are  made  without  due  consideration.  The  total 
expenditures  of  the  Home  the  past  year  were  $29,578.65,  the 
average  number  of  inmates  being  ninety,  making  the  cost  per 
inmate,  per  week,  $6.38.  In  figuring  the  total  cost  of  maintain- 
ing the  Home  for  the  past  year,  many  items  enter  into  the 
expense  that  will  be  found  in  no  other  institution.  For  instance, 
in  addition  to  actual  maintenance  there  has  been  expended 
the  past  year  $227.48  for  the  installation  of  electric  lights, 
$1,542.50  for  remodeling  lavatories,  $977.76  in  permanent 
improvements  on  buildings,  $582.43  for  new  furnishings, 
$48  for  new  lots  and  improving  cemetery  plot,  $479  for  burying 
our  dead,  and  a  cash  consideration  of  50  cents  per  week  to  each 
member  in  the  Home  not  provided  for  by  his  local  union,  which 
amounted  last  year,  to  $1,238.  It  must  be  understood  that  when 
a  member  is  admitted  to  the  Home  he  is  guaranteed  everything 
that  a  man  requires — clothing,  medical  attention,  nursing  and 
medicines,  shaving  and  hair  cutting,  dentistry,  first-class  table 
service,  first-class  transportation,  if  he  wishes  to  vacate,  to  the 
point  where  he  came  from,  and,  as  above  stated,  a  cash  con- 
sideration of  $26  per  year.  I  would  like  to  know  where  a  man 
can  secure  such  accommodations  for  $6.38  per  week.  Inmates 
of  the  Consumptives'  Home  in  Denver  pay  $9  per  week  for 
board,  medical  attention  and  nursing  alone,  and  I  have  it  from 
Superintendent  Oakes  that  he  came  out  some  $20,000  on  the 
wrong  side  of  the  ledger  the  past  year,  which  was  made  up  by 
wealthy  and  charitably  inclined  people  throughout  the  country. 

CONSTITUTIONAL     AMENDMENTS 

Twenty  constitutional  amendments  were  acted  upon 
favorably  by  the  convention  and  transmitted  to  the 
referendum  for  approval  or  rejection,  as  follows : 

(1)    To  empower  the  council  to  authorize  admission 

594       ~ 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

of  non-printer  proofreaders  when  necessary,  and  striking 
out  apprenticeship  clause.  Total  vote,  14,259.  Majority 
against,  1,337.  (2)  To  strike  out  the  clause  restricting 
the  employment  of  non-printer  members.  Total  vote, 
13,969.  Majority  against,  2,155.  (3)  To  strike  out  the 
word  "annual"  and  make  the  law  operative  in  all  instances 
(referring  to  expenses  of  delegates).  Total  vote,  13,107. 
Majority  favoring,  6,717.  (4)  To  insert  the  words  "or 
she"  in  law  regarding  eligibility  to  election  as  delegate. 
Total  vote,  13,355.  Majority  favoring,  7,067.  (5)  To 
strike  out  the  word  "annual"  and  make  law  operative  in 
all  instances  (referring  to  expenses  of  members  of  execu- 
tive council).  Total  vote,  13,114.  Majority  favoring, 
6,316.  (6)  To  increase  the  initiation  fee  of  provisional 
members  from  $1  to  $2.  Total  vote,  13,837.  Majority  fa- 
voring, 5,807.  (7)  To  empower  the  executive  council  to 
levy  assessments  when  deemed  necessary.  Total  vote,* 
14,416.  Majority  against,  5,960.  (8)  To  empower  the 
executive  council  to  levy  a  limited  special  assessment  whenN 
defense  fund  falls  below  $20,000.  Total  vote,  14,330.  Ma- 
jority against,  2,100.  (9)  To  fix  the  salary  of  sixth  vice- 
president  at  $50  per  annum,  with  additional  compensation 
under  certain  conditions.  Total  vote,  13,952.  Majority 
favoring,  1,512.  (10)  To  strike  out  a  superfluous  sec- 
tion regarding  salaries  of  organizers,  etc.  Total  vote, 
13,461.  Majority  favoring,  4,899.  (11)  To  provide 
that  each  member  pay  10  cents  additional  monthly  dues  m 
for  establishing  a  permanent  defense  fund.  Total  vote, 
14,189.  Majority  against,  4,705.  (12)  To  provide  for 
the  collection  of  International  dues  and  assessments  by 
the  stamp  system.  Total  vote,  13,772.  Majority  against, 
360.  ( 13)  To  provide  special  forms  of  cards  for  stereo- 
typcrs  and  electrotyperi  in  lieu  of  regular  International 
certificates.  Total  vote,  13,544.  Majority  favoring, 
5,852.     ( 14)  To  empower  tin-  president,  with  the  approval 

595 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  the  council,  to  appoint  all  organizers.  Total  vote, 
13,878.  Majority  favoring,  1,646.  (15)  To  amend  the 
referendum  law  so  as  to  avoid  unnecessary  delay  in  sub- 
mitting questions  to  the  membership.  Total  vote,  13,773. 
Majority  favoring,  6,889.  (16)  To  strike  out  semi- 
annual referendum  law  and  provide  for  submitting  ques- 
tions to  membership  when  fifty  unions  petition  therefor. 
Total  vote,  13,479.  Majority  favoring,  2,835.  (l7)  To 
improve  the  reading  of  uniform  obligation  by  striking  out 
the  word  "brother."  Total  vote,  13,252.  Majority 
favoring,  8,068.  (18)  To  provide  that  all  laws  shall 
take  effect  sixty  days  after  canvass  of  vote.  Total  vote, 
13,905.  Majority  favoring,  7,575.  (19)  Repealing  all 
laws  in  conflict  with  the  constitution  and  instructing  sec- 
retary-treasurer to  make  necessary  changes.  Total  vote, 
13,422.  Majority  favoring,  6,082.  (20)  Asking  an 
*■  expression  of  opinion  from  members  on  establishment  of 
H  a  five-day  law  at  a  future    date.      Total    vote,    14,151. 

„       .'Majority  against,  4,371. 

As  will  be  seen  by  the  foregoing  summary,  thirteen 
of  the  proposed  amendments  were  adopted  by  the  refer- 
endum and  seven  defeated.  Three  of  the  seven  defeated 
amendments  proposed  increased  taxation. 

GENERAL     LAWS,     RESOLUTIONS,     COMMITTEE 
REPORTS,     ETC. 

A.  general  discussion  arose  on  the  proposition  of  pub- 
lishing the  Typographical  Journal  monthly,  which  took 
wide  range,  provoking  many  amendments,  viz. :  That 
the  price  be  increased  to  $1  per  year;  that  the  price  be 
5  cents  per  month  and  that  amount  added  to  the  per 
capita  tax;  that  a  special  Journal  fund  of  $1  per  year 
per  capita  be  established  and  the  paper  sent  to  every 
member ;  but  all  were  consigned  to  the  table.  The  conven- 
tion refused  to  amend  the  constitution  so  as  to  admit  of 
the  formation  of  distinctive  proofreaders'  unions  and  also 

596 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

laid  upon  the  table  a  far-reaching  proposal  which  con- 
templated the  formation  of  unions  embracing  printers 
and  the  allied  craftsmen,  thus  doing  away  with  unions  of 
kindred  trades.  A  scheme  for  the  establishment  of  an 
International  sick  benefit  failed  to  pass.  The  law  govern- 
ing auditing  committees  was  amended  by  empowering 
the  International  president,  on  the  appearance  of  inac- 
curacies in  a  committee's  report,  to  have  the  books  of  the 
local  union  examined  by  an  expert  accountant.  An  effort 
to  make  it  a  punishable  offense  for  a  printer  to  work 
as  a  pressman,  stereotyper  or  mailer  met  with  defeat, 
as  did  a  proposal  which  sought  to  limit  strike  benefits 
to  eight  weeks  and  make  them  payable  only  after  mem- 
bers had  been  out  two  weeks.  The  general  law  relative 
to  foremen  was  amended  so  as  to  declare  that  subs  should  w. 
have  the  preference  in  filling  vacancies  on  the  regular 
force.  The  report  of  the  shorter  workday  committee 
was  received,  its  recommendations  concurred  in  and  the 
committee  discharged  with  thanks.  Consideration  of  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  resolutions  resulted  in  thanks 
being  extended  to  Public  Printer  Palmer  for  his  action 
in  restoring  wages  of  employes  of  the  government  print- 
ing office,  together  with  instructions  that  the  union's 
delegates  to  the  federation  have  that  body  adopt  similar 
resolutions.  Thanks  were  also  extended  to  First  Assist- 
ant Postmaster  General  Heath  for  directing  that  all  print- 
ing in  his  department  be  given  to  union  offices,  and  to 
Judge  Advocate  General  Lemley,  U.  S.  N.,  for  upholding 
the  eight-hour  law.  Approval  was  expressed  of  the  prin- 
ciples which  led  to  the  peace  conference  at  The  Hague 
and  war  was  declared  to  be  "destructive  and  useless,  a 
breeder  of  poverty.  ;i  fosterer  of  crime  and  a  destroyer 
of  national  honor  by  introducing  a  counterfeit  patriot- 
ism." but  the  delegates  refused  to  condemn  "the  attempt 
to  subjugate  the  people  of  the  Philippine  Islands."   The 

597 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

executive  council  was  instructed  to  assist  Canadian  unions 
in  their  efforts  to  secure  the  passage  of  competent  label 
laws  by  he  Canadian  Parliament  and  also  instructed  to 
distribute  among  the  members  an  address  explanatory  of 
the  necessity  for  a  permanent  increase  in  the  defense  fund. 

Postal  Savings  Bank  —  The  postal  savings  bank  system 
received  hearty  endorsement  and  local  unions  were  urged 
to  petition  their  congressional  representatives  to  vote  for 
the  necessary  legislation. 

Machine-Tenders  —  A  special  committee  on  machine- 
tenders  and  typesetting  devices  reported  unfavorably  on 
a  proposition  to  issue  separate  charters  to  machine-tenders 
and  the  report  was  concurred  in.  The  convention  refused 
to  reopen  the  machine-tenders'  controversy  by  re-refer- 
.,  ring  it  to  a  popular  vote,  at  the  same  time  earnestly  re- 
questing subordinate  unions  to  supplant  piece  scales  with 
time  work  in  machine  offices.  The  convention  refused  to 
decree  that  members  should  not  be  allowed  to  act  as  ma- 
chinist and  operator  in  a  plant  having  more  than  three 
machines  and  would  not  express  disapproval  of  the  lino- 
meter  or  "clock"  system  on  machines.  The  functions  of 
machine-tenders  and  the  position  of  apprentices  were 
finally  defined  in  these  sections  of  the  general  laws  : 

All  machine-tenders  shall  be  members  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  and  the  local  unions  shall  provide  and 
maintain  a  scale  covering  such  positions,  and  they  shall  at  all 
times  be  under  the  control  and  amenable  to  all  laws  and  regula- 
tions of  said  local  union;  provided,  that  assistants  or  helpers 
employed  by  foremen  to  assist  machine-tenders  shall  be  journey- 
men members  of  the  local  typographical  union,  and  the  local 
union  shall  provide  and  maintain  a  scale  covering  such  posi- 
tions ;  provided,  further,  that  such  apprentices  shall  not  be 
considered  as  in  conflict  with  the  number  already  allotted  by 
local  laws;  provided,  further,  that 'this  shall  not  be  construed 
as  applying  to  those  now  working  as  machine-tenders'  helpers 
or  apprentices. 

598 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

In  machine  offices  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  no  person  shall  be  eligible  as  a  "learner" 
on  machines  who  is  not  a  member  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union.  The  time  .limit  and  compensation  of 
"learners"  shall  be  regulated  by  local  unions.  Regularly 
employed  apprentices  in  machine  offices  shall  be  privileged  to 
practice  on  machines  during  all  of  the  last  three  months  of 
their  apprenticeship.  All  laws  conflicting  with  the  provisions 
of  this  section  are  hereby  repealed. 

District  Organizers  —  It  having  been  decided  by  the 
president  that  there  was  no  provision  in  the  law  governing 
the  election  of  organizers,  the  delegates  from  the  several 
districts  made  selections,  with  the  understanding  that  the 
executive  council  approve  them. 

New  York  Sun  Strike  —  The  convention  spent  con- 
siderable time  in  executive  session  considering  the  New 
York  Sun  strike,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  a  resolution 
was  adopted  authorizing  the  executive  council  to  use  all 
available  funds  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  No.  6.  The 
council  was  also  empowered  to  spend  whatever  moneys 
it  deemed  necessary,  not  to  exceed  $10,000,  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  the  Michigan  state  printing  contract 
for  a  union  firm. 

Controversy  With  Chicago  Publishers — On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  fifth  day,  the  union  again  went  into  executive 
session  to  discuss  the  Chicago  situation.  At  the  afternoon 
session  the  following  resolution  was  adopted : 

That  the  unions  in  Chicago  subordinate  to  the  International 
Typographical  Union  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  instructed  to 
submit  to  tin-  e\c<  utive  council,  without  restriction,  all  matters 
in  connection  with  the  controversy  between  the  Publishers' 
A^sni  iation  and  the  aforesaid  unions,  with  full  power  to  act, 
and  the  executive  council  is  hereby  instructed  to  take  charge 
of  the  matters  aforesaid,  and  use  every  means  to  effect  a  settle- 
ment in  their  judgment  for  the  best  interests  of  all  the  union 
men  interested. 

199 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Labels  —  The  committee  on  labels  and  boycotts  pre- 
sented a  report  in  which  it  disposed  of  all  the  matters 
referred  to  it.  As  a  result  the  executive  council  was  in- 
structed to  have  a  steel  stamp  or  stencil  made  in  facsimile 
of  the  allied  printing  trades  label,  so  that  stereotypers, 
electrotypers  and  photo-engravers  could  more  readily 
mark  their  products.  The  officers  were  also  told  to  corre- 
spond with  the  officials  of  other  international  bodies 
relative  to  the  propriety  of  introducing  a  "universal  label 
device,"  and  delegates  to  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor  were  instructed  to  advocate  the  adoption  of  such 
a  design. 

Government  Ownership  and  the  Copyright  Law  —  As 
a  result  of  the  recommendations  of  the  special  committee 
on  governmental  ownership  of  the  telegraph  and  the 
copyright  law,  the  executive  council  was  instructed  to 
consider  the  advisability  of  employing  one  or  more  mem- 
bers to  urge  the  measures  on  senators  and  representatives. 
The  principal  recommendations  of  the  standing  committee 
on  copyright  law  (located  at  Washington)  were  approved 
by  the  convention. 

Socialism  —  Miscellaneous  Propositions  —  The  com- 
mittee on  miscellaneous  business  reported  its  inability  to 
agree  on  a  resolution  referring  to  the  referendum  for 
confirmation  or  rejection  a  resolution  endorsing  socialism 
and  also  urging  members  to  affiliate  with  the  socialist 
labor  party.  After  some  discussion  a  motion  to  table 
prevailed  by  a  vote  of  64  to  42.  The  convention  without 
hesitancy  avowed  itself  as  favoring  the  initiative  and 
referendum  as  applied  to  state  constitutions,  etc.  The 
delegates  determined  not  to  approve  the  proposition  to 
establish  an  International  allied  trades  council,  believing 
the  tripartite  agreement  sufficient  for  all  of  the  purposes 
sought  to  be  served.    In  the  hope  of  promoting  interest 

600 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

in  the  discussion  of  economic  subjects,  the  officers  were 
instructed  to  solicit  contributions  of  that  nature  through 
the  Typographical  Journal,  those  of  the  highest  merit 
to  receive  honorable  mention  during  the  year.  Several 
Canadian  unions  protested  against  the  payment  of  per 
capita  tax  to  the  American  Federation,  maintaining  that 
their  portion  of  it  should  go  to  the  Canadian  Trade  Con- 
gress, but  as  the  secretary  of  that  body  said  a  satisfactory 
rebate  was  made  to  the  congress  by  the  federation,  no 
action  was  taken. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  The  principal  results  of  the 
Home  committee's  report  were  that  the  institution  be 
thereafter  designated  as  the  "Union  Printers  Home"; 
that  benefits  of  inmates  be  reduced  to  25  cents  per  week; 
that  a  cottage  be  erected  for  the  use  of  the  superintendent ; 
that  the  memorial  rooms  and  those  occupied  by  the  super- 
intendent on  the  main  floor,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Childs  parlor,  be  furnished  for  the  reception  of  residents, 
thus  materially  increasing  the  accommodations;  that  an 
elevator  be  provided  for  the  main  building  and  that  Trus- 
tee McCaffery  be  suitably  rewarded  for  his  valuable 
services. 

Subordinate  Union  Affairs  —  Under  the  guidance  of  the 
committee  on  subordinate  unions,  the  convention  refused 
to  interfere  with  the  prerogatives  of  locals  by  saying  that 
no  member  should  be  entitled  to  hold  office  unless  actively 
engaged  in  the  business.  This  important  recommendation 
of  the  committee  was  approved: 

That  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  take  into  consideration  the  feasibility  of  the 
amalgamation  of  all  crafts  pertaining  to  the  printing  industry 
and  report  at  the  next  session  of  this  body,  by  which  each 
separate  branch  would  be  given  complete  autonomy,  or  control 
over  its  distinctive  technical  trade  affairs  and  scale  of  wages. 
By  this  it  is  believed  the  strength  of  subordinate  unions,  ss 

601 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

well  as  the  general  body,  will  be  greatly  enhanced,  and  the 
greatest  good  result  to  the  workers  in  the  printing  industry. 

CONTROVERSY     WITH     THE     MACHINISTS 

Incident  to  the  introduction  of  typesetting  machines 
came  the  question  of  dealing  with  machine-tenders.  After 
experimenting  with  the  matter  for  a  considerable  period, 
and  after  failure  to  come  to  any  satisfactory  agreement 
with  the  International  Association  of  Machinists,  as  a 
measure  of  self-preservation,  the  International  Union  re- 
quired that,  after  a  certain  date,  all  machine-tenders 
should  be  members  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union.  A  great  deal  of  bitterness  was  caused  by  this  ac- 
tion of  the  union  in  some  circles,  but  the  wisdom  displayed 
at  that  time  in  making  this  requirement  has  long  since 
been  demonstrated.  Incident  to  the  action  referred  to,  re- 
quiring that  machine-tenders  should  be  members  of  the 
International  Union,  James  O'Connell,  president  of  the 
International  Association  of  Machinists,  addressed  the 
following  letter  to  the  various  subordinate  lodges  of  his 
association : 

[Confidential  Letter.] 

Office  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  I.  A.  M., 

Chicago,  III.,  July  17,  1899. 
To  the  Order  Everywhere. 

Greeting:  Notice  is  hereby  given  to  our  membership  at 
large  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  has,  wherever 
possible,  enforced  its  law  to  the  effect  that  machinists  in  print- 
ing offices  must  join  that  organization  or  lose  their  positions. 

I  have  carried  on  the  fight  in  the  interest  of  our  association 
going  on  five  years,  and  believed  that  when  the  question  came 
to  an  issue  the  linotype  machinists  would  stand  by  me,  but  my 
faith  in  the  great  majority  of  them  has  been  badly  shaken,  for 
the  white  feather  was  shown  in  a  large  number  of  instances, 
and  rather  than  involve  themselves  in  a  strike  of  any  duration 
they  took  out  cards  in  the  I.  T.  U. 

If  the  linotype  machinists  had  stood  manfully  together  in 
defense  of  their  right  to  carry  a  machinist's  card,  we  would 
have  unquestionably  defeated  the  printers  in  their  dastardly 

602 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

efforts  to  oust  the  machinists  from  the  printing  offices.  As  it  is 
the  printers  temporarily  have  the  upper  hand,  because  of  the 
large  number  of  linotype  men  joining  their  union. 

After  consultation  with  our  general  board  of  trustees  upon 
this  question,  in  order  that  our  members  who  have  stood  loyally 
by  us,  and  are  willing  to  sacrifice  their  positions  in  the  defense 
of  a  principle,  may  not  be  compelled  to  walk  in  the  streets,  they 
are  hereby  permitted  to  join  the  Typographical  Union,  under 
protest,  and  still  retain  their  membership  in  our  organization. 

We  have  a  purpose  in  view  in  issuing  this  permit,  and  that 
is  to  fight  for  our  rights  inside  the  ranks  of  printers  as  well  as 
on  the  outside.  Again,  knowing  full  well  that  the  printers  have 
no  hesitancy  in  "ratting"  or  scabbing  our  men  out  of  their 
positions,  we  do  not  at  this  time  propose  to  see  our  good  men 
displaced. 

Where  the  printers  are  not  in  league  with  the  printing  office 
proprietors,  or  are  not  in  a  position  to  force  the  machinist  to 
join  by  scabbing  his  position  if  necessary,  it  would  not  be 
expected  that  a  member  of  the  I.  A.  M.  would  so  far  forget 
himself  as  to  willingly  join  an  organization  composed  of  "white- 
washed rats." 

Our  local  lodges  are  hereby  instructed  to  bring  charges 
against  the  printers'  unions  in  the  central  bodies  throughout 
our  jurisdiction  where  the  I.  T.  U.  has  accepted  linotype 
machinists  as  members  on  the  ground  of  violation  of  trade 
autonomy  and  a  dastardly  attempt  to  disrupt  a  sister  union.  Our 
local  lodges  will  keep  up  a  constant  fight  on  the  printers  at 
every  opportunity,  so  they  will  not  for  a  moment  get  the  idea 
that  we  have  conceded  our  claim  for  jurisdiction  over  the 
linotype  machinist. 

See  that  the  delegates  from  your  Central  Labor  Union  to 
the  next  convention  of  the  A.  F.  of  I,,  are  instructed  against  the 
action  of  the  printers  and  in  favor  of  our  ttsodation. 

What  the  printer  is  for,  we  are  against !   That  is  vour  motto. 

Keep  mc  fully  posted  as  to  the  result  of  your  efforts  in  the 
direction  indicated  by  this  letter,  and  consider  this  strictly 
confidential. 

Secretaries  will  please  read  at  several  meetings. 

Fraternally  yours. 

Jas.  O'Cowi  1 ! 
International  President. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Commenting  on  the  foregoing  letter,  the  Typograph- 
ical Journal  said:  "On  the  opposite  page  will  be  found 
a  facsimile  of  probably  the  most  malicious  communica- 
tion that  was  ever  penned  in  the  name  of  unionism.  We 
are  not  going  to  reply  in  kind,  for  we  know  one  can  not 
play  with  pitch  without  becoming  defiled.  As  respect  for 
labor's  cause  compels  us  to  be  as  mild  in  expression  as 
we  are  charitable  in  disposition,  the  reader  will  have  to 
read  the  letter,  then  read  it  again,  consider  the  method 
of  dissemination,  and  calmly  come  to  his  own  conclusion 
regarding  the  writer.  He  can  also  express  that  opinion, 
but  it  would  be  unseemly  for  the  Journal  to  do  so. 

"As  this  circular  is  a  private  and  confidential  'pointer' 
to  machinists  on  how  best  to  harass  printers,  we  must 
needs  deal  with  some  of  the  assertions  made,  so  our  mem- 
bers may  be  better  fortified  to  meet  the  enemy  in  central 
labor  bodies.  The  burden  of  Mr.  O'Connell's  song  of  woe 
— and  the  line  intended  to  catch  unionists — is  that  the 
printers  are  'making  dastardly  efforts  to  oust  machinists 
from  printing  offices.'  Mr.  O'Connell  gives  this  assertion 
the  lie  when  he  says  that  many  machinists  joined  the  In- 
ternational Typographical  Union  and  kept  their  jobs. 
Now,  if  the  printers  desired  to  'oust'  the  machinists,  would 
they  have  admitted  them  to  membership?  Certainly  not; 
and  in  order  to  disprove  charge  No.  I  all  we  have  to  do 
is  to  quote  Mr.  O'Connell.  And  when  we  quote  him  in 
this  we  dispel  another  of  his  fancies,  which  he  fondly 
hopes  is  galvanized  into  the  semblance  of  facts :  If  great 
numbers  of  the  machine-tenders  joined  us,  is  that  not  a 
good  indication  that  they  want  to  be  in  the  International 
Typographical  Union?  As  all  students  of  the  question 
have  known  for  years,  if  unnatural  and  artificial  restric- 
tions were  removed,  the  machine-tenders  would  be  in  the 
International  Typographical  Union.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
the   International   Association   of   Machinists   never  was 

604 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

fully  competent  to  control  a  majority  of  the  tenders,  even 
after  our  International  forced  the  tenders  to  be  members 
of  a  machinists'  union ;  and  now  it  is  safe  to  say  not  more 
than  a  beggarly  corporal's  guard — if  that  many — regard 
Mr.  O'Connell  as  their  chief  executive.  Then  we  are 
guilty  of  attempting  to  disrupt  a  sister  union,  says  Mr. 
O'Connell,  says  he.  The  International  never  asked  a 
single  member  to  leave  the  machinists'  union.  That  body 
placed  a  boycott  on  any  one  joining  the  International 
Typographical  Union.  Now,  the  machinists'  executive 
board,  says  Mr.  O'Connell,  allows  members  to  join  typo- 
graphical unions  and  retain  connection  with  the  machin- 
ists' union.  Ordinarily,  no  objection  could  be  raised  to 
this,  but  the  letter  tells  us  'we  have  a  purpose  in  view  in 
issuing  this  permit,  and  that  is  to  fight  inside  the  ranks  of 
printers  as  well  as  on  the  outside.'  And  then  we  learn 
that  'what  the  printer  is  for  we  are  against!  That  is  your 
(our)  motto.'  That  is  charming  manliness,  truly.  Such 
good  unionism,  too.  We  are  to  nurse  an  array  of  Benedict 
Arnolds,  whom  we  have  admitted  in  good  faith,  but  who 
will  be  plotting  with  our  enemies  on  the  outside  to  destroy 
our  union,  forsooth.  Mr.  O'Connell  must  think  us  dense, 
indeed,  if  he  cherishes  the  notion  we  can  not  protect  our- 
selves against  such  transparent  marplotting  as  this  is  an 
attempt  at.  Members  can  be  expelled  for  doing  just 
what  Mr.  O'Connell  boasts  that  certain  men  are  doing 
now.  But  we  hope  no  union  will  proceed  against  any 
member  on  the  assumption  that  the  communication  under 
review  is  a  sufficient  basis  for  an  investigation.  Some 
strong  corroborative  evidence  would  be  necessary,  for  the 
circular  is  so  erratic  and  weak  it  should  not  of  itself  evtfl 
arouse  suspicion. 

"If  delegates  to  central  labor  bodies  will  but  'read  up' 
on  this  subject  and  analyze  Mr.  O'Conncll's  letter  care- 
fully, there  will  be  no  danger  of  any  sensible  body  con- 

605 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

demning  the  printers.  To  refer  to  our  organization  as  a 
body  of  'whitewashed  rats'  is  an  insult  likely  to  rouse 
one's  blood,  we  admit,  but  perhaps  the  writer  did  not 
appreciate  that  it  was  an  insult  any  more  than  he  realized 
the  enormity  of  the  falsehood  he  emitted  when  saying  it. 
So  we  must  be  charitable,  and  not  make  much  of  that 
feature,  born  of  a  constitutional  failing,  when  combatting 
machinists  in  their  chosen  field — the  central  bodies.  If 
we  were  delivering  a  charge  to  one  of  our  delegations  we 
would  say :  In  explaining  our  position  to  the  central 
union  keep  to  the  facts  and  ignore  the  insults  and  billings- 
gate, as  they  are  beneath  notice.  If  that  is  done,  the  fol- 
lowing will  be  but  a  sample  of  what  is  sure  to  occur 
almost  everywhere.  We  quote  from  an  occasional  cor- 
respondent : 

"  'At  the  trades  council  meeting  last  night  a  most  abusive 
statement  was  made — (evidently  based  on  Mr.  O'Connell's 
letter.- — Ed.) — by  the  machinists'  delegates,  which  raised  a 
commotion  in  the  council,  as  the  printers  were  all  denounced  as 
rats.  An  attack  of  one  international  body  on  another  and  the 
venomous  wording  of  the  statement  was  something  that  had 
heretofore  seemed  impossible  among  union  men.  But  I  am 
happy  to  record  that  after  the  printer  delegates  got  through 
with  their  side  of  the  story  the  machinists'  union's  proposition 
was  thrown  out.  Had  Mr.  O'Connell  been  present  and 
witnessed  the  alacrity  with  which  the  delegates  sat  upon  his 
factotums  he  would  have  broken  all  records  for  speed  in  finding 
a  hole  to  drop  in  and  pulling  it  in  after  him.  However, 
President  Donnelly,  Secretary  Bramwood  and  the  rest  of  the 
rodents  ought  to  feel  thankful  to  the  machinists  for  their  dis- 
covery that  all  the  printers  have  received  a  new  coat  of 
whitewash  since  July  I.' 

"There  is  another  feature  of  this  case  which  interests 
every  unionist  owing  allegiance  to  the  Federation  of 
Labor,  and  while  disclaiming  any  intention  of  formulat- 
ing a  line  of  policy,  or  even  suggesting  one,  the  writer 

606 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

can  not  refrain  from  expressing  a  few  thoughts  which 
have  occurred  spontaneously  to  nine-tenths  of  those  who 
have  seen  the  letter.  It  is  not  impertinent  to  expect  the 
Federation  of  Labor — yea,  even  its  executive  council — 
to  take  cognizance  of  this  attack  on  one  of  the  oldest, 
strongest  and  most  loyal  of  its  affiliated  bodies.  Here  is 
Mr.  O'Connell,  not  only  a  vice-president  of  the  Federa- 
tion, but  one  of  its  delegates  to  Great  Britain.  He  is 
clothed  with  all  the  outward  habiliments  of  a  leader,  and 
yet  he  calls  the  International  Union  an  organization  of 
whitewashed  rats,  and  says  'what  the  printer  is  for  we  are 
against.'  There  is  no  doubt  as  to  the  impropriety  of  the 
remark  first  referred  to,  but  in  the  last  one  all  sense  of 
right  and  justice  has  been  abandoned,  as,  for  aught  this 
leader  cares,  the  whole  movement  may  be  placed  in  jeop- 
ardy, for  machinists  are  bound,  if  they  heed  their  leader, 
to  obstruct  anything — be  it  right  or  wrong — that  printers 
support  or  want.  Under  this  doctrine,  machinists  will  op- 
pose the  most  meritorious  proposition  if  it  emanates  from 
a  printer.  That  is  not  only  foolish  in  the  extreme,  from  a 
tactical  standpoint,  but  is  an  open  attempt  to  sow  the  tares 
of  dissension  and  discord  in  every  city  where  there  are 
machinists'  and  typographical  unions.  It  is  a  clarion  call 
to  stand  up  for  the  always  fatal  and  ever  damnable  rule 
or  ruin  policy.  He  wants  it  read  several  times,  so  that  the 
machinists  may  gradually  become  inured  to  the  monstrous 
idea.  Nothing  like  it  has  ever  occurred  in  the  stormy 
history  of  the  American  labor  movement,  and  the  ques- 
tion is :  Will  the  federation's  officers  stand  by  and  sec 
such  pernicious  advice  given  without  protest  or  repudia- 
tion? Mr.  O'Connell  is  using  his  prestige  as  a  federa- 
tion official  to  help  his  cause  along,  and  he  can  not 
disassociate  himself  from  his  official  character  when  he 
issues  a  letter,  even  if  the  inevitable  result  of  which  will 

607 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

be  to  harm  the  movement.  It  seems  to  us  the  main  duty  of 
the  federation's  officials  must  obtrude  itself  upon  them  in 
a  painful  manner. 

"If  we  look  at  the  situation  from  a  lower  and  narrower 
plane  it  is  also  evident  something  should  be  done.  The 
pressmen,  bookbinders  and  International  members  com- 
pose a  trade  alliance  numbering  over  50,000  unionists  in 
good  standing — not  on  paper,  but  in  good  standing — and 
an  attack  on  one  must  necessarily  affect  all,  sooner  or 
later.  These  men  and  women  contribute  toward  the  sup- 
port of  Mr.  O'Connell  as  a  federation  official.  The  money 
consideration  is  a  very  small  matter,  but  it  is  galling  to 
be  buying  fine  feathers  for  a  parrot  which  shouts  'rat'  at 
men  who  were  in  the  movement  before  the  epithet-hurler 
was  born,  and  who  have  been  consistently  in  it  ever  since 
their  initiation.  Surely  his  fellow  officials  must  appre- 
ciate the  situation.  Aside  from  that,  Mr.  O'Connell,  while 
an  officer  of  the  federation,  unblushingly  proposes  to  hurt 
our  organization  and  its  members  whenever  and  wherever 
he  can,  and  brazenly  boasts  of  having  engaged  spies  to 
work  us  harm — and  the  greater  the  injury  the  better 
pleased  Mr.  O'Connell  will  be.  In  the  nature  of  things, 
the  allied  printing  trades  must  have  questions  before  the 
federation's  executive  council,  and  is  one  of  the  councilors 
to  sit  in  judgment  on  those  disputes,  after  declaring  in  the 
most  solemn  way,  in  his  official  capacity :  'What  the 
printer  is  for  we  are  against?'  So  far  as  this  one  man  is 
concerned,  any  case  we  may  be  interested  in  is  prejudiced 
against  us.  It  is  intolerable  to  think  that  we  are  to  be 
treated  in  that  manner,  and  we  don't  believe  there  can  be 
two  answers  to  the  question  :  Is  Mr.  O'Connell  competent 
to  sit  as  a  judge  in  an  organization  constituted  like  the 
federation  after  he  has  declared  war  on  the  trade  having 
the  greatest  number  of  members?  If  justice  could  be  ex- 
pected, an  affirmative  answer  might  be  justified;  but  Mr. 

608 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

O'Connell  has  told  us  he  is  against  us  on  any  and  all 
occasions  and  under  all  circumstances.  Therefore  we 
should  not  be  compelled  to  be  subject  to  him,  nor  should 
he  be  allowed  to  trade  on  a  prestige  and  power  to  which 
we  are  heavy  contributors. 

"If  Mr.  O'Connell  does  not  relieve  the  tension  by  re- 
signing— the  only  honorable  course  open — the  federation 
officials  would  be  doing  the  cause  a  service  by  promptly 
declaring  themselves  in  no  unmistakable  terms.  This  is 
said  rather  in  sorrow  than  in  anger,  and  is  prompted  by 
an  honest  and  heartfelt  desire  to  conserve  the  interests  of 
the  trade  union  movement. 

"Meantime,  act  on  Mr.  O'Connell's  advice  and  read  the 
circular  'several'  times,  and  then — read  it  to  other 
unionists." 

In  a  later  issue  of  the  Typographical  Journal  we  find 
that  the  O'Connell  letter  was  taken  up  by  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor  and  the  following  action  from  the 
minutes  of  a  meeting  of  the  executive  council  of  that  body 
is  reproduced : 

At  a  meeting  of  the  executive  council  of  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor  at  Washington,  D.  C,  during  the  week 
of  October  16,  1899,  the  question  of  the  strained  relations 
between  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  Inter- 
national Association  of  Machinists  was  discussed,  and  in  con- 
nection therewith  the  contents  of  the  circular  letter  issued  from 
the  Grand  Lodge,  International  Association  of  Machinists. 
Chicago,  111.,  July  17,  1899,  was  considered.  After  del iberat ion 
of  the  latter  document,  expression  was  given  to  the  effort  that 
the  general  tenor  of  the  letter  covered  the  subject-matter 
absolutely  affecting  the  International  Association  of  Machit. 
and  its  prerogative  and  autonomy.  Paragraph  6,  however.  \\  .»>. 
considered  as  applying  disrespectfully  to  all  the  members  com- 
posing the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  which  the  international  president  of  the  International 
Association  of  Machinists  submitted  the  following  statement  • 

"While   without   waiving  any  of  the  prerogatives   which 

609 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

belong  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  International  Association 
of  Machinists,  as  voiced  in  the  circular  letter  sent  out  to  sub- 
ordinate lodges,  dated  July  17,  1899,  and  reference  to  which 
is  made  in  the  foregoing,  I  withdraw  the  statement  made  in 
paragraph  6  in  as  far  as  it  reflects  on  the  unionism  of  the  entire 
membership  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  my 
intention  having  been  to  have  the  force  of  the  paragraph 
in  question  apply  to  such  members  as  have  taken  the  places 
of  members  of  our  union  employed  in  printing  offices,  and  to 
those  .who  directly  aided  and  abetted  them  in  so  doing.  The 
statement  Avas  written  under  great  provocation  and  some  excite- 
ment and  had  it  received  the  revision  usually  given  official 
documents  the  intention  of  the  statement  would  have  been 
made  more  clear,  and  certainly  not  subject  to  the  construction 
the  language  implies,  James  O'Connell." 

President  Gompers,  on  behalf  of  the  federation  offi- 
cials, added  the  following: 

It  is  the  sincere  hope  of  our  council  that  so  far  as  the 
reflection  upon  the  integrity  and  unionism  of  the  membership 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  is  concerned,  the 
above  may  be  accepted  as  satisfactory. 

Fraternally  yours, 

Samuel  Gompers, 
President  American  Federation  of  Labor. 

PITTSBURGH     LOCKOUT 

At  a  meeting  of  the  executive  council,  held  at  head- 
quarters on  Thursday,  March  29,  1900,  it  was  decided  to 
submit  the  question  of  levying  a  weekly  assessment  of 
10  cents  per  member,  payable  three  weeks  in  each  month, 
to  a  vote  of  the  membership.  A  circular  letter  dealing 
with  this  subject  was  sent  out  to  the  president  and  secre- 
tary of  each  subordinate  union.  The  date  fixed  by  the 
council  for  taking  this  vote  was  Thursday,  April  19,  1 900. 
The  action  of  the  council  in  this  instance  was  based  upon 
the  receipt  of  more  than  the  number  of  endorsements  re- 
quired by  the  constitution  to  submit  a  referendum  propo- 

610 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

sition.  The  proposition  originated  in  Pittsburgh  Typo- 
graphical Union,  which  had  for  a  period  of  ten  weeks 
been  fighting  a  lockout  on  seven  of  the  eight  daily  news- 
papers in  that  city.  Never,  perhaps,  in  the  history  of 
the  typographical .  union  had  a  strike  presented  more 
peculiar  phases  than  this  one.  In  all  other  strikes  or 
lockouts  in  which  the  union  had  previously  engaged  they 
had  to  fight  but  one  enemy — the  employer.  In  Pittsburgh 
the  printers  had  to  fight  a  whole  lot  of  enemies  besides  the 
employers  who  locked  them  out.  While  engaged  in  their 
battle  with  the  publishers,  a  serious  diversion  was  cre- 
ated in  favor  of  the  latter  by  the  attack  which  the  lino- 
type machinists,  backed,  though  spasmodically  and  some- 
what indifferently,  by  the  regular  union  machinists  of 
that  city,  made  upon  them.  This  was  the  more  surprising 
and  uncalled  for  as  the  Pittsburgh  printers  had  had  no 
fight  with  the  machinists'  local,  and  the  machinists' 
situations  were  safe  no  matter  how  the  contest  went.  To 
all  intents  and  purposes  they  were  out  of  the  fight,  but 
they  fought  the  printers  all  the  same.  There  were  only 
about  ten  of  them,  but  it  would  be  useless  to  deny  that 
they  put  the  typographical  union  to  considerable  trouble 
in  warding  off  their  attacks  from  the  rear,  if  for  no  other 
reason  than  that  these  attacks  weakened  the  blows  that 
the  typographical  and  other  unions  were  delivering  at  the 
publishers'  association.  According  to  the  Pittsburgh  cor- 
respondent of  the  Typographical  Journal  at  the  time  it 
u.is  not  necessary  that  the  Pittsburgh  machine-tenders 
<  ss  any  ability  to  put  up  a  fight.  Their  masters,  the 
publishers,  spent  money  like  water,  but  all  to  no  purpose, 
in  their  fearful  desperation  to  make  the  public  believe 
that  they  were  not  opposed  to  organized  labor  and  that 
the  trouble  of  the  printers  was  but  a  fight  for  control  be- 
tween the  labor  unions,  when  in  fact  the  whole  trouble 

611 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

was  the  refusal  of  these  publishers  to  recognize  the  proof- 
readers, or  to  submit  to  arbitration,  or  to  sign  a  scale  of 
prices  for  the  printers. 

The  correspondent  said :  "It  is  pleasing  to  be  able  to 
relate  that  in  the  fight  with  the  machinists  the  printers 
have  been  completely  victorious.  The  linotype  machinists 
are  beaten  and  beaten  badly.  Of  that,  there  can  be  no 
question.  We  will  hear  no  more  about  the  machinist 
question  during  the  progress  of  this  great  contest;  or,  if 
we  do,  it  will  have  the  same  effect  on  us,  and  less,  if, 
indeed,  it  have  any  at  all,  than  the  antics  of  the  'ratted' 
stereotypers  have  had,  who  were  also  launched  by  the 
publishers'  association  when  that  body  discovered  that  the 
policy  of  putting  forth  the  linotype  machinists  as  so- 
called  victims  of  the  tyranny  of  labor  was  waning.  But 
the  printers  paid  little  attention  to  the  stereotypers.  They, 
to  use  a  familiar  term,  did  not  'bother  their  heads'  much 
about  them.  And  well  they  could  afford  not  to.  The  at- 
tempt to  use  the  scab  stereotypers  by  the  publishers,  to 
create  another  diversion  in  their  favor,  fell  absolutely  flat. 
True,  they  managed,  or  rather  tried,  to  create  a  fearful 
din  for  the  purpose  of  attracting  attention  to  their  al- 
leged woes.  They  may  have  attracted  attention  in  some 
quarters,  but  it  is  certain  that  the  only  attention  they  at- 
tracted amongst  all  of  the  labor  organizations,  and  the 
friends  of  the  latter,  was  to  be  most  soundly  condemned 
by  them.  The  gall  of  the  ratted  stereotypers  was  refresh- 
ing. Posing — under  orders  of,  and  supplied  with  plenty 
of  'sugar'  to  carry  out  these  orders  by,  the  publishers — as 
aggrieved  parties  and  as  defenders  of  their  masters 
against  the  strikers  by  the  circulation  of  all  manner  of 
false  statements !  Falsely  assuming  the  name  and  seal  of 
the  stereotypers'  union  in  work  of  this  kind !  It  was  ridic- 
ulous ;  the  more  so  as  there  is  a  real  stereotypers'  union  in 
Pittsburgh — No.  47 — members  of  which  were  employed 

612 


Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 

on  the  scab  newspapers  up  to  a  few  months  ago,  and  who 
are  now  out  on  strike  side  by  side  with  members  of  No.  7. 
No  wonder  these  two  unions  were  not  long  troubled  with 
the  stereotyper  question. 

"No  sooner  was  the  machinist  and  stereotyper  game 
played  out  than  along  came  another  game  of  much  the 
same  kind.  The  publishers  and  their  supporters  this  time 
secured  the  Knights  of  Labor  to  pull  their  chestnuts  out 
of  the  fire.  In  its  desperation  to  keep  the  public  on  the 
wrong  scent,  the  publishers'  association  and  its  greatest 
backer,  a  leading  advertiser  of  this  city,  secured  a  couple 
of  Knights  of  Labor  assemblies  to  take  the  field  against 
the  striking  printers.  More  'sugar.'  The  remarkable  thing 
about  this,  under  the  circumstances,  is  that  these  same 
assemblies  had  previously  strongly  endorsed  the  printers' 
strike.  But,  as  the  typographical  union  had  already 
beaten  off  in  this  fight  other  alleged  trade  unions  and 
fraudulent  unions,  it  can  be  depended  upon  to  put  a 
quietus,  and  that  quickly,  to  the  latest  allies  of  the  pub- 
lishers and  their  supporters." 

The  proposed  10-cents-a-week  assessment  was  carried 
by  the  referendum. 

Officers,  ipoo-ipoi —  During  the  interim  between  the 
Detroit  convention,  in  1899,  ar,d  the  Milwaukee  conven- 
tion, 1900,  the  election  of  officers  for  the  two-year  period 
beginning  November  1,  1900,  was  held.  The  successful 
candidates  were  as  follows: 

James  M.  Lynch,  Syracuse,  president;  C.  E.  Hawkcs, 
Chicago,  first  vice-president;  James  J.  Frecl,  Brooklyn, 
second  vice-president;  Hugo  Miller,  Indianapolis,  third 
vice-president;  T.  J.  Canary,  New  York,  fourth  vice- 
president;  J.  F.  O'Sullivan,  Boston,  fifth  vice-president; 
James  Ryan,  New  York,  sixth  vice-president;  P.  G. 
Nucrnberger,  Chicago,  seventh  vice-president;  J.  W. 
Bramwood,    Denver,   secretary-treasurer.     Organii 

613 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

First  district,  Henry  McMahon,  Boston;  second  district, 
J.  E.  McLoughlin,  New  York;  third  district,  T.  H.  Crea- 
ger,  Springfield,  Ohio;  fourth  district,  S.  D.  Hope,  Nor- 
folk; fifth  district,  Clint  C.  Houston,  Atlanta;  sixth 
district,  W.  H.  Stewart,  Grand  Rapids;  seventh  district, 
M.  B.  Palmer,  Peoria;  eighth  district,  C.  J.  Deaton,  Bir- 
mingham, Ala.;  ninth  district,  T.  R.  Drake,  Council 
Bluffs,  Iowa;  tenth  district,  J.  W.  Hays,  Minneapolis; 
eleventh  district,  H.  E.  Dunn,  Denver;  twelfth  district, 
R.  F.  Radley,  Waco,  Tex. ;  thirteenth  district,  S.  G.  Gos- 
nell,  Anaconda,  Mont. ;  fourteenth  district,  C.  M.  Jones, 
San  Francisco;  fifteenth  district,  C.  A.  Derry,  Seattle; 
sixteenth  district,  P.  M.  Draper,  Ottawa,  Ont,  for  Prov- 
ince of  Ontario,  and  Felix  Marois,  Quebec,  for  Province 
of  Quebec.  Delegates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor — 
James  M.  Lynch  (president)  ;  Eugene  F.  O'Rourke,  New 
York  city;  Frank  Morrison,  Chicago.  Trustees  Childs- 
Drexel  Home  for  Union  Printers — James  M.  Lynch, 
Syracuse;  J.  W.  Bramwood,  Denver;  William  Aimison, 
Nashville;  Daniel  Black,  Detroit;  L.  C.  Shepard  Chi- 
cago ;  R.  L.  Tatem,  Philadelphia ;  Thomas  McCaffery, 
Colorado  Springs.    Agent,  William  Kennedy,  Chicago. 

Convention    at    Milwaukee 

[1900]  —  The  forty-sixth  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  by  Presi- 
dent Stearns,  of  Milwaukee  Union  No.  23,  at  Masonic 
Hall,  Monday,  August  13,  1900.  Chaplain  Jetter,  an 
honorary  member  of  Milwaukee  Union,  opened  the 
proceedings  with  prayer.  Chairman  Walsh,  of  the  local 
arrangements  committee,  and  Mayor  Rose,  also  an  ex- 
printer,  tendered  a  most  hearty  welcome,  to  which  Presi- 
dent Donnelly  replied,  and,  with  a  gavel  presented  by 
No.  23,  declared  the  convention  ready  for  business. 

Secretary  Bramwood  reported  that  166  delegates,  rep- 

614 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

resenting  122  unions,  had  presented  credentials  and  were 
entitled  to  seats ;  that  the  representatives  of  four  unions 
had  been  elected  irregularly  and  that  three  unions  finan- 
cially delinquent  to  the  International  had  sent  delegates. 
Agreeably  to  precedent,  the  irregular  credentials  were 
referred  to  a  special  committee.  This  committee  reported 
in  favor  of  seating  the  four  delegates  that  had  been  ir- 
regularly chosen,  and  the  recommendation  was  adopted. 
Seven  delegates,  representing  as  many  locals,  subse- 
quently presented  credentials  and  were  seated  and  three 
of  the  delinquent  unions  discharged  their  indebtedness, 
so  the  total  attendance  was  180  delegates  from  135  unions. 

The  president  having  named  the  reading  clerk  and 
other  convention  officers,  and  the  delegates  being  obli- 
gated, a  resolution  was  adopted  ordering  the  appointment 
of  a  committee  to  visit  Chicago  and  interview  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  News  and  Record  relative  to  more  thor- 
oughly unionizing  those  offices.  The  gentlemen  appointed 
on  this  committee  were:  Bandlow  (Cleveland  German- 
American),  Miller  (Cincinnati),  Flader  (St.  Louis 
photo  engravers),  Dellagana  (Boston  stereotypers) ,  Gil- 
bert (Chicago  photo  engravers),  the  latter  representing 
the  mailers,  by  request. 

Messrs.  Hays  (Minneapolis),  Paddleford  (Austin)  and 
Higgins  (San  Francisco)  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
extend  an  invitation  to  Mr.  Frederick  Driscoll,  of  the 
arbitration  committee  of  the  American  Newspaper  Pub- 
lishers' Association,  to  address  the  convention. 

officers'    REPORTS 

President's  Ad&ri  ss  -  -President    DonaeUy  opened  his 
t<>  the  craft  generally,  and  the  delegates  assem- 
bled at   Milwaukee  in  particular,  with   felicitation*.  ««n  tin- 
progress  and  growth  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  organization  had  been 

615 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

compelled  to  support  financially  about  250  members  who 
were  on  a  strike  for  eleven  months  of  the  year.  Of  busi- 
ness conditions  he  said : 

It  is  admitted  by  publishers  that  the  season  of  1899- 1900 
has  been  most  profitable.  The  volume  of  advertising  has  been 
greater  than  in  many  years.  Business  has  been  excellent  in  the 
book  and  job  trade,  and  the  inauguration  of  the  nine-hour  day 
last  November  was  really  the  only  general-  demand  made 
by  the  unions  which  could  be  construed  as  an  increase  for  labor. 
Last  November  the  executive  council  decided  that  the  Interna- 
tional would  support  local  unions  in  an  effort  to  maintain,  with 
the  inauguration  of  the  nine-hour  day,  the  scale  formerly  paid 
for  nine  and  one-half  hours.  Local  unions  have  met  with 
almost  universal  success  in  this  demand,  and  in  a  few  instances 
our  locals  secured  an  increase  of  wages  with  the  nine-hour  day. 

Defense  Fund  —  After  declaring  that  the  officers  had 
almost  invariably  succeeded  in  enforcing  the  laws  of  the 
organization,  the  president  launched  into  a  discussion  of 
the  ever  important  question  of  the  necessity  of  a  more 
substantial  defense  fund.  Although  previous  agitation 
along  this  line  had  proved  fruitless,  it  had  been  made 
apparent  during  the  year  that  the  membership  would 
respond  in  case  of  emergency  and  dire  necessity  and  fur- 
nish necessary  funds,  and  while,  in  the  president's  opinion, 
this  willingness  to  contribute  the  sinews  of  war  was  a 
commendable  trait,  it  should  find  expression  in  a  more 
business-like  way  than  in  the  payment  of  sporadic  assess- 
ments. Prefacing  a  recommendation  to  the  convention  for 
legislation  on  this  subject,  President  Donnelly  said : 

A  radical  change  in  policy  should  be  at  once  taken  and  ade- 
quate finances  furnished  for  the  performance  of  such  work  as 
legitimately  belongs  to  the  International  Typographical  Union. 
There  is  a  growing  tendency  on  the  part  of  local  unions  to 
petition  the  International  for  support  and  assistance  in  diffi- 
culties which  the  locals  are  competent  and  able  to  handle. 
Locals  involved  in  strikes  invariably  request  extensions  of 
benefit  and  find  fault  with  the  council  when  their  requests  are 

616 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

refused,  even  though  the  benefits  have  been  extended  for  as  long 
a  period  as  sixteen  weeks.  The  council  should  be  prohibited  from 
paying  more  than  eight  weeks'  strike  benefits.  In  exceptional 
cases,  where  unions  are  small  and  weak,  section  53,  general 
laws,  extends  to  the  executive  council  ample  power  to  protect 
the  interests  of  such  locals. 

The  revenue  apportioned  to  the  defense  fund  at  the  present 
time  is  barely  sufficient  to  pay  continuous  benefits  to  eighty  men. 
It  should  be  apparent  to  our  membership  that  the  defense  fund 
is  not  adequate  for  the  present  needs  of  the  organization.  The 
organization  work  now  being  conducted  by  a  number  of  local 
unions  is  bound  to  result  in  difficulty.  The  organization  of 
offices  will  be  followed  by  a  request  for  the  recognition  of  a 
scale  of  wages  and  the  enforcement  of  the  nine-hour  day  with 
an  overtime  rate.  The  employers  affected  are,  in  many  cases, 
of  that  class  known  as  "union  haters"  and  strikes  will  result. 
The  Kansas  City  strike  is  still  on  and  must  be  carried  to  a 
successful  conclusion  even  should  it  involve  a  contest  of  five 
years'  duration.  There  are  a  number  of  cities  where  the  employ- 
ers' organization  is  too  strong  for  the  local  unions  to  contend 
with,  and  in  these  particular  cases  financial  support  must  be 
extended. 

The  influence  of  our  organization  in  the  large  cities  has  been 
such  that  the  employers  have  been  compelled  to  draw  upon  the 
smaller  country  towns  for  their  force  of  non-union  men.  In  a 
majority  of  cases  these  men  are  entirely  ignorant  of  unionism, 
and  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  inaugurate  an  organizing  cam- 
paign that  will  result  in  bringing  every  journeyman  printer  in 
the  land  in  contact  with  our  International  organization.  If  this 
work  is  to  be  performed,  the  practice  of  assisting  local  unions 
amply  able  to  care  for  themselves,  through  convention  grants 
and  special  assistance,  must  entirely  cease,  the  payment  of 
strike  benefits  to  a  local  for  a  longer  period  than  eight  weeks 
prohibited,  and  the  revenues  of  the  International  increased. 
I  would  recommend  the  following  amendments  to  the 
constitution : 

Revenue.  Article  ix,  section  I,  fifth  line  to  read  as  follows: 
"Forty  cents  dues  paid  to  the  tntfntttantl   Union." 

In  section  3,  substitute  "40  rents"  for  MJO  cents." 

Amend  section  4  to  read  as  follows:  "The  revenues  of  the 
International  Union  shall  be  apportioned  to  the  several  funds 

617 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

as  follows :  Three-twentieths  to  the  general  fund,  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  this  body ;  three-eighths  shall  be  placed  as  a  defense 
fund  to  the  credit  of  the  executive  council ;  nine-fortieths  shall 
be  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  burial  fund,  and  one-fourth  shall 
be  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  endowment  fund  of  the  Childs- 
Drexel  Home  for  Union  Printers  and  Allied  Crafts." 

By  increasing  the  per  capita  tax  to  40  cents  per  month  and 
apportioning  the  same  as  above  suggested  the  effect  upon  our 
funds  will  be  as  follows :  The  receipts  to  the  defense  fund 
will  be  doubled ;  a  sufficient  increase  allowed  the  burial  fund  to 
permit  of  raising  the  death  benefit  from  $60  to  $75,  an  increase 
in  the  general  fund  which  will  make  future  transfers  of  money 
to  that  fund  unnecessary. 

Jurisdiction  —  The  president  also  thought  that  the  con- 
stitution could  be  advantageously  amended  by  having  it 
assert  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  as- 
sumes and  maintains  jurisdiction  "over  all  mechanics 
employed  in  printing  offices  or  in  the  production  of  print- 
ing," except  pressroom  and  bindery  employes.  He  was 
also  of  the  opinion  that  the  provision  restricting  the 
employment  of  non-printer  readers  to  the  proofreading 
branch  of  the  business  was  unconstitutional.  After  direct- 
ing attention  to  some  minor  defects  and  suggesting 
amendments  intended  to  make  the  International's  election 
law  clearer,  the  president  advocated  modifying  the  con- 
stitution to  make  it  possible  for  members  of  suspended 
unions  desiring  to  do  so  to  retain  connection  with  the 
parent  body. 

Annual  Conventions  —  The  president  also  took  the  po- 
sition that  annual  conventions  were  costly  luxuries  and 
expressed  the  hope  that  the  delegates  would  take  the 
steps  necessary  to  bring  about  their  abolition  and  hold 
meetings  only  when  it  became  apparent  to  a  majority  of 
the  members  that  the  interests  of  the  organization  re- 
quired it.  It  was  asserted  that  a  convention  at  that  time 
cost  the  International  $3,500,  sufficient  to  keep  an  organ- 
izer in  the  field  for  one  year,  while  the  local  unions 

618 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

expended  in  the  aggregate  $25,000  per  annum  on  the 
convention  feature,  which  could  be  put  to  better  use  if 
applied  to  the  maintenance  of  scales  and  the  resistance  of 
encroachments  of  unfair  men. 

Disreputable  Campaign  Literature  —  An  alleged 
growing  disregard  for  the  requirements  of  the  obligation 
was  deplored  and  the  case  of  a  member  conducting  a 
paper  which  strenuously  opposed  the  enforcement  of  the 
machine-tender  law,  and  which  was  popularly  supposed 
to  have  been  supported  by  the  machinists'  union,  was 
cited.  The  decadence  of  the  spirit  of  brotherhood  and 
fraternity  and  the  development  of  intense  factional  feel- 
ing among  the  members  of  many  important  unions  were 
thought  to  be  fatal  dangers  threatening  the  union's  future 
welfare.  In  this  category  were  placed  an  anonymous 
circular  and  certain  unmentioned  craft  papers.  The  presi- 
dent recommended  the  adoption  of  a  regulation  "prohibit- 
ing any  member  from  attacking,  in  print,  a  fellow  member 
or  causing  a  fellow  member  to  be  attacked  in  print,"  and 
said  it  was  necessary  \o  protect  "our  membership  against 
the  attacks  of  the  unprincipled,  blackmailing  adventurer 
who,  under  the  guise  of  a  craft  paper,  preys  alternately 
upon  the  politicians,  the  employers  and  the  members  of 
the  union."  That  indulgence  in  the  practices  complained 
of  had  proven  the  referendum  system  a  failure  in  the  or- 
ganization the  president  most  emphatically  repudiated, 
and  said  that  any  proposition  to  abandon  the  popular 
system  of  electing  officers  on  that  account  would  be  an 
evidence  of  wcakn< 

Organization  Work  —  Though  the  work  of  organiza- 
tion had  been  given  much  attention  during  the  year, 
ir.incc  was  given  that  tin-  extraordinary  expenses  in- 
cident to  strikes  had  had  the  effect  of  curtailing  necessary 
effort  in  that  direction. 

Pursuant  to  instructions,  the  president  had  visited  San 

619 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Francisco  and  other  far  western  unions  and  said  of  them : 
"Our  locals  on  the  Pacific  coast,  taken  as  a  whole,  are  in 
much  better  condition  than  the  unions  in  the  New  Eng- 
land states,  and  in  some  respects  they  excel  the  typo- 
graphical unions  of  any  section  of  the  country." 

The  law  which  placed  the  appointment  of  organizers 
and  the  direction  of  organization  work  generally  under 
the  immediate  control  of  the  president  and  council  was 
declared  to  have  proved  most  satisfactory.  The  result  of 
the  year's  propaganda  was  epitomized  as  follows  : 

The  net  increase  in  membership  for  the  past  year  was  1,459. 
Seventy-six  charters  have  been  issued.  Thirteen  charters  have 
been  suspended,  thirteen  surrendered  and  two  revoked.  Of  the 
seventy-six  charters  issued,  five  were  to  unions  of  stereotypers 
and  electrotypers,  two  to  photo  engravers,  two  to  mailers,  three 
to  typefounders,  five  to  newspaper  writers,  one  to  German- 
Americans,  and  fifty-eight  to  typographical  unions.  The  larg' 
est  organization  formed  during  the  past  year  was  a  union  of 
typefounders  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  consisting  of  190 
members. 

New  York  Sun  Strike  —  Under  the  head  of  strikes  the 
president  devoted  much  space  to  an  exposition  of  the 
union's  attitude  in  the  New  York  Sun  strike  and  the  trou- 
ble in  Kansas  City  with  the  typothetae,  and  included  a 
statement  regarding  the  much-talked-of  Pittsburgh  strike. 
In  speaking  of  the  New  York  Sun  affair,  the  president 
said: 

"One  week  previous  to  the  assembling  of  our  last  con- 
vention the  New  York  Sun  locked  out  215  members  of 
Typographical  Union  No.  6  and  16  members  of  Stereo- 
typers' Union  No.  1. 

"The  convention  instructed  the  executive  council  to 
extend  financial  support  to  No.  6  to  the  extent  of  all 
available  funds  then  in  the  treasury  of  the  International 
Union.    According  to  the  instructions  of  the  convention, 

620 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

sixteen  weeks'  strike  benefits  were  allowed  by  the  Inter- 
national Union. 

"You  have  been  made  familiar,  through  the  columns 
of  the  Typographical  Journal  and  the  labor  press,  with 
the  conduct  of  the  Sun  fight.  The  representatives  of  the 
Sun,  in  making  application  for  an  injunction  against 
No.  6,  admitted  that  the  losses  of  the  paper  exceeded 
$300,000. 

"The  dispute  which  led  to  the  lockout  on  the  part  of  the 
Sun  originated  in  the  question  of  a  scale  for  the  Lanston 
typesetting  machine.  The  records  of  the  case  do  not  show 
that  the  Sun  management  ever  requested  a  conference 
with  the  representatives  of  No.  6  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
cussing a  scale;  neither  had  the  union  considered  the 
question  of  a  scale  for  this  particular  machine.  This  is 
the  only  question  which  could  possibly  have  been  at  issue, 
and  should  have  been  readily  adjusted.  Later  develop- 
ments have  made  it  clear  to  all  persons  familiar  with  the 
case  that  the  Sun  management  was  convinced  that  a 
favorable  opportunity  for  wrecking  the  typographical 
union  had  arrived.  Deliberate  preparations  were  made 
and  a  force  of  men  employed  secretly  and  the  entire  staff 
of  union  men  locked  out. 

"Immediately  upon  being  informed  that  it  was  prob- 
able that  the  Sun  would  lock  out  its  employes,  I  com- 
municated with  the  management  of  the  paper,  but  re- 
ceived no  response  to  my  telegram.  The  local  unions 
involved  have  conducted  the  contest  in  an  energetic 
manner  and  are  confident  of  success." 

Kansas  City  Trouble  —  Following  the  foregoing  state- 
ment the  president  took  up  the  Kansas  City  trouble  and 
transmitted  for  the  information  of  the  membership  the 
correspondence  had  with  officials  representing  the 
t\  |).)dutae,    together    with    a   statement   of   the    position 

621 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

occupied  by  the  executive  council  in  the  conduct  of  that 
strike.  This  portion  of  President  Donnelly's  report  is  a 
bitter  denunciation  of  the  attitude  assumed  by  the  typoth- 
etae  from  the  inception  of  the  Kansas  City  difficulty.  In 
conclusion,  he  said : 

"Although  repeatedly  requested  to  confer,  no  repre- 
sentative or  officer  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  or  the  local  union  has  ever  been  able  to  secure  a 
conference  with  the  executive  committee  of  the  Kansas 
City  Typothetae,  or  any  person  authorized  to  act  for  said 
typothetae. 

"The  pressmen  and  pressfeeders  were  finally  compelled 
to  call  off  the  contest  without  qualification.  But  few 
of  their  members  have  been  re-employed,  and  they  have 
not  succeeded  in  securing  a  conference  with  any  of  the 
employers  or  with  the  representatives  of  the  typothetae. 
The  local  union  is  continuing  the  fight  and  has  made 
decided  gains.  The  strike  has  resulted  in  establishing 
a  number  of  strictly  union  offices  with  facilities  to  com- 
pete with  the  typothetae  establishments,  and  there  are 
more  union  men  employed  in  the  book  and  job  trade  in 
Kansas  City  today  than  for  many  years  past.  The  fight 
should  be  continued  and  No.  80  should  receive  all  pos- 
sible support  from  the  International  Union." 

Pittsburgh  Strike  —  Of  the  Pittsburgh  affair,  the  re- 
port submitted  by  President  Donnelly  said : 

"The  members  of  Typographical  Union  No.  7  had  for 
a  number  of  years  been  working  under  an  agreement  with 
the  Publishers'  Association  which  specified  the  particular 
branches  of  the  trade  which  were  considered  to  be  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  typographical  union.  For  the 
purpose  of  enforcing  the  provisions  of  sections  6  and  7, 
article  i,  International  Typographical  Union  constitution, 
and  securing  an  increase  in  wages,  Typographical  Union 
No.  7,  on  September  25,  1899,  requested  the  opening  of 

622 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

the  scale  agreement.  The  agreement  under  which  the 
union  was  working  provided  for  ninety  days'  notice  in 
case  either  of  the  contracting  parties  desired  to  change 
any  of  the  terms  of  said  agreement.  Having  been  notified 
by  the  officers  of  No.  7  that  the  Publishers'  Association 
had  refused  to  consider  the  new  scale  proposed  until  such 
time  as  the  local  union  withdrew  the  demand  for  juris- 
diction over  machine-tenders  and  proofreaders,  I  ar- 
ranged for  a  conference  with  the  officers  of  No.  7  and 
the  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  which  was  held 
in  Pittsburgh  on  December  9,  1899. 

"At  this  conference  the  Publishers'  Association  posi- 
tively demanded  the  withdrawal  of  the  request  of  No.  7 
for  jurisdiction  over  machine-tenders  and  proofreaders. 
Their  reasons  for  not  desiring  the  enforcement  of  section 
6,  article  1,  were  numerous  and  trifling,  but  in  reference 
to  the  machine-tenders  they  maintained  that  an  agree- 
ment had  been  entered  into  some  days  previously  between 
the  Publishers'  Association  and  the  so-called  local  of  the 
International  Association  of  Machinists,  of  which  the 
machine-tenders  in  their  employ  were  members. 

"The  attitude  of  the  publishers  was  briefly  stated  by 
their  president  somewhat  as  follows: 

"  'We  will  not  consent  to  the  typographical  union  securing 
any  greater  control  in  our  offices  than  it  possesses  at  present. 
We  refuse  to  discuss  the  new  scale  of  wages  until  such  time 
as  you  withdraw  the  demand  for  jurisdiction  over  machine- 
tenders  and  proofreaders,  and  if  racfc  demand  is  withdrawn  we 
will  agree  with  you  upon  a  scale  rate  and  tie  up  the  town  for 
you  for  a  period  of  years.' 

"I  promised  to  furnish  tin-  publisher!  with  a  retpOQM 
to  their  demands  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  request  for 
jurisdiction  over  machine-tenders  and  proofreaders  on 
the  following  Thursday  (the  promise  was  fulfilled)  and 
I    further  agreed  to   return  to   Pittsburgh   as  soon    as 

623 


.  History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

possible.  I  then  reported  to  the  executive  council.  It  is 
impossible  to  reproduce  all  the  correspondence  and  docu- 
ments in  reference  to  this  case,  and  I  will  confine  my 
report  to  the  following  statement : 

"On  Friday  afternoon,  December  15,  after  receiving 
a  reply  from  the  Publishers'  Association  in  relation  to  the 
demand  of  No.  7  for  jurisdiction  over  the  proofreaders, 
negotiations  were  declared  at  an  end  by  the  officers  of 
No.  7,  the  original  demands  of  the  union  renewed  and  a 
strike  declared  by  the  representative  of  the  International. 
This  representative  had  received  no  orders  from  either 
the  executive  council  or  president  of  the  International 
Union  to  call  out  the  members  of  No.  7.  It  developed 
later  that  the  membership  of  No.  7  did  not  vote  upon  a 
proposition  to  order  a  strike  according  to  the  provisions 
of  section  55,  general  laws. 

"On  Sunday,  December  16,  I  secured  a  conference  with 
members  of  the  Publishers'  Association,  and  on  behalf 
of  the  International  Union  submitted  to  them  a  proposi- 
tion for  a  settlement  of  all  disputes.  This  proposition 
was  rejected  and  I  submitted  a  second  proposition  to 
which  the  publishers  promised  to  reply  on  the  following 
day.  Their  response  forms  a  part  of  the  records  in  the 
case,  and  was  in  substance  to  the  effect  that  they  would 
decline  to  confer  any  further  with  the  representatives  of 
the  International  or  the  local  union,  and  that  applica- 
tions of  their  former  employes  for  reinstatement,  if  made 
as  individuals,  would  be  received  by  them  up  to  and 
including  a  certain  date. 

"The  executive  council  convened  in  Pittsburgh  on  the 
following  Wednesday,  but  was  unable  to  secure  a  con- 
ference with  the  Publishers'  Association.  The  attitude 
of  the  publishers  was  such  that  the  executive  council  was 
compelled  to  recognize  the  strike,  extend  financial  sup- 
port to  No.  7,  and  at  a  later  date  the  council  was  com- 

624 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

pelled  to  adopt  radical  measures  for  the  purpose  of  se- 
curing funds  to  conduct  the  Pittsburgh  and  Kansas  City 
contests. 

"The  officers  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor 
endeavored  to  secure  such  action  on  the  part  of  the 
machinists  as  would  result  in  the  elimination  of  the 
machinists'  question  as  an  issue  in  the  fight.  It  was  found, 
however,  that  both  the  local  and  international  officials  of 
the  machinists'  union  had  agreed  to  stand  by  the  pub- 
lishers. 

"The  members  of  the  executive  council  were  confident 
that  it  lay  within  the  power  of  Pittsburgh  Stereotypers' 
Union  No.  20  to  force  a  settlement  of  the  difficulty.  A 
special  meeting  of  that  union  was  called  at  the  request 
of  Vice-President  Derfljnger,  and  the  situation  was 
plainly  stated  to  the  stereotypers.  The  members  of  that 
union,  however,  refused  to  comply  with  the  request  of 
the  executive  council,  and  on  Thursday,  December  21, 
the  members  of  Stereotypers'  Union  No.  20  were  ordered 
to  cease  work  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  section 
59,  general  laws,  International  Typographical  Union.  A 
number  of  the  members  of  the  union  obeyed  the  order 
of  the  council,  a  charter  was  issued  to  them,  and  the 
charter  of  the  old  union  revoked. 

"On  June  9,  the  executive  council  declared  the  strike 
at  an  end,  and  took  such  further  steps  as  were  deemed 
necessary  to  protect  the  local  and  International  Unions." 

Nine-Hour  Day  —  The  nine-hour  day  had  been  en- 
forced in  the  book  and  job  offices  throughout  the  jurtMlu •- 
tion.  The  only  important  cities  not  observing  the  law 
were  San  Francisco,  Pittsburgh,  Kansas  City  and  Louis- 
ville. Members  of  the  typothetae  were  entirely  responsible 
for  its  non-enforcement  in  those  places,  except  the  last 
named,  and  there  an  agreement  had  prevented  the  union 
taking  action. 

6«S 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Chicago  Stereotypers  —  What  had  become  known  as 
the  "Chicago  situation"  was  discussed  by  President  Don- 
nelly, under  the  head  of  stereotypers  and  electrotypers, 
as  the  dispute  originated  in  that  craft.  The  history  of 
the  case  following  the  Detroit  convention  was  fully  re- 
counted in  the  correspondence  reproduced  by  the 
president,  and  he  expressed  himself  on  the  situation  thus : 

While  some  members  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  maintain  that  the  executive  council  should  have  im- 
mediately forced  the  issue  with  the  Publishers'  Association  of 
the  city  of  Chicago,  it  should  be  apparent  to  the  entire  member- 
ship, at  the  present  time,  that  the  commissary  department  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union  is  not  adequate  for  the 
conduct  of  such  an  extensive  campaign  as  might  possibly  have 
resulted.  Our  locals  in  Chicago,  which  have  so  far  failed  to 
receive  recognition  of  their  organization  and  a  scale  of  wages 
by  the  Publishers'  Association,  should  be  instructed  to  cease 
blowing  their  trumpets  and  inaugurate  a  quiet  organizing  cam- 
paign. When  they  have  performed  their  full  duty  in  this 
respect,  they  should  receive  the  unqualified  support  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  in  an  effort  to  secure 
recognition  of  their  wage  scales. 

Relations  With  Allied  Trades —  After  calling  attention 
to  the  material  advancement  made  by  the  typefounders, 
photo  engravers,  mailers  and  newspaper  writers,  the 
president  announced  that  the  Brotherhood  of  Bookbind- 
ers and  the  Printing  Pressmen's  Union  reported  substan- 
tial increases  of  membership  and  that  those  organizations 
had  enacted  legislation  that  would  ultimately  result  in 
increases  in  their  defense  funds.  It  was  reported  that 
label  disputes  existed  in  several  cities,  mainly  between 
the  typographical  and  pressmen's  unions.  It  was  asserted, 
however,  that  where  the  local  unions  of  both  organiza- 
tions manifested  a  regard  for  the  rights  of  each  other 
and  evinced  a  spirit  of  conciliation  the  difficulties  had 
been  easily  adjusted.  There  had  been  differences  of 
opinion  as  to  the  working  jurisdiction  of  stereotypers  and 

626 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

pressmen  through  the  latter  performing  in  many  cases 
such  duties  as  usually  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  first-named 
craft.  On  the  other  hand,  the  pressmen  complained  that 
many  compositors  in  the  smaller  towns  did  press  work, 
claiming  jurisdiction  over  all  work  in  the  press  room. 
Members  of  the  typographical  union  had  been  re- 
luctant to  join  a  union  located  at  a  remote  point  and 
failed  to  see  any  reason  for  the  drawing  of  fine  lines 
of  jurisdiction.  In  the  New  England  district,  particularly, 
this  question  had  caused  great  friction  and  in  some  in- 
stances seriously  interfered  with  the  progress  of  the 
typographical  union.  It  had  been  expected  that  the 
pressmen  and  bookbinders  would,  at  their  conventions, 
make  a  pronouncement  on  these  questions, '  but  both 
organizations  appointed  special  committees  to  meet  with 
a  like  committee  representing  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  to  undertake  a  revision  of  the  tripartite 
agreement  and  it  was  urged  upon  the  convention  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  proposed  revisional  conference.  The 
Detroit  convention  had  instructed  the  executive  coun- 
cil to  consider  the  feasibility  of  amalgamating  all 
printing  trade  unions  and,  through  the  president,  the 
executive  council  reported  that  such  an  amalgamation 
was  practicable  and  recommended  "that  what  is  known 
as  the  autonomy  plan  recently  granted  the  branches  of 
the  trade  other  than  compositors,  and  as  interpreted  at  a 
conference  held  between  the  executive  council  and  the 
representatives  of  the  Stereotypers  and  Electrotype!*' 
Trade  District  Union,  be  adopted  as  the  plan  for  the 
government  of  all  printing  crafts." 

Macliinr-I \ -itilrrs  —  The  machine-tender  question  next 
engaged  the  attention  of  the  president  and  he  said  that 
the  International  had  asserted  and  was  maim. lining  ju- 
risdiction over  all  mechanics  employed  in  composing 
rooms.     In  relation  to  the  attitude  of  the  International 

<>-7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Association  of  Machinists  it  was  contended  that  the  reso- 
lution adopted  by  that  body  at  its  last  convention  was 
an  insult  to  all  union  printers  and  that  the  International 
would  be  justified  in  refusing  to  deal  with  the  offending 
organization  until  such  time  as  it  retracted  the  declara- 
tion complained  of.  While  not  opposed  to  arbitration, 
and  confident  the  International  could  win  a  decision  from 
any  fair-minded  board,  the  president  emphatically  denied 
the  right  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  to  compel 
arbitration  against  the  wishes  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union. 

Injunctions  —  Although  hopeful  that  the  courts  would 
themselves  rob  the  injunction  process  of  its  most  dis- 
reputable features,  a  hope  based  upon  the  character  of 
modifying  orders  handed  down,  the  president  said  of 
this  judicial  procedure: 

It  is  apparent  that  the  injunction  is  merely  a  form  of  intimi- 
dation used  by  capital  with  the  consent  and  assistance  of  the 
judiciary.  No  employer  has  applied  for  an  injunction  against 
a  trade  union  except  for  the  purpose  of  using  the  injunction 
to  intimidate  strikers.  When  an  injunction  is  issued,  wholesale 
arrests  are  made  for  alleged  violation  thereof,  a  number  of 
the  members  of  the  union  detained  in  court  for  days  through 
the  continuation  of  cases,  and  finally  released  on  bail  after 
being  warned  and  threatened  by  the  judge,  and  the  power  of 
the  court  and  the  officers  of  the  law  are  used  for  the  purpose 
of  intimidating  the  strikers  in  the  hope  that  their  ranks  may 
thereby  be  broken.  The  injunction  is  merely  a  form  of  threat 
or  intimidation  which  has  proven,  in  some  cases,  a  most  potent 
weapon  in  the  hands  of  capital. 

Minor  Recommendations  —  It  was  thought  there  should 
be  greater  uniformity  in  contracts  entered  into  with  em- 
ployers and  the  president  submitted  a  draft  of  one 
together  with  the  suggestion  that  all  such  contracts  there- 
after be  approved  by  the  executive  council.  This  was 
followed  by  a  renewal  of  the  proposition  that  the  law  be 
amended  so  as  to  prohibit  members  from  operating  plants 

628 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

under  any  guise  which  in  its  effect  permitted  "sweating 
the  scale."  The  president  closed  with  the  recommendation 
that  the  secretary-treasurer  be  authorized  to  destroy  old 
and  useless  correspondence  that  was  taking  up  room  at 
headquarters. 

Stereotypers — Second  Vice-President  Derflinger  sub- 
mitted the  following  report :  "As  all  of  the  work  con- 
cerning Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District 
Union  done  in  the  past  year  was  by  President  Donnelly's 
instructions  only,  he,  no  doubt,  will  make  a  detailed 
report.     I  have  nothing  to  say." 

Typographia  —  Third  Vice-President  Miller  reported 
that  the  year  had  been  a  prosperous  one  for  the  German 
branch,  not  a  strike  of  moment  having  occurred  during 
the  period.  The  membership  was  congratulated  on  the 
unionizing  of  the  Cincinnati  Freie  Presse,  after  a  seven- 
years'  struggle,  and  the  principal  non-union  German 
newspaper,  the  Chicago  Freie  Presse,  was  reported  to  be 
losing  ground.  Of  the  beneficial  features  and  funds  of 
this  branch,  its  chief  officer  said : 

To  better  assist  these  unfortunate  (unemployed)  members, 
our  membership  decided  by  referendum  vote  to  raise  the  gen- 
eral dues  from  40  cents  to  45  cents  per  week,  and  to  increase  the 
maximum  sum  of  out-of-work  benefit  allowed  a  member  during 
a  fiscal  year  from  $60  to  $80.  Notwithstanding  this  increase, 
the  total  amount  paid  for  out-of-work  benefits  has  been  reduced 
from  $1 1,000  last  year  to  about  $9,000  this  year.  ( >ur  member- 
ship  is  about  the  same,  and  our  finances  are,  as  usual,  in  a  very 
good  condition,  the  funds  in  our  general  treasury  amounting  to 
almost  $12,000,  or  about  $11  per  csptau 

Mr.  Miller  congratulated  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  on  its  "splendid  success  in  the  trade 
union  line,"  and  expressed  the  hope  that  the  day  was 
not  far  distant  when  its  members  "will  hold  the  same 
rank  in  the  class-conscious  political  line." 

Mailers  —  The  organization  of  a  prosperous  union  of 

6flQ 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

mailers  in  Detroit  was  cited  as  one  of  the  direct  results 
of  the  last  convention  by  Fourth  Vice-President  Harber. 
Several  attempts  to  organize  unions  failed  for  various 
reasons,  the  chief  obstacle  being  the  employment  of  boys. 

Newswriters  —  "The  work  of  organization  has  been 
exceedingly  slow,"  said  Fifth  Vice-President  O'Sullivan, 
although  he  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  seed  sown  must 
soon  bear  fruit,  as  official  correspondence  showed  more 
interest  being  taken  in  the  movement  by  editors  and 
reporters  than  ever  before.     He  said : 

Not  a  single  case  has  come  to  my  notice  of  any  hostility  to 
the  organization  of  the  writers  on  the  part  of  publishers,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  words  of  encouragement  have  been  given  us  by 
employers  from  unexpected  sources.  The  arguments  which 
have  been  advanced  to  urge  writers  to  join  an  organization  can 
not  be  contradicted  by  those  to  whom  we  have  presented  them. 
In  nearly  every  instance  the  general  principles  of  organization 
as  applied  to  our  calling  are  agreed  to,  but  the  principal  objec- 
tion to  joining  with  us  in  the  work  for  the  improvement  of  our 
condition  seems  to  be  that  it  is  not  a  practical  proposition. 

Wages  have  not  risen  in  this  branch  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  during  the  past  year,  even  though  in 
many  cases  more  attention  is  required  and  a  constant  improve- 
ment in  the  reporters'  work  is  manifest.  Few  reductions  in 
wages  have  been  reported  among  the  members,  but  outside  of 
our  fold  wages  have  been  reduced  in  some  instances  consider- 
ably. In  some  cities  men  have  been  dismissed  to  make  way  for 
less  able  and  cheaper  newspaper  men,  but  this  is  not  a  condition 
which  seems  to  be  forceful  enough  to  induce  organization. 

,  That  there  was  a  determination  on  the  part  of  the 
officers  to  effect  an  organization  of  practical  value  to  wage 
earning  newswriters  rather  than  form  a  mere  society  of 
writers  is  evidenced  by  this  clean-cut  expression : 

Several  attempts  have  been  made  to  organize  unions,  which 
did  not  receive  the  encouragement  ordinarily  given,  due  entirely 
to  the  belief  on  the  part  of  the  general  officers  that  encourage- 
ment to  organize  in  the  direction  referred  to  would  not  be  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  craft.    In  the  instances  referred  to, 

630 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

applicants  for  membership  have  come  from  those  not  engaged 
as  wage  earners  on  daily  publications,  but  rather  from  persons 
who  were  conducting  news  enterprises  and  other  publications, 
whom  we  believed  were  not  eligible  to  membership  in  this 
branch  of  the  International  Typographical  Union.  This  branch 
of  the  organization  is  intended  only  for  such  writers  as  are 
employed  as  such  upon  the  daily  press  of  the  country.  They 
are  the  ones  who,  in  my  judgment,  need  the  protecting  fold  of 
unionism,  and  to  admit  other  than  these  would  tend  to  discredit 
our  branch. of  the  union. 

Photo  Engravers  —  According  to  Sixth  Vice-President 
Ryan,  the  photo  engravers  had  been  most  prosperous 
during  the  year,  both  in  respect  to  natural  expansion  and 
the  growth  of  union  principles  among  its  members.  But 
one  cloud  obscured  the  sun  of  prosperity  and  that  was 
caused  by  the  unauthorized  strike  of  New  York  Photo 
Engravers'  Union  No.  1,  which  resulted  in  a  compromise. 
Mr.  Ryan,  having  exceeded  the  scriptural  limit  of  years, 
was  conscious  that  this  report  might  afford  his  last  oppor- 
tunity of  addressing  fellow  unionists,  and  delivered  an 
exhortation  and  pronounced  a  benediction  in  these  words : 

In  conclusion,  may  the  glorious  work  of  labor  organization 
proceed.  Let  us  be  true  to  ourselves,  protecting  the  weak 
against  the  strong,  stretching  out  a  helping  hand  to  others. 
Never  forget  that  we  should  not  attempt  to  live  for  ourselves 
alone,  remembering  that  we  have  neighbors,  and  our  duty 
toward  them.  Looking  back  fifty  years,  I  am  compelled  to 
admit,  with  gratification,  the  progress  of  organized  labor  has 
been  highly  satisfactory.  The  education  our  children  are  receiv- 
ing, and  the  self-culture  that  has  taken  BUCh  a  permanent  hold 
upon  so  many  workingmen  in  all  directions,  indicate  that  a 
greater  share  of  this  world's  wealth  will  accrue  to  labor  in  the 

next  fifty  yean  than  in  the  past.  To  attain  tins,  we  must  watch 
and  work  for  this  desirable  end.    That  the  reasonable  desire 

of  labor  may  attain  the  full  ratio  of  its  production  is  the 
heartfelt  wish  of  one  who  has  rejoiced  in  every  forward  stride 
that  lias  elevated  the  masses  and  procured  for  them  something 
nearn  t..  .1  plane  of  existence  that  ran  he  called  human  and 
dviliaed,  and   who  heartily  and  sincerely   believes  he  has  in  a 

631 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

measure,  however  trifling,  helped  along  the  good  cause,  paying 
the  usual  penalties  ungrudgingly ;  who,  in  spirit,  is  inseparably 
attached  to  printing  and  its  progress,  having  entered  into  it  in 
1840,  and  feels  proud  of  living  in  a  country  where  an  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  exists. 

Secretary-Treasurer —  To  the  average  mind  the  report 
of  an  organization's  fiduciary  officer  is  the  best  possible 
reflex  of  the  society's  condition,  and  especially  is  that 
true  when  the  officer  deals  with  affairs  in  a  comprehensive 
manner.  According  to  the  printed  report  of  Secretary- 
Treasurer  Bramwood,  it  was  shown  that  the  total  receipts 
for  the  year  (including  $19,955.98  on  hand  July  I, 
1899)  were  $197,440.77,  while  the  expenditures 
(exclusive  of  $12,407.20  on  hand  June  30,  1900)  totaled 
$185,033.57.  The  receipts  for  1899- 1900  exceeded  those 
of  1 898- 1 899  by  $49,048.09,  and  those  of  1897- 1898  by 
$64,321.  The  expenditures  exceeded  tho§e  of  the  pre- 
vious year  by  $61,533.77,  and  were  $7,548.78  in  excess 
of  the  receipts.  The  numerical  strength  of  the  organiza- 
tion was  treated  of  in  the  following  paragraph : 

By  the  per  capita  tax  received  it  is  shown  that  the  average 
paying  membership  of  the  different  branches  of  the  organiza- 
tion was  as  follows:  Compositors  (including  German- Ameri- 
can), 28,864;  stereotypers  and  electrotypers,  1,459;  photo 
engravers,  861;  mailers,  555;  typefounders,  282;  newspaper 
writers,  84;  total  32,105.  This  is  an  increase  of  1,459  over  trie 
previous  year,  and  3,491  larger  than  the  year  of  1898.  In  fact, 
the  paying  membership  of  the  past  year  reached  a  figure  never 
before  attained  by  the  International  body,  it  being  726  higher 
than  that  of  1894,  the  banner  year  of  the  organization,  in  which 
(before  the  withdrawal  of  the  pressmen,  pressfeeders,  book- 
binders and  bindery  girls)  an  average  of  31,379  members  paid 
dues  to  the  International  Union.  *  *  *  Whether  or  not  our 
membership  has  increased  as  it  should  in  these  propitious  times 
is  a  question  rather  difficult  to  determine.  The  increment  in 
membership  has  been  gradual,  and  the  growth  of  the  organiza- 
tion substantial  in  every  way,  yet  its  field  has  not  been  fully 

632 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

cultivated.  Certain  sections  of  the  jurisdiction,  mainly  the 
larger  cities,  offer  an  excellent  opportunity  for  organization 
work.  If  each  union  will  make  an  earnest  effort  to  completely 
organize  the  craft  in  its  jurisdiction  during  the  fiscal  year  it  is 
believed  that  an  increase  of  several  thousand  members 
would  result. 

The  secretary-treasurer  was  convinced  that  another 
effort  should  be  made  to  augment  the  defense  fund  and 
if  no  steps  were  taken  in  that  direction  a  law  effectually 
curtailing  the  right  of  unions  to  make  demands  upon  the 
fund  was,  in  his  opinion,  an  imperative  necessity.  The 
report  said,  in  part : 

The  regular  revenue  accruing  to  the  defense  fund  was  not 
calculated  to  meet  expenditures  of  a  character  now  requested 
by  many  unions.  If  the  International  is  to  provide  funds  for 
local  organization  work,  furnish  money  to  advertise  our  trade 
mark,  pay  the  expenses  of  law  suits  growing  out  of  label  legis- 
lation or  boycotts  levied  by  local  bodies,  send  a  representative 
whenever  asked  by  a  subordinate  union,  pay  strike  benefits  for 
an  indefinite  period  whenever  trouble  occurs,  and  provide 
money  for  divers  other  purposes  for  which  it  is  now  asked,  an 
increase  in  per  capita  tax  is  absolutely  necessary,  for  the  officers 
of  the  International  can  not  meet  the  present  demands  with  the 
money  placed  at  their  disposal.  All  the  expenditures  enumer- 
ated must  be  paid  from  the  defense  fund,  the  normal  receipts 
of  which,  on  our  present  membership  basis,  reach  a  total  of 
$28,894.39,  or  about  $2,400  per  month — not  a  large  sum  for 
disbursement  among  474  local  unions,  when  the  diversified 
nature  of  the  requests  for  assistance,  outside  of  regular  strike 
benefits,  is  taken  into  consideration. 

it  has  also  been  fully  demonstrated  that  our  regular  defense 

fund  is  inadequate  to  conduct,  for  an  Indefinite  period,  strikes 
involving  large  numbers  of  members,  such  as  have  occurred 
during  the  past  year.  The  lessons  of  the  past  either  prove  the 
need  of  a  larger  sum  of  money  for  defensive  purposes.  «>r  null 
rate  the  necessity  for  the  restriction  by  law  of  expenditures 
from  the  defense  fund  to  the  conduct  of  necessary  organization 
work  and  the  payment  of  strike  benefits  for  a  fixed  period, 
together   with   the  abolition  of  convention   grants  and   other 

633 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

forms  of  special  assistance  and  the  insistence  by  the  Interna- 
tional Union  that  our  membership  shall  closely  adhere  at  all 
times  to  a  policy  of  conservatism  and  conciliation. 

It  is  within  the  province  of  the  convention  to  restrict  the 
expenditures  from  the  defense  fund  in  such  manner  as  is  deemed 
advisable.  Even  if  the  convention  should  decide  that  an 
increase  in  revenue  is  necessary,  and  submit  such  a  proposition 
to  the  membership,  it  would  also  be  well  to  amend  the  general 
law  relating,  to  the  disposition  of  the  defense  fund,  such  amend- 
ment to  take  effect  only  in  case  the  membership  defeats  the 
proposition  to  increase  the  general  revenue.  The  subject  in  its 
entirety  is  well  worthy  of  the  earnest  consideration  of  every 
delegate  and  member,  and  should  receive  the  attention  its 
importance  demands. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  General  Fund  —  The  Home 
was  seemingly  well  provided  for,  as  a  handsome  balance 
remained,  even  after  a  considerable  sum  had  been 
expended  in  extraordinary  improvements.  For  the  first 
time  in  years  the  general  fund,  from  which  is  defrayed 
Journal  and  convention  expenses,  officers'  salaries,  the 
expenses  of  delegates,  to  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor,  per  capita  tax  to  that  body,  the  maintenance  of 
headquarters  and  the  various  items  of  expense  connected 
with  the  International's  business,  had  a  balance  to  its 
credit,  though  very  small.  ■ 

Burial  Fund  —  The  burial  fund  was  reported  to  be 
in  a  healthy  condition,  so  opulent,  in  fact,  that  the  secre- 
tary-treasurer recommended  increasing  the  benefit  from 
$60  to  $65  without  a  proportionate  increase  in  per  capita 
tax.  The  number  of  deaths  during  the  year  was  419  and 
the  average  age  at  death  41.25  years. 

Typographical  Journal  —  The  Typographical  Journal 
and  its  affairs  were  dealt  with  exhaustively.  The  net  cost 
was  shown  to  have  been  reduced  to  11%  cents  per  mem- 
ber, the  lowest  price  since  the  inauguration  of  magazine 
form.  Complaint  was  made  of  the  limited  number  of 
subscribers,  which  had  remained  at  about  4,000  for  sev- 
eral years,  notwithstanding  the  adoption  of  many  plans 

634 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

to  increase  circulation.  It  was  asserted  that  the  Journal 
should  be  read  by  each  member,  and  the  assistance  of 
local  officers  in  building  up  the  subscription  list  of  the 
official  paper,  and  thus  extend  its  sphere  of  usefulness, 
was  earnestly  desired.  To  this  end  the  plan  of  making 
each  local  financial  secretary  an  agent  for  the  Journal, 
and  the  allowance  of  a  commission  on  subscriptions 
obtained  by  such  officials,  was  respectfully  suggested. 

Official  Business  —  An  idea  of  the  increased  volume 
of  the  International's  business  was  contained  in  a  state- 
ment that  "a  total  of  55,323  pieces  of  mail  and  express 
matter  were  shipped  from  the  office  during  the  year,  of 
which  12,556  were  typewritten  letters,  and  the  other  first- 
class  pieces  of  mail  numbered  31,961,  the  balance  of  the 
total  being  supplies,  organizing  literature  and  incidental 
copies  of  the  Journal."  Accompanying  the  secretary's 
report  was  an  elaborate  table  giving  the  "receipts  from 
all  sources  and  the  benefits  paid  to  locals"  for  the  fiscal 
year.  From  it  the  reader  could  see  at  a  glance  just  what 
any  union  paid  to  the  International,  the  funds  to  which 
the  payments  were  applied  and  the  amounts  received  in 
return  as  benefits. 

Organizers'  Reports — All  the  organizers  presented 
reports  dealing  with  troubles  in  their  districts,  the  cau-r 
and  results  of  which  were  given  with  great  regard  for 
circumstantiality,  in  most  instances,  but  were  not  of  gen- 
eral interest,  although  of  paramount  importance  to  those 
concerned.  Those  who  mentioned  the  subject,  however, 
were  in  agreement  as  to  the  necessity  of  organizing  the 
non-union  printer  as  an  act  of  self -protection  ind  while 
there  was  an  absence  of  that  general  complaint  at  the  inad- 
equacy of  the  system  that  distinguished  organizers'  reports 
of  previous  years,  it  seemed  t*>  be  the  consensus  of  opinion 
that  the  plan  <>f  distributing  literature  must  be  accom- 
panied by  a  system  of  personal  visitations  by  union 
officials  before  notable  results  could  be  achieved. 

635 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

American  Federation  of  Labor  Delegates  —  The  report 
of  delegates  to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  at 
its  nineteenth  annual  convention  in  Detroit,  was  a  com- 
prehensive document,  covering-  the  subjects  discussed 
and  acted  on  by  that  body.  Much  space  was  devoted 
to  what  occurred  on  the  floor  of  the  convention  relating 
to  the  machine-tender  controversy. 

Home  Trustees  —  The  report  of  the  Home  trustees,  in 
the  nature  of  things,  was  lengthy  and  full  of  detail.  The 
proceedings  of  the  board  meetings  were  given  in  full, 
together  with  the  receipts  and  expenditures  for  the  year 
and  the  balance  on  hand.  The  expenditures  had  been  un- 
usually heavy  because  of  permanent  improvements  made 
at  the  institution,  the  more  important  of  which  were 
a  five-room  stone  cottage  for  the  superintendent,  a  stone 
gateway  at  the  entrance  to  the  grounds,  storm  doorways, 
water  tanks,  etc.  The  number  of  residents  during  the 
year  averaged  90  and  the  cost  of  maintenance  was  $5-4-0 
each,  per  week.  During  the  year  9  deaths  occurred  at 
the  Home,  27  residents  vacated  voluntarily  and  5  were 
expelled.  All  the  deaths  resulted  from  tuberculosis. 
'Speaking  on  this  subject,  the  superintendent  said : 

It  seems  impossible  to  impress  upon  the  membership  that 
some  cases  should  not  be  sent  to  this  altitude.  *  *  *  But  it 
appears,  in  some  instances,  at  least,  that  the  local  unions,  or 
examining  physician,  wilfully  misrepresent  the  applicant  in 
order  to  gain  him  admission  to  the  Home.  *  *  *  Either 
through  ignorance  or  misrepresentation,  men  have  been  sent  to 
the  Home  that  it  was  positively  cruel  to  bring  to  this  high 
altitude.  Of  the  nine  that  died,  one  was  an  inmate  for  five 
days,  one  twelve  days,  and  t\fco  arrived  together  from  the  east 
and  both  were  dead  in  less  than  one  month. 

LEGISLATION 

Constitutional  Amendments — Fifteen  constitutional 
amendments  were  passed  upon  favorably  and  submitted 
to  the  referendum.      Only  one  failed  of  adoption,  that 

636 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

being  a  proposition  to  increase  the  per  capita  tax  from 
30  to  40  cents  per  month  and  provide  a  reserve  fund  and 
increase  the  burial  benefit.  Summarized,  the  constitu- 
tional amendments  were :  ( 1 )  To  more  clearly  define 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Union.  Total  vote, 
12,767.  Majority  for,  9,453.  (2)  To  provide  for  alter- 
nate delegates  and  a  new  election  in  case  of  a  tie.  Total 
vote,  12,590.  Majority  for,  9,626.  (3)  To  grant  the 
typefounders  a  vice-presidency.  Total  vote,  12,373. 
Majority  for,  8,765.  (4)  To  provide  for  the  election 
of  such  number  of  delegates  to  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor  as  its  laws  allow.  Total  vote,  12,423.  Majority 
for,  4,263.  (5)  To  more  clearly  define  the  qualifications 
for  International  office.  Total  vote,  12,409.  Majority  for, 
10,125.  (6)  To  make  the  law  regarding  the  furnishing 
of  blank  delegate  certificates  of  election  conform  with 
other  portions  of  the  constitution.  Total  vote,  12,045. 
Majority  for,  9,973.  (7)  To  make  the  law  regarding 
the  publication  of  the  convention  proceedings  conform 
with  other  portions  of  the  constitution.  Total  vote,  1 1,998. 
Majority  for,  10,384.  (8)  To  define  the  duties  of  organ- 
izers and  make  specific  the  law  governing  provisional 
membership  cards.  Total  vole,  12,525.  Majority  for, 
9»653.  (9)  To  increase  the  per  capita  tax  to  40  cents 
per  month,  provide  a  reserve  fund  and  increase  the  burial 
benefit.  Total  vote,  13,339.  Majority  against,  3,695. 
(10)  To  make  a  necessary  change  in  the  date  of  the  be- 
ginning and  ending  of  the  fiscal  year.  Total  vote,  12,294. 
Majority  for,  0,666.  (11)  To  exempt  inmates  of  the 
Union  Printers  Home  from  the  payment  of  per  capita 
tax.  Total  vote,  12,945.  Majority  for,  10,537.  (12)  To 
Increase  the  burial  benefit  to  $65  without  increasing  the 
per  capita  tax.  Total  vote,  13,537.  Majority  for,  6,1 1  7. 
(13)  To  make  the  acceptance  of  withdrawal  cards  sub- 
ject to  the  approval  of  the  issuing  union.     Total  vote, 

637 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

12,594.  Majority  for,  9,536.  (14)  To  provide  for  the 
issuance  of  certificates  of  membership  to  members  of 
suspended  unions  on  the  payment  of  all  arrearages. 
Total  vote,  12,758.  Majority  for,  10,162.  (15)  To  more 
clearly  define  the  autonomy  granted  trade  district  unions 
by  article  xix  of  the  constitution,  adopted  in  1899.  Total 
vote,  12,066.     Majority  for,  9,496. 

General  Laws —  The  general  laws  were  amended  to 
provide  that  local  unions  could  prevent  employers  from 
becoming  active  members  of  their  organization  if  they 
so  desired.  The  laws  relative  to  charges  and  trials  were 
amended  in  order  to  make  the  procedure  more  definite 
and  the  laws  regulating  strikes  were  so  amended  as  to 
prevent  the  expenditure  of  moneys  from  the  defense  fund 
on  account  of  any  strike  unless  the  same  had  been  author- 
ized by  the  executive  council.  The  secretary  of  each 
subordinate  union  was  directed  to  act  as  subscription 
agent  for  the  Typographical  Journal,  10  per  cent- of  all 
moneys  received  by  such  officer  for  subscriptions  being 
allowed  as  compensation  for  his  labor.  The  following 
new  section  was  added,  under  the  heading  "Typesetting 
Machines" :  "No  member  of  the  International  Union 
shall  engage  in  speed  contests,  either  by  hand  composition 
or  on  machines.  Violation  of  this  law  shall  be  punished 
by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  $25,  or  suspension;  provided, 
that  said  penalty  shall  be  imposed  in  accordance  with  the 
laws  regulating  trials  and  charges."  The  stamp  system 
in  relation  to  International  dues  was  inaugurated  by  a 
law  passed  at  this  convention.  It  required  the  secretary- 
treasurer  to  prepare  and  sell  to  subordinate  unions,  at 
face  value,  according  to  the  monthly  per  capita  tax  of 
the  International  Union,  adhesive  stamps  and  working 
cards  with  stamps  of  equad  value  thereon,  known  as 
International  due  stamps  and  working  cards.  With 
the   purpose  of   endeavoring  to   stamp   out   and   curtail 

638 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

the  dissemination  of  scurrilous  literature  during  political 
campaigns,  the  following  section  was  added  to  the  gen- 
eral laws :  "Any  member  or  members  of  a  subordinate 
union  publishing,  or  causing  to  be  published,  in  news- 
papers, circulars  or  pamphlets,  malicious  and  untrue 
articles  reflecting  upon  the  standing  or  character,  private 
or  public,  of  any  member  or  members  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of 
ununionlike  conduct,  and  upon  conviction  before  a  trial 
board  shall  be  suspended  or  expelled,  as  two-thirds  of 
the  members  may  determine.  The  trial  for  such  offense 
shall  be  conducted  according  to  the  rules  and  regulations 
governing  uniform  charges  and  trials.  Secretaries  of 
subordinate  unions  are  ordered  to  post  this  law  in  all 
chapels." 

Resolutions  —  The  following  were  among  the  numer- 
ous resolutions  adopted  by  the  convention  : 

That  the  president  is  instructed  to  reply  to  the  letter 
of  Mr.  Gompers  relative  to  the  machine-tender  contro- 
versy and  inform  him  that  the  organization  is  not  in 
position  to  arbitrate  its  own  laws. 

That  a  special  committee  be  appointed  to  draft  and 
present  suitable  engrossed  resolutions  to  Samuel  B.  Don- 
nelly on  his  retirement  from  the  presidency  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union. 

That  the  delegates  from  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  be 
instructed  to  introduce  and  support  in  that  body  a  resolu- 
tion favoring  submission  to  the  referendum  all  amend- 
ments to  state  constitutions  on  petition  of  voters 

That  San  Francisco  Typographical  Union  No.  21  is 
hereby  instructed  to  obey  the  mandate  of  its  superior 
body  and  inaugurate  the  nine-hour  workday  within  it- 
jurisdiction,  to  go  into  effect  October  I,  IQOO.  That  in 
the  event   this  order  is   resisted  by   any   establishment 

to 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

within  the  jurisdiction  of  No.  21  the  executive  council 
is  hereby  authorized  to  render  the  necessary  financial 
assistance,  to  the  end  that  the  nine-hour  workday  be 
successfully  established  in  San  Francisco.  That  the  sum 
of  $150,  separate  and  apart  from  the  above,  be  allowed 
San  Francisco  Typographical  Union  each  month  for  as 
long  a  period  as  the  executive  council  deems  necessary, 
the  same  to  be  expended  by  that  union  in  an  effort  to 
regain  the  offices  lost  in  the  strike  of  1898. 

That  the  executive  council  communicate  with  the 
proper  officials  at  Washington,  pointing  out  to  them  the 
advantages  to  be  gained  and  the  justice  which  would  be 
done  our  trade  by  the  establishment  of  a  government 
printing  office  in  the  Philippines,  to  be  conducted  by  and 
for  the  government,  and  thereby  abolish  the  existing 
system  of  sub-letting  to  private  institutions;  that  abuses 
existing  in  the  Philippine  islands  be  guarded  against  in 
other  newly  acquired  territory  by  legislation  looking  to 
the  establishment  of  government  printing  plants  and  the 
securing  of  the  union  rate  of  wages. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

Stereotypers  Ask  to  Withdraw  —  The  Stereotypers' 
and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  came  before  the 
convention  with  a  proposal  that  those  crafts  be  permitted 
to  withdraw  from  the  International  Union,  which,  after 
a  prolonged  discussion,  was  negatived  by  a  decisive  vote 
of  103  to  51. 

Conditions  in  Pittsburgh  —  The  committee  on  sub- 
ordinate unions  reported  the  condition  of  Pittsburgh 
Union  to  be  most  deplorable  and  a  menace  to  the  Interna- 
tional, and  recommended  that  the  council  be  instructed, 
to  use  every  effort  to  restore  the  union  to  its  former  posi- 
tion, in  which  the  convention  concurred. 

District  Organizers  —  The  following  selections  for 
organizers  were  reported :      First    district,    Henry    Mc- 

640 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

Mahon,  Boston;  second  district,  J.  E.  McLoughlin,  New 
York;  third  district^  T.  J.  Creager,  Springfield,  Ohio; 
fourth  district,  S.  D.  Hope,  Norfolk;  fifth  district,  C.  C. 
Houston,  Atlanta;  sixth  district,  W.  H.  Stewart,  Grand 
Rapids;  seventh  district,  M.  B.  Palmer,  Peoria;  eighth 
district,  C.  J.  Deaton,  Birmingham ;  ninth  district,  T.  R. 
Drake,  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa;  tenth  district,  John  W. 
Hays,  Minneapolis;  eleventh  district,  Homer  E.  Dunn, 
Denvef ;  twelfth  district,  R.  F.  Radley,  Waco,  Tex. ; 
thirteenth  district,  W.  J.  A.  McVety,  Boise  City;  four- 
teenth district,  John  R.  Winders  and  C.  P.  Jones,  San 
Francisco;  fifteenth  district,  C.  A.  Derry,  Seattle;  six- 
teenth district,  P.  M.  Draper,  Ottawa,  for  Province  of 
Ontario,  and  Felix  Marois,  Quebec,  for  Province  of 
Quebec. 

Request  for  Tripartite  Conference  —  President  Bow- 
man of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen's  Union 
addressed  the  delegates,  urging  them  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  confer  with  similar  committees  from  the  press- 
men's and  binders'  organizations  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
sidering changes  in  the  tripartite  agreement. 

CONCILIATION     AND     ARBITRATION 

On  the  second  day  of  the  convention  Frederick  Dris- 
coll,  representing  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association,  was  invited  to  address  the  convention.  In 
view  of  Mr.  Driscoll's  long  connection  with  the  Pub- 
lishers' Association  and  his  activity  as  chairman  of  their 
arbitration  board,  it  is  thought  that  his  address  to  the 
Milwaukee  convention,  being  the  first  direct  word  ever 
received  by  the  International  Union  from  the  Publishers' 
Association,  should  In-   reproduced  here: 

Ma.  PmtitDENT  amd  Crntlkmin:  It  U  ■  very  treat  pleasure  for  me.  officially 

icntlng   the   dully   newspaper   |ml>li«!irr«   «f    the   country,   and   the    special 

standing  committer  of  the  American  Newspaper  PuMUhera'  Association,  to  have 

dir   opportunity   <>f   meeting   v.m   In   session   assembled  aa  the  delegates  of  the 

lutein. itinnal  TjTPOffl  .i|>liic.il  I'iimii 

'P..-   American   Newspaper   Publishers'  Association  at  its  annual  oonvtntlon 

*4! 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

in  February  last  provided  for  the  appointment  of  a  special  standing  committee, 
as  follows: 

"Resolved,  That  the  president  of  the  American*  Newspaper  Publishers'  Asso- 
ciation appoint  a  national  committee  of  three  members  to  take  up  labor  questions 
affecting  generally  the  members  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Associa- 
tion, and  that  said  committee  is  hereby  empowered  to  take  all  measures  necessary 
in  its  judgment  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  members  of  this  association,  who 
may  be  in  trouble  with  labor  unions,  subject  to  the  direction  of  the  board  of 
directors. 

"Resolved,  That  no  local  member  or  association  decide  upon  questions  involv- 
ing the  jurisdiction  of  national  unions,  or  changes  affecting  members  at  large, 
until  such  matters  shall  have  been  passed  upon  by  the  special  standing  committee. 

"Resolved,  That  no  rule  of  a  labor  union  passed  on  and  after  this  date, 
affecting  the  properties  of  the  members  of  this  association,  can  be  recognized 
unless  it  has  first  been  passed  upon  by  the  special  standing  committee  appointed 
by  this  association. 

"Resolved,  That  the  special  standing  committee  be  directed  to  forthwith  ne- 
gotiate with  each  of  the  allied  organizations  for  the  establishment  of  joint  arbi- 
tration committees  to  adjust  disputes  between  members  and  local  unions,  that  can 
not  otherwise  be  settled. 

"Resolved,  That  the  special  standing  committee  be  instructed  to  bring  the 
subject  of  the  employment  of  proofreaders  to  the  attention  of  the  next  meeting 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  in  order  that  its  law  may  be  so 
amended  as  to  allow  proofreaders  to  be  employed  without  regard  to  their  connec- 
tion with  the  union. 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Asso- 
ciation that  linotype  machinists  should  not  be  members  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union." 

Upon  the  adjournment  of  the  convention,  the  president  appointed  the  follow- 
ing named  gentlemen  to  constitute  the  special  standing  committee:  Alfred 
Cowles,  Chicago  Tribune  (chairman);  Herman  Ridder,  New  York  Staats-Zeitung; 
M.  J.  Lowenstein,  St.  Louis  Star. 

Immediately  after  its  appointment  the  following  statement  was  published  by 
the  special  standing  committee: 

"The  American  Publishers'  Association,  in  view  of  the  conflicts  of  greater  or 
less  gravity  between  its  members  and  their  employes,  and  with  an  earnest  desire 
to  prevent  such  conflicts  if  possible  in  the  future,  appointed  at  its  recent  meeting 
a  special  standing  committee,  with  authority  to  secure  the  services  of  a  compe- 
tent commissioner.  This  committee  is  substantially  an  arbitration  committee.  Its 
duty  is  to  obtain  data  respecting  wages  paid  in  the  several  cities,  the  condition 
of  labor  in  the  offices  of  the  various  members  of  the  association,  and  such  other 
information  as  may  be  useful  and  beneficial  to  both  employer  and  employe. 

"This  committee  feels  charged  with  the  sacred  task  of  settling  disputes 
whenever  possible,  and  to  that  end  will  labor  to  secure  the  establishment  of  joint 
national  arbitration  committees  to  adjust  labor  troubles  between  members  and 
their  employes  that  can  not  otherwise  be  settled. 

"The  committee  was  not  appointed  to  provoke  controversies,  or  to  antagonize 
labor,  but  on  the  contrary  to  promote  a  better  understanding  between  members 
and  their  employes.  The  services  of  the  committee  and  its  commissioner  will  be 
at  the  disposal  of  any  member  of  the  association,  and  the  good  offices  of  the 
committee  will  gladly  be  extended  to  any  member  on  request."       • 

Early  in  April  I  had  the  honor  of  being  appointed  by  the  committee  as  com- 
missioner. At  its  last  meeting,  held  early  this  month,  the  following  resolution 
was  adopted: 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  the  special  standing  committee  of  the 
American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  that  the  publishers  should  have  the 


642 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

right  to  be  heard  on  all  proposed  amendments  to  the  constitution,  general  laws 
and  rules  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  affecting  their  interests." 

I  quote  these  resolutions  of  our  association  and  the  statements  of  the  com- 
mittee to  place  before  you  their  views,  which  were  adopted  by  them  with  absolute 
unanimity. 

It  is  perhaps  pertinent  here  to  state  that  there  are  directly  connected  with 
our  bureau  more  than  two  hundred  of  the  daily  newspapers  published  in  all  the 
principal  cities  of  the  country,  with  nearly  twenty  millions  of  dollars  invested 
in  the  mechanical  plants  of  their  business,  and  employing  more  than  twenty 
thousand  persons  outside  of  their  editorial  staff,  correspondents  and  counting- 
room  employes.  From  recently  gathered  statistics  we  learn  that  about  60  per 
cent  of  the  mechanical  employes  are  members  of  labor  unions.  The  publishers  of 
this  mighty  aggregation  of  newspapers  rank  as  high  in  the  business  world  in 
points  of  intelligence  and  broad  business  requirements  as  any  class  of  gentlemen 
that  can  be  found  in  the  sixty  cities  where  they  dwell.  The  resolutions  which  I 
have  presented  to  you  for  information  represent  their  ideas  concerning  some  of 
the  changes  which  should  be  made  in  your  laws  and  methods  of  transacting  that 
portion  of  your  business  which  affects  their  interests.  They  have  not  intended 
to  ask  your  body  to  do  anything  but  that  which  is  fair  and  just,  and  to  assist 
them  in  establishing  a  basis  whereby  friction  can  be  avoided  and  permanent 
industrial  peace  secured. 

I  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  a  considerable  bitterness  of  feeling  has 
been  engendered  in  the  minds  of  publishers  because  of  your  action  at  your  last 
convention  in  compelling  proofreaders  and  linotype  machinists  to  become  mem- 
bers of  the  typographical  union.  These  two  classes  of  employes  are  in  no  sense 
entitled  to  be  called  printers,  and  these  new  requirements  have  occasioned  a  great 
deal  of  trouble.  In  some  cases  the  requirements  have  been  ignored,  and  in  one 
notable  case  the  requirements  covering  the  machinists  caused  one  of  the  most 
disastrous  strikes,  which  occasioned  large  assessments  and  expenditures  of  strike 
funds,  drove  scores  of  printers  from  their  homes  to  seek  work  elsewhere,  and 
inflicted  a  great  amount  of  sore  distress  on  hundreds  of  workmen's  families. 
There  can  not  be  to  exceed  three  hundred  linotype  machinists  employed  by  the 
publishers.  It  would  seem  to  an  impartial  observer  that  it  was  hardly  wise  for 
an  organization  claiming  to  number  more  than  thirty  thousand  to  cause  such 
trouble  for  the  very  few  employed  to  take  care  of  the  linotype  machines,  with 
whom  there  has  been  before  this  no  substantial  trouble. 

With  reference  to  the  matter  of  proofreaders,  the  publishers  regard  it  as  a 
needless  interference  with  the  conduct  of  their  business.  They  claim  that  many 
valued  employes,  whose  services  have  been  acceptable  in  this  occupation,  do  not 
desire  to  join  the  unions;  that  there  is  no  more  propriety  in  requiring  them  to 
join  the  union  than  to  ask  counter  clerks  or  employes  who  are  not  printers;  but, 
above  all,  it  is  claimed  the  maintenance  of  this  rule  will  impair  the  service; 
that  membership  in  the  union,  rather  than  skill  in  their  occupation,  will  be  con* 
sidcrcd  the  requirement  on  the  part  of  the  employe.  For  these  reasons  and 
others  which  might  be  noted,  I  am  directed  to  ask  you  to  repeal  these  two  new 
features  grafted  on  your  constitution  last  year. 

You  are  also  asked  by  the  publishers  to  unite  with  them  in  establishing  a 
joint  arbitration  committee  to  adjust  dispute*  between  the  publishers  and  local 
unions  that  can  not  otherwise  be  settled,  and  to  act  as  a  board  of  appeal.  If  you 
would  do  this,  a  long  step  would  be  taken  toward  the  abolition  of  the  strike, 
boycott  and  lockout. 

Your  .itt<  nt1.11  in  particularly  directed  to  the  rMOtatsMI  of  the  publishers 
and  also  of  the  committee,  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  should 
make  no  changes  in  its  constitution  or  general  law*,  bearing  upon  the  rights  Or 
affecting  the  intcrrnU  of  the  piil>li«hrr%.  without  lir«t  having  a  consultation  with 
the  authorized  representatives  of  the   newspaper   publishers  and   learning   their 


643 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

views  on  any  proposed  changes.  There  is  not  a  member  of  this  union  who  will 
deny  the  fairness  of  this  proposition,  if  he  will  be  candid  and  just  both  to 
himself  and  his  employer.  I  confidently  hope;  that  upon  reflection  you  will  all 
agree  that,  now  the  publishers  have  appeared  before  you,  through  their  repre- 
sentatives, your  laws  or  rules  will  be  so  amended  as  to  comply  with  these  reso- 
lutions. The  local  contracts  of  the  publishers  have,  to  a  large  extent,  protected 
them  against  changes  by  the  local  unions,  but  the  local  unions  themselves  are 
constantly  affected  by  new  obligations  placed  on  them  by  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  in  its  annual  legislation. 

Complaint  is  made  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  does  not  at 
all  times  respect  as  sacred  the  contracts  made  between  local  unions  and  the  pub- 
lishers. If  I  have  been  correctly  informed  the  International  Typographical 
Union  can  modify  or  annul  any  such  contract,  unless  it  has  been  specifically  and 
formally  approved  by  the  parent  organization.  I  venture  to  say  that  nine-tenths 
of  the  local  contracts  in  existence  have  not  been  so  formally  approved.  Bear  in 
mind  that  while  the  publisher  is  generally  financially  responsible  and  can  be 
compelled  to  perform  his  part  of  the  contract,  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to 
legally  enforce  the  performance  of  a  contract  on  the  part  of  the  unions.  There 
should  be  no  uncertainty  as  to  the  validity  of  a  contract  with  the  local  union, 
so  far  as  the  action  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  is  concerned. 

A  cause  of  friction  is  the  frequent  practice  of  local  unions  in  forming  and 
ratifying  new  scales  in  secret  session  without  consulting  in  advance  with  the 
publishers,  who. are  expected  to  pay  the  bills.  Before  any  new  scale  is  submitted 
to  the  local  union  for  adoption  a  full  consultation  should  be  had  with  the  em- 
ployers to  be  affected  thereby.  Section  149  of  your  general  laws  recommends 
"conciliatory  methods  in  making  important  changes  in  prices,"  etc.  All  proposed 
changes  should  be  made  only  after  mutual  conference.  Allow  me  to  suggest  the 
amendment  of  your  laws  to  secure  this  result  in  the  future. 

Another  cause  of  friction  arises  in  many  cases  from  the  fact  that  the  fore- 
men are  required  to  be  members  of  the  union.  The  foreman  is  placed  in  charge 
of  the  room  to  protect  the  interests  of  his  employer.  The  workmen  are  present  to 
represent  themselves  and  in  addition  have  the  father  of  the  chapel  to  look  after 
their  interests.  At  a  convention  of  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders, 
one  of  your  affiliated  organizations,  held  in  St.  Louis  in  1896,  the  question  arose 
as  to  whether  foremen  should  belong  to  the  union  or  2iot.  After  discussion  it 
was  decided  they  must  not.  If  a  workman  belonging  to  the  union  was  advanced 
to  the  position  of  foreman  he  was  allowed  to  take  a  withdrawal  card,  which 
would  entitle  him  to  come  back  into  the  union  if  he  should  lose  his  position.  This 
rule  governs  today.  C.  E.  Weimar,  president  of  the  International  Brotherhood 
of  Bookbinders,  in  a  letter  dated  February  18,  1900,  and  since  published,  states 
that  "foremen  can  not  very  well  carry  both  the  interest  of  their  employer  and 
the  interest  of  the  union  on  one  pair  of  shoulders  without  causing  difficulties 
for  both."  From  my  personal  experience  as  publisher  for  more  than  a  score  of 
years,  I  can  state  that  the  local  union  never  had  any  trouble  with  my  foreman 
by  reason  of  his  not  being  a  member  of  the  union.  I  earnestly  recommend  an 
amendment  of  your  laws  to  carry  this  suggestion  into  effect.  I  am  sure  it  would 
result  in  the  establishment  of  far  better  and  more  cordial  relations  than  has 
previously  existed. 

Within  the  present  year,  the  last  of  the  nineteenth  century,  a  most  notable 
instance  of  the  peaceful  settlement  of  the  relations  between  capital  and  labor 
has  taken  place.  I  refer  to  what  I  call  the  treaty  of  peace  between  the  Interna- 
tional Machinists'  Association  and  the  National  Metal  Trades  Association, 
consummated  May  18,  1900.  Both  organizations  were  acknowledged  by  all  to 
be  strong  and  powerful.  A  statement  published  at  the  time  the  event  occurred 
announced  the  decision  to  abolish  strikes  and  uphold  arbitration  in  this  case 
benefited  two  hundred  thousand  workmen  and  seventy-five  millions  of  capital. 

644 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

May  I  suggest  this  as  an  object  lesson  to  your  organization?  Are  not  the 
members  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  as  intelligent,  progressive 
and  fair-minded  as  the  metal  workers?  Is  it  unreasonable  to  hope  that  the 
International  Typographical  Union  and  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association  may  get  together  and  establish  friendly  relations,  such  as  have  not 
previously  existed?  Sweep  out  of  your  constitution,  general  laws  and  rules,  all 
matters  which  are  unfair  or  unjust  to  both  parties  interested,  and  thereby  remove 
all  principal  cause  of  friction.  Provide  for  the  settlement  by  peaceful  methods 
of  any  differences  which  may  arise.  Provide,  that  while  differences  are  being 
settled  by  arbitration,  the  men  must  stay  at  work,  and  likewise  that  the  employer 
shall  not  lock  them  out. 

Then  you  can  return  to  the  constituents  you  represent  and  report  to  them 
that  permanent  industrial  peace  has  been  secured,  and  harmonious  relations 
established  between  the  members  of  the' typographical  unions  and  their  employes. 
These  results  attained,  would  bear  witness  to  the  experience  acquired  and  the 
progress  gained  in  the  closing  year  of  the  semi-centennial  existence  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  and  most  fittingly  usher  in  the  beginning  of  the 
twentieth  century. 

In  considering  the  address  of  Commissioner  Driscoll 
and  dealing  with  the  propositions  contained  therein  the 
convention  went  on  record  regarding  changes  in  wage 
scales  and  conditions,  as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  that  subordinate  unions  should  adopt  con- 
ciliatory measures  at  all  times  when  changing  their  scales  of 
prices,  and  that  before  any  change  in  the  scale  of  prices  is 
adopted  it  should  be  submitted  to  all  publishers  who  are  in- 
terested. Also,  that  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
when  requested,  shall  allow  a  representative  of  the  American 
Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  to  be  heard  on  important 
changes  in  the  laws  affecting  their  interests. 

After  a  full  discussion  in  executive  session  the  conven- 
tion adopted  the  following  resolutions: 

Resolved,  That  the  executive  council  be  instructed  to  confer 
with  the  secretary  or  commissioner  of  the  American  Newspaper 
Publishers'  Association  with  a  view  to  arriving  at  an  agreement 
providing  for  the  amicable  adjustment  of  all  differences  that 
may  arise  between  any  member  of  said  association  and  the 
typographical  union  and  its  affiliated  bodies;  and 

Be  it  further  resolved.  That  if  the  American  Newspaper 
Publishers'  Association  shall  agree  to  submit  to  arbitration  all 
disputes,  pending  and  future,  between  the  meml>ers  of  said 
association  and  the  typographical  union  ami  its  affiliated  bodice, 
then  the  council  li  instructed  to  prepare  laws  governing  such 

645 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

agreement,  have  the  same  printed  and  sent  to  all  subordinate 
unions,  and  if  endorsed  by  fifty  subordinate  unions,  shall 
submit  them  to  a  referendum  vote  of  the  membership,  and  use 
its  influence  to  the  end  that  they  may  be  adopted  by  popular 
vote  of  the  members  of  the  International  Union. 

Copies  of  the  resolutions  above  quoted  were  furnished 
Commissioner  Driscoll  and  from  subsequent  correspond- 
ence it  developed  that  the  special  standing  committee  of 
the  publishers  had  no  power  to  arbitrate  pending  disputes 
as  outlined  in  the  second  resolution,  and  that  it  would 
require  action  by  the  publishers  at  their  next  convention 
to  enable  the  committee  to  deal  with  that  phase  of  the 
question.  Mr.  Driscoll,  in  behalf  of  the  committee,  at  a 
later  date,  asked  the  executive  council  to  determine 
whether  it  was  authorized  to  proceed  under  the  terms  of 
the  first  resolution  alone  and  confer  with  the  representa- 
tives of  the  Publishers'  Association  with  a  view  to  arriv- 
ing at  an  agreement  providing  for  the  amicable  adjust- 
ment of  all  difficulties  that  might  arise  between  any  mem- 
ber of  the  Publishers'  Association  and  the  Typographical 
Union  and  its  affiliated  bodies.  By  unanimous  vote,  the 
executive  council  decided  that  it  had  authority  to  proceed 
in  this  way,  and  announced  its  willingness  to  do  so. 
Owing  to  the  fact,  however,  that  a  change  in  administra- 
tion was  to  take  place  on  November  I,  1900,  the  out- 
going council  expressed  the  belief  that  the  negotiations 
should  be  conducted  by  the  incoming  administration. 

Shortly  after  November  1  the  question  of  conducting 
negotiations  with  the  publishers'  representatives  was  laid 
before  the  new  council  and  that  body  authorized  Presi- 
dent Lynch  to  appoint  a  committee  of  three  councilors 
for  that  purpose.  The  conferees  met  in  Chicago,  Novem- 
ber 16,  1900,  with  the  following  present,  in  addition  to 
Commissioner  Driscoll :  Representing  the  American 
Newspaper  Publishers'  Association — Alfred  Cowles,  A. 
A.  McCormick   (proxy  for  Herman  Ridder)   and  M.  J. 

646 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

Lowenstein.  Representing  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union — James  M.  Lynch,  C.  E.  Hawkes  and  J.  W. 
Bramwood. 

An  organization  was  effected  by  the  election  of  Alfred 
Cowles  as  chairman  and  J.  W.  Bramwood  as  secretary. 
Propositions  offered  by  both  parties  were  fully  discussed 
during  Friday  and  Saturday,  November  16  and  17.  On 
the  afternoon  of  the  second  day  a  special  committee  was 
appointed  to  reconcile  existing  differences  in  the  proposi- 
tions presented,  the  committee  being  instructed  to  report 
at  7:30  o'clock  Saturday  evening.  The  report  of  this 
committee  was  carefully  revised  and  an  arbitration 
agreement  approved  and  signed  by  the  conferees  and 
Commissioner  Driscoll. 

The  board  of  directors  of  the  American  Newspaper 
Publishers'  Association,  at  a  meeting  held  shortly  after 
the  Chicago  convention,  endorsed  the  agreement  and  the 
association  at  its  meeting  in  February,  1901,  approved 
the  action  taken. 

By  a  referendum  vote  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union,  taken  in  March,  1901,  the  membership  en- 
dorsed the  arbitration  agreement  by  a  majority  of  9,000 
out  of  a  total  of  16,074  votes  cast.  The  arbitration  agree- 
ment was  as  follows : 

Arbitration  Agreement  Between  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association 
and  the  International  Typographical  Union 

Section  i.    On   and  after    1901,   and  until    1904,   any 

publisher  who  is  a  member  of  the  American  Newspaper   Publisher*'  Association, 
employing  union  lalmr  in  any  department,  or  all  departments,  of  hi*  office,  under 
an  exiiting  contract  or  contract*,  either  written  or  verbal,  with  a  local  uni"< 
unions,  chartered  by  the   International  Typographical    I'nion.  shall   be  prod 
under   such   contract   or   contract*   by   the    International   Typographical    IV. 
against  walkouts,  strikes,  boycott*  or  any  other  form  of  concerted  interference 
with  the  peaceful  operation  of  the  department  or  department*  of   labor  so  con* 
tractcd  for  by  any  union  or  union*  with   which  he   ha*  contractual   relation*; 
•led,   *aid   publisher   •hall   enter   into   an   agreement    with   the    International 
graphical   Union  to  arbitrate  all  dilTrrrncrs  that  may  arise  under   said  ts> 
isting  verbal-  or  written  contract  or  contract*  between  said  publisher  and  union 
employe*  in  said  department  or  department*,   in  case  said  difference*  can  not 
settled  by  conciliation. 
Skc.   j.     If  con.  ili.itiou   brtween  the   publisher  and  a  local  union   f»i' 
provision  must  be  made  for  local  arbitration.     If  local  arbitration  or  arbitrators 

*W 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

can  not  be  agreed  upon,  all  differences  shall  be  referred,  upon  application  of 
either  party,  to  the  national  board  of  arbitration.  In  case  a  local  board  of  arbi- 
tration is  formed,  and  a  decision  rendered  which  is  unsatisfactory  to  either 
side,  then  an  appeal  may  be  taken  to  the  national  board  of  arbitration  by  the 
dissatisfied  party. 

Sec.  3.  In  cases  of  appeal  from  a  local  board  of  arbitration,  the  national 
board  of  arbitration  shall  not  take  evidence  except  by  a  majority  vote  of  the 
board,  but  the  appellant  and  appellee  may  be  required  to  submit  records  and 
briefs  and  to  make  oral  or  written  arguments  (at  the  option  of  the  board)  in 
support  of  their  several  contentions.  The  parties  to  the  controversy  may  sub- 
mit an  agreed  statement  of  facts,  or  a  transcript  of  testimony  properly  certified 
to  before  a  notary  public  by  the  stenographer  taking  the  original  evidence  or 
depositions. 

Sec.  4.  Pending  decision  under  such  appeal,  work  shall  be  continued  in 
the  office  of  the  publisher,  party  to  the  case,  and  the  award  of  the  national 
board  of  arbitration  shall,  in  all  cases,  include  a  determination  of  the  issues  in- 
volved, covering  the  period  between  the  raising  of  the  issues  and  their  final 
settlement;  and  any  change  or  changes  in  the  wage  scale  of  employes  may,  at 
the  discretion  of  the  board,  be  made  effective  from  the  date  the  issues  were 
first  made. 

Sec.  5.  If,  in  any  case,  any  number  of  the  newspaper  publishers  of  any 
city,  forming  a  local  publishers'  association,  enter  into  contract,  verbal  or 
written,  with  any  of  the  subordinate  unions  belonging  to  or  affiliated  with  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  then  and  in  that  case  such  associations  shall 
enjoy  all  the  rights  and  be  subjected  to  all  the  obligations  hereby  applying  to 
any  individual  publisher  as  noted  above. 

Sec.  6.  Employers  whose  offices  are  union  in  all  mechanical  departments 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  in  whose 
offices  disputes  arise  affecting  one  or  all  of  those  departments,  which  can  not 
be  settled  locally,  shall  have  the  right  to  demand  the  services  of  the  national 
board  of  arbitration.  Employers  whose  offices  are  union  in  one  or  more 
mechanical  departments  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  shall  have  the  right  to  demand  the  services  of  the  national  board  of 
arbitration  as  to  disputes  which  may  arise  in  any  of  these  union  departments 
which  can  not  be  settled  locally. 

Sec.  7.  Local  unions  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  becoming 
involved  in  disputes  with  a  publisher  concerning  the  union  departments  of  the 
offices  heretofore  described  shall  have  the  right  to  demand  the  services  of  the 
national  board  of  arbitration,   if  such  disputes  can  not  be  settled  locally. 

Sec.  8.  The  words  "union  department"  as  herein  employed  shall  be  con- 
strued to  refer  only  to  such  departments  as  are  made  up  wholly  of  union  em- 
ployes, in  which  union  rules  prevail,  and  in  which  the  union  has  been  formally 
recognized  by  the  employer. 

Sec.  9.  It  is  understood  that  this  agreement  shall  apply  to  individual 
members  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  or  local  associa- 
tions of  publishers  accepting  it  and  the  rules  drafted  hereunder,  at  least  thirty 
days  before  a  dispute  shall  arise. 

Sec.  10.  The  national  board  of  arbitration  shall  consist  of  the  president  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  the  commissioner  of  the  American 
Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  or  their  proxies,  and  in  the  event  of  failure 
to  reach  an  agreement,  these  two  shall  select  a  third  member  in  each  dispute, 
the  member  so  selected  to  act  as  chairman  of  the  board.  The  finding  of  the 
majority  of  the  board  shall  be  final  and  shall  be  accepted  as  such  by  the  par- 
ties to  the  dispute  under  consideration. 

Sec.  11.  In  the  event  of  either  party  to  the  dispute  refusing  to  accept  and 
comply  with  the  decision  of  the  national  board  of  arbitration,  all  aid  and  sup- 
port to  the  firm  or  employer  or  local  union  refusing  acceptance  and  compliance 


648 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900' 

shall  be  withdrawn  by  both  parties  to  this  agreement.  The  acts  of  such  recal- 
citrant employer  or  union  shall  be  publicly  disavowed,  and  the  aggrieved  party 
to  this  agreement  shall  be  furnished  by  the  other  with  an  official  document  to 
that  effect. 

Sec.  12.  The  said  national  board  of  arbitration  must  act  when  its  services 
are  desired  by  either  party  to  a  dispute  as  above,  and  shall  proceed  with  all 
possible  dispatch  in  rendering  such  services. 

Sec.  13.  All  expenses  attendant  upon  the  settlement  of  any  dispute,  except 
the  personal  expenses  of  the  commissioner  of  the  American  Newspaper  Pub- 
lishers' Association  and  of  the  president  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  shall  be  borne  equally  by  the  parties  to  the  dispute. 

Sec.  14.  The  conditions  obtaining  before  the  initiation  of  the  dispute  shall 
remain  in  effect  pending  the  finding  of  the  local  or  of  the  national  board  of 
arbitration. 

Sec.  15.  The  following  rules  shall  govern  the  national  board  of  arbitration 
in  adjusting  differences  between  parties  to  this  agreement: 

First.    It  may  demand  duplicate  typewritten   statements  of  grievances. 

Second.  It  may  examine  all  parties  involved  in  any  differences  referred  to 
it  for  adjudication. 

Third.  It  may  employ  such  stenographers,  etc.,  as  may  be  necessary  to 
facilitate  business. 

Fourth.    It  may  require  an  affidavit  on  all  disputed  points. 

Fifth.  It  shall  have  free  access  to  all  books  and  records  bearing  on  points 
at   issue. 

Sixth.  Equal  opportunity  shall  be  allowed  for  presentation  of  evidence 
and  argument. 

Seventh.  Investigation  shall  be  conducted  in  the  presence  of  represent- 
atives of  both  parties. 

Eighth.  The  deliberations  of  the  board  shall  be  conducted  in  executive 
session,  and  the  findings,  whether  unanimous  or  not,  shall  be  signed  by  all  the 
members  of  the  board  in  each  instance. 

Ninth.  In  the  event  of  either  party  to  the  dispute  refusing  or  failing 
to  appear  or  present  its  case  after  due  notice,  it  may  be  adjudged  in  default 
and   findings   rendered   against   such   party. 

Tenth.  All  evidence  communicated  to  the  board  in  confidence  shall  be 
preserved   inviolate  and  no  record  of  such  evidence  shall  be  kept. 

Sec.  16.  The  form  of  contract  to  be  entered  into  by  the  publisher  and 
the  International   Typographical   Union  shall  be  as  follows: 

I  Form  of  Contract.) 

It   is  agreed  between    publisher(s)    or   proprietor(s)   of   the    

of   duly  authorixed  to  act  in  its  behalf,  party  of  the  first  part,  and  the 

International  Typographical  Union,  by  its  president,  duly  authorised  to  act 
in  its  behalf,  and  also  in  behalf  of union!*)  of as  follows: 

That  any  and   all   disputes   that   may   arise   under   the   existing   contractu). 

verbal    or    written,    between     publisher!*)     or    proprietor!*)     and    tbc 

union!*),    or    any     member     thereof,    now    operating     in    the 

department!*)    of    the    ihall    firit    be    nettled    by    conciliation    between 

tli<  publisher  and  the  authorities  of  the  local  union,  if  potsible.  If  not. 
the  matter  shall  be  referred  to  arbitration,  each  party,  to  the  controversy  to 
select  one  arbitrator,  and  the  two  thus  chosen  to  select  a  third,  tbt  dock  ton 
of  a  majority  of  such  board  of  arbitration  to  bo  Anal  and  binding  upon  both 
parties,  except   a*   hereinafter  provided    for 

If  local  arbitration  or  arbitrators  can  not  be  agreed  upon,  all  differences 
shall  lie  referred.  u|«">  application  of  either  party,  to  the  national  boon! 
of  arbitration,  consisting  of  the  president  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  and    the   commixionci    •  ■(    tlir    Amrtuaii    New»|>aper    I'uMnher*'   Atoocia 


649 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tion,  or  their  proxies,  and  if  the  board  thus  constituted  can  not  agree  it  shall 
be  authorized  to  select  an  additional  member,  and  the  decision  of  a  majority 
of   this   board,   thus   constituted,   shall   be   final   and   binding   upon   both    parties. 

Pending  arbitration  and  decision  thereunder,  work  shall  be  continued  as 
usual  in  the  office  of  the  publisher,  party  to  this  agreement,  and  the  award 
of  the  arbitrators  shall,  in  all  cases,  include  &■  determination  of  the  issues 
involved,  covering  the  period  between  the  raising  of  the  issues  and  the  final 
settlement;  and  any  change  or  changes  in  the  wage  scale  of  employes,  or  other 
ruling,  may,  at  the  discretion  of  the  arbitrators,  be  made  effective  from  the 
date  the  issues  were  first  made. 

In  case  a  local  board  of  arbitration  is  formed  and  a  decision  rendered  which 
is  unsatisfactory  to  either  side,  then  an  appeal  may  be  taken  to  the  above 
described  national  board  of  arbitration  by  the  dissatisfied  party.  Pending 
decision  under  such  appeal  from  a  local  board  of  arbitration,  work  shall  be 
continued  as  usual  in  the  office  of  the  publisher  party  to  the  case,  and  the 
award  of  the  national  board  of  arbitration  shall,  in  all  cases,  include  a  deter- 
mination of  the  issues  involved,  covering  the  period  between  the  raising  of  the 
issues  and  their  final  settlement;  and  any  change  or  changes  in  the  wage  scale 
of  employes  may,  at  the  discretion  of  the  board,  be  made  effective  from  the 
date  the  issues  were  first   made. 

In  consideration  of  the  agreement  by  the  said  publisher(s)  or  proprietor(s) 
to  arbitrate  all  differences  arising  under   existing  verbal  or  written  contract(s) 

with    the    union  (s),    the    International    Typographical    Union    agrees    to 

underwrite  the  said  existing  contract (s)  and  guarantees  their  fulfilment  on 
the  part  of union(s). 

It  is  expressly  understood  and  agreed  that  the  sections  numbered  from 
one  to  seventeen,  inclusive,  of  the  agreement  between  the  American  Newspaper 
Publishers'  Association  and  the  International  Typographical  Union,  hereunto 
attached,  shall  be  considered  an  integral  part  of  this  contract,  and  shall  have 
the  same  force  and  effect  as  though  set  forth  in  the  contract  itself. 

This  contract  shall  be  in  full   force  and  effect  from    day  of    , 

190..,    to    day    of    ,    190..,    unless   terminated   sooner   by   mutual 

consent. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  undersigned  publisher(s)  or  proprietor(s)  of 
the  said  newspaper,  and  the  president  of  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
have  hereunto  affixed  their  respective  signatures,  this   day  of   190... 

This    covenant    between    the    International    Typographical    Union    and    the 

American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  shall  remain  in  effect  from 

day  of    1 90 1,  to    day  of    ,    1902,  unless  terminated  sooner 

by  mutual  consent. 

Whereas  in  pursuance  of  resolutions  adopted  by  the  American  Newspaper 
Publishers'  Association  at  New  York,  in  February,  1900,  and  the  International 
Typographical  Union  in  annual  assembly  at  Milwaukee,  in  August,  1900,  an 
agreement  entitled  "Arbitration  Agreement  Between  the  American  Newspaper 
Publishers'  Association  and  the  International  Typographical  Union"  has  this 
day  been  devised  by  a  committee  of  the  executive  council  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  the  special  standing  committee  of  the  American 
Newspaper  Publishers'  Association; 

Now,  therefore,  it  is  mutually  agreed  as  follows: 

First.  This  agreement  shall  be  published  simultaneously  by  the  two  bodies 
at  such  time  as  may  hereafter  be  decided  upon. 

Second.  The  agreement  shall  be  submitted  for  ratification  to  the  American 
Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  at  its  annual  meeting  in  February,  1901, 
and  immediately  thereafter  either  to  the  executive  council  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  or  to  a  referendum  of  the  membership  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union.    If  formally  ratified  as  a  whole  by  both  bodies  it  shall 


65O 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

thereupon  become  effective  at  a  date  to  be  established,  to  remain  in   full   force 

and  effect  for  one  year  thereafter,  unless  mutually  abrogated  sooner,  as  therein 

provided  for. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  affixed  our  signatures  this  seventeenth 

day  of  November,   1900.  A  _  _,    . 

Alfred    Cowles,     Chairman. 

.      M.    J.     LoWENSTEIN, 

A.  A.  McCormick 

(for   Herman    Ridder), 

For   the   Special  Standing  Committee  of   the  American    Newspaper  Publishers' 

Association.  -.  _. 

Frederick  Driscoll, 

Commissioner. 

James  M.  Lynch, 
Charles  E.  Hawkes, 
J.   W.    Hramwooo, 
Representing  the  Executive  Council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

TRIPARTITE     AGREEMENT 

A  conference  of  representatives  of  the  several  inter- 
national unions  interested  in  the  tripartite  agreement 
was  held  at  Baltimore,  beginning  Monday,  March  18, 
1901.  The  International  Typographical  Union  was  rep- 
resented by  President  Lynch,  Second  Vice-President 
Freel  and  Third  Vice-President  Miller.  President  Bow- 
man, D.  J.  McDonald,  of  Boston,  and  Benjamin  Thomp- 
son, of  New  York,  represented  the  International  Print- 
ing Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union.  President  Tatem, 
J.  L.  Feeney,  of  Washington,  and  C.  F.  Weimar,  of  New 
York,  were  the  delegates  from  the  International  Broth- 
erhood of  Bookbinders.  The  object  of  the  conference 
was  to  amend  the  tripartite  agreement  so  as  to  make  it 
more  satisfactory  to  the  unions  interested.  The  follow- 
ing constitution  and  rules  for  the  government  of  local 
allied  printing  trades  councils  were  adopted: 

In  consideration  of  the  terms  of  the  foregoing  agreement,  and  with  the 
authority  vetted  in  tlicin  by  the  international  conventions  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  ilir  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Aaaiatants' 
Union,  and  the  International  llmtlirrhood  of  Bookbinder*,  the  duly  author  i—d 
representatives  of  the  parties  to  the  foregoing  agreement,  for  the  purpose 
of  more  clearly  datntaf  thrir  obligations  to  each  other,  tlir  paVMH  «f  local 
allied   trades,   and    for    tlir    further    purpose   of   avoiding    .It. pules   and    securing 

the  bannoniova  oo*op*rat!oa  of  «n  loot!  avaioat  Li  fotjM  defensive  action  ami 

Inltel   ■ftotton,  rlo  enact  the   following  rule*  ami   regulations: 

■■I  iion  1.  The  president*  of  the  high  contracting  partita  to  this  agrsaojtnt 
ahatl  constitute  a  joint  board  of  appeal*. 

651 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Sec.  2.  The  officers  of  this  board  of  appeals  shall  be  as  follows:  President, 
vice-president  and  secretary. 

Sec.   3.    It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  preside  at  all  meetings. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to  keep  a  correct  record 
of  the  minutes  of  all  meetings;  to  receive  and  place  before  the  members  of  the 
joint  board  of  appeals  all  cases  which  are  submitted  to  them  for  their  considera- 
tion; he  shall  keep  a  record  of  all  decisions  and  transcribe  the  opinions  of  the 
members  of  this  board  of  appeals  on  all  cases  submitted. 

Sec.  5.  On  the  demand  of  two  of  the  members  of  the  joint  board  of 
appeals,  the  president  shall  call  a  meeting,  at  a  convenient  place  and  time. 

Sec.  6.  Each  organization  shall  pay  one-third  of  the  expense  of  this  joint 
board  of  appeals. 

Sec.  7.  All  rules  enacted  by  the  joint  board  of  appeals  for  the  government 
of  allied  trades  councils  shall  be  adopted  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  board, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  executive  councils  of  the  high  contracting  parties 
to  this  agreement. 

Sec  8.  Should  a  union  affiliated  with  an  allied  trades  council  feel  that 
an  injustice  has  been  done  by  the  local  council,  or  should  any  officer  or  delegate 
to  such  council  feel  that  he  has  been  wronged  or  an  injustice  done  him  by  said 
council,  or  that  said  council  has  not  complied  with  the  constitution  and  rules 
governing  the  allied  trades  council,  the  right  to  appeal  shall  be  granted  under 
the  following  provisions:  Notice  of  intention  to  appeal  shall  be  filed  with  the 
proper  officer  of  the  local  council  within  three  (3)  days,  and  the  appellant  shall 
serve  copies  of  all  testimony  and  arguments  on  said  officials  within  ten  (10) 
days  after  the  local  council  has  rendered  its  decision;  and  respondent  shall 
reply  thereto  within  a  like  period;  and  forward  all  documents  and  evidence 
to  the  secretary  of  the  joint  board  of  appeals;  provided,  that  the  secretary 
of  the  joint  board  of  appeals  may  grant  a  further  extension  to  either  party,  if, 
in  his  opinion,  the  ends  of  justice  will  be  subserved  thereby. 

Sec  9.  All  parties  to  the  appeal,  in  cases  where  documents  are  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  board  of  appeals,  are  required  to  make  affidavit  to  the  truth 
of  their  statements  before  a  notary  public. 

Sec  10.  For  the  government  of  local  allied  trades  councils  the  following 
rules  and  regulations  are  adopted;  provided,  that  a  local  council  may  make  such 
additional  provisions  and  rules  for  its  government  as  are  not  in  conflict  with 
the  constitution  hereby  enacted,  or  the  international  tripartite  agreement  by 
which  it  is  governed. 

Article  I.   (Name) 

Section   i.    This  body  shall  be  known  as  the  allied  printing  trades  council 

of   and  vicinity. 

Article  II.   (Objects) 

Section  i.  The  objects  of  this  organization  are  to  encourage  and  foster 
a  feeling  of  friendship  between  the  organizations  engaged  in  the  printing  trade 
and  kindred  branches;  to  discuss  ways  and  means  for  bettering  the  condition 
and  advancing  the  interests  of  the  organizations  connected  with  this  body; 
to  stimulate  the  individual  membership  of  the  allied  organizations  to  an  active 
interest  in  each  other,  thereby  securing  a  better  understanding  and  a  fraternal 
feeling  between  members  who  are  so  closely  allied  by  the  nature  of  their 
respective  trades  or  callings;  to  promote  the  settlement  of  disputes  by  arbitra- 
tion and  thereby  discourage  strikes. 

Article  III.   (Membership) 

Section   i.    This   organization    shall   be   composed   of   the   members    of   the 

International  Typographical  Union   and  all   organizations  holding  charters  from 

the  same;    the   International   Printing  Pressmen   and   Assistants'   Union   and   all 

organizations    holding   charters    from   the    same;    the    International    Brotherhood 

652 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

of  Bookbinders  and  all  organizations  holding  charters  from  the  same;  and  such 
other  organizations  affiliated  with  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  as  may 
obtain  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  joint  board  of  appeals  to  their  admission. 

Article  IV.  (Representation) 

Section  1.  This  council  shall  be  composed  of  three  (3)  delegate*  from 
each  local  union  entitled  to  representation   in  this  body. 

Sec.  2.  The  term  of  office  and  the  manner  of  selecting  delegates  to  councils 
and  the  form  of  credentials  shall  be  decided  upon  by  the  local  unions. 

Article  V.   (Officers) 
Section    i.    The   officers   of  the   allied   printing  trades  council   of       •    •    • 
shall  consist  of  a  president  and  secretary   (and  such  other  officers  as  the  local 
council  may  decide  necessary  to  the  successful  conduct  of  its  business). 

Article  VI.   (Duties  of  Officers) 

Section  i.  The  duties  of  officers,  with  the  exception  of  the  secretary, 
shall  be  defined  by  the  local. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to  keep  an  accurate  record 
of  the  proceedings  and  business  of  the  council,  which  record  shall  be  open 
to  the  inspection,  at  all  times,  of  any  member  of  the  joint  board  of  appeals; 
he  shall  transact  all  correspondence  and  be  the  custodian  of  all  documents, 
seals,  labels  and  property  of  the  council;  he  shall  secure  from  the  headquarters 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  through  its  secretary,  such  labels 
as  the  local  council  may  require;  he  shall  provide  a  safe  depositary  or  receptacle 
for  all  labels,  and  shall  keep  a  true  and  accurate  record  of  all  labels  issued  and 
to  whom  issued,  and  be  responsible  to  the  council  for  all  labels  intrusted  to  his 
care;  he  shall  furnish  to  the  joint  board  of  appeals  all  information  which  it  may 
request. 

Article  VII.   (Funds) 

Section  i.  The  funds  for  the  support  of  any  local  council  shall  be  raised 
in  such  manner  as  the  council  may  decide,  but  no  taxation  shall  be  imposed 
except  by  a  four-fifths  vote  of  all  the  unions  represented. 

Article  VIII.   (Grievances  and  Joint  Strikes) 

Section  i.  Where  a  local  union  fails  to  adjust  a  difficulty,  and  desires  the 
assistance  of  any  of  the  parties  to  the  international  tripartite  agreement,  or 
desires  joint  action,  it  shall  report  such  difficulty  or  grievance  to  the  allied 
trades  council.  Should  the  allied  trades  council  endorse  said  grievance  or  strike, 
the  provisions  of  the  international  tripartite  agreement  shall  be  complied   with. 

Sec.  a.  Local  vote  for  general  strike  must  be  had  at  any  regular  or  special 
meeting,  of  which  meeting  and  contemplated  action  there  shall  have  been  at 
least  twenty-four  hours'  notice  given  by  the  executive  committees  of  local  unions 
to  all  members  of  the  local  unions  involved  in  the  strike. 

Sec.  3.     Upon    failing   to   effect    an    amicable    settlement    of   any   dispute    in 
which  the  memlwrs  of  the  contracting  parties  to  this  agreement  arc  involved,  or 
likely  to  become  involved,   it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  officer*  of   the   re«p- 
union,  to  notify  the  presidents  of  the  international  union*,  panic*  to  this  agrte- 
mint,  iii  duplicate  communications,  who  shall,  either  in  person  or  by  proxy,  pro- 
M  the  place  of  the  difficulty  and  jointly  endeavor  to  effect  a  peaceable  set 
tli  mi  nt.   fnilinu  iii  which  they  shall  join  in  a  report  to  the  executive  coun> 
tlir-ir  respective  international  unions,  which  shall,  for  the  purpose  of  this  agree- 
mrnt,   at   all   times  he   composed  of  an   equal   number  of   members.      If.   on   the 
vote  being  taken,  it  i*  »hown  that  the  majority  of  the  bodies,  acting  conjoint!* 
are  of  the-  opinion   tli.it   the   inauguration  of  a   .tnkc   ■•  «l.»..Uitely  n»C>— n 

-nt •.  In   t"  •"   "or  !■(  iliem.  as  may  be  agrerd  upon  by 

the  executive  council,  shall  again  attempt  a  settlement,  and  if  unsuccessful  shall. 


653 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

through  the  officers  of  the  various  unions,  order  a  general  strike  of  all  mem- 
bers of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  the  International  Printing  Press- 
men's Union  and  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  working  in  the 
office  or  offices  affected,  and  any  member  disregarding  this  order  shall  be 
promptly  expelled  for  ratting  by  his  subordinate  union. 

Sec.  4.  Grievances  requiring  a  joint  strike  must  be  decided  by  the  executive 
boards  or  councils  of  an  equal  number  of  each  party,  and  by  agreement  between 
the  boards,  after  the  united  request  of  local  unions  representative  of  each  party 
to  this  agreement  where  grievances  exist. 

Sec.  5.  For  the  purpose  of  expediting  business  it  shall  be  permissible  for 
the  executive  councils  to  select  one  of  their  members,  who  shall  be  known  as 
chairman,  and  to  whom  all  communications  shall  be  addressed,  and  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  poll  the  votes  of  the  joint  councils  as  promptly  as  possible,  notify 
the  unions  interested  of  the  result,  and  subsequently  prepare  a  copy  of  all  an- 
swers received  and  forward  it  to  the  members  of  the  councils. 

Sec.  6.  When  a  joint  strike  shall  have  been  inaugurated  by  the  parties  to 
this  agreement  the  initiating  union  shall  pay  those  involved  as  follows:  The 
sum  of  seven  dollars  ($7.00)  per  week  to  married  men,  or  heads  of  families, 
and  five  dollars  ($5.00)  per  week  to  single  men  or  women  for  a  period  of  eight 
weeks;  after  that  time  beneficiaries  shall  apply  to  their  respective  unions  for 
further  relief. 

Sec.  7.  Strikes  may  be  declared  off  by  the  majority  vote  of  the  executive 
councils. 

Sec.  8.  Local  unions  called  out  on  strike  may  receive  aid  from  their  own 
international  funds,  without  subjecting  such  funds  to  demands  from  locals  call- 
ing for  assistance. 

Sec.  9.  Any  local  of  either  party  to  this  agreement  may  strike  without  con- 
sent of  local  unions  existing  in  the  same  plac«,  and  not  comply  with  the  fore- 
going rules  and  regulations;  but  in  such  case  co-operation  of  allies  can  not  be 
made  compulsory,  further  than  to  restrain  them  from  filling  the  places  thus 
made  vacant. 

Sec.  10.  Local  unions  engaging  in  strikes,  and  failing  to  comply  with  the 
provisions  of  the  allied  agreement,  shall  receive  no  assistance,  financially  or 
otherwise. 

Sec.  11.  Nothing  in  the  allied  agreement  shall  be  considered  as  nullifying 
the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  various  international  unions  governing  strikes; 
provided,  they  are  not  in  conflict  with  the  aforesaid  agreement. 

Article  IX.    (Duties  of  Councils) 

Section  i.  To  promote  the  interests  of  the  union  label,  and  create  and  main- 
tain a  more  wholesome  regard  on  the  part  of  the  employers  and  others  for  the 
rights  and  just  claims  of  the  members  of  the  several  unions;  to  make  grievances 
of  employes  in  one  department  of  the  establishment  the  grievances  of  those  in 
all  other  departments;  to  effect  a  more  thorough  organization  of  the  crafts, 
and  to  bring  into  closer  relations  with  one  another  the  various  unions  of  work- 
ing men  and  women  engaged  in  the  printing  and  kindred  trades;  to  endeavor  to 
amicably  adjust  all  differences  and  disputes  arising  between  employer  and 
employe;  and  to  promote  harmony  among  all  union  labor. 

Sec.  2.  The  council  shall  have  charge  of  all  union  labels  authorized  by  the 
international  tripartite  agreement,  and  shall  have  power  to  loan  or  lease  such 
labels  to  employers  who  conduct  strictly  union  offices. 

Sec.  3.  The  label  of  the  allied  printing  trades  council,  being  the  trade 
mark  of  union  labor,  shall  not  be  used  on  any  product  of  any  department  of 
the  printing  trade,  unless  such  product  is  produced  in  its  entirety  by  union 
labor. 

Sec.  4.    Labels  shall  be  loaned  only  with  the  unanimous  consent  of  unions 

654 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

represented  in  allied  councils.  Unions  objecting  to  label  issuance  must  produce 
a  valid  reason  for  such  objection,  in  accordance  with  section  16  of  the  interna- 
tional tripartite  agreement;  the  council  to  be  the  judge  of  the  validity  of  such 
reasons,  subject  to  appeal  to  the  joint  board;  provided,  an  active  member  in 
good  standing  of  any  branch  represented  in  an  allied  trades  council  who  runs 
an  office  of  not  more  than  two  platen  presses,  and  in  the  operation  of  such 
office  complies  with  the  nine-hour  law  and  the  laws  of  his  union,  shall  be  per- 
mitted to  use  the  label;  provided,  that  the  entire  work  of  the  office  be  done  by 
the  proprietor  thereof,  and  that  when  employment  is  given  to  any  additional 
help,  members  of  affiliated  unions  must  be  employed.  Violation  of  the  foregoing 
shall  be  deemed  sufficient  reason  for  immediate  surrender  of  the  label;  provided 
further,  that  the  above  provisos  shall  not  apply  to  cities  of  500,000  population 
or  over. 

Sec.  5.  Application  for  the  label  shall  be  presented  to  the  council  through 
its  secretary,  and  in  case  of  emergency  the  label  shall  be  issued  by  him  tempo- 
rarily, under  such  rules  as  the  council  may  adopt. 

Sec.  6.  Wherever  an  allied  council  is  in  existence,  the  local  unions  con- 
nected therewith  shall  be  instructed  to  withdraw  the  local  label  of  their 
respective  unions. 

Sec.  7.  No  other  body  but  the  joint  allied  printing  trades  council  shall  be 
permitted  to  grant  the  use  of  the  allied  printing  trades  council  label. 

Instructions  to  Local  Councils 
The  foregoing  provisions  must  be  incorporated  in  the  constitutions  of  all 
local  allied  trades  councils,  but  any  local  allied  trades  council  is  permitted  to 
make  such  further  rules  and  regulations  for  its  government  as  in  the  opinion  of 
its  members  may  be  necessary  for  the  successful  conducting  of  its  affairs;  pro- 
vided, that  no  local  allied  trades  council  can  in  any  way  violate  the  provisions 
outlined  in  the  form  of  constitution  herewith  printed,  or  any  of  the  provisions 
of  the  tripartite  agreement,  or  in  any  way  infringe  upon  the  legitimate  functions 
of  any  of  the  three  contracting  parties  to  the  international  tripartite  agreement. 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted : 

Resolved,  Allied  printing  trades  councils  shall  not  have 
legal  existence,  or  be  recognized  as  representing  the  allied 
printing  trades,  without  a  charter,  which  must  be  granted  by 
the  joint  board  of  appeals,  consisting  of  the  three  international 
presidents. 

Hi  solved,  When  an  allied  printing  trades  council  is  formed, 
application  must  be  made  within  sixty  days  for  a  charter  to  the 
joint  board  of  appeals.  The  above  sentiment  shall  go  into 
effect  upon  the  adoption  of  an  agreed  form  of  charter.  Charters 
shall  be  granted  without  charge. 

Resolved,  That  when  an  allied  printing  trades  council  re 
fuses  to  (omply  with  the  unanimous  decision  of  the  joint  l>oard 
of  appeals  it  may  be  dissolved  and  the  unions  affiliated  there- 
with be  Instructed  by  tluir  national  officers  to  form  a  new 
Council,  and  the  international  officers  are  directed  to  enforce 
the  laws  of  their  international  unions  pertaining  to  that  subject. 

Resolved,    That  it  is  the  unanimous  sentiment  of  the  joint 

655 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

conference  that  all  unions  affiliated  with  the  internationals 
represented  in  said  conference  be  compelled  to  affiliate  with 
the  allied  trades  councils,  where  such  councils  exist;  that  the 
matter  of  legislation  connected  with  the  enforcement  of  the 
foregoing  sentiment  be  referred  to  the  three  international 
presidents,  and  that  the  laws  approved  at  that  meeting  be 
referred  to  the  conference  of  the  three  international  bodies. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  unanimous  sentiment  of  the  joint 
conference  that  where  there  are  two  or  more  unions  connected 
with  the  internationals  party  to  the  tripartite  agreement,  that 
it  will  be  mandatory  upon  them  to  form  an  allied  printing 
trades  council,  and  that  the  matter  of  legislation  connected 
with  the  enforcement  of  the  foregoing  sentiment  be  referred 
to  the  meeting  of  the  three  international  presidents,  and  that 
the  laws  proposed  at  that  meeting  be  referred  to  the  conference 
of  the  three  international  bodies. 

The  joint  board  of  appeals  organized  by  electing  James 
H.  Bowman  president,  E.  W.  Tatem  vice-president,  and 
James  M.  Lynch  secretary. 

president    Donnelly's    retirement 

The  convention  authorized  the  appointment  of  a  spe- 
cial committee  to  prepare  and  have  engrossed  suitable 
resolutions  to  be  presented  to  retiring  President  Donnelly. 
This  committee  was  composed  of  Messrs.  Jones  (Wash- 
ington), Higgins  (San  Francisco),  Lycett  (New  York), 
Cleeton  (Kansas  City),  and  McKenna  (Chicago).  The 
text  of  the  resolutions  presented  through  this  committee 
was  as  follows : 

The  delegates  of  the  forty-sixth  session  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  in  convention  assembled  at  Milwau- 
kee, Wis.,  August  ijth  to  18th,  igoo,  to  Samuel  B. 
Donnelly — 

Greeting:  On  November  ist,  1900,  will  expire  your  term 
of  office  as  the  chief  executive  of  our  International  organiza- 
tion. Upon  your  retirement  from  the  position  of  honor  and 
trust  we  deem  it  appropriate  to  convey  to  you  our  esteem  and 
well  wishes. 

656 


Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 

During  your  incumbency  important  legislation  had  to  be 
enforced  which,  in  some  cases,  met  with  determined  opposition. 
We  testify  our  belief  and  record  our  judgment  that  you  have 
honestly  and  vigorously,  yet  conservatively,  applied  yourself  to 
effectuate  the  purposes  of  such  legislation.  We  believe  that  in 
all  your  transactions  you  kept  the  ultimate  good  of  the  organ- 
ization in  view  and  that  your  policy  will  in  the  future  bear 
good  results. 

As  presiding  officer  of  our  convention  we  attest  your  fairness 
and  impartiality,  displaying  evidence  of  ability  commensurate 
with  the  importance  of  your  office.  Your  conduct  both  in  the 
chair  and  on  the  floor  won  for  you  true  and  lasting  friendships. 

Personally,  we  found  you  to  be  straightforward,  companion- 
able and  gentlemanly,  and  we  will  cherish  fond  recollections 
of  your  cheerful  disposition. 

In  view  of  the  premises,  we  have  resolved  that  we  express 
our  appreciation  of  your  good  conduct  and  heartily  endorse 
your  administration. 

That  it  is  our  earnest  wish  that  your  future  relations  will 
continue  to  be  in  the  cause  of  unionism,  and  that  we  sincerely 
desire  your  lines  to  be  cast  in  pleasant  places,  accompanied 
with  a  high  measure  of  prosperity. 


[AMIS  M    in  N't  ii.  Bvmcmi 

p.. -him!  Imi.-.i...i...i,..i   rjrpognpkkt]  futon 

NOTWOlMf    I,    i»oo-l»— 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

graduated  payments  at  time  of  death  based  upon  length 
of  membership ;  the  establishment  and  successful  conduct 
of  a  school  for  technical  education,  which  is  conceded  by 
those  familiar  with  the  plans  of  instruction  by  corre- 
spondence to  be  among  the  most  auspicious  ventures  of  the 
kind  yet  attempted;  the  improvement  and  enlargement 
of  facilities  at  the  Union  Printers  Home  which  places  the 
institution  in  a  class  by  itself.  This  epoch  in  the  history 
of  the  typographical  union  offers  a  striking  illustration, 
in  results  accomplished,  between  that  period  of  the  union's 
history  when  local  autonomy  prevailed  and  the  condi- 
tions enjoyed  under  a  militant  and  powerful  central  gov- 
ernment controlled  by  the  referendum. 

Convention    at    Birmingham 

[1901]  —  The  forty-seventh  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  in  Elks' 
Hall,  Birmingham,  Ala.,  Monday,  August  12,  1901. 
Rev.  I.  D.  Steele  invoked  the  divine  blessing  upon  the 
convention,  its  labors  and  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union.  President  Nock,  of  Birmingham  Union,  and 
Mayor  Drennan  extended  a  hearty  welcome  to  all,  and 
assured  the  delegates  of  the  hospitality  of  the  city.  Reply 
to  the  addresses  of  welcome  was  made  by  President 
Lynch,  who,  at  the  conclusion  of  his  remarks,  announced 
that  the  convention  was  ready  for  business. 

Secretary  Bramwood  reported  that  166  delegates  repre- 
senting 124  unions  had  deposited  regular  credentials  and 
were  entitled  to  seats.  President  Lynch  announced  the 
usual  convention  officers  and  also  the  committees  on  cre- 
dentials and  laws. 

A  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  extending  the 
sympathy  and  moral  support  of  the  International  Union 
to  the  members  of  the  Amalgamated  Association  of  Steel 
Workers,  then  on  strike. 

660 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  interview  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  non-union  offices  in  Birmingham,  and  numer- 
ous propositions  and  communications  were  received,  after 
which  the  convention  adjourned  as  a  mark  of  respect  to 
the  memory  of  Ira  Galbraith,  a  member  of  Birmingham 
Union,  whose  death  had  been  announced,  when  the  con- 
vention adjourned  for  the  day  in  order  to  participate  in 
a  sight-seeing  trip  arranged  by  the  local  committee. 

REVIEW    OF    OFFICERS'    REPORTS 

President  Lynch  opened  his  address  to  the  craft  and 
the  delegates  with  a  retrospect  of  the  phenomenal  prog- 
ress and  development  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  during  the  fifty  years  of  its  existence.  A  reference 
to  more  recent  events  was  summarized  i*i  the  following 
comprehensive  statement : 

What  organization  has  gone  through  such  an  industrial 
revolution  as  has  ours  and  lived?  What  labor  union  ha- 
successfully  shortened  the  hours,  aye,  and  continued  the  move- 
ment, practically  without  friction?  Machinery  was  introduced 
so  rapidly  that  we  scarce  could  comprehend  the  import  of  tin- 
new  development,  yet,  under  a  wise  and  conservative  leadership, 
we  controlled  the  modern  engine  that  was  destined  to  assist  in 
giving  mental  light  to  the  world,  and  not  only  that,  but  we 
made  it  a  vehicle  for  the  movement  for  shorter  hours,  and 
higher  wages.  A  statistical  scale  report,  recently  issued  as  a 
supplement  to  the  Typographical  Journal,  shows  that  out  of 
a  total  number  of  machines  reported — 4,975 — 4,098  are  in 
strictly  union  offices,  while  nearly  half  of  the  balance,  it  nu\ 
safely  be  asserted,  are  operated  by  member!  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union.  Then  the  successful  movement  for  the 
reduction  of  hours  in  the  lx>ok  and  job  offices  must  also  bfj 
given  consideration  and  prominence.    The   -..urn  port 

shows  that  the  nine  hour  day— and  in  main  instance*  a  shorter 
one — is  almost  universal,  and  mearorei  have  l>een  inaugurated 
that  it  is  hoped  will  make  it  completely  so  The  numlx-r  of 
instances  reported  in  which,  since  November  1.  mxto,  hour* 
have  been  reduced  and  wages  raised,  present*  a  most  satis- 
factory and  gratifying  compendium,  and  should  be  a  cause  for 

66l 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

pardonable  egotism  on  the  part  of  the  entire  membership  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union.  All  this,  taken  in 
connection  with  the  large  and  healthy  increase  in  membership, 
the  number  of  new  unions  established,  and  the  non-union 
publications  that  have  embraced  the  true  faith,-  is  an  evidence 
of  gradually  growing  strength  and  power. 

Following  this  statement  the  president  declared  that 
the  Typographical  Union  was  an  organization  that  could 
not  live  on  past  achievements,  rather  using  them  as  an 
index  for  future  greatness.  The  opening  years  of  the  new 
century  were  big  with  possibilities  and  live  with  oppor- 
tunities. Conservative  and  intelligent  action  would  win 
the  prize — "radical,  ill-advised  and  ill-considered  propa- 
ganda will  waste  the  opportunity  and  make  of  what 
should  be  progress,  a  weapon  of  retrogression."  The 
membership  at  large  and  their  representatives  at  Bir- 
mingham were  earnestly  adjured  to  weigh  well  all  that 
affects  the  craft.  They  were  cautioned  as  to  alluring 
schemes  and  recommended  to  the  path,  "well-worn,  per- 
haps, and  slow  of  advancement,  but  one  that  brings, 
nevertheless,  safe  returns,  adds  to  our  stability  and  con- 
serves our  strength  and  influence."  What  was  desired, 
the  president  declared,  was  not  more  laws  but  better  laws ; 
"all  the  liberty  consistent  with  international  safety  should 
be  accorded  to  our  subordinate  bodies  and  proposed  and 
]) resent  laws  designated  to  regulate  subjects  purely  local, 
and  often  best  adjudicated  in  the  light  of  surrounding 
circumstances,  should  find  no  place  in  our  International 
enactments." 

Secession  of  Photo  Engravers  —  Under  the  head  of 
allied  trades,  after  commenting  on  the  prosperity  of  the 
allied  crafts,  the  president  spoke  of  the  secession  move- 
ment which  originated  among  the  photo  engravers  of 
New  York  city  and  had  spread  to  the  unions  of  Chicago, 
St.  Louis  and  Milwaukee,  notwithstanding  the  benefits 
secured  to  them  through  the  efforts  of  the  International. 

662 


Convention  at*  Birmingham,  1901 

The  president  was  positive  that  if  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  decided  to  continue  its  jurisdiction  over 
photo  engravers,  it  would  eventually  gain  control  over 
all  the  seceding  unions.  The  action  of  New  York  city  al- 
lied printing  trades  council  in  recognizing  the  seceding 
union  of  photo  engravers  of  that  city  was  referred  to 
thus: 

We  may.  indeed,  well  question  the  present  organization  and 
system  of  conducting  allied  printing  trades  councils,  when, 
in  instances  akin  to  that  to  which  attention  has  just  been  drawn, 
they  deliberately  ignore  the  laws  of  the  organization  which  give 
them  being,  and  insolently  flaunt  their  open  defiance  and 
illegality  before  the  international  unions  of  the  printing  trades. 

Stereotypers'  Separation  Movement  —  The  stereoty- 
pes and  electrotypers,  it  was  said,  had  prospered  mag- 
nificently and  had  given  assurance  of  satisfaction  at  the 
treatment  accorded  them.  They  desired,  however,  a  full 
measure  of  liberty  in  the  management  and  control  of  the 
affairs  peculiar  to  their  craft,  but  desired  to  obtain  that 
liberty  in  a  legal  manner  and  not  through  any  measure 
of  secession.  This  trade  district  union  had  prepared  for 
presentation  to  the  convention  a  plan  according  it  Inter- 
national prerogatives  but  maintaining  relations  with  the 
International  Typographical  Union  for  organizing  and 
defensive  purposes.  The  president  had  this  to  say  of  the 
plan  : 

To  me  il  present!  the  ideal  basis  foi  I  combination  of  the 
printing  trades — one  organization  for  defensive  purposes  and 
One  common  defense  fund.  The  idea  is  not  new  to  our  organ- 
ization. It  has  been  agitated  before,  and  had  it  been  given 
life,  instead  of  the  hvhrid  tripartite  agreement,  the  great 
majority  of  the  dissensions  that  have  arisen  under  the  latter 
document  WOUld  never  have  00  W 

Arbitration  Agrtimtnt — The  president  earnestly  in- 
vited  the   attention   of   tin-   convention    to   the  arbitration 
retment   in  order  that   needful   changes  might   be  sug- 

663 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

gested  and  useful  amendments  made.  Perfection  was  not 
claimed  for  the  document,  but  it  was  believed  to  be  a  safe 
and  sure  foundation  on  which  could  be  builded  a  structure 
that  might,  as  nearly  as  such  an  economic  feature  could, 
answer  all  practical  purposes.  The  very  flattering  vote  by 
which  the  plan  was  adopted  was  declared  to  be  a  credit 
to  the  conservatism  of  the  membership  and  an  evidence 
of  an  intelligent  appreciation  of  one  of  the  great  needs  of 
the  hour.  The  convention  authorized  the  executive  coun- 
cil to  make  such  additions  and  changes  as  it  deemed 
necessary  when  negotiating  a  new  arbitration  agreement 
with  the  publishers. 

To  an  objection  urged  against  the  agreement,  the  presi- 
dent said : 

It  has  been  said  that  the  arbitration  agreement  is  not  com- 
prehensive enough,  in  that  it  does  not  provide  for  the  arbitra- 
tion of  disputes  which  may  arise  in  the  negotiation  of  a  new 
agreement.  It  will  be  urged  upon  the  convention,  undoubtedly, 
to  instruct  the  executive  council  to  consent  to  its  amendment 
in  this  respect.  At  present  we  agree  only  to  arbitrate  disputes 
that  may  arise  in  union  departments  under  verbal  or  written 
agreements,  as  to  the  provisions  of  such  agreements.  A  verbal 
agreement  has  been  defined  by  your  officers  to  mean  the  consent 
on  the  part  of  a  publisher  or  his  representative  to  employ  only 
union  members,  pay  the  union  scale,  and  observe  union  rules. 
Ready  consent  could,  I  believe,  be  obtained  to  the  arbitration 
of  all  disputes  that  might  arise  in  the  mechanical  departments 
of  any  newspaper  office,  providing  all  those  departments  were 
strictly  union.  We  can  not  agree,  however,  to  bind  one  local 
union  against  another  local  union. 

Tripartite  Agreement  —  The  attempt  made  by  the 
pressmen  and  bookbinders  in  the  tripartite  conference 
held  in  Baltimore  in  March,  to  evolve  a  scheme  for  part 
ownership  of  the  label,  had  been  opposed  by  the  Typo- 
graphical Union  as  impracticable.  President  Lynch  ad- 
jured that  the  tripartite  agreement  had  failed  of  its 
purpose  and  that  under  its  operation  the  three  interna- 

664 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

tional  unions  had  drifted  farther  apart.  It  was  thought 
that  this  was  in  part  accounted  for  by  the  natural  timidity 
characteristic  of  minor  organizations  and  their  reluctance 
to  accept  the  broader  views  of  the  major  organization  but 
that  the  real  secret  was  in  the  unfair  and  absolutely  unjust 
method  of  representation  in  allied  trades  councils  and  the 
natural  tendency  of  weaker  organizations  to  combine 
against  the  stronger.  After  citing  the  defeat  of  the  propo- 
sition that  representation  in  allied  trades  councils  should 
be  on  a  per  capita  basis  and  stating  that  no  attempt  was 
made  to  amend  the  tripartite  agreement  at  the  Baltimore 
convention,  the  president  said  : 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  rules  adopted  at  that  gathering 
will  restore  harmony  in  the  printing  trades,  and  make  the 
successful  and  amicable  conduct  of  local  allied  printing  trades 
councils  a  possibility.  If  this  is  not  the  result,  then  the  ultimate 
abolishment  of  the  tripartite  agreement  is  an  assured  fact.  I 
believe  that  the  ideal  combination  of  the  printing  trades  lies  in 
the  formation  of  a  scheme  of  allied  defensive  and  offensive 
operations,  with  a  joint  defense  fund,  and  in  cases  of  joint 
action,  one  instead  of  three  supreme  authorities.  Of  the 
eventual  possibility  of  this,  or  a  similar  method,  I  am  firmly 
convinced,  and  if  the  wage  earners  are  to  be  successful,  they, 
like  the  capitalists,  must  recognize  and  adopt  the  ruling  spirit 
of  the  age — combination. 

Executive  Council — It  was  suggested  to  the  conven- 
tion that  a  rearrangement  of  the  membership  of  the 
executive  council,  if  the  scheme  of  operation  proposed  by 
the  stereotypers  and  electrotypers'  trade  district  union 
receive  the  sanction  of  the  convention  and  the  endorse- 
ment of  the  referendum,  would  be  desirable.  It  was 
tin  night  that  in  order  to  facilitate  business  the  council 
should  consist  of  .1  president,  second  vice-president  and 
secretary-treasurer,  tin  other  vice-presidents  to  be  called 
in  only  when  circumstances  made  such  a  course  absolutely 
necessary.  It  was  also  recommended  that  the  executive 
council  should  be  given  more  power  in  regard  to  strikes 

«5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  that  no  local  union  should  be  permitted  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  this  method  until  the  proposed  movement  had 
received  the  sanction  of  the  council  both  as  to  benefits  and 
policy  except  in  case  of  extreme  emergency,  the  council 
afterward  to  be  the  judge  of  the  merits  of  the  exigencies 
that  called  for  immediate  action.  It  was  also  suggested 
that  it  would  be  wise  to  refer  to  the  executive  council  the 
many  requests  usually  presented  at  conventions  for  money 
grants. 

Organizers  —  President  Lynch  was  in  line  with  his 
predecessors  in  recommending  a  change  in  the  method  of 
selecting  organizers.  A  permanent  staff  of  organizers  to 
be  appointed  by  the  president  was  suggested,  the  number 
to  be  determined  as  the  needs  of  the  organization  might 
require,  district  lines  to  be  abolished.  Organizers  should 
hold  office  as  long  as  their  services  were  valuable  to  the 
organization  and  should  be  removed  only  on  charges,  the 
executive  council  to  act  as  the  trial  board. 

It  was  suggested  that  in  addition  to  the  allowance  for 
lost  time,  hotel  bills  and  railroad  fare  allowed  organizers, 
provision  should  be  made  for  contingent  personal  ex- 
pense "that  every  past  and  present  officer  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  has,  to  his  sorrow  and 
financial  loss,  found  to  be  a  necessity  and  an  unavoidable 
adjunct  to  his  work."  The  result  of  the  work  of  organiza- 
tion during  the  year  was  given  thus : 

During  the  eleven  months  ending  May  31,.  1901,  there  were 
organized  seventy-five  unions,  with  an  aggregate  charter  mem- 
bership of  1,006.  Fifty-one  of  these  unions  have  been  chartered 
since  November  1,  1900.  Twelve  unions,  with  a  membership 
of  238,  have  surrendered  charters.  Eight  unions,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  eighty-four,  have  been  suspended,  and  the  charter 
of  one  union,  with  a  membership  of  fourteen,  revoked.  The 
average  paying  membership  for  the  eleven  months  ending  May 
31,  1 90 1,  has  been  34,948,  and  for  the  previous  year  it  was 
32,105,  a  net  gain  of  2,843.   Were  the  average  to  be  made  for 

666 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

the  year  1901  alone,  it  would  be  much  larger.  It  will  approxi- 
mate at  the  present  time  37,000  members.  We  have  more 
unions,  more  members  and  more  money  than  at  any  previous 
period  in  the  history  of  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

Label — Under  the  head  of  statistics,  pleasure  was 
expressed  at  the  large  number  of  unions  sending  reports 
for  the  statistical  statement  issued  as  a  supplement  to 
the  Typographical  Journal.  After  declaring  that  the  im- 
portance and  value  of  the  facts  deduced  could  not  be 
overestimated  and  that  the  publication  of  data  was  to  be 
a  yearly  feature,  the  president  took  up  the  question  ot 
the  label  and  the  potency  of  label  agitation,  and  suggested 
that  every  local  union  should  have  a  special  fund  for 
label  agitation,  and  a  special  committee  in  charge  of  the 
work.  That  the  International  Union  had  no  special  fund 
for  the  furtherance  of  label  advertisement  was  referred 
to  as  a  somewhat  remarkable  feature  of  polity.  While 
prominence  and  publicity  of  the  label  had  been  secured 
in  many  ways,  yet  it  was  suggested  that  there  should  be 
provision  for  more  general  promulgation  of  popular 
knowledge  concerning  and  demand  for  it.  The  unfair 
conditions  under  which  the  bulk  of  text-books  in  use  in 
the  public  schools  were  manufactured  and  the  large 
profits  of  the  business  led  the  president  to  believe  that  the 
state  could  manufacture  all  text-books  under  union  condi- 
tions and  yet  supply  them  to  consumers,  the  mass  of  whom 
were  wage-workers,  at  far  below  current  prices.  In  the 
Opinion  of  the  president,  if  a  scheme  of  joint  agitation 
for  union  label  school  books  could  be  evolved,  each  intcr- 
national  union  in  the  printing  trade  assuming  its  share 
of  the  financial  outlay,  su  mid  be  assured    Lacking 

such  a  co-operative  project,  it  was  urged  to  give  to  the 
movement  added  zest  and  vigor. 

Economic  Policy  —  After  repeating  the  old  demand 
for  a  better  system  of  apprenticeship,  the  question  of  an 

*9 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

economic  policy  was  discussed.  Political  beliefs,  said  the 
president,  should  be  held  sacred,  and  should  be  respected 
and  tolerated  as  are  religious  affiliations.  Every  indus- 
trial panacea  should  be  given  the  closest  investigation  and 
careful  thought,  yet  the  individual  should  be  permitted 
to  make  his  own  selection.  It  was  the  belief  of  the  presi- 
dent that  with  education,  the  toilers  would  work  out  their 
own  salvation. 

Benefits  —  The  president  suggested  that  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  should  have  a  greater  death 
benefit,  with  a  maximum  of  perhaps  $500,  a  sick  benefit 
fund,  out-of-work  fund,  old-age  fund,  dependent  upon 
the  length  of  continuous  membership,  and  any  other  form 
of  special  assistance  that  wisdom  might  from  time  to 
time  dictate. 

These  recommendations  were  made  by  the  president 
more  in  the  way  of  suggestion,  and  with  the  hope  that  a 
train  of  thought  and  discussion  might  be  initiated  which 
would  lead  to  their  ultimate  adoption.  To  put  them  into 
effect  would  require  a  system  of  high  dues — the  bulwark 
of  trade  unionism.  The  overwhelming  defeat  which  met 
the  last  proposition  for  an  increase  in  the  revenue  had 
discouraged  the  idea  that  such  a  radical  change  would 
meet  with  approval,  but  it  was  predicted,  nevertheless, 
that  these  benefits  would  come  in  time.  The  growing  ne- 
cessity for  a  more  thorough  system  of  mutual  help  and 
assistance  would  clear  the  way  through  the  tangle  of 
doubt,  cynicism,  misunderstanding  and  lethargy  that 
then  obstructed  the  path. 

Strikes  —  Affairs  in  Pittsburgh  and  Kansas  City  were 
reported  to  have  materially  improved  since  the  previous 
convention,  especially  in  the  latter  place,  while  new  de- 
velopments had  somewhat  complicated  conditions  in  Chi- 
cago. In  the  few  strikes  and  lockouts  that  had  occurred 
during  the  year  the  International  Union  had  been  vic- 

668 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

torious  in  most  instances.  A  thorough  effort  to  organize 
the  city  of  Montreal  had  been  successful.  A  radical 
change  was  effected  and  the  membership  increased  more 
than  50  per  cent. 

Liberty  of  the  Press  —  After  advising  the  convention 
to  devote  some  consideration  to  increasing  the  circulation 
of  the  Typographical  Journal  among  the  membership, 
the  president  asserted  that  a  false  step  had  been  taken  in 
restricting  the  liberty  of  the  labor  press  and  therefore 
recommended  the  repeal  of  section  113  of  the  general 
laws. 

Miscellaneous  Subjects — In  conclusion  the  president 
reported,  among  other  things,  that  proofreaders  and  ma- 
chinists were,  with  very  few  exceptions,  members  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union;  that  it  had  been 
recommended  that  a  member  of  a  typographical  union 
accepting  employment  in  any  other  mechanical  depart- 
ment that  might  be  unorganized,  should  not  work  below 
the  scale  of  his  union;  that  contracts,  before  local  signa- 
tures were  attached,  should  be  submitted  to  headquarters 
for  approval ;  that  in  newspaper  offices  there  had  been  a 
more  general  equalization  in  hours  and  wages  for  all 
union  employes;  that  the  movement  for  shorter  hours 
should  lose  none  of  its  force  because  success  had  attended 
the  demand  for  a  nine-hour  day. 

Stereotypers'  Affairs — Second  Vice-President  Frecl 
reported  the  success  attending  the  effort  to  place  stereo- 
typers and  elcctrotypers  in  a  position  to  command  the 
benefits  to  which  they  were  entitled.  The  result  of  the 
well-disciplined  and  united  membership  thus  secured  is 
set  forth  as  follows  : 

Our  membership  has  increased  ;ilm<>st  15  per  cent,  our  laws 
and  aims  arc  more  thoroughly  and  definitely  understood,  and 
we  have  certainly  secured  a  co-operation  so   intelligent   and 

stable  as   to  Ik-  a  most   important    f.n  tor   m   thr   futun-  solution 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  questions  arising  between  the  employer  and  employe.  This 
is  most  pleasing  to  us,  and  we  believe  will  be  deeply  appreciated 
by  our  membership. 

The  second  vice-president  asked  care'ful  consideration 
for  the  proposition  to  be  submitted  to  the  referendum  by 
the  stereotypers  and  electrotypers'  trade  district  union  for 
a  joint  alliance  along  the  lines  referred  to  in  the  review 
of  the  president's  report,  believing  that  it  would  have  a 
tendency  to  solve  at  least  some  of  the  problems  confront- 
ing this  branch  of  the  organization.  It  was  declared  that 
no  severance  of  the  ties  that  bound  them  to  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  contemplated  but  that 
they  merely  were  asking  for  a  stronger  and  more  effective 
future  combination. 

Typographia  —  Third  Vice-President  Miller  reported 
the  year  a  very  stormy  one  for  the  German  branch.  The 
principal  difficulties  were  met  with  in  Philadelphia  and 
Chicago.  In  the  former  city,  non-union  men  were  em- 
ployed on  typesetting  machines  in  day  time  to  set  up 
newspapers  or  supplements  for  the  Central  Newspaper 
Union,  and  during  the  night  union  men  at  union  wages 
were  employed  on  the  same  machines  to  set  up  the  Phila- 
delphia Demokrat,  a  German  daily,  run  as  a  union  office 
for  many  years.  The  local  union  was  compelled  to  protest 
against  this  state  of  affairs,  and  this  protest  furnished  the 
employers  the  excuse  that  they  seemed  to  be  waiting  for 
and  the  union  men  were  locked  out  of  the  office.  A  boy- 
cott against  the  concern  was  being  vigorously  pushed  by 
all  of  the  labor  unions  and  most  of  the  German  societies 
of  Philadelphia. 

A  lockout  in  Chicago  had  occurred  on  June  I,  1901, 
when  a  new  management  obtained  control  of  the  Illinois 
Staats-Zeitung,  theretofore  a  strictly  union  office,  and  im- 
mediately discharged  all  the  union  men  and  filled  their 
places  with  rats.   Typographia  No.  9  had  entered  upon  a 

670 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

vigorous  campaign  against  the  combined  publications  of 
the  new  management — the  Chicago  Freie  Presse,  Illinois 
Staats-Zeitung  and  a  Sunday  edition  named  the  Daheim 
und  Westen.  The  management  was  accused  of  playing 
an  old  trick  of  using  employes  to  form  a  so-called  Guten- 
berg assembly  which  had  obtained  a  charter  from  the 
Knights  of  Labor  several  years  before.  Notwithstanding 
these  and  a  number  of  minor  difficulties  the  third  vice- 
president  gave  assurance  that  the  membership  of  the 
Typographia  was  about  the  same  as  the  year  before  and 
that  the  treasury  contained  approximately  $10  per  capita. 

Mailers — Fourth  Vice-President  Canary  had  written 
to  each  organizer  asking  for  opinions  as  to  the  possibility 
of  organizing  mailers'  unions  and  reported  that  while 
some  answers  were  favorable,  a  few  of  the  organizers 
did  not  seem  to  understand  what  a  mailer  was.  He  ac- 
knowledged a  debt  of  gratitude  to  Organizers  Hays, 
White  and  Voiles  for  organizing  mailers'  unions  in  Min- 
neapolis, San  Francisco  and  Cincinnati,  and  to  Secretary 
Looney,  of  the  allied  trades  council  of  Louisville,  who, 
with  the  president  of  the  local  union  of  that  city,  helped 
to  organize  a  mailers'  union  in  that  place.  President 
Lynch  was  commended  for  assistance  rendered,  especially 
in  reorganizing  the  Buffalo  Mailers'  Union. 

Ncwswritcrs — In  the  opinion  of  Fifth  Vice-President 
O'Sullivan  an  effort  should  be  made  to  bring  into  the  fold 
of  unionism  by  affiliation  with  newspaper  writers'  unions 
the  many  cx-members  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  employed  as  cither  news,  desk  men,  editors  or  re- 
porters. The  system  of  allowing  reporters  to  retain  mem- 
bership in  the  compositors'  branch  of  the  organization,  it 
was  claimed,  was  not  conducive  to  the  growth  of  writers' 
unions  and  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the  law  which 
provides  that  men  working  in  any  branch  of  the  industry 
should  become  members  of  the  union  of  that  particular 

671 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

branch.  Many  newswriters,  former  members  of  the  typo- 
graphical union,  feeling  that  they  should  not  be  compelled 
to  pay  up  years  of  indebtedness  to  the  International  as  a 
prerequisite  to  membership  in  this  branch  of  the  organi- 
zation, feeling  that  the  interests  of  the  writers  "to  be  best 
forwarded  and  preserved  by  cutting  loose  from  the  parent 
body  and  organizing  as  an  independent  body,"  a  change 
was  suggested  to  the  convention. 

Photo  Engravers  —  Since  the  previous  convention  at 
Milwaukee,  said  Sixth  Vice-President  Ryan,  photo  en- 
gravers had  experienced  lively  times.  "A  most  farcical 
proceeding  of  a  so-called  convention  of  photo  engravers, 
under  the  dignified  title  of  trade  district  union,"  was 
criticized,  and  the  rise  in  New  York  city  of  Photo  En- 
gravers' Union  No.  23,  International  Typographical 
Union,  from  the  ashes  of  the  seceding  union,  was  graphic- 
ally described.  The  action  of  the  allied  trades  council  of 
New  York  city  in  permitting  delegates  of  a  seceding  union 
to  deliberate  upon  the  issues  concerning  the  label  was 
severely  commented  on.  Union  No.  23  was  reported  to 
be  prosperous,  paying  a  per  capita  tax  on  186  members. 
Speaking  of  the  secession  movement  in  general,  Vice- 
President  Ryan  said : 

The  photo  engravers  have  been  assisted  in  obtaining  increase 
of  salaries  by  the  International  Typographical  Union,  since  the 
election  of  our  present  president,  in  Washington,  Detroit, 
Cincinnati,  St.  Louis  and  Milwaukee.  Many  unions  that  have 
been  benefited  to  an  extent  beyond  their  hopes — or  certainly 
beyond  them  at  one  time — have  since  deserted  the  International 
Union  and  have  most  audaciously  approached  Samuel  Gompers, 
president  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  and  requested 
a  charter  from  that  body.  The  American  Federation  of  Labor 
has  no  place  for  seceders.  They  were  relegated  to  the  cold 
accordingly,  where  they  will  have  to  remain  until  such  time 
as  they  receive  the  invigorating  warmth  of  genuine  trade  union- 
ism, and  upon  showing  true  contrition  for  past  misbehavior, 

672 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

are  received  back  into  the  original  fold  from  which  they 
should  never  have  deserted  or  seceded. 

Typefounders  —  Seventh  Vice-President  Nuernberger 
reported  the  successes  of  the  typefounders  during  the 
year,  saying  that  since  the  typefounders'  trade  district 
union  had  been  formed,  more  of  the  locals  seemed  to  take 
on  new  life;  that  new  members  had  been  constantly  added 
until  fully  90  per  cent  of  the  journeymen  typefounders 
were  members  of  the  organization.  Of  the  second  session 
of  the  district  union,  at  which  a  scale  of  prices  for  two 
years  was  agreed  upon,  the  following  interesting  report 
was  submitted: 

The  second  session  of  the  Typefounders'  Trade  District 
Union  was  held  in  New  York  city,  beginning  April  21,  1901. 
Every  local  union  was  represented.  More  than  two  days  were 
required  to  prepare  our  scale  for  presentation  to  the  employers 
who  had  been  invited  to  meet  us  in  conference  on  April  24,  in 
order  to  again  agree  on  a  uniform  scale  of  wages.  Only  one 
employer  failed  to  attend  this  conference.  After  two  days' 
session,  the  second  one  occupying  twenty-two  hours,  a  scale 
was  agreed  on,  which  remains  in  effect  until  June  I,  1903. 
President  Lynch  ably  assisted  us  in  making  this  agreement. 
In  my  opinion  the  typefounders'  wage  scale  is  the  most  com- 
plicated of  any  in  existence  in  any  trade,  comprising  as  it  does 
more  than  one  thousand  separate  provisions,  which  includes  a 
price  for  every  size  of  type  from  three  points  to  120  points, 
whether  casting  on  hand  machines,  steam  machines  or  automatic 
perfecting  machines,  dressing,  inspecting,  paging,  mold-making, 
matrix-fitting,  and  machinists ;  a  minimum  scale  per  hour  for 
time  work,  time  and  a  half  for  overtime,  minimum  fonts,  job. 
snrts,  etc.  After  this  conference,  the  delegates  drew  up  and 
adopted  a  constitution  and  laws  for  the  government  of  the 
Typefounders'  TracK-  District  Union. 

Secretary-Treasurer's    Report  —  So    completely    had 

Scrn-tarv-Trc.-KiinT  BfUUWOOd  M  t'.-rth  tin-  financial  and 
Statistical  affairs  of  the  International  lTni<>n  that  there 
was  no  excuse  for  any  one  not  being  informed  on  even 

^73 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  minutest  details  of  the  vast  amount  of  important  busi- 
ness transacted  by  the  fiduciary  officer  of  the  organiza- 
tion. Because  of  a  change  in  the  law,  the  report  was  for 
a  period  of  but  eleven  months.  The  receipts  for  the  year 
(including  $12,407.20  on  hand  July  1,  1900)  were  $151,- 
038.87,  as  against  $197,440.77  for  1 899-1 900.  The  ex- 
penditures for  the  year  were  $118,347.54,  as  against 
$185,033.57  for  1 899- 1 900.  The  cash  balance  on  hand 
May  31,  1901,  therefore,  was  $32,691.33. 

There  had  been  a  gratifying  increase  in  membership, 
principally  confined  to  the  typographical  branch  of  the 
organization.  The  average  paying  membership  for  the 
year,  as  shown  by  the  per  capita  tax  collected,  was  34,948, 
divided  as  follows :  Typographical — English  and  Ger- 
man— 31,600;  stereotypers  and  electrotypers,  1,578; 
photo  engravers,  635;  mailers,  626;  typefounders,  441, 
and  newspaper  writers,  68.  The  average  paying  member- 
ship for  the  eleven  months  of  the  fiscal  year  was  2,843 
larger  than  the  average  for  the  preceding  twelve  months. 
The  secretary-treasurer  said  that  this  increment  was  not 
solely  attributable  to  the  formation  of  new  unions,  though 
he  submitted  a  table  showing  the  issuance  of  75  charters, 
the  surrender  of  12,  the  suspension  of  8  and  the  revoca- 
tion of  1,  resulting  in  a  net  increase  from  this  source  of 
684  members.  Notwithstanding  the  increase  in  member- 
ship, the  secretary  had  this  to  say : 

Though  there  is  every  reason  to  be  pleased  with  the  growth 
in  membership  and  the  general  progress  made  during  the  year, 
it  should  be  remembered  that  the  field  for  organization  work 
is  as  yet  Unrestricted.  The  spirit  of  trade  unionism  is  now 
abroad  in  sections  where  organization  has  heretofore  been  found 
impossible,  and  scarcely  a  day  passes  without  the  issuance  of 
one  or  more  charters.  Let  us  not,  however,  devote  our  efforts 
exclusively  to  the  unorganized  towns,  for  the  non-unionists 
within  the  organized  cities  require  our  attention.  It  is  needless 
to  say  that  the  unionizing  of  several  large  offices,  which  have 

674 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

been  out  of  the  fold  for  years,  has  strengthened  the  unions 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  which  these  offices  were  located. 
Our  success  in  these  places  should  be  an  incentive  to  greater 
effort.  The  time  is  propitious,  conditions  are  favorable,  and 
every  subordinate  union  should  endeavor  to  thoroughly  organize 
the  craft  under  its  jurisdiction. 

Considering  the  limited  apportionment  for  the  purpose, 
an  encouraging  condition  was  apparent  in  the  defense 
fund.  During  the  fiscal  year,  though  free  from  difficul- 
ties of  magnitude,  the  sum  of  $25,538.85  was  expended 
from  this  fund,  as  against  $92,734.60  for  the  preceding 
twelve  months.  The  amount  expended  for  defense  pur- 
poses for  the  eleven-year  period,  1891-1901,  was  $414,- 
338.18,  including  the  sum  transferred  to  the  general  fund 
for  the  shorter  workday  committee  and  this  fund's  portion 
of  the  Indianapolis  National  Bank  loss.  That  the  secre- 
tary-treasurer was  not  entirely  satisfied  with  the  condition 
of  the  defense  fund,  however,  is  shown  by  the  following 
expression : 

While  the  revenue  accruing  to  the  defense  fund  from  per 
capita  tax  alone  was  sufficient  for  all  purposes  during  the  past 
year,  it  will  be  conceded  that  the  fund  is  not  more  than  ade- 
quate to  the  conservative  demands  upon  it.  The  continued 
increase  in  membership,  and  in  the  number  of  subordinate 
unions,  will  make  necessary  the  strictest  economy  in  the  dis- 
bursement of  this  fund  if  special  assessments  are  to  be  avoided. 
While  it  is  believed  that  the  arbitration  agreement  with  the 
publishers'  association  will  minimize  the  possibility  of  large 
strikes,  it  must  nevertheless  be  admitted  that  such  difficulties 
are  likely  to  occur,  and  we  should  be  prepared  at  all  times  to 
maintain  our  prestige. 

Although  the  amended  law  increasing  the  burial  benefit 
from  $60  to  $65,  only  having  been  in  operation  since 
January  1,  1901,  it  was  evident  that  the  calculation  made 
u lun  the  increase  was  suggested,  that  the  integrity  of  the 
fund  would  not  be  impaired  by  the  increase,  was  correct. 
During  the  year  406  benefits  were  paid,  amounting  to 

675 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

$25,245.  Had  the  benefit  been  $65  for  the  year,  the  dis- 
bursements would  have  reached  $26,390,  but  this'  sum 
would  not  have  equaled  the  receipts  of  the  fund  by 
$2,441.94.  The  payments  from  this  fund  from  its  es- 
tablishment in  1892  to  May  31,  1901,  aggregated  $227,- 
630.  The  average  age  at  death  for  the  year  was  41.94 
years. 

There  were  eighteen  strikes  during  the  fiscal  year  of 
which  ten  were  successful ;  one  was  compromised,  the 
union  making  gains  thereby.;  one  was  lost  and  six  were 
in  progress  at  the  time  of  filing  the  report.  These  strikes 
involved  260  members,  of  whom  152  returned  to  work 
when  the  disputes  in  which  they  were  interested  were 
settled;  14  were  displaced  and  94  were  involved  in  the 
unsettled  strikes. 

Typographical  Journal — Interest  in  the  Typograph- 
ical Journal  had  increased  during  the  year  and  a  consid- 
erable addition  to  revenue  was  received  from  individual 
subscriptions,  and  a  number  of  unions  adopted  the  plan 
of  subscribing  for  their  membership.  Despite  these  im- 
provements the  Journal  was  not  read  by  nearly  as  many 
members  as  it  should  have  been — according  to  the  secre- 
tary-treasurer— and  he  complained  that  his  efforts  to 
interest  the  membership  in  the  paper  had  not  met  with 
marked  encouragement. 

Organization  Work  —  Nearly  all  the  organizers  re- 
ported an  encouraging  state  of  affairs  in  their  districts 
and  the  many  lengthy  reports  submitted  were  replete  with 
evidence  of  the  great  amount  of  efficient  organizing  work 
being  done.  The  label  was  regarded  as  the  most  potent 
factor  in  advancing  unionism,  while  the  arbitration 
agreement,  it  was  believed,  would  strengthen  the  union's 
hands  in  the  future.  A  general  demand  for  the  label  on 
school  books  was  urged. 

676 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

A  merican  Federation  of  Labor  —  The  delegates  to  the 
twentieth  annual  convention  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor,  which  met  in  Louisville  in  December,  1900, 
along  with  many  things  of  general  interest,  reported  the 
following  of  special  importance  to  the  typographical 
union :  That  the  executive  council  was  instructed  to  pre- 
vent, if  possible,  the  appointment  of  Harrison  Gray  Otis, 
proprietor  of  the  unfair  Los  Angeles  Times,  as  secretary 
of  war,  or  to  any  other  cabinet  position ;  that  a  resolu- 
tion was  adopted  requiring  all  school  books  used  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  various  states  to  bear  the  label  of 
the  allied  printing  trades  council ;  and  that  books  used  in 
the  public  schools  be  furnished  by  the  state;  that  the  re- 
port of  the  committee  on  compulsory  arbitration,  reaffirm- 
ing the  previous  position  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor  in  opposition  to  state  compulsory  arbitration,  was 
adopted ;  that  the  resolution  submitted  by  the  machinists' 
delegation,  calling  upon  the  American  Federation  of  La- 
bor to  require  the  International  Typographical  Union  to 
turn  over  all  machine-tenders  to  their  organization,  or 
revoke  charter,  was  defeated,  and  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  was  conceded  to  be  acting  within  its 
rights  in  the  matter  of  arbitration. 

Home  Trustees  —  The  report  of  the  transactions  of  the 
Union  Printers'  Home  and  board  of  trustees  of  the  insti- 
tution embraced  the  minutes  of  meetings  held,  and  the 
reports  of  the  treasurer  and  the  superintendent.  From 
these  reports  it  was  learned  that  the  actual  receipts  (or 
the  year  were  $40,391.95  and  the  total  expenditures, 
$48,719.75,  leaving  a  balance  on  hand  of  $10,213.57.  It 
will  be  observed  that  the  expenses  exceeded  the  receipts 
by  $8,327.80,  but  this  was  due  to  the  building  and  equip- 
ping of  a  laundry  at  a  c<m  <>f  over  $12,000.  During  the 
year   improvements   aggregating   $16,634.86   had   been 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

made,  the  most  important  being  the  laundry  and  boiler 
house.  Other  improvements  included  a  billiard  room, 
cattle  barn  and  furnishings. 

The  average  number  of  inmates  for  the  year  was  ninety 
and  the  average  cost  of  maintaining  an  inmate  was  $6.66 
per  week. 

During  the  year  the  mortality  at  the  institution  showed 
an  increase.  Thirteen  residents  had  died,  twenty-two 
vacated  the  Home  voluntarily  and  six  were  expelled. 
June  I,  1901,  there  were  eighty-four  inmates  in  the 
Home.  The  number  of  deaths  from  tuberculosis  showed  a 
marked  decrease  from  the  previous  year.  This  was  due 
to  the  more  stringent  restrictions  placed  by  the  board  of 
trustees  upon  the  admission  of  applicants  whose  condition 
was  such  that  no  permanent  improvement  was  possible. 
The  Home  physician  offered  the  following  advice  con- 
cerning the  admission  of  applicants : 

I  wish  to  say  a  word  in  reference  to  cases  of  tuberculosis 
being  admitted  in  the  third  stage  of  this  disease.  Such  cases 
should  not  be  admitted  to  the  Home,  as  the  altitude  here  is  too 
high  for  such  conditions ;  the  patients  have  not  the  lung  capac- 
ity to  live  in  this  rarified  air,  and  are  generally  carried  off 
sooner  than  they  would  be  in  a  denser  atmosphere.  Therefore, 
instead  of  it  being  a  charitable  act  to  admit  them,  in  many  cases 
it  proves  the  opposite.  Then  again,  in  organic  diseases  of  the 
heart.  Patients  suffering  from  these  maladies  should  never  be 
sent  to  high  altitudes,  for,  as  a  rule,  they  live  but  a  short  time. 
I  strongly  advise  against  admitting  insane  patients  under  the 
present  condition  of  things,  as  we  have  no  means  at  our  com- 
mand to  give  them  the  necessary  care  and  attention. 

The  superintendent  also  had  decided  views  on  the  pur- 
poses and  limitations  of  the  Home,  and  gave  expression 
to  them  in  the  following  unmistakable  terms : 

There  seems  to  be  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  local  unions 
to  unload  upon  the  Home  any  members  that  can  not  be  cared 
for  in  other  hospitals  or  institutions.  A  class  of  patients  that 
should  not  be  admitted  comprises  those  suffering  from  loco- 

678 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

motor  ataxia  in  its  advanced  stage.  This  disease  is  incurable. 
The  only  relief  that  can  be  afforded  is  through  the  free  use  of 
opiates.  As  the  disease  progresses  the  patient  sooner  or  later 
becomes  helpless.  Such  cases  are  not  admitted  into  hospitals 
unless  the  patient  is  prepared  to  pay  extra  compensation  for  a 
special  attendant.  The  Home,  not  being  intended  for  such 
cases,  no  provision  was  made  for  them  in  the  erection  of  the 
buildings.  We  have  a  case  in  the  Home  now  jeopardizing  the 
comfort  and  health  of  the  other  residents.  Some  provision 
should  be  made  for  his  care  in  other  than  the  same  building. 
If  the  membership  continues  to  insist  upon  the  admission  of 
this  class  of  patients  a  separate  building  should  be  constructed 
for  them. 

CONSTITUTIONAL     AMENDMENTS 

Thirteen  constitutional  amendments  were  submitted  to 
the  referendum,  all  of  which  met  with  approval.  A  sum- 
mary of  these  propositions,  together  with  the  votes  cast 
for  and  against,  follows :  ( 1 )  Shall  the  stereotypers  and 
electrotypers  be  allowe'd  to  withdraw  from  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  and  form  an  international 
union  of  their  own,  which  shall  enter  into  an  agreement 
with  the  International  Typographical  Union?  This  prop- 
osition also  embraced  certain  contingent  legislation  and 
empowered  the  executive  council  to  make  such  other 
changes  in  the  laws  as  might  be  necessary.  Total  vote, 
15,798;  for,  10,100;  against,  5,698.;  majority  for,  4,402. 

(2)  To  more  clearly  define  the  term  "printer"  as  used 
in  section  I,  article  I  of  the  constitution.  Total  vote, 
16,601;  for,  13,872;  against,  2,729;  majority  for,  11,143. 

(3)  To  reserve  the  right  to  re-establish  jurisdiction  over 
any  branch  of  the  printing  trade  in  case  of  emergency. 
Total  vote,  16,212;  for,  13,560;  against,  2,652;  majority 
for,  10,908.  (4)  To  specify  the  manner  in  which  laws 
shall  be  classed  or  grouped  in  the  book  of  laws.  Total 
vote,  15.471;  for,  14,194;  against,  1,277;  majority  for, 
12,917.  (5)  T6  place  the  appointment  of  organixcrs  ex- 
clusively in  the  hands  of  the  president  and  executive 

675 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

council.  Total  vote,  16,016;  for,  9,241;  against,  6,775; 
majority  for,  2,466.  (6)  To  fix  the  salaries  of  the  presi- 
dent and  secretary-treasurer  at  $1,800  per  year  each. 
Total  vote,  16,137;  for,  9,548;  against,  6,589;  majority 
for,  2,959.  (7)  To  allow  organizers  compensation  equal 
to  their  earning  capacity,  or  the  scale  of  their  union. 
Total  vote,  16,040;  for,  13,969;  against,  2,071;  majority 
for,  11,898.  (8)  To  provide  that  appeals  to  the  council 
must  be  in  triplicate.  Total  vote,  15,402;  for,  12,936; 
against,  2,466;  majority  for,  10,470.  (9)  To  change  the 
time  for  auditing  International  accounts.  Total  vote, 
15,056;  for,  13,004;  against,  2,052;  majority  for,  10,952. 
(10)  To  allow  unions  to  pay  for  the  Journal  monthly 
at  the  rate  of  five  cents  per  month.  Total  vote,  16,018; 
for,  11,801  ;  against,  4,217;  majority  for,  7,584.  (11)  To 
abolish  the  organizing  districts.  Total  vote,  14,913;  for, 
9,221;  against,  5,692;  majority  for,  3,529.  (12)  To  al- 
low the  executive  council  to  submit  questions  direct  to  the 
membership.  Total  vote,  15,974;  for,  14,102;  against, 
1,872;  majority  for,  12,230..  (13)  Shall  the  tripartite 
agreement  be  abrogated?  Total  vote,  14,999;  f°r>  9>&57  > 
against,  5,142  ;  majority  for,  4,71 5. 

Withdrawal  of  Stereotypers  —  In  the  foregoing  sum- 
mary of  amendments  to  the  constitution  approved  by  the 
referendum,  it  will  be  observed  that  the  first  one  was  an 
agreement  permitting  the  stereotypers  and  electrotypers 
to  withdraw  from  the  International  Union  and  form  an 
international  union  of  their  own  under  certain  conditions. 
The  agreement  between  the  two  organizations  was  drawn 
upon  the  following  lines  : 

1.  That  the  International  Typographical  Union  hereby  agrees  to  and  does 
recognize  the  exclusive  right  of  the  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  Dis- 
trict Union  to  control,  regulate,  charter  and  hereafter  organize  all  stereotypers 
and  electrotypers  and  all  those  employed  at  any  and  all  branches  of  stereotyping 
and  electrotyping  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  first  named  organization,  and 
the  said  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  recognizes  the 
sole  right  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  charter,  regulate,  con- 
trol   and    organize    the    compositors   and    other    branches    of   the    printing    trade 

680 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

(excepting  stereotypers  and  electrotypers  and  all  branches  of  stereotyping  and 
electrotyping)   at  present  or  in   future  connected  with  that  organization. 

2.  Each  party  recognizes  the  jurisdiction  and  authority  of  the  other,  as  set 
forth  in  clause  i  of  this  agreement,  and  each  party  further  agrees  to  withhold 
recognition  from  any  and  all  persons  following  as  a  vocation  any  branch  of 
the  printing  craft  under  control  of  the  other  party  to  this  agreement. 

3.  The  parties  to  this  agreement  hereby  finally  and  forever  abandon  all 
right  or  pretense  to  organize,  aid  or  abet,  morally  or  financially,  in  whole  or  in 
part,  a  union,  individual  or  clique  of  individuals  employed  at  any  branch  under 
the  control   of  the  other   party  to  this  agreement. 

4.  The  International  Typographical  Union  and  Stereotypers  and  Electro- 
typers' Trade  District  Union  hereby  agree  to  co-operate  with  and  assist  each 
other  in  organizing  and  for  offensive  and  defensive  purposes,  as  hereinafter 
specified. 

5.  The  International  Typographical  Union  and  Stereotypers  and  Electro- 
typers' Trade  District  Union,  each  agrees  to  pay  a  per  capita  tax  on  each  mem- 
ber thereof  to  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
the  money  so  paid  to  be  used  as  a  joint  fund  by  both  bodies  for  organizing  and 
for  offensive  and  defensive  purposes.  The  members  of  the  Stereotypers  and 
Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  shall  pay  a  monthly  per  capita  tax  of 
ten  (10)  cents,  seven  and  one-half  (7J/S)  cents,  of  which  shall  be  apportioned 
to  the  joint  defense  fund;  two  and  one-half  (2^)  cents  of  which  shall  be 
in  payment  of  privileges  otherwise  conferred  in  this  agreement.  The  members 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  shall  pay  a  monthly  per  capita 
tax  of  seven  and  one-half  (7 'A)  cents  and  in  addition  shall  pay  all  necessary 
expenses  incurred   in   the  care  and  distribution  of  such   fund. 

6.  The  distribution  of  such  fund  to  be  under  the  control"  of  a  joint  board 
representing  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
and  the  executive  board  of  the  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers*  Trade  District 
Union;  such  joint  board  to  consist  of  the  president  and  secretary-treasurer  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  president  of  the  Stereotypers 
and  Electrotypers'  Union.  The  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  shall  be  treasurer  of  the  joint  fund,  and  shall  receive  and 
hold  such  per  capita  tax  subject  to  expenditure  by  majority  vote  of  the 
joint   board. 

7.  If  at  any  time  the  joint  defense  fund  should  become  depleted  then  the 
joint  board  shall  take  proper  measures  to  replenish  the  fund  in  such  amount 
as  it  may  determine. 

8.  Said  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  agree*  to 
abide  by  the  present  laws  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  relating 
to  defense  fund,  strikes  and  lockouts,  and  such  amendments  thereto  as  do  not 
impair    the    spirit    of    existing    laws. 

9.  The  moneys  in  this  joint  defense  fund  shall  be  drawn  on  only  for  the 
following  purposes:  For  the  sustaining  of  legal  strike*  or  lockouts  of  subor* 
■  lin.itc  or  affiliated  unions,  and  for  the  payment  of  expenses  of  officers  or 
organizers  of  both  unions,  when  engaged  in  the  settlement  of  diaputc*  or  the 
formation  of  new  unions. 

10.  The  Stereotypers  ond  Klrctmtypcri'  Trailc  District  Union  agree*  to  be 
bound  by  the  present  arbitration  agreement  existing  between  the  Newspaper 
I'nMishcrs'  Association  and  the  International   Typographical   Union,   which   will 

•■  May  t,  iqoj,  and  such  further  changes  as  may  bt  agreed  upon  Croat 
time  to  time  by  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Topograph  tea  I  Union, 
n<.t  impairing  the  spirit  of  the  agreement  and  in  compliance  with  the  vol*  by 
which  the  present  agreement  was  adopted  by  the  referendum  of  the  International 
Typographical   Union. 

n.     The  International  Typographical  Union  hereby  consents  that  aft  aobor- 


<*l 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

dinate  unions  of  the  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  may 
join  allied  printing  trades  councils,  and  further  agrees  that  the  Stereotypers 
and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  shall  have  the  right  to  use  the  allied 
trades  council  label  as  is  enjoyed  by  other  affiliated  organizations.  The  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  agrees  to  sanction  the  use  of  a  die  and  stencil 
label  by  the  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union. 

12.  The  International  Typographical  Union  agrees  to  aid  the  Stereotypers 
and.  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  by  inducing  all  stereotypers  and 
electrotypers  to  join  the  nearest  union  of  their  craft,  and  shall,  through  its 
officers  and  organizers,  further  assist  the  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade 
District  Union  in  organizing  stereotypers  and  electrotypers  wherever  unorgan- 
ized. The  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  agrees  to  aid 
the  International  Typographical  Union  in  organizing  all  crafts  under  its 
jurisdiction. 

13.  The  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  Stereotypers  and 
Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  agree  that  all  future  contracts  or  agree- 
ments made  by  allied  unions,  either  verbal  or  written,  shall  contain  a  proviso 
to  the  effect  that  such  contract  shall  be  null  and  void  in  case  of  strike  or 
lockout  of  any  other  union  affiliated;  provided,  that  such  strike  or  lockout 
occurs  after  all   efforts  of  arbitration   have   failed. 

14.  The  parties  to  this  agreement  agree  to  abide  by  and  enforce  the 
following   general   laws: 

(a)  Where  it  is  in  the  power  of  a  foreman  to  employ  help  of  the  allied 
trades,  and  he  shall  employ  a  non-union  man  in  preference  to  a  union  man, 
he  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  $5  or  more  than  $25,  and  on  the  second  offense 
he  shall  be  subject  to  suspension  or  expulsion. 

(b)  Plate  Matter — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  officers  and  organizers  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  to  take  immediate  steps  to  prevent  local 
unions  using  stereotype  plate  matter,  electrotype  plates,  papier-mache  matrices, 
and  photo-engravings  unless  said  plate  matter,  electrotype  plates,  papier-mache 
matrices  and  photo-engravings  are  made  by  recognized  union  men  under  the 
terms   of  this   agreement. 

(c)  The  International  Typographical  Union  directs  subordinate  unions  to 
use  their  influence  in  having  book,  newspaper  and  job  stereotyping  and  electro- 
typing  sent  to   shops  employing  union  men  exclusively. 

15.  The  International  Typographical  Union  agrees  to  publish  monthly  in 
the  Typographical  Journal  official  matter,  the  names  and  addresses  of  the 
officers  of  the  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union,  and  also 
a  list  of  subordinate  unions  of  the  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  Dis- 
trict Union,' together  with   the  names  and  addresses  of   each   secretary. 

16.  It  is  further  agreed  that  this  compact  shall  be  binding  upon  the  parties 
thereto,  should  either  party  to  said  agreement  hereafter  adopt  another  title. 

17.  The  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  hereby 
guarantees  all  present  joint  trade  agreements  entered  into  by  the  International 
Typographical    Union. 

18.  The  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  Stereotypers  and 
Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  hereby  agree  that  a  representative  from 
each  body  shall  be  accorded  all  the  privileges  at  conventions  enjoyed  by 
delegates   thereto. 

19.  The  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union,  its  members 
and  successors,  hereby  renounce  all  right,  title  and  interest  in  the  burial 
fund  and  the  institution  at  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado,  known  as  the  Union 
Printers   Home,   maintained   by   the   International   Typographical   Union. 

20.  The  International  Typographical  Union  agrees  at  any  future  time  to 
permit  the  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Trade  District  Union  to  take 
advantage  of  any  per  capita  tax  privileges  enjoyed  by  the  membership  of  the 

682 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

International  Typographical  Union,  upon  payment  of  the  same  per  capita  tax. 

21.  Other  recognized  printing  trade  organizations  may  become  parties  to 
this  agreement  by  accepting  its  provisions,  whereupon  the  necessary  chances 
shall   be  made   therein. 

22.  This  agreement  shall  be  continuous,  and  shall  be  accepted  or  rejected 
as  a  whole,  provided  amendments  may  be  proposed  hereafter  by  either  party, 
and  on  ratification  by  both  parties  in  such  manner  as  their  laws  provide,  shall 
become  a  part  of  this  agreement. 

Organizing  Districts  Abolished  —  The  fifth  referen- 
dum proposition  abolished  the  district  plan  of  appointing 
organizers  and  placed  the  appointment  of  these  repre- 
sentatives in  the  hands  of  the  president  and  executive 
council. 

Resolutions  —  Among  the  resolutions  passed  were  the 
following: 

That  the  executive  council  be  and  is  hereby  authorized  to 
formulate  a  plan,  to  be  submitted  to  the  referendum,  for  put- 
ting the  Journal  into  the  hands  of  all  members. 

That  it  is  the  policy  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  to  favor  and  adopt  the  principle  of  arbitration  wherever 
possible ;  and  it  is  the  sense  of  this  convention  that  the  executive 
council  should  devise  a  general  plan  of  arbitration  to  be  utilized 
in  settling  disputes  or  trouble  that  may  arise  between  proprie- 
tors of  book  and  job  offices  and  subordinate  unions  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union ;  that  the  executive  council 
be  instructed  to  make  overtures  to  the  typothetae,  or  other 
associations  of  employers,  looking  to  the  adoption  of  a  plan 
of  arbitration  whereby  strikes  may  be  avoided  in  case  of  dif- 
ference, between  employers  and  employes. 

That  all  local  unions  be  requested  to  send  protests  to 
Washington  against  the  increase  of  the  tariff  on  wood  pulp 
and  paper,  and  request  that  free  paper  and  free  pulp  be 
included  in  the  adjustment  of  our  relations  with  Canada  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment,  and  that  our  International  officer* 
prepare  proper  blanks  therefor. 

General  Laws — Legislation  regulating  sub-lists  took 
the  shape  of  the  following  substitute  for  section   128  of 

the  general  laws  : 

The  practfc  e  <>f  foremen  of  phaluudttg  <>r  ghriog  out  six-day 
situations  on  seven-day  papers,  thereby  controlling  extra  «■ 

683 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

constitutes  a  sub-list.  Any  member  holding  a  position  in  an 
office,  seven-day  paper  or  otherwise,  is  entitled  to  employ  in 
his  stead,  whenever  so  disposed,  any  competent  member  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  without  consultation  or 
approval  of  the  foremen  of  said  office.  A  fine  of  $25  shall  be 
imposed  upon  foremen  for  violation  or  evasion  of  this  law. 
Any  chairman  failing  to  report  the  violation  of  this  section 
shall  be  fined  $25. 

The  law  relating  to  the  changing  of  scales  of  prices 
was  altered  so  as  to  require  all  unions  to  decide  this 
question  by  secret  ballot  and  three-fourths  vote  of  six- 
months  members  except  in  the  case  of  newly-organized 
unions. 

In  the  payment  of  strike  benefits,  an  amendment  was 
made  to  the  law  providing  for  a  deduction  of  one-fourth 
of  the  regular  benefits  for  each  day's  work  received. 

Propositions  Defeated  —  Two  propositions  defeated 
during  the  week  attracted  considerable  attention  and  are 
given  special  mention.  The  first  was  an  amendment  to 
section  1  of  the  general  laws,  and  read  thus : 

No  person  shall  be  admitted  as  a  member  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  or  of  a  subordinate  union,  who 
is  a  member  of  the  military  organization  known  as  the  national 
guard,  or  any  other  military  organization  officered  by  men 
commissioned  by  any  state  or  government.  All  members  who 
are  at  present  members  of  organizations  described  above,  shall 
resign  or  retire  at  expiration  of  term  of  enlistment.  (The 
balance  of  section  1  to  remain  as  before.) 

An  unfavorable  report  was  returned  by  the  law  com- 
mittee and  excited  a  spirited  debate  which  finally  resulted 
in  the  tabling  of  the  whole  question. 

The  second  important  question  defeated  was  as  follows : 

Realizing  that  the  interests  of  wage-workers  in  every  craft 
or  calling  necessitates  concerted  action  on  the  part  of  those 
who  are  brought  together  in  the  pursuit  of  their  daily  toil, 
the  International  Typographical  Union  of  North  America 
emphasizes  that  it  is  distinctly  a  class  organization  founded 

684 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

for  the  purpose  of  embracing  in  its  membership  all  workers 
in  the  printing  industry,  who,  upon  the  industrial  field,  must 
wrest  from  the  employing  class  every  concession  intended  to 
improve  their  material  well-being,  which  fact  should  impress 
the  members  of  this  organization  that  to  conserve  their  interests 
as  wage-workers  it  is  essential  that  they  act  as  a  unit  at  all 
times,  not  only  industrially,  but  also  politically,  because 
through  control  of  the  political  power,  the  employing  class 
against  which  the  trade  union  is  called  into  existence  to  secure 
for  the  workers  recognition  of  their  rights,  derives  its  means 
to  oppress  and  withhold  from  the  toilers  their  own.  / 

We  declare,  therefore,  that  it  is  consistent  with  the  ethics 
of  trade  unionism,  and  it  is  the  sacred  duty  of  every  honorable 
craftsman  who  enrolls  himself  as  a  member  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  to  sever  his  or  her  affiliation  with  all 
political  parties  that  uphold  the  privileges  of  the  exploiting 
class,  which  is  constantly  encroaching  upon  the  liberties  of  the 
working  people.  And  as  it  is  apparent  that  private  ownership 
of  the  natural  sources  of  production  and  in  the  instruments  of, 
labor  and  wealth  created  thereby  is  the  obvious  cause  of  all 
economic  servitude  and  political  dependence,  which  condition 
aggravates  the  discontent  of  the  wage-working  class,  with  its 
ever  increasing  army  of  the  unemployed — the  source  from 
whence  capitalism  draws  its  allies  to  defeat  unionism — because 
of  the  impossibility  to  get  access  to  opportunities  to  apply  its 
labor  power  in  the  production  of  things  required  to  sustain 
life,  the  International  Typographical  Union  of  North  America 
calls  upon  its  membership  to  stand  unflinchingly  for  the  aboli- 
tion of  the  wage  system,  which  is  responsible  for  the  misery 
and  degradation  of  the  human  family. 

While  this  proposition  was  being  considered,  a  motion 
to  tabic  prevailed  with  the  author  of  the  proposition  vot- 
ing in  the  negative. 

Other  defeated  proposition!  were  an  amendment  call- 
ing for  separate  charters  for  book  and  job  printers  in 
cities  where  400  members  arc  employed  at  that  branch 
of  the  business.  A  recommendation  favoring  the  piece 
tern  for  machine  composition  was  defeated,  as  was  an- 
other proposed  amendment  allowing  machine  operators 

685 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

to  make  their  own  scale  of  prices.  The  convention  de- 
clined to  order  the  early  publication  of  the  names  of  all 
members  of  subordinate  unions  in  the  Typographical 
Journal  and  also  refused  to  sanction  the  appointment  of  a 
special  committee  for  label  agitation,  believing  that  that 
work  could  be  done  by  the  International  officers.  The 
delegates  also  voted  down  an  amendment  requiring  the 
International  Union  to  pay  the  railroad  fares  and  per 

'  diem  of  delegates  to  the  conventions.  Adverse  action  was 
taken  on  a  proposition  preventing  "whitewashed"  mem- 
bers from  holding  offices  in  the  union. 

Woman's  Auxiliaries  —  Subordinate  unions  were  au- 
thorized and  empowered  to  organize  woman's  auxiliaries. 
Limited  Membership  —  The  question  of  limiting  the 
membership  in  the  organization  was  presented  to  Presi- 

t  dent   Lynch,    and    in    his   annual    report,   the   following 
opinion  on  this  question  was  given : 

Replying  to  your  favor  of  the  31st  ult,  permit  me  to  say 
that,  in  my  opinion,  the  International  Typographical  Union 
can  not  confer  limited  membership.  Such  a  course  would  not, 
I  believe,  be  upheld  by  the  courts,  especially  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  we  require  equal  dues  from  all  classes  on  our  mem- 
bership rolls.  However,  the  point  which  you  raise  is  an  im- 
portant one,  and  thus  far  I  have  refrained  from  rendering  a 
decision  on  it,  preferring  to  allow  the  forthcoming  convention 
to  handle  the  matter. 

Under  a  strict  construction  of  the  law  as  it  stands  at  the 
present  time,  non-printer  proofreaders  and  non-printer  ma- 
chinists, members  of  subordinate  unions,  are  entitled  to  work  at 
any  branch  of  the  trade  which  they  are  capable  of  filling. 

The  Detroit  convention  amended  the  law  so  as  to  permit 
of  this,  but  the  amendment  failed  before  the  referendum.  The 
Milwaukee  convention  struck  out  all  prohibitive  sections,  both 
as  to  securing  membership  and  working  at  any  branch  of  the 
trade. 

The  chairman  of  the  Milwaukee  laws  committee,  writing 
me  on  this  subject,  says :  "The  harshness  and  injustice  of 
this  resolution  became  immediately  apparent,  and  the  Detroit 

686 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

convention  requested  the  referendum  to  rescind  it,  but  it  failed 
to  do  so.  Last  year  the  convention  did  the  same  thing — they 
obliterated  the  regulation — and  this  action  was  endorsed  by 
the  referendum.  *  *  *  It  would  seem  the  plain  duty  of  a 
union  to  its  members  to  leave  them  unrestricted  in  the  exercise 
of  their  talents,  provided  there  is  no  vital  principle  of  unionism 
violated. 

The  president's  views  were  approved  by  the  committee 
on  laws  and  were  also  concurred  in  by  the  convention. 

Chinese  Exclusion  —  Much  attention  was  paid  to  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  the  Chinese  exclusion  act. 
The  report,  which  read  in  part,  as  follows,  was  adopted : 

Whereas  the  Chinese  exclusion  act,  known  more  generally 
as  the  Geary  law,  will  expire  on  the  1st  day  of  May,  1902 ;  and 

Whereas  the  enforcement  of  the  provisions  of  that  law 
since  its  enactment  by  the  congress  of  the  United  States  has 
had  great  effect  in  excluding  from  our  shores  the  undesirable 
hordes  of  Chinese  with  which  this  country  was  threatened  at 
the  time  of  its  enactment ;  and 

Whereas  fully  believing  that,  without  such  a  law  on  our 
statute  books  and  its  stringent  enforcement,  the  ports  of  our 
country  will  be  opened  to  the  millions  of  Chinese  coolies,  caus- 
ing great  damage  and  irreparable  injury  to  the  American 
workingman ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  By  the  International  Typographical  Union  in 
convention  assembled,  That  we  demand  the  enactment  of  a  law 
by  the  congress  of  the  United  States  which  shall  exclude  from 
this  country  Chinese,  Japanese,  and  Malays,  and  all  people 
of  Asiatic  extraction. 

Resolved,  That  the  officers  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  be  instructed  to  prepare  a  memorial  to  the  president 
of  the  United  States  and  to  congress ;  to  use  every  endeavor 
themselves,  and  to  request  the  co-operation  of  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor  in  having  congress  past  and  enforce  such 
a  law  as  will  have  the  desired  effect  of  excluding  Chinese  and 
other  Asiatic  races  from  this  country. 

Resolved.  That  the  subordinate  unions  be  requested  *  to 
endorse  these  <>r  similar  resolution,  and  to  petition  the  presi- 
di -lit  of  the  United  States  and  the  senators  and  congressmen 
of  their  respective  states,  with  the  view  of  securing  their  sup- 

687 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

port  for  the  enactment  of  such  a   law  as   will  exclude  the 
Asiatic  races  from  the  country  in  fact  as  well  as  in  theory. 

Relations  With  Publishers  —  Commissioner  Driscoll, 
of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  ad- 
dressed the  convention,  congratulated  the  organization 
upon  the  amicable  relations  existing  between  the  union 
and  the  association  he  represented,  and  pointed  out  cer- 
tain modifications  in  the  laws  of  the  International  Union 
which  he  suggested  would  be  agreeable  to  the  publishers. 

Tripartite  Agreement  Abrogated  —  Intense  excitement 
prevailed  throughout  the  convention  when  the  committee 
on  allied  trade  relations  and  tripartite  agreement  passed 
up  its  report.  As  a  substitute  for  the  various  propositions 
referred  to  it,  this  committee  recommended  that  the  con- 
vention approve  the  abrogation  of  the  agreement  between 
the  International  Typographical  Union,  International 
Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  and  Interna- 
tional Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders,  and  ordered  sub- 
mitted to  the  referendum  the  question  "Shall  the  tripartite 
agreement  be  abrogated?"  Debate  on  the  subject  contin- 
ued for  some  time  and  resulted  in  the  adoption  of  the 
report  by  a  vote  of  142  ayes,  2  noes. 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,  was  chosen  as  the  meeting  place  for 
the  convention  of  1902. 

AFTER      THE      CONVENTION 

Officers,  ipo2-ipoj  —  During  the  interim  following 
the  Birmingham  convention  and  the  session  held  at  Cin- 
cinnati, the  election  of  officers  by  the  referendum  resulted 
in  the  selection  of  the  following:  President,  James  M. 
Lynch,  Syracuse;  first  vice-president,  C.  E.  Hawkes, 
Chicago;  second  vice-president,  Hugo  Miller,  Indianap- 
,  olis;  third  vice-president,  James  Mulcahy,  St.  Louis; 
fourth  vice-president,  J.  F.  O'Sullivan,  Boston ;  fifth 
vice-president,    Charles    S.    Walls,    New   York;    seventh 

688 


Convention  at  Birmingham,  1901 

vice-president,  P.  G.  Nuernberger,  Chicago;  secretary- 
treasurer,  J.  W.  Bramwood,  Denver.  Delegates  to  Amer- 
ican Federation  of  Labor — James  M.  Lynch  (president), 
Syracuse;  Max  S.  Hayes,  Cleveland;  Frank  Morrison, 
Chicago;  William  M.  Garrett,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  J.  F. 
O'Sullivan,  Boston.  Trustees  Union  Printers  Home — 
James  M.  Lynch,  Syracuse;  J.  W.  Bramwood,  Denver; 
Thomas  McCaffery,  Colorado  Springs;  William  Aimison, 
Nashville;  E.  W.  Patton,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  L.  C.  Shep- 
ard,  Chicago;  H.  H.  Rogers,  Chicago;  Agent — William 
Kennedy,  Chicago. 

Arbitration  Agreement  Renewed — In  the  interim  fol- 
lowing the  Birmingham  convention  and  the  assembling 
of  the  delegates  at  Cincinnati,  the  executive  council,  by 
authority  granted  at  Birmingham,  renewed  the  arbitra- 
tion agreement  with  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association,  in  amended  form.  In  the  Typographical 
Journal  of  May  1,  speaking  of  the  new  agreement,  Presi- 
dent Lynch  said : 

Today  the  amended  arbitration  agreement  between  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  and  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  goes  into 
effect.  It  is  for  five  years,  and  for  that  length  of  time  will  reasonably 
guarantee  industrial  peace  in  about  150  of  the  great  newspaper*  in  our  juris- 
diction. The  amendments  to  the  agreement  provide  that  all  contracts  coming 
under  its  provisions,  and  made  after  May  1,  1902,  must  be  first  approved  by 
the  president  of  the.  International  Typographical  Union,  and  that  when  the 
present  contracts  with  local  unions  expire,  and  disputes  arise  as  to  hours  and 
scales  in  negotiating  new  contracts,  such  disputes  may  be  submitted  to  arbitra- 
tion, if  local  agreement  is  impossible.  It  is  also  provided  that  contracts  with 
allied  trades  councils  shall  not  come  under  the  provisions  of  the  agreement. 
Since  May  1,  1901,  we  have  been  working  under  an  arbitration  agreement  with 
the  American  Newspaper  Publishers*  Association,  and  during  that  entire  time 
we  have  not  had  a  dispute  with  a  newspaper  conducting  union  departments 
and  a  member  of  this  association  that  has  not  been  adjusted  satisfactorily  to 
!>•  .ill  the  union  and  the  local  publisher.  Our  dispute  is  pending.  The  agreement 
guaranteed  stability,  and  brcouse  of  it  I  believe  we  have  been  able  to  unlonUe 
many  newspapers.  During  the  last  year,  about  twenty  newspaper*  have  been 
unionized.  In  accordance  with  the  instruction*  of  the  Itirmlngham  conven- 
tion, I  have  notified  the  chairman  of  the  rsrcutivr  committee  of  the  National 
Typothrt«  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  I*  ready  to  enter,  Into 
an  arbitration  agreement  with  that  organisation.  The  typotbetar  to  the  leading 
combination  in  our  jurisdiction  of  the  book  and  job  employer*,  and  many 
Of  the  members  of  this  <  ..  ..  tv  luve  assured  me  that  at  their  next  conven- 
tion they  will  support  thr  proposition  for  an  arbitration  agreement  with  the 
Int.  i national   Typographical   Union.      I  hey   rcalUc  that   such  an   agreement    will 

689 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

be  of  great  value  to  the  union  book  and  job  employers,  and,  on  our  part,  it 
goes  without  saying  that  we  are  also  cognizant  of  the  beneficial  effect  such  a 
covenant  would  have,  not  only  with  typothetae  members,  but  with  book  and  job 
employers  generally.  I  confidently  expect  that  before  the  new  agreement  with 
the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  expires  there  will  not  be  an 
important  newspaper  in  our  jurisdiction  in  the  non-union  class.  If  we  succeed 
in  negotiating  the  arbitration  agreement  with  the  typothetae,  the  effect  will  be 
the  same  with  all  important  book  and  job  establishments.  We  are  rapidly 
advancing  to  that  high  plane  where  possibility  of  strikes  will  be  reduced  to  a 
minimum,  and1  the  non-union  employer  is  gradually  but  surely  becoming  im- 
pressed with  the  fact  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  is  a  factor 
that  must  be  considered  in  the  printing  trade,  and  that  business  interest 
demands  a  workable  and  satisfactory  agreement  that  will  surely  establish 
industrial   peace. 

Convention    at    Cincinnati 

[1902]  —  The  forty-eighth  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  by  Presi- 
dent Lynch  in  the  Pike  Opera  House,  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
Monday,  August  n,  1902.  The  gathering  marked  the 
golden  anniversary  of  the  union.  Fifty  years  before,  on 
May  5,  1852,  the  National  Typographical  Union  had  been 
formally  launched  at  a  convention  of  delegates  held  in 
Cincinnati.  Again  on  June  6,  1870,  the  International 
Typographical  Union  held  its  first  session  as  an  Interna- 
tional body  in  the  same  city. 

Edmund  O'Connell,  chairman  golden  jubilee  commit- 
tee of  No.  3,  addressed  the  convention  briefly  and  was 
followed  by  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Edwards,  who  invoked  the 
divine  blessing  upon  the  convention  and  its  deliberations. 
Acting  Mayor  Charles  J.  Christie  welcomed  the  delegates 
and  visitors  and  extended  the  freedom  of  the  Queen  City. 
President  McReynolds  assured  the  delegates  and  visitors 
of  the  pleasure  which  the  membership  of  Cincinnati 
Union  felt  in  entertaining  them  and  promised  that  every 
effort  would  be  made  to  send  every  one  home  feeling  that 
the  visit  had  been  an  enjoyable  one.  To  these  addresses 
of  welcome,  President  Lynch  responded  briefly,  and  at 
the  conclusion  of  his  remarks,  declared  the  convention 
open  for  business. 

690 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

Secretary-Treasurer  Bramwood  reported  the  names  of 
191  regularly  elected  delegates,  representing  145  subordi- 
nate unions.  At  subsequent  times  during  the  week,  addi- 
tional delegates  arrived,  swelling  the  total  number  to  205 
and  increasing  the  number  of  unions  represented  to  156, 
the  largest  gathering  in  the  history  of  the  organization 
up  to  that  time. 

The  following  resolution  was  received  from  the  Inter- 
national Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union  and  or- 
dered placed  on  record : 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,  August   11,  1902. 

Resolved,  That  the  International  Stereotypers'  and  Electrotypers'  Union,  in 
its  first  convention  assembled,  presents  its  sincere  congratulations  to  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  upon  the  occasion  of  its  golden  jubilee,  being 
observed  in  Cincinnati  and  expresses  the  earnest  desire  that  the  pleasant  and 
cordial  relations  that  have  existed  in  the  past  will  be  continued  for  all  future 
time,  and  that  the  prosperity  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  at 
present  existing  under  the  wise  and  conservative  policy  of  the  present  executive 
council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  may  be  continued,  and  bring 
an  increased  peace  and  prosperity  to  the  present  and  future  members  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  in  particular  and  the  entire  printing  trade 
in  general. 

The   International   Stereotypers'   and   Electrotypers'   Union   sincerely   thanks 

the    International    Typographical    Union    for    past   assistance    and    support,    and 

desires  to  assure  the  delegates  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  at  its 

golden  jubilee  celebration  that  it  is  our  earnest  desire   that  our  relations   may 

ever  be   of  a  cordial   and   fraternal   nature,   both  giving  our   utmost   support   to 

each  other,  and  that  our  motto  may  ever  be,  "An  injury  to  one  is  the  concern 

of  »11."  ,  ,     „  _ 

James   J.    Fikkl,   President. 

A.   Thomas  Campisxl,    Vice-President. 

Gboigi  W.  Williams,  Secretary-Treasurer. 

REVIEW     OF     OFFICERS'     REPORTS 

In  his  annual  address  to  the  convention,  President 
Lynch,  after  reviewing  briefly  the  history  of  the  organi- 
zation from  its  inception  in  Cincinnati  fifty  years  before, 
congratulated  the  membership  on  the  fact  that  the  clos- 
ing year  had  been  one  remarkable  for  peace  and  tran- 
quillity in  industrial  relations.  He  congratulated  the  or- 
ganization on  the  many  betterments  secured  during  the 
year,  and  briefly  outlined  his  policy  for  the  future  !>>  say* 
tag  that  while  strikes  would  be  avoided  where  possible, 
yet  if  entered  into,  they  would  be  prosecuted  with  all  the 

f'«)i 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

vigor  that  could  be  exercised  and  would  not  be  abandoned 
until  the  unfair  employer  was  made  to  feel  the  cost  at- 
tendant upon  arrogance  and  a  refusal  to  accord  just 
conditions. 

The  value  of  the  annual  scale  reports  was  referred  to 
and  the  last  document  of  this  character  was  especially- 
commended  for  its  completeness.  Four  hundred  and  fifty 
cities  were  represented  in  the  tables,  and  it  was  pointed 
out  that  forty-eight  was  the  average  number  of  hours 
worked  weekly  by  machine  operators  and  composing 
room  employes ;  the  prevalence  of  the  nine-hour  day  and 
the  upward  tendency  in  wages  were  referred  to  and  a 
noticeable  movement  toward  a  common  scale  for  all  time 
employes  in  composing  rooms  moved  the  president  to  de- 
clare that  emphatic  endorsement  could  be  given  the  scale 
which  placed  all  composing  room  employes  on  an  equality. 
A  change  in  the  form  of  collecting  data  relative  to  ma- 
chine operators,  etc.,  had  resulted  in  more  complete  re- 
ports on  those  subjects,  and  demonstrated  the  correctness 
of  the  claim  of  superiority  of  union  members  in  the  opera- 
tion and  care  of  machines.  The  appreciable  increase  in 
the  number  of  machine  operators,  tenders,  etc.,  over  the 
previous  year,  was  due  not  only  to  a  proportionate  in- 
crease in  machines  but  also  to  the  increase  in  practice  of 
working  two  shifts  of  operators,  one  day  and  one  night, 
on  the  same  battery  of  machines.  The  International 
Typographical  Union  was  believed  to  be  the  only  labor 
organization  issuing  such  a  complete  scale  report. 

President  Lynch  recommended  a  careful  reading  of 
the  reports  of  officers,  organizers  and  committees  and 
called  attention  to  two  important  recommendations  in  the 
report  of  the  delegates  to  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor  on  autonomy  and  political  propositions.  He  re- 
peated his  advice  of  the  previous  year  on  the  political 

692 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

question  and  gave  emphatic  expression  to  his  opinion,  as 

follows : 

Thus  far  the  International  Typographical  Union  has  steered 
a  conservative  course.  It  has  avoided  all  the  "isms"  and 
panaceas  that  are  confidently  recommended  as  cure-alls  for 
industrial  ills.  It  is  not  your  president's  intention  to  advise 
the  membership  or  the  convention  either  for  or  against  any 
particular  political  policy.  His  personal  opinion  is  that  the 
wage  earners  of  this  country  will  eventually  work  out  their 
political  salvation,  and  that  they  will  do  it  without  adherence 
to  or  the  adoption  of  the  principles  enunciated  by  any  par- 
ticular school  of  thought. 

On  the  question  of  autonomy  the  president  thought 
there  should  be  more  light  and  offered  the  suggestion  that 
the  convention  should  express  itself  on  the  subject  and 
believed  it  would  be  well  to  refer  both  the  political  and 
autonomy  matters  to  the  referendum  in  concise  questions 
and  allow  the  membership  to  express  its  will  as  to  the 
policy  that  should  be  pursued  by  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  and  its  representatives  on  both  important 
subjects. 

Relations  With  Publishers  and  Typotheta  —  President 
Lynch  reported  that  relations  with  the  American  News- 
paper Publishers'  Association  were  satisfactory.  The 
difference  between  the  five-year  arbitration  agreement 
entered  into  May  1,  1902,  and  that  of  May  1,  1901,  was 
pointed  out  and  a  full  account  was  given  of  the  questions 
concerning  International  law,  etc.,  propounded  to  him  at 
the  publishers'  convention  in  February,  1902.  That  part 
of  the  general  laws  providing  for  the  abrogation  of  con- 
tracts in  event  of  trouble  with  allied  trades  was  extremely 
distasteful  to  the  publishers,  especially  the  words  "null 
and  void."  President  Lynch  thought  that  the  publishers 
were  unnecessarily  alarmed  about  the  law  but  admitted 
"that  it  is  not  good  business  policy,  under  ordinary  con- 

to 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ditions,  to  sign  a  contract  containing  a  stipulation  that  one 
party  to  the  contract,  without  reference  to  any  other  au- 
thority, may  at  its  discretion  declare  the  contract  null 
and  void."  The  commissioner  of  the  publishers'  associa- 
tion wanted  the  section  of  general  laws  referred  to  elimi- 
nated or  amended  into  what  would  be  considered  a  more 
equitable  law.  The  president  was  opposed  to  bringing 
pressure  to  bear  on  local  publishers  to  the  end  that  an 
arbitration  agreement  might  be  executed.    He  said  : 

The  benefits  obtained  under  the  agreement  are  just  as  val- 
uable to  the  publisher  as  to  the  union.  If  the  publisher  believes 
that  he  does  not  need  the  protection  of  an  arbitration  agree- 
ment, then  the  local  union  can  rest  equally  content.  In  other 
words,  we  stand  ready  to  arbitrate.  The  instrument  has  been 
provided ;  it  remains  for  the  publisher  to  do  the  rest. 

As  the  convention  of  the  typothetae  had  not  been  held 
at  the  time  of  publication  of  the  officers'  reports,  it  was 
impossible  to  report  conclusions  on  the  efforts  to  comply 
with  the  instructions  of  the  Birmingham  convention  to 
make  overtures  to  the  typothetae  looking  to  a  plan  of 
arbitration. 

An  interesting  account  was  given  of  an  address  deliv- 
ered by  President  Lynch  at  the  American  Newspaper 
Publishers'  Association  convention  in  which  he  spoke  of 
the  friendly  relations  existing  between  the  two  organiza- 
tions, the  necessity  for  the  continuance  of  the  same  and  the 
desire  that  the  authorized  representative  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  be  given  a  hearing  before 
any  legislation  hostile  to  the  International  Typographical 
Union  be  enacted  by  the  publishers'  association.  The  ex- 
cellent opportunity  to  make  a  plea  for  better  workrooms 
was  not  lost  sight  of.  While  it  was  admitted  that  in  recent 
years  newspaper  proprietors  had  given  more  attention  to 
the  conditions  of  their  composing  rooms  regarding  light 
and  sanitary  arrangements,  yet  it  was  a  fact  that  there 

694 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

were  many  composing  rooms  that  were  disease-breeding 
centers  which  annually  sent  forth  men  that  were  in  the 
last  stages  of  tuberculosis  or  afflicted  with  equally  dread 
disease.  Well  lighted,  well  ventilated  and  properly  ar- 
ranged departments  were  necessary  as  desirable  business 
propositions;  it  was  held  that  the  workingman  could 
produce  better  results  under  the  proper  surroundings  and 
with  proper  appliances,  and,  if  for  no  other  reason  than 
this,  the  publishers  should  see  to  it  that  the  conditions 
complained  of  were  remedied. 

Relations  With  Allied  Trades  —  Under  the  head  of 
autonomy  and  industrialism,  the  president  discussed  rela- 
tions with  the  allied  trades.  He  took  the  ground  that  the 
terms  referred  to  were  generally  misunderstood.  In  his 
opinion  autonomy  in  the  management  of  affairs  of  direct 
and  sole  concern  to  a  trade  union  differed  essentially  from 
autonomy  in  the  industrial  field,  where  the  interests  of 
many  other  trades  might  be  vitally  concerned.  He  thought 
that  conduct  of  affairs  of  any  union  should  not  menace 
the  general  welfare  and  that  small  and  weak  international 
unions  absolutely  independent  might  embroil  the  entire 
trade  in  disaster  and  ruin.  His  well-defined  ideas  in  the 
matter  were  clearly  set  forth  as  follows: 

One  of  the  functions  of  our  great  body,  owing  to  its  wisdom, 
strength,  and  long  experience,  should  be  that  of  a  general 
guardian  and  guarantor  of  the  stability,  integrity  and  strength 
in  the  industrial  field  of  other  international  printing  trades 
unions.  But  if  we  are  to  act  in  this  capacity  we  should  not  be 
expected  to  do  it  gratuitously.  Tin  measure  of  protection  which 
we  are  expected  to  afford  should  be  paid  for  in  proportion  to 
its  value.  The  general  question  of  industrialism,  not  as  popu- 
larly and  erroneously  understood,  but  considered  from  a 
s<  icntific  and  mutually  helpful  standpoint,  should  receive  at- 
tention at  the  hands  of  the  convention.  The  rcprescntnt 
of  the  membership  should  express  themselves  in  no  uncertain 
terms, 

695 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

It  was  believed  the  covenant  between  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  the  International  Stereotypers 
and  Electrotypers'  Union  offered  the  basis  of  a  satisfac- 
tory coalition  of  the  various  branches  of  the  printing 
industry.  The  agreement  with  the  stereotypers  was  at- 
tached to  the  report  as  an  exhibit,  and  members  were 
invited  to  give  it  a  careful  study  with  a  view  to  a  better 
understanding  of  its  terms. 

The  better  conditions  in  allied  trades  councils  was 
thought  to  be  due  to  the  abrogation  of  "that  famous  dis- 
rupter, the  tripartite  agreement."  Allied  trades  councils 
were  purely  local  bodies  and  it  was  surmised  that  fear  of 
losing  the  label  resulted  in  harmony  where  before  it  was 
"dissatisfaction,  friction  and  division."  It  was  thought 
that  out  of  these  local  agreements  would  grow  an  interna- 
tional arrangement  that  could  be  generally  applied. 
President  Lynch  asserted  that  "despite  claims,  bolstered 
by  alleged  arguments  in  a  vindictive  'official'  press,  we 
still  own,  control  and  issue  both  the  allied  label  and  that 
pioneer  among  union  trade  marks,  the  typographical 
label."  In  this  connection  was  furnished  an  important 
bit  of  label  history  as  given  in  an  answer  to  an  inquirer, 
as  follows : 

"i.  When  did  we  acquire  ownership?"  The  moment  the 
present  designs  were  placed  in  circulation. 

"2.  Why  did  we  acquire  ownership  ?"  In  order  to  adequately 
protect  the  label  in  case  of  infringement  or  fraudulent  use, 
and  to  supervise  its  circulation,  advertise  it,  and  create  an  active 
demand  for  it  on  printed  matter.         % 

"3.  How  did  we  acquire  ownership?"  By  originating  the 
design,  making  labels,  registering  it  in  the  various  states,  and 
putting  up  every  dollar  that  has  been  expended  thus  far  for  its 
advertisement. 

New  Organizing  System  —  The  new  organizing  system 
was  reported  to  be  working  satisfactorily.  The  executive's 
responsibility  for  results  of  organizers'  work  was  believed 

696 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

to  offset  the  objection  to  an  increased  centralization  of 
power  and  that  results  had  justified  the  change  in  the  law. 
Organizing  expenses  for  the  year — included  under  this 
head  were  expenses  incurred  by  organizers — had  been 
greater  than  any  previous  year,  but  payments  of  strike 
benefits  had  been  correspondingly  reduced.  "If  we  were 
to  add  to  this  saving,"  said  President  Lynch,  "the  loss  in 
wages  that  would  have  attached  to  cessation  of  work  by 
the  membership  affected  by  the  strikes,  the  system  would 
receive  almost  unqualified  endorsement  and  its  feasibility 
and  desirability  become  at  once  apparent" 

Of  the  affiliated  unions,  all  were  declared  to  be  in  a 
fair  condition  with  the  exception  of  the  photo  engravers, 
in  whose  behalf  a  considerable  expenditure,  charged  to 
organizing  account,  had  been  incurred. 

Finance  —  Under  the  head  of  finances,  the  constant 
growth  of  the  organization  and  the  many  scale  negotia- 
tions— in  almost  every  case  successful — were  cited  as 
heavy  drains  on  the  funds.  The  revenue,  it  was  thought, 
would  be  sufficient  if  industrial  peace  was  maintained, 
but  a  comparatively  small  number  of  strikes  would  soon 
deplete  the  treasury.  A  larger  income,  it  was  thought, 
would  be  a  great  measure  of  safety.  An  old-age  benefit 
was  believed  to  be  a  desirable  feature.  The  president 
urged  that  if  this  feature  could  not  be  established  on  an 
international  basis,  then  the  convention  should  at  least 
urge  local  unions  to  consider  the  subject.  An  increased 
death  benefit  was  recommended,  based  on  the  correspond- 
ing length  of  membership  in  the  organization  and  involv- 
ing a  slight  increase  in  per  capita  tax 

Local  Contracts  —  The  practice  of  making  contracts 
with  the  employers  was  commended  and  it  was  announced 
that  the  International  officers  had  prepared  a  blank  form 
for  this  purpose  to  be  used  in  triplicate,  copies  of  which 
would  be  forwarded  to  local  unions  on  request    It  was 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

also  suggested  to  the  delegates  that  it  would  be  well  for 
the  convention  to  recommend  to  subordinate  unions  that 
wherever  possible  contracts  be  executed  and  that  these 
contracts  contain  arbitration  provisions  that  would  guar- 
antee the  peaceful  operation  of  industrial  departments 
under  the  terms  of  the  contracts  and  make  as  remote  as 
possible  chance  for  friction  and  trouble. 

Apprentices  —  The  importance  of  the  apprenticeship 
problem  was  again  dwelt  upon,  the  introduction  of  ma- 
chinery having  made  a  rigid  system  of  apprenticeship 
more  than  ever  necessary.  The  following  expression  on 
this  question  by  President  Lynch  was  peculiarly  apt : 

The  skilled  artisan — the  man  who  gained  his  knowledge 
of  the  printing  business  under  the  old  conditions — is  in  demand 
today  all  through  our  jurisdiction,  and  can  generally  command 
above  the  minimum  wage  scale.  If  the  factory  method  of  turn- 
ing out  compositors  is  not  abandoned,  the  skilled  printer  will 
become  rare,  and  unless  the  International  Typographical  Union 
can  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  publishers  of  this  country, 
the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  great  difficulty  will  be  experi- 
enced by  publishers  in  securing  competent  composing  room 
help. 

Eight-Hour  Day  Must  Come  —  The  desire  on  the  part 
of  the  book  and  job  members  for  an  eight-hour  day  was 
said  to  have  manifested  itself  and  was  a  subject  that 
should  receive  attention  at  the  convention.  The  president 
said  that  the  eight-hour  day  would  eventually  be  estab- 
lished and  that  he  hoped  it  might  come  peaceably,  "but, 
in  any  event,  come  it  must." 

Typographia  —  Second  Vice-President  Hugo  Miller 
reported  that  there  had  been  little  change  in  the  affairs  of 
the  German  unions  during  the  year.  The  lockout  by  the 
management  of  the  Philadelphia  Demokrat  Publishing 
Company  still  continued,  this  firm  going  so  far  in  its  hos- 
tility to  organized  labor  as  to  deny  the  representatives  of 
President  Lynch  a  hearing.    An  earnest  plea  was  made 

698 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

that  all  local  unions  do  their  utmost  to  drive  out  of  their 
cities  the  plates  of  the  Central  Newspaper  Union,  of 
Philadelphia  (the  ready-made  department  of  the  Demo- 
krat  Company).  The  struggle  with  the  German-Amer- 
ican newspapers  had  resulted  in  a  slight  decrease  in 
membership  in  the  Typographia.  Only  one  strike  had 
occurred  during  the  year  and  that  was  successful.  The 
financial  affairs  were,  as  usual,  in  first-class  condition. 
Notwithstanding  the  great  number  of  unemployed  mem- 
bers, after  meeting  all  obligations  and  paying  all  benefits, 
more  than  $1 1,000  remained  in  the  treasury,  or  about  $1 1 
per  capita.  Though  this  was  an  excellent  showing  there 
seemed  to  be  a  desire  for  still  greater  benefits,  the  second 
vice-president  reporting  a  movement  to  add  to  the  several 
benefits  already  enjoyed  by  the  members  (such  as  out-of- 
work,  sick  and  traveling  benefits),  an  old-age,  or  invalid 
benefits,  in  order  to  protect  members  against  being  com- 
pelled to  go  to  the  poorhouse  when  thrown  on  the 
street  because  they  could  no  longer  compete  with  the 
younger  men. 

Mailers — In  almost  every  large  city  throughout  the 
country  there  were  mailers'  unions,  said  Third  Vice-Presi- 
dent Canary.  He  gave  expression  to  an  appreciation  of 
the  good  work  done  for  the  mailers  by  President  Lynch, 
to  the  best  of  his  belief,  the  first  executive  who  had  inter- 
ested himself  to  see  that  the  mailers  were  taken  care  of. 
He  called  the  attention  of  organizers  to  the  splendid  fields 
for  organization  work  in  Milwaukee,  Baltimore  and  the 
south.  An  account  was  given  of  successful  work  in  New 
York  city  and  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  of  good  results  of  what  at 
first  was  thought  to  be  a  hopeless  trip  to  Philadelphia.  Of 
conditions  in  general  he  said  that  all  existing  local  unions 
of  mailers  were  in  a  healthy  state  and  that  their  funds 
were  increasing.  Mailers  were  represented  in  every  allied 
trades  council  where  a  union  of  their  numbers  ixisted. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Newswriters  —  Fourth  Vice-President  O'Sullivan  re- 
ferred to  the  apathy  so  characteristic  of  the  calling 
represented  by  his  office.  He  said  that  while  nearly  all 
newspaper  men  agreed  that  wages  were  not  being  in- 
creased, that  hours  of  labor  were  not  being  reduced  and 
that  reporters  and  editors  were  paid  in  many  cases  less 
per  hour  than  were  the  men  in  any  of  the  mechanical 
departments  of  the  daily  newspapers  of  the  country,  yet 
"the  fear  that  trade  union  methods  could  not  be  brought 
into  service  in  this  line  of  industry  is  an  imporant  factor 
in  preventing  a  more  satisfactory  growth  of  unionism  in 
this  profession."  He  was  not  ready  to  agree  that  it  was 
an  easy  matter  to  put  a  price  on  brains,  but  thought  there 
might  be  a  minimum  scale  of  wages  established  in  the  pro- 
fession and  that  those  who  were  not  competent  to  earn  the 
established  scale  ought  not  to  be  expected  to  remain  in 
the  employment  of  any  of  the  American  daily  papers.  He 
held  that  men  who  pursued  the  calling  of  newswriters 
and  retained  cards  of  membership  in  the  International 
Typographical  Union  should  be  required  to  become  mem- 
bers of  writers'  unions  where  such  existed,  and  where 
they  did  not  exist  "they  should  be  utilized  to  carry  the 
principles  of  trade  unionism  into  their  calling  and  to 
organize  locals  of  writers  in  every  city."  He  suggested 
the  following  amendment  to  carry  out  the  above  idea : 
"That  all  members  in  any  branch  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  who  may  be  employed  in  any  other 
than  their  original  branch  of  the  craft  be  required  to 
deposit  their  cards  in  the  union  of  that  branch  in  which 
they  may  be  engaged  under  the  same  regulations  as  now 
apply  to  the  depositing  of  a  card  with  the  nearest  union 
of  the  craft  affiliated  with  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union." 

Photo  Engravers  —  The  deplorable  condition  of  affairs 
among  the  photo  engravers  was  set  forth  by  Fifth  Vice- 

700 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

President  Walls.  He  narrated  the  difficulties  encountered 
in  reorganizing  the  trade  district  union  of  his  craft  and 
declared  that  never  in  such  a  length  of  time  had  its 
members  been  so  thoroughly  tested.  Those  working  on  a 
solid  foundation  put  forth  every  effort  to  retain  their  ' 
positions,  while  others  who  had  some  self-constructed 
ideas  of  unionism,  but  had  drifted  away,  easily  found 
their  way  back  into  the  ranks.  Many  of  the  seceded 
unions  were  said  to  have  realized  their  mistake  and  were 
ready  to  rectify  their  error. 

Typefounders  —  Sixth  Vice-President  Nuernberger 
reported  that  the  agreement  between  the  typefounders' 
trade  district  union  and  the  typefounders  of  the  United 
States  had  been  observed  in  all  but  a  few  instances.  The 
typefounders'  scale  of  wages  was  declared  to  be  so  com- 
plicated that  in  a  few  instances  trouble  occurred  because 
the  scale  was  not  correctly  interpreted,  but  all  of  these 
difficulties  had  been  satisfactorily  adjusted. 

Secretary-Treasurer  —  Secretary  Bramwood's  finan- 
cial statement  for  the  year  ended  May  31,  1902,  was  set 
forth  with  the  same  completeness  and  clearness  that  char- 
acterized all  his  reports.  It  was  shown  that  at  no  time  in 
its  previous  history  had  the  International  grown  so  rap- 
idly in  membership  as  during  the  fiscal  year  reported. 
The  withdrawal  of  the  stereotypers  and  electrotypers 
necessarily  affected  adversely  the  average  paying  mem- 
bership, but  the  greatest  gains  had  been  made  since  the 
withdrawal  of  that  craft,  January  1,  1902.  The  first  sewn 
months  of  the  year,  when  the  stereotypers  were  part  of 
the  organization,  showed  a  membership  of  37.402  as 
against  39,7 1 1  for  the  five  months  of  the  year  following 
the  separation  of  the  stcrcotypi  r»  The  average  paying 
membership  for  the  year  was  38364,  which  was  3416 
larger  than  that  of  the  preceding  year,  notwithstanding 
the  withdrawal  of  the  stereotypers.    A  portion  of  the 

70! 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

growth  in  membership  was  attributed  to  the  formation  of 
new  unions,  the  secretary  presenting  a  table  showing  the 
issuance  of  1 13  charters,  the  surrender  of  20,  the  suspen- 
sion of  9,  the  revocation  of  1  and  the  reinstatement  of  I. 
^,  Five  hundred  and  fifty-nine  unions  were  on  the  rolls  May 
v    31,   1902,  divided  among  the  several  crafts,  as  follows: 
/    Typographical   unions    (English),   493;   German-Amer- 
/     ican,  2 1 ;  photo  engravers,  1 7 ;  mailers,  1 5  ;  typefounders, 
/      6 ;  newspaper  writers,  7. 

A  most  unsatisfactory  condition  of  affairs  was  found  in 
the  general  fund.  Though  a  balance  of  $2,047.30  re- 
mained to  the  credit  of  the  fund  on  June  I,  1901,  and  its 
receipts  were  somewhat  larger  than  in  previous  years, 
there' was  a  deficit  of  $1,738.89  in  this  fund  on  May  31, 
1902,  when  the  fiscal  year  closed.  The  expenditures 
chargeable  to  the  general  fund  exceeded  the  receipts  by 
$3,786.19.  The  reason  for  this  state  of  affairs  was  given, 
as  follows : 

First,  the  excess  cost  of  the  Journal  over  its  receipts; 
second,  an  increment  in  the  general  expenses  of  the  organiza- 
tion; third,  the  added  levies  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor.  That  body  now  has  the  power  to  levy  assessments 
and  during  the  past  fiscal  year  it  collected  a  special  assessment 
of  5  cents  per  member,  besides  increasing  its  monthly  per 
capita  tax  to  one-half  cent  per  member  per  month,  thus  almost 
doubling  the  cost  of  our  affiliation  therewith.  It  is  impossible 
for  this  fund  to  meet  the  increased  demands  upon  it  with  the 
present  apportionment  of  revenue. 

The  remedy  was  suggested  either  in  an  increased  per 
capita  tax  or  a  change  in  the  manner  of  dividing  the  reve- 
nues. In  order  to  avoid  submitting  a  proposition  to  the 
referendum  suggesting  increased  taxes,  the  secretary  of- 
fered the  following  amendment  to  the  law : 

Section  2.  The  revenues  of  the  International  Union  shall 
be  apportioned  to  the  several  funds  as  follows:  One-sixth  to 
the  general  fund;  one- fourth  to  the  defense  fund;  one-fourth 

702 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

to  the  burial  fund,  and  one- third  to  the  endowment  fund  of  the 
Union  Printers  Home;  provided,  that  in  event  the  receipts  of 
the  burial  fund  shall  exceed  the  expenditures  therefrom  during 
any  fiscal  year  such  excess  of  receipts  over  expenditures  shall 
be  immediately  transferred  to  the  general  fund  by  the  secretary- 
treasurer. 

Though  the  expenditures  authorized  by  the  executive 
council  and  joint  defense  board  were  considerably  heavier 
than  during  the  previous  year,  the  defense  fund  was 
shown  to  have  a  larger  balance  to  its  credit  than  at  any 
time  since  its  establishment,  yet  the  sum  on  hand  ($5,- 
632.41 )  was  declared  to  be  not  greater  than  even  the  most 
conservative  members  believed  should  be  kept  on  hand 
for  organizing  and  defense  purposes. 

Burial  Benefits  —  Four  hundred  and  seventy-four 
burial  benefits  were  paid  during  the  year,  a  greater  num- 
ber than  ever  before,  and  yet  the  amount  to  the  credit  of 
the  burial  fund  increased  $3,717.84.  The  death  rate  for 
the  year  was  .01235  Per  cen*  of  the  average  membership 
— one  in  eighty-one.  The  greatest  number  of  deaths 
resulted  from  tuberculosis  and  other  diseases  of  the  re- 
spiratory organs,  and  the  average  age  at  death  was  42.949 
years.  The  average  death  rate  since  the  establishment  of 
the  fund  had  been  .01318  per  cent — one  in  seventy-six.  In 
a  table  of  comparison  it  was  shown  that  during  the  preced- 
ing ten  years  4,495  benefits  had  been  paid,  amounting  to 
$258,440. 

Strikes  —  Twenty  strikes,  involving  twentv-hvr  unions, 
took  place  during  the  fiscal  year;  nine  resulted  in  victories 
for  the  union  while  three  were  lost  and  eight  were  in 
progress  at  the  time  the  report  was  filed.  In  these  twenty 
difficulties,  388  members  took  part,  of  whom  145  returned 
to  work  when  the  disputes  in  which  they  WC  interested 
were  settled;  fifty-six  were  displaced  and  187  were  in- 
volved in  the  strikes  rtm;iining  "unsettled. 

703 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Receipts  from  and  benefits  drawn  by  subordinate  unions 
were  set  forth  in  an  interesting  set  of  tables  showing  the 
payments  of  each  union  into  the  International  and  Home 
funds,  the  burial  benefits  drawn  by  each  union  and  the 
moneys  received  by  them  from  the  defense  fund  in  strike 
benefits  or  special  assistance. 

An  instructive  feature  of  the  secretary's  report  was  a 
table  showing  the  amount  of  money  in  the  treasuries  of 
subordinate  unions,  the  membership  in  good  standing  and 
in  arrears,  and  the  total  membership  of  each. 

Typographical  Journal  —  While  there  had  been  an  in- 
crease in  the  sum  received  during  the  fiscal  year  from 
subscriptions  to  the  Journal,  it  had  not  been  such  as  was 
desired  nor  what  it  should  have  been  had  the  membership 
taken  advantage  of  its  opportunity  to  secure  the  publica- 
tion. The  net  cost  of  the  paper  on  the  basis  of  the  average 
membership  was  a  little  more  than  12  cents  per  member, 
an  increase  over  the  preceding  years,  due  to  publishing 
an  extra  number  of  pages  and  additional  matter.  In 
connection  with  this  expense  attention  was  called  to  the 
fact  that  a  large  portion  of  the  magazine  was  devoted  to 
official  matter,  which  obtained  a  wider  and  better  circu- 
lation through  the  Journal  than  it  could  in  any  other 
manner.  It  was  asserted  that  if  the  Journal  were  credited 
with  fair  advertising  rates  for  the  strictly  official  matter, 
a  fax  better  financial  showing  could  be  made.  While  the 
subscription  list  of  the  paper  was  larger  than  at  any 
previous  period,  yet  it  contained  the  names'  of  less  than 
one-sixth  of  the  membership.  It  was  asserted  that  but  a 
limited  number  of  unions  had  taken  advantage  of  the  Bir- 
mingham amendment  permitting  subordinate  bodies  to 
subscribe  for  their  membership  at  a  monthly  rate  and  that 
the  returns  failed  to  meet  the  expectations  of  the  advo- 
cates of  the  new  law.  Only  forty-five  out  of  a  total  of  559 
subordinate  unions   carried   paid   cards   in  the  Journal. 

704 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

The  secretary  said  that  two  courses  were  open  if  the 
membership  desired  that  the  monetary  returns  of  the 
Journal  should  approximate  the  expenditures — either  an 
increase  in  the  subscription  rate  or  the  publishing  of  a 
monthly  rather  than  a  semi-monthly.  In  closing  that  part 
of  his  report  referring  to  the  Journal,  the  secretary  said: 

While  there  are  among  our  members  some  who  believe  it 
inadvisable  to  use  for  that  purpose  the  sum  now  annually 
expended  in  the  publication  of  our  Journal,  it  is  my  firm  con- 
viction that  the  money  thus  used  brings  returns  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  value  that  can  not  be  adequately  expressed  in  dollars 
and  cents.  Besides  furnishing  a  means  of  placing  official  matter 
before  our  locals  and  their  members,  the  Journal  constantly 
reflects  the  greatness  and  grandeur  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union.  Throughout  its  career  the  Typographical 
Journal  has  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being  clean,  consistent 
and  conservative,  and  its  standard  has  at  all  times  been  in 
keeping  with  the  position  our  organization  holds  in  the  trade 
union  movement. 

Organizers'  Reports  —  The  work  of  organization  was 
being  carried  on  apparently  with  unabated  vigor,  judging 
from  the  voluminous  reports  of  the  organizers.  Affairs 
in  general  seemed  to  be  in  good  shape  with  the  exception 
of  the  photo  engravers'  troubles  in  a  few  places.  The 
label  was  urged  as  a  potent  factor  in  accomplishing  good 
results  and  the  arbitration  agreement  seemed  to  be  viewed 
with  favor  on  all  sides.  There  were  expression!  in  the 
reports  indicating  a  general  condition  of  harmony  be- 
tween the  employer  and  the  emplo; 

Organizer  Bonnington,  of  San  Francisco,  reported  that 

a  vigorous  campaign  was  being  waged  against  tin-  I  "- 
Angeles  Times  and  that  a  strong  effort  was  being  made 
to  dislodge  the  fraternity  from  it«.  last  stronghold  on  the 
Pacific  coasl  He  recommended  that  the  convention  take 
continue  the  fight  "on  the  present  effective  line- 
so  long  as  necessary."   The  placing  of  literature  in  the 


W 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

hands  of  those  unacquainted  with  the  organization  was 
believed  to  have  a  beneficial  effect.  The  boom  being  en- 
joyed by  the  label  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  the  efforts  to 
reap  the  benefits  thereof  without  complying  with  the 
necessary  conditions,  impelled  Organizer  Bonnington  to 
urge  the  enactment  of  legislation  rendering  its  use  by 
unfair  offices  practically  impossible.    He  suggested  : 

Where  a  label  office  in  a  union  town  sublets  to  an  office  in 
another  city  a  contract  for  printing  which  is  to  bear  the  imprint 
of  the  original  contractor  and  the  label  of  the  home  union,  the 
label  should  be  sent  by  the  secretary  of  that  union  to  the 
secretary  of  the  union  in  whose  jurisdiction  the  work  is  to  be 
done,  to  be  by  him  issued  to  the  office  doing  the  printing,  and 
be  returned  at  once  upon  the  completion  of  the  work.  This 
would  preclude  the  possibility  of  the  label  (in  my  opinion  our 
strongest  weapon)  getting  into  the  wrong  kind  of  an  office, 
as  happened  in  this  city  not  long  since. 

Organizer  Brady  gave  an  account  of  his  efforts  to  assist 
Louisville  Union  and  the  allied  council  in  having  a  law 
passed  by  the  Kentucky  legislature  requiring  the  label  on 
state  printing  and  said  the  defeat  of  the  bill  was  brought 
about  by  the  opposition  of  the  pressmen's  union. 

American  Federation  of  Labor — Delegates  to  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  reported  that  the  organi- 
zation was  in  a  healthy  condition.  The  income  of  the 
federation  for  the  year  had  been  $115,220.89,  includ- 
ing $31,932.27  collected  from  assessments.  Expenses  had 
been  $118,708.39,  including  $28,712.02  appropriated  for 
the  International  Association  of  Machinists  and  metal 
trades  in  San  Francisco,  and  $32,328.74  expended  to 
keep  organizers  at  work  in  the  various  states,  territories 
and  provinces.  The  reports  from  unions  represented'  in 
the  American  Federation  of  Labor  showed  that  the  mem- 
bership had  increased  364,410  and  that  4,056  charters 
were  issued,  916  of  them  direct  by  the  American  Federa- 
tion of  Labor.    One  thousand  and  fifty-six  strikes  were 

706 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

reported  involving  171,223  members  and  of  that  number 
I53>5°5  were  benefited;  585  strikes  were  won;  242  com- 
promised; 37  pending  and  153  lost.  The  total  cost  of  the 
strikes  reported  was  $548,003.40. 

The  report  also  referred  to  the  opposition  of  the  Inter- 
national Printing  Pressmen's  Union  to  the  typographical 
label,  but  in  this  instance  as  well  as  in  every  other  wherein 
the  representatives  of  the  pressmen's  union  attempted  t<» 
secure  the  passage  of  resolutions  hostile  to  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  their  efforts  were  defeated. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  The  report  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Union  Printers  Home  contained  the  min- 
utes of  the  meetings  of  the  corporation  and  the  board  of 
trustees,  the  financial  statement  of  the  treasurer  and  the 
report  of  the  superintendent,  the  latter  document  includ- 
ing a  brief  report  from  the  Home  physician. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  trustees  at  the  Home. 
action  was  taken  on  many  propositions  submitted  to  them. 
Among  those  of  special  interest  may  be  noted  the  change 
of  the  name  of  the  institution  to  Union  Printers  Home; 
the  adoption  of  the  ruling  that  failure  of  the  original 
donor  to  refurnish  a  room,  after  given  the  option  to  do 
forfeited  the  right  to  have  the  memorial  plate  on  the  door 
of  the  room  ;  requiring  officials  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  or  Union  Printers  Home  t<»  resign  their 
office  as  a  prerequisite  to  admission  to  the  Home;  declin- 
ing to  accept  application  papers  in  instances  where  it  was 
clearly  shown  that  the  applicant  had  not  been  a  continuous 
member  of  the  organization  for  five  years  next  preceding 
the  date  of  his  application  ;  acquiring  a  lease  on  240  m 
of  land  adjoining  the  Home  property,  and  ordering  m 
minor  changes  f.»r  tin-  comfort  and  convenience  o|  the 
residents  and  the  beautifying  of  the  grounds  of  the 
institution. 

The  report  of  the  Home  treasurer  showed  th< 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

to  have  been  $57,280.18  (including  a  balance  on  May  31, 
1901,  of  $10,213.57)  and  the  expenditures  $41,076,  leav- 
ing a  balance  of  $16,204.18.  The  receipts  for  the  year, 
therefore,  exceeded  the  expenditures  by  $5,990.61,  not- 
withstanding the  numerous  improvements. 

The  Home  library  at  this  time  contained  about  2,000 
volumes,  the  limit  of  its  capacity.  Seventy-one  daily 
vpapers,  seventy-five  weeklies  and  twenty-two  monthlies 
were  regularly  received  through  the  courtesy  of  their 
publishers  and  a  dozen  dailies  and  twice  that  number  of 
weeklies  were  received  by  individual  residents  from 
friends.  The  superintendent  suggested  that  the  next  en- 
largement of  the  steadily  growing  institution  should  be 
in  the  direction  of  a  new  library  building  which  could 
also  contain  a  room  for  public  gatherings.  He  suggested 
a  Christmas  gift  of  50  cents  from  each  member  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  International  as  a  means  to  raise  suffi- 
cient funds  for  the  purpose. 

The  mortality  record  at  the  Home  showed  that  during 
the  year  nine  residents  died  from  tuberculosis,  two  from 
old  age,  one  from  Bright's  disease  and  one  from  cancer 
of  the  stomach.  The  records  of  the  Home  showed  that 
during  the  first  ten  years  of  its  existence,  there  had  been 
113  deaths  and  of  this  number  seventy-one  died  from 
pulmonary  tuberculosis.  The  superintendent  declared  this 
was  due  to  the  admission  of  patients  in  the  advanced 
stages  of  the  disease  and  said  it  seemed  impossible  to 
remedy  this  evil. 

An  account  was  given  of  the  celebration  of  the  decennial 
anniversary  of  the  Home,  and  the  following  recommenda- 
tions were  made  by  the  superintendent:  That  some  pro- 
vision be  made  to  increase  the  capacity  of  the  dining 
room;  that  a  small  creamery  be  erected  for  the  proper 
preservation  of  the  milk  and  cream,  and  that  steps  be 
taken  to  acquire  additional  land  adjoining  the  Home  plot 
in  Evergreen  cemetery. 

708 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

The  conduct  of  the  residents  during  the  year  was 
declared  to  have  been  uniformly  good  and  during  this 
period  forty-three  had  been  admitted,  sixteen  died  and 
three  expelled ;  of  the  latter,  two  were  expelled  for  intoxi- 
cation and  one  for  obnoxious  conduct. 

CONSTITUTIONAL    AMENDMENTS 

Four  constitutional  amendments  were  submitted  to  the 
referendum,  all  of  which  were  adopted. 

Amendments  to  the  original  law  are  indicated  by 
italics.  It  will  be  seen  that  these  amendments  denied 
membership  to  non-printer  proofreaders;  fixed  the  mini- 
mum wage  at  $4  per  day  for  unsalaried  officers  while  on 
duty ;  increased  the  revenue  of  the  general  fund,  and 
changed  the  Typographical  Journal  to  a  forty-eight  page 
monthly  publication  and  provided  for  the  payment  of 
five  cents,  in  addition  to  the  monthly  per  capita  tax,  for 
the  purpose  of  sending  the  Journal  to  all  members  of  the 
organization.  The  general  laws  were  also  amended  to 
conform  with  the  constitutional  changes.  The  laws,  M 
amended,  follow : 

Section  1,  article  i.  This  body  shall  be  known  as  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  of  North  America.  Its  jurisdiction  shall  include  all  branencs 
of  tin-  printing  and  kindred  trades,  other  than  those  over  which  j u r i »•  1 1 
has  been  conceded  by  agreement.  In  it  alone  is  vested  power  to  establish 
subordinate  unions  of  printers  (printers,  proofreaders  who  are  fractnal  printer*, 
machine-tenders,  and  all  other  skilled  employes  not  otherwise  liorm  excepted*. 
photo  engravers,  mailers,  typefounders,  editors  (other  than  managing  editor*), 
reporters  and  kindred  trades,  and  its  mandates  must  Ik-  obt)r«d  at  all  times 
and  under  all  circumstances.  To  the  International  Typographical  Union  of 
-N" . . 1 1 h  America  is  reserved  the  right  to  fix.  regulate  and  determine  all  matters 
pertaining  to  fellowship  in  its  branches  of  the  printing  ami  kindred  trade*, 
while  to  subordinate  unions  is  conceded  the  right  to  make  all  necessary  laws 
lot  lOOtl  K'nii  imniii  which  do  not  conflict  with  the  laws  of  thr  IntciriatloMl 
I  'no. ii.  In  MMf  where  allied  trades  have  formed  trade  district  iinkms  the 
heiem.ift. ||    -priiii..!   shall  lie  delegated  to  .aid  trade  district 


ult   nf  vote — F«>r.    17*355;  .i-;.  >4$;  mm 

for.  i.^.HlO. 

Section     2,     article    viii.     The    compensation     of    any    oAcer     other     than 
i.   stCOOd   mi  e  pi' -sident  or   secretary  treasurer,  or  any  member    i- 
lug     invi.r     under     the     diierlion     of     the     president     or     eacCttttve    COOWCit,     ah*!! 

be  an   amount    for    time   lost   equal   to   his  earning  capacity,   or.   If  unemployed. 
<  gular  scale  of  his  union,  but  net  Ins  lAnn  t4  ff*  4*y. 

700 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Result  of  vote — For,  13,717;  against,  8,071;  majority 
for,  5,646. 

Section  2,  article  ix.  The  dues  of  the  International  Union  shall  be  appor- 
tioned to  the  several  funds  as  follows:  One-sixth  to  the  general  fund;  one- 
fourth  to  the  defense  fund;  one-fourth  to  the  burial  fund,  and  one-third  to  the 
endowment  fund  of  the  Union  Printers  Home;  Provided,  That  in  event  the  re- 
ceipts of  the  burial  fund  shall  exceed  the  expenditures  therefrom  during  any 
fiscal  year,  such  excess  of  receipts  oz'er  expenditures  shall  be  immediately  trans- 
ferred to  the  general  fund  by  the  secretary-treasurer. 

Result  of  vote — For,  15,307;  against,  5,444;  majority 
for,  9,863. 

Section  2,  article  ix.  In  addition  to  the  monthly  dues  provided  in  this 
article,  every  member  (except  members  of  the  Typographia  and  those  domiciled 
at  the  Union  Printers  Home)  shall  pay  the  sum  of  5  cents  monthly  as  a  sub- 
scription to  the  Typographical  Journal,  the  same  to  be  collected  with  the 
monthly  dues  and  transmitted  to  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International 
Union,  to  be  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  Typographical  Journal. 

Section  3.  The  dues  of  the  International  Union  shall  be  apportioned  to 
the  several  funds  as  follows:  One-sixth  to  the  general  fund;  one-fourth  to  the 
defense  fund;  one-fourth  to  the  burial  fund,  and  one-third  to  the  endowment 
fund   of  the   Union   Printers   Home. 

-Section  1,  article  xv.  There  shall  be  published  monthly  by  the  secretary- 
treasurer  a  paper  of  forty-eight  or  more  pages,  to  be  non-political  and  non- 
sectarian,  and  to  be  known  as  "The  Typographical  Journal:  Official  Paper  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union  of  North  America,"  which  shall  be, 
so  far  as  practicable,  the  International  Typographical  Union's  official  organ  of 
communication  to   subordinate  unions. 

Result  of  vote — For,  1 1.,545  ;  against,  9,375;  majority 
for,  2,170. 

GENERAL     LAWS,     RESOLUTIONS 

The  general  laws  were  amended  requiring  a  majority 
of  local  auditors  to  be  present  at  the  examination  of  the 
secretary's  accounts  and  forbidding  members  of  auditing 
committees  to  attach  their  signatures  to  a  report  unless 
they  had  personally  participated  in  the  examination  of  the 
books  and  accounts. 

The  law  forbidding  speed  contests  on  typesetting  ma- 
chines was  amended  to  include  contests  of  any  character. 

It  was  provided  that  a  strike  in  any  subordinate  union 
could  be  declared  off  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  mem- 
bership. 

Subordinate  unions  were  requested  to  adopt  a  concilia- 

710 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

tory  method  of  making  important  changes  in  their  scales 
of  prices,  and  it  was  required  before  any  change  in  scales 
of  prices  was  sought  to  be  made  effective,  such  proposed 
changes  must  be  submitted  to  all  the  employers  interested. 
It  was  also  provided  that  upon  request  a  representative 
of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  must 
be  allowed  a  hearing  on  important  changes  in  the  scale. 
Among  the  resolutions  adopted  were  the  following: 

That  local  unions  in  forming  new  scales  make  an  effort  to 
secure  the  eight-hour  day,  and  that  all  local  unions  be  required 
to  report  to  the  1903  convention  the  advisability  of  establish- 
ing an  eight-hour  day  throughout  the  entire  jurisdiction  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union. 

That  as  anarchy  is  largely  on  the  increase  in  this  country, 
and  we  as  good  American  citizens  should  abhor  this  condition 
of  affairs,  the  International  Union,  at  its  forty-eighth  session, 
tenders  its  aid  in  helping  to  exterminate  from  our  country  this 
(lass  of  people  who  violate  our  laws  and  are  a  menace  to  good 
government 

That  our  delegates  to  the  next  convention  of  the  American 
I  <  deration  of  Labor  do  not  work  or  vote  for  any  proposition 
which  may  be  introduced  which  has  for  its  object  the  placing 
of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  on  record  as  advocating 
Socialism  or  any  other  political  idealism,  and  that  our  delegates 
stand  so  instructed. 

That  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  and  the  first  vice-president  are  directed  to  act  as  a 
committee  for  the  purpose  of  devising  and  putting  into  effect 
plans  for  the  establishment  of  an  eight-hour  day  throughout 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  at 
M  early  a  date  as  practicable;  that  local  unions  be  required  to 
act    in  conjunction   with   the  said  committee   in    furthering 
plans,  and  that  they  he  enjoined  from  making  contracts  extend 
ing  beyond  October    I,    l<><>5.   which   require   their   members  to 
work  more  than  eight   hours  per  day;  that  tl 
bring  the  matter  before  the  National  Tyjuithctjc,  to  the  1 
that   the  eight-hour  day  may  Ik-   put   into  operation   without 
friction;  that  should  the  committee  deem  K  necessity  tb  add 

10   its   numbers,   it   shall   Ik-  empowered   to  do  SO. 

7" 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

That  the  International  Typographical  Union  is  unalterably 
opposed  to  the  practice  followed  by  many  employers  of  our 
members,  who  maintain  workrooms  that  are  positively  detri- 
mental to  the  health  of  those  employed  therein ;  and  that  the 
president  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  is  hereby 
ordered  to  call  the  attention  of  the  American  Newspaper  Pub- 
lishers' Association  and  other  employers  of  our  members  to  the 
sanitary  and  other  conditions  existing,  and  he  is  hereby  ordered 
to  demand  from  all  such  that  steps  be  taken  as  soon  as  possible 
to  remedy  the  existing  evil,  and  that  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  hereby  pledges  itself  to  lend  all  aid  and 
assistance  through  its  local  unions  to  bring  about  the  much- 
desired  result. 

LOS     ANGELES     TIMES 

Following  the  Birmingham  convention,  President 
Lynch  was  requested  by  Los  Angeles  Union  to  send  an 
organizer  into  that  jurisdiction  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
ducting a  vigorous  campaign  against  the  unfair  Los 
Angeles  Times.  It  was  stipulated  in  the  request  made  by 
the  union  that  the  organizer  placed  in  the  field  be  selected 
from  some  section  of  the  International  jurisdiction  remote 
from  Los  Angeles,  the  purpose  being  that  the  situation  be 
placed  in  the  hands  of  an  individual  entirely  free  from 
local  prejudice  and  influences.  By  agreement  with  Los 
Angeles  Union,  Arthur  A.  Hay,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  was 
selected  and  proceeded  to  Los  Angeles  to  take  up  the 
work  outlined. 

Mr.  Hay  made  a  complete  and  thorough  report  of  his 
activities  in  Los  Angeles  to  the  Cincinnati  convention, 
including  therewith  an  appeal  from  No.  174  for  financial 
assistance  in  the  fight  being  waged  against  the  Times. 
Realizing  the  need  of  vigorous  action  in  the  case,  the 
convention  adopted  the  following  resolutions  and  the 
delegates  present  pledged  themselves  to  work  for  the  pass- 
age of  the  assessment  by  the  referendum  : 

Resolved,  That  a  proposition  for  an  assessment  of  five  cents 
per  month  per  member  for  a  period  of  one  year  be  submitted 

712 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

to  a  special  referendum  one  month  after  the  other  propositions 
from  this  convention,  this  money  to  be  paid  to  the  secretary- 
treasurer  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  to 
be  used  in  assisting  Los  Angeles  Typographical  Union  No.  174 
to  unionize  the  Los  Angeles  Times. 

The  above  proposition  providing  a  fund  for  carrying 
on  the  fight  against  the  Times  was  endorsed  by  the  refer- 
endum by  a  vote  of  22,066  for,  3,975  against,  and  thus  the 
membership,  aroused  to  the  necessity  for  action,  endorsed 
the  fight  against  the  Times  and  provided  the  funds  neces- 
sary to  carry  on  a  vigorous  campaign. 

RELATIONS  WITH   THE   PRINTING   PRESSMEN 

During  the  progress  of  the  convention,  the  following 
communication,  received  by  President  Lynch,  was  re- 
ferred to  the  committee  on  allied  trades  relations : 

Chaklestown,   Mam.,  August  II,   iooj. 
Mr.  James  M.   Lynch,   President  International   Typographical   Union   of  Sortk 

America. 

My  Deak  Mr.  Lynch:  At  the  late  convention  of  the  International  Print- 
ing Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  of  North  America,  held  at  the  city  of 
ISaltimore,  week  of  June    16th,   1902,   the   following   resolution  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  board  of  directors,  or  such  a  committee  to  be  selected, 
shall  call  on  the  officers  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  to  demand  a 
ruling  as  to  the  trade  autonomy  of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and 
Assistants'  Union  in  the  printing  trades.  No  matter  what  the  decision  may  be, 
the  same  committee  to  call  on  executive  board  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  and  demand  that  steps  be  taken  immediately  to  reinitiate  on  the 
part  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  the  tripartite  agreement,  through 
their  referendum  or  in  such  a  way  as  the  executive  council  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  may  determine,  and  in  event  it  in  refused,  M  matter  what 
excuse  is  offered,  that  all  members  of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and 
Assistants'  Union  !><•  ordered  BOt  to  print  any  form  containing  the  label  now 
known  as  the  International  Typographical  Union  or  allied  printing  trade* 
label.  Then  said  committer  thall  call  a  committee  of  all  international  <>r«> 
dons    that    have    representation    in    the    printing    trade*    a*    employe*    lor    the 

parpoee  of  tormina,  in,  International  allied  printing  trade*  council,  end  adopt 

a   suitable    label    not    later    than    Novrinl>er.    1003. 

ibovc    resolution    speaks    for    itself    and    was    offered    with    a    view   of 
having   the    International   Typographical   Union   declare   In   no   uncertain   terns* 

tlirir  petition  relative  to  the  tup. utile  agreement  and  the  owneraMp  of  Ike 
:illie,|  printing  trade*  label]  altO  the  trad*  autonomy  rights  of  the  International 
Printing  I'leismen  and  Assistants  Union 

rfasg   that   a    fair  and   practical   dlscuselon  on   the   peri   of   tour    Inter* 
■  I   body   will   bring   the   matter   t<>  a   just    -ami  equitable  conclusion,   where 
all  sides  may  agree.  I  am. 

Fraternally  and  respectful!*. 

Mmtim    P    lit. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

The  committee  recommended  the  adoption  of  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  the  International  Typographical  Union,  in 
convention  assembled,  denounces  the  action  of  the  late  conven- 
tion of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants' 
Union  in  adopting  a  resolution  antagonistic  and  threatening 
to  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  hereby  notifies 
the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  that 
the  allied  printing  trades  label  and  the  typographical  label  are 
the  property  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  solely, 
and  will  be  upheld  and  defended  to  the  utmost  by  this 
organization. 

Resolved,  That  the  reinstatement  of  the,  defunct  tripartite 
agreement  is  not  to  be  considered  for  a  moment,  through  the 
referendum  or  in  any  other  way.  If  the  International  Printing 
Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  desires  an  agreement  for 
mutual  benefit  with  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
the  proposition  must  come  from  the  International  Printing 
Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union. 

Resolved,  That  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
under  certain  conditions,  has  jurisdiction  over  all  branches  of 
the  printing  trades  except  stereotypers  and  electrotypers  and 
all  branches  of  the  stereotyping  and  electrotyping  business. 

Resolved,  That  all  members  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  be  hereby  prohibited  from  inserting  in  any 
job  they  may  be  given  to  produce  any  label  detrimental  to  the 
interests  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  or  in  the 
interest  of  any  other  organization  opposed  to  the  International 
Typographical  Union. 

After  some  debate  a  roll  call  was  ordered  and  the  report 
of  the  committee  unanimously  adopted. 

A  meeting  of  representatives  of  the  printing  trades 
unions  was  held  in  Indianapolis,  January  26-28,  1903, 
with  the  following  in  attendance :  James, M.  Lynch,  J.  W. 
Bramwood,  C.  E.  Hawkes  and  Hugo  Miller,  representing 
the  International  Typographical  Union ;  Martin  P.  Hig- 
gins,  W.  H.  Burklin,  T.  F.  Galoskowsky,  Benjamin  F. 
Thompson  and  C.  R.  Johns,  representing  the  International 

714 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 


Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union ;  E.  W.  Tatem 
and  Robert  Glockling,  representing  the  International 
Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders;  James  J.  Freel  and  L.  P. 
Straube,  representing  the  International  Stereotypers  and 
Klectrotypers'  Union.  James  M.  Lynch  was  elected  chair- 
man and  E.  W.  Tatem,  secretary.  Chairman  Lynch  said 
that  the  conference  was  the  result  of  an  agreement  reached 
at  the  Federation  convention  in  New  Orleans  between 
representatives  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
and  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants' 
Union,  and  the  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  endeavor 
to  formulate  an  agreement  between  the  international 
organizations  of  the  printing  trades  that  would  prove 
satisfactory  to  the  interested  parties.  All  matters  in  con- 
nection with  the  proposed  agreement  received  careful 
attention  and  considerable  discussion  resulted.  The  best 
of  feeling  prevailed  throughout  the  conference,  it  being 
the  evident  desire  to  prepare  a  document  that  would  meet 
the  approval  of  the  membership  of  the  different  unions. 
The  agreement  which  follows  was  unanimously  approved 
by  those  present  and  was  signed  by  the  presidents  of  the 
international  unions  interested. 

AGREEMENT 

Between  the  International  Typographical  Union,  the  International  Printing 
Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union,  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Book* 
hinders,  and  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypera'  Union. 

The  duly  authorized  representatives  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  the  International  Printing  Preasmen  and  AMistants'  Union,  the  Intci 
national  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders,  gad  the  International  Stereotypers  and 
Klectrotypers'  Union,  for  the  purpose  of  more  clearly  defining  their  otJij  . 
to  each  other,  tlu  gowarg  of  local  allied  printing  trades  councils,  and  for  lb* 
farther  purpose  of  avoiding  disputes  gad  securing  the  harmonious  cooperation 
of  nil  local  unions  in  joint  defensive  action  and  label  agitation,  do  hereby  agree: 


joint   aoAiD  or    M-riALa 

I.     For  the   purposes  of   tins   agreement   a   Joint   hoard   of 
created,  aa  follows:    Three  representatives   f«MI  the   I u i r i national 
Union,    one     representative    from    the     International     Printing 
Asslitanta*    Union,    one    repreaentatlve    from   the    International    II 


•hall   he 
sal 

„.! 
of 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Bookbinders,    and   one    representative    from    the    International    Stereotypers    and 
Electrotypers. 

2.  The  joint  board  of  appeals  may  adopt  such  rules  of  procedure  in  the 
hearing  of  appeals  and  the  conduct  of  other  business,  that  may  properly  come 
before  it,  as  do  not  conflict  with  this  agreement  or  the  laws  of  any  of  the 
organizations  parties  hereto. 

3.  The  officers  of  the  joint  board  shall  be  a  president,  a  vice-president,  a 
secretary,  and  such  other  officers  as  the  board  may  determine,  but  no  two 
executive   officers  shall   be   chosen   from   one   organization. 

4.  On  demand  of  a  majority  of  the  organizations  that  constitute  this  joint 
board,  the  president  shall  call  a  meeting  at  a  convenient  time  and  place. 

5.  In  the  event  of  the  representative  of  any  other  party  to  this  agree- 
ment voting  with  the  International  Typographical  Union  on  an  appeal,  and 
the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  and  the  Inter- 
national Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  being  jointly  dissatisfied  with  the  verdict, 
the  two  last  named  organizations  shall  have  the  right  to  call  for  a  seventh 
disinterested  party,  who  shall  be  unanimously  agreed  upon,  to  act  as  arbitrator, 
whose  decision  shall  be  final.  If  a  tie  vote  should  occur  under  any  other 
circumstances,  a  seventh  party,  as  above,  shall  be  called  in,  and  his  decision 
shall  be  final.  On  a  question  of  appeal,  all  organizations  named  herein 
must   vote. 

6.  Each  organization  shall  pay  the  incidental  expenses  of  the  joint  board 
in   proportion    to   its   representation. 

ALLIED      PRINTING      TRADES      COUNCILS 

7.  In  localities  where  there  are  unions  chartered  by  two  or  more  of  the 
organizations  parties  to  this  agreement  a  local  allied  printing  trades  council 
shall  be  formed.  Should  any  such  chartered  union  decline  to  form  an  allied 
printing  trades  council,  the  aggrieved  union  or  unions  shall  be  allowed  an 
appeal  on  this  question  to  the  joint  board,  through  their  respective  inter- 
national  organizations. 

8.  Allied  printing  trades  councils  shall  be  composed  of  three  delegates 
from  each  local  union  holding  a  charter  from  one  of  the  parties  to  this 
agreement,  and  the  same  number  of  delegates  from  such  other  organizations 
affiliated  with  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  as  may  receive  the  unanimous 
consent  of  the  joint  board   to   their   admission. 

9.  Each  delegate  present  at  any  meeting  of  the  allied  printing  trades 
council  shall  be  entitled  to  one  vote;  provided,  that  a  roll  call  may  be  demanded, 
by  the  representatives  of  any  union,  on  a  question  of  the  raising  of  revenue 
or  the  election  of  officers,  and  on  such  roll  call  each  union  shall  be  entitled 
to  additional  votes,  as  follows:  For  fifty  (50)  members  of  the  local  union 
represented,  one  vote;  for  each  additional  fifty  (50)  members  or  major  fraction 
thereof,  up  to  three  hundred  (300)  members,  one  vote;  for  the  next  two 
hundred  (200)  members  or  major  fraction  thereof,  one  vote;  for  each  addi- 
tional five  hundred  (500)  members  or  major  fraction  thereof,  one  vote;  the 
membership  to  be  computed  in  accordance  with  the  last  per  capita  tax  paid  by 
each    local    union. 

10.  Allied  printing  trades  councils  may  elect  such  officers  and  adopt  such 
provisions  and  rules  for  their  own  government  as  are  not  in  conflict  with  this 
agreement,  or  the  laws  of  the  organizations  parties  hereto;  but  no  more  than 
one  officer  may  be  chosen  from  the  representatives  of  one  local  union,  except 
by    unanimous    consent. 

11.  The  powers  of  allied  printing  trades  councils  shall  not  exceed  those 
specified  in  this  agreement,  and  such  councils  shall  not  take  hostile  action  of 
any  character  except  by  unanimous  consent  of  the  unions  represented  therein. 


7l6 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

12.  Any  local  union  may  request  the  assistance  of  the  allied  printing 
trades  council  in  the  adjustment  of  any  difficulty  that  may  arise.  Upon  failure 
of  the  council  to  effect  a  settlement,  and  should  a  joint  or  sympathetic  strike 
be  desired,  the  question  shall  be  referred  to  the  local  unions  for  action,  in 
accordance    with    the   laws   of   their    respective    international    unions. 

13.  Should  an  allied  printing  trades  council  refuse  to  abide  by  the 
decision  of  the  joint  board  of  appeals,  it  shall  be  dissolved,  and  the  union* 
affiliated  therewith  instructed  by  their  international  officers  to  form  a  new 
council,  on  the  basis  of  the  decision  of  the  joint  board. 


ALLIED    PRINTING    TRADES    COUNCIL    UNION    LABEL 

14.  The  International  Typographical  Union  shall  procure  and  hold  all 
allied  printing  trades  council  union  labels,  and  shall  loan  same  to  local  allied 
printing  trades  councils,  as  its  agents,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  this 
agreement,  upon  receipt  of  a  sum  of  money  from  the  local  council  not 
exceeding  to  per  cent  above  the  cost  of  production  and  distribution  of  said 
labels. 

15.  No  allied  printing  trades  council  shall  issue  any  label  not  procured 
as  above,  nor  any  label  differing  in  design  from  the  label  now  known  and 
registered  as  the  allied  printing  trades  council  union  label,  nor  duplicate  nor 
allow  the  duplication  of  said  label,  except  in  the  case  of  stereotyped  or 
electrotyped  forms,  in  which  case  the  label  appearing  in  the  plate  or  plates 
shall  be  destroyed  immediately  upon  completion  of  the  work  on  which  it  is  used. 

16.  No  other  body  than  the  local  allied  printing  trades  council  shall  be 
allowed  to  grant  the  use  of  the  allied  printing  trades  council  union  label  in 
any    jurisdiction. 

17.  Labels  shall  be  loaned  only  with  the  unanimous  consent  of  unions 
represented  in  the  allied  printing  trades  council.  Unions  objecting  to  the 
issuance  of  the  label  in  any  instance  must  produce  a  valid  reason  for  such 
objection,  the  council  to  be  the  judge  of  the  validity  of  such  reason,  subject 
to  appeal  to  the  joint  board;  provided,  that  an  active  member  in  good  standing 
of  any  branch  represented  in  an  allied  printing  trades  council,  who  runs  an 
office  of  not  more  than  two  platen  presses,  and  in  the  operation  of  such 
office  complies  with  the  nine-hour  law  and  the  laws  of  his  union,  shall  be 
permitted  to  use  the  label;  provided,  the  entire  work  of  the  office  be  done  by 
the  proprietor  thereof,  and  that  when  employment  is  given  to  any  additional 
help,  members  of  affiliated  unions  must  be  employed.  Violation  of  the  fore- 
going shall  be  deemed  sufficient  reason  for  the  immediate  surrender  of  the 
label.      The    above    provisos    shall    not    apply    in    cities    of    500,000    popu 

or   over. 

18.  In  regard  to  label  issuance,  should  any  union  chartered  by  a  party 
to  this  agreement  feel  that  an  injustice  has  been  done,  or  should  any  local 
allied  printing  trades  council  feel  that  the  action  of  any  such  union  U 
detrimental  to  the  best  interests  of  the  council,  an  appeal  may  be  taken  to 
the  joint  board,  under  such  provisions  a*  may  be  adopted  by  said  board. 

i<).  Wherever  an  allied  printinK  trade*  r.Miiuil  it  In  existence  the  loeol 
unions  affiliated  therewith  •hall  withdraw  the  label  of  their  respective  union*. 
unless  otherwise  decided  by  the  joint  board. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

jo.  When  a  joint  or  sympathetic  .trikr  .hall  have  been  inaugurated  by 
the  parties  to  this  agreement  the  initiating  union  shall  pay  those  involved 
as  follows:  The  »unt  of  wen  ($;.>•>>  dollar*  per  week  to  each  Hurried  mam 
involved,  and  five  ($».oo)  dollars  per  week  to  each  single  man  or 
nvolved,  for  the  period  of  eight  weeks,  unless  •ntlement  te  soooer  elected. 


717 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

21.  This  agreement  may  be  altered  or  amended  on  motion  of  any  one 
organization  party  to  this  agreement,  and  if  said  motion  receives  the  unani- 
mous  consent  of   the   other   parties   hereto. 

22.  This  agreement  shall  go  into  effect  on  its  ratification,  as  a  whole, 
by   the   proper   authorities  of   the   organizations   signatory   hereto. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  this  28th  day  of 
January,    1903,   at  Indianapolis,    Indiana. 

For   the   International    Typographical   Union, 

James   M.    Lynch. 
For  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union, 

Martin    P.    Higgins. 
For   the   International    Brotherhood   of    Bookbinders, 

E.  W.  Tatem. 
For  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union. 

James  J.   Freel. 

The  conference  also  unanimously  adopted  the  follow- 
ing: 

It  is  the  sense  of  the  joint  conference  that,  where  allied  printing  trades 
councils  require  the  number  of  an  office,  or  the  number  of  the  label,  to 
appear  with  the  label,  the  same  shall  be  placed  alongside  the  label  in  type, 
rather   than   cast   on    the   label. 

It  is  recommended  that  labels  be  marked  by  each  allied  printing  trades 
council  with  consecutive  numbers  punched  in  the  side  of  the  labels,  and  that 
receipts  for  labels  from  offices  contain  such  numbers,  and  that  the  records 
of  each  council  shall  show  the  number  on  each  side  of  the  labels  loaned 
any  office. 

THE      PHOTO      ENGRAVERS 

A  conference  between  representatives  of  the  photo 
engravers  affiliated  with  the  International  Typographical 
Union  and  those  connected  with  the  independent  organ- 
izations was  held  in  Indianapolis  January  23-24,  1903, 
and  resulted  in  the  following  agreement : 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  January  24,   1903. 

In  consideration  of  the  surrender  of  jurisdiction  by  the  International 
Typographical  Union  over  photo  engravers,  the  following  is  agreed  to  by 
representatives  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  independent 
wings  as  organized  in  the  photo  engraving  trade: 

That,  on  the  endorsement  of  the  following  plan  by  the  proper  authority 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  a  convention  of  representatives  of 
the  photo  engravers'  unions  of  the  country  shall  be  called,  at  some  point  to  be 
hereafter  agreed  upon;  that  this  convention  shall  form  a  new  international 
union  of  photo  engravers;  that  this  new  organization  shall  agree  to  work  in 
harmony  with  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  at  no  time  or  in 
no  manner  antagonize  its  interests;  that  should  trouble  arise  in  the  photo 
engraving  trade,  threatening  to  involve  the  International  Typographical  Union 
or  its  subordinate  unions,  the  International  Typographical  Union  shall  be  given 
opportunity  to  pass  on  the  matter  and  adjust  the  dispute,  if  possible;  that, 
should  a  strike  be  necessary  at  any  time  on  the  part  of  photo  engravers,  and 
sympathetic   action  be   sought  on  the  part  of  the  International  Typographical 

718 


Convention  at  Cincinnati,  1902 

Union,  the  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union,  or  whatever  the  organization 
may  be  termed,  shall  first  guarantee  to  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
by  cash  deposit,  that  all  expenses  connected  with  the  joint  strike  shall  be 
borne  by  the  organization  of  photo  engravers;  that  the  new  organization  of 
photo  engravers  shall  at  no  time  give  aid  or  comfort  or  assistance  to  any 
trade  organization  opposed  to  the  International  Typographical  Union;  that, 
pending  -  the  endorsement  of  this  plan  by  the  International  Typographical 
L'nion,  or  its  proper  authority,  there  shall  be  no  interference  with  photo 
engravers'  unions  now  connected  with  the  International  Typographical  Union. 
or  subsequently  organized  by  the   latter  body. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  undersigned  representatives  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  photo  engravers  and  the  independent  organization  have 
hereunto  set  their  hands  and  seals,  this  ^4th  day  of  January,   1903. 

In  the  event  of  the  various  "allied  printing  trades"  at  the  coming  con- 
ference agreeing  to  a  similar  proposition  to  the  above,  the  words  "International 
Typographical  Union"  wherever  they  appear  in  the  proposition  submitted  by 
Mr.  Walls,  to  be  eliminated,  and  the  words  "allied  printing  trades"  be  »ub- 
stituted  therefor. 

Chables    Walls. 

Lewis   Fladz*. 
THE      EIGHT-HOUR     1 1   \  \ 

Immediately  following  the  adjournment  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati convention,  the  eight-hour  day  committee,  com- 
posed of  the  executive  council  and  first  vice-president, 
began  the  work  of  preparing  the  membership  for  the 
struggle.  In  the  Typographical  Journal  of  December  I, 
1902,  President  Lynch  said: 

The  Cincinnati  convention  considered  many  important  matters  affecting 
to  a  large  degree  the  interests  of  the  International  Typographical  Union.  It  i» 
my  purpose  in  this  column  to  touch  on  only  a  few  of  these,  in  order  that 
the  attention  of  the  Journal  'readers  may  be  centered  on  question*  that  will 
be  an  important  part  of  the  history  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
for  the  next  few  years.  Official  circulars  will  be  issued  from  this  office  and 
read  at  the  meetings  of  subordinate  unions,  quoting  in  their  entirety  the 
various   resolutions  to  which   reference   is   herein'  made. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  act  of  the  forty-eighth  convention  was 
•nbodlod  in  its  disposition  of  the  resolutions  relating  to  the  establishment 
of  the  eight-hour  day  in  the  book  and  job  rooms.  After  providing  for  a 
committee  to  handle  the  matter,  the  convention  prescribed,  "That  local  unioM 
be  required  to  act  in  conjunction  with  the  said  committee  in  furthering  it* 
plans;  that  thry  be  enjoined  from  making  contract*  extending  beyond  October 
I,  1905,  which  r  ■■<  |ii  1  r  t-  tfceir  HkMkfban  l>>  work  ninrr  llun  right  hoar*  per 
day."  The  convention  further  ordered  "That  local  union*,  in  forming  new 
tcate*.  make  an  effort  to  secure  the  eight  hour  day,  and  that  all  local  —Ion* 
kg  roqadtod  to  rtpol  t  to  tiN  IOOJ  convention  the  advisability  of  **tibls*hhn 
an  eight-hour  day  throughout  the  entire  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Typo 
graphical  Union."  There  can  be  little  que.tion  a*  to  the  advisability  of  COtst? 
lulling  an  right-hour  day.  Imt  there  may  be  tome  doubt  a*  to  the  ft— IhlHsf. 
and  this  the  roinmittrr  iii  ,  li.it gr  of  the  matter  will  endeavor  to  aacertain. 
and  will  be  In  a  position  to  report  to  the  convention  that  I*  to  he  held  in 
Washington   next  year.     In  the  meantime,  each   local  union  ahooJd  put   forth 

719 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

strenuous  effort  to  obtain  the  eight-hour  day.  Every  union  achieving  success 
in  this  connection  aids  the  International  committee  and  makes  its  task  easier. 
In  my  annual  report  I  said,  "Various  methods  have  been  suggested  whereby 
the  eight-hour  day  can  be  generally  put  into  effect  in  book  and  job  rooms, 
and  all  of  these  have  merit.  One  of  these  suggestions  which  particularly 
appeals  to  our  members  as  feasible,  and  also  just  to  the  employers,  is  that 
the  working  time  shall  be  reduced  fifteen  minutes  each  year  for  four  years, 
or  until  the  eight-hour  day  is  an  accomplished  fact."  Local  unions,  in  request- 
ing the  shorter  workday,  may  find  it  to  their  interest  to  incorporate  the  above 
suggestion  in  their  negotiations  with  book  and  job  proprietors.  Incidentally, 
it  may  be  well  to  mention  here  that  a  well-filled  local  treasury  is  the  best 
lubricant    for    the    eight-hour    movement. 

Again  in  the  Journal  of  September  15,  we  find  in  the 
president's  column : 

In  compliance  with  the  instructions  of  the  recent  convention,  the  eight- 
hour  movement  was  launched  from  headquarters  on  September  2,  in  circular 
No.  1.  Especial  attention  is  directed  to  that  portion  of  the  minute  adopted  by 
the  recent  convention  reading,  "That  local  unions  be  required  to  act  in  con- 
junction with  the  said  committee  (the  International  eight-hour  committee)  in 
furthering  its  plans,  and  that  they  be  enjoined  from  making  contracts,  extend- 
ing beyond  October  1,  1905,  which  require  our  members  to  work  more  than 
eight  hours  per  day."  Continuing,  the  circular  read:  "The  report  of  the 
president  treating  of  the  eight-hour  day  in  book  and  job  rooms  said:  'Various 
methods  have  been  suggested  whereby  the  eight-hour  day  can  be  generally 
put  into  effect  in  book  and  job  rooms,  and  all  of  these  have  merit.  One  of 
these  suggestions,  which  particularly  appeals  to  our  members  as  feasible,  and 
also  just  to  the  employers,  is  that  the  working  time  shall  be  reduced  fifteen 
minutes  each  year  for  four  years,  or  until  the  eight-hour  day  is  an  accomplished 
fact.  *  *  *  That  the  eight-hour  workday  will  eventually  be  established  as 
the  maximum  for  our  entire  membership  goes  without  challenge.  We  trust 
that  it  may  come  peaceably,   but  in   any   event,   come   it  must.'  " 

Three  recommendations  were  contained  in  circular  No.  1  which  should 
have  careful  attention  and  compliance  from  subordinate  unions,  as  follows: 
That,  in  the  making  of  new  scales  or  contracts,  local  unions  endeavor  to 
incorporate  the  suggestion  contained  in  the  president's  annual  report  and  made 
a  part  of  the  circular — that  the  working  time  in  book  and  job  rooms  be 
reduced  fifteen  minutes  each  year  for  four  years.  This  suggestion  to  apply 
in  case  agreements  embracing  better  terms  can  not  be  negotiated.  That  an 
eight-hour  committee  of  not  less  than  five  members  be  appointed  at  once. 
That  immediate  steps  be  taken  for  the  establishment  of  an  eight-hour  fund. 
The  local  eight-hour  committees  will  be  important  adjuncts  to  the  international 
movement.  In  fact,  the  success  of  the  project  for  the  further  reduction  of 
the  hours  of  labor  will  depend  on  enthusiastic  support  from  local  unions. 
Circulars  will  be  issued  '  from  time  to  time  containing  further  advice  and 
instructions.  It  is  expected  that  the  next  letter  will  go  from  headquarters 
about  October  1.  If  the  condition  of  the  printing  industry  remains  in  as 
prosperous  a  state  as  at  present,  it  will  very  greatly  aid  the  eight-hour  move- 
ment. There  is  no  reason  why  our  members  employed  in  book  and  job  offices 
should  work  more  than  eight  hours.  The  newspaper  plants  almost  uniformly 
work  eight  hours  or  less.  In  the  instances  where  newspapers  work  more 
than  eight  hours  the  movement  for  the  eight-hour  day  will  apply.  The  com- 
mittee in  charge  of  the  eight-hour  agitation  will  be  pleased  to  receive  sugges- 
tions from  members  interested  in  the  project.  Each  member  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  should  constitute  a  committee  of  one  for  the 
furtherance    of   the   effort   to   reduce   the   working   time. 

720 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

Washington,  D.  C,  was  chosen  as  the  meeting  place 
for  the  convention  of  1903. 

Convention  at  Washington 

[1903]  —  The  forty-ninth  session  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  in  the  Colum- 
bia Theater,  Washington,  D.  C,  by  F.  N.  Whitehead, 
chairman  of  the  entertainment  committee  of  Columbia 
Typographical  Union  No.  101.  Rev.  George  E.  Mayd- 
well  invoked  the  divine  blessing.  Hon.  Henry  B.  F. 
Macfarland,  commissioner  of  the  District  of  Columbia, 
noted  the  fact  that  the  International  had  not  met  in 
Washington  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  expressed  the 
hope  that  it  would  not  be  so  long  before  another  conven- 
tion was  held  there.  Prof.  Willis  L.  Moore,  director  of 
the  weather  bureau,  referred  to  his  connection  with  the 
typographical  union  and  paid  a  tribute  to  the  Interna- 
tional. Daniel  C.  Vaughan,  vice-president  of  Columbia 
Union,  welcomed  the  delegates  and  visitors  on  behalf  of 
No.  101.  President  Lynch  replied,  thanking  the  preceding 
speakers  for  their  kind  welcome.  He  then  declared  the 
convention  open  for  business. 

The  secretary-treasurer  reported  that  credentials  had 
been  deposited  by  231  regularly  elected  delegates,  repre 
senting  179  unions.    Credentials  were  presented  by  five 
irregularly  elected  delegates  and  referred  to  the  creden 
tials  committee. 

An  invitation  was  extended  to  the  International  Stereo- 
tv|>.  is'  and  Electrotypers'  Union  convention,  then  in 
session  at  Washington,  to  visit  the  sessions  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union. 

I I V I B  H      "i      0  1    I    '  I    I    I     '     REPORTS 

In  his  report  to  the  members  of  the  International  Union 
and  the  delegates  to  the  forty-ninth  session,   President 


:l 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Lynch  said  that  the  year  just  closed  had  been  a  notable 
one  for  organized  labor  in  general.  The  spirit  of  organi- 
zation had  prevailed  in  trades  and  callings  which, 
previous  to  that  time,  had  been  almost  unknown,  while 
the  older  organizations  had  made  steady  progress  and 
gained  in  membership.    He  continued  : 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  be  able  to  report  that  we  are  no  exception 
to  the  rule  of  progress  outlined.     Our  field  is  necessarily  some- 
what circumscribed,  and  in  the  main  lies  in  the  smaller  cities 
and    towns.  .   The    locality    of    any    considerable    importance 
without  a  typographical  union  is  rare.     But  the  avenue  open  to 
us  for  added  membership  contains,  nevertheless,  almost  unlim- 
ited possibilities.     It  is  bounded  only  by  the  confines  of  our 
immense  jurisdiction.    *    *    *    During  the  past  year  we  organ- 
ized nearly  1 60  unions.     To  accomplish  this  a  large  outlay  in 
money  was  necessary,  and  was  coupled  with  the  energy,  loyalty 
and  ability  put  forth  by  our  agents.     In  this  work  your  president 
has  attempted  to  continue  the  working  out  of  the  idea  imbuing 
him  when  first  honored  as  your  executive — that,  despite  the 
great  strength  of  the  union,  there  are  new  fields  that  should  be 
given  attention.     The  benefit  accruing  from  thorough  organiza- 
tion   has    been    repeatedly    made    apparent    where    employers 
seeking  to  secure  non-unionists  in  order  to  defeat  union  activity, 
have  failed.    This  was  especially  true  in  the  Atlanta  strike,  the 
only  affair  of  magnitude  occurring  during  the  year.     In  the 
furtherance  of  the  work  of  organization  let  us  make  effort  to 
devise  some  plan  whereby  we  can  reach  the  isolated  printer 
working  in  localities  supporting  from  one  to  six  of  our  brother 
artisans,  or  not  enough  to  warrant  organization.     It  has  been 
found  not  practicable,  in  fact,  to  organize  unions  of  less  than 
ten  members.     What  would  seem  to  be  desirable  would  be  to 
attach  the  printers,  working  where  it  is  not  possible  to  organize, 
direct  to  the  parent  body.     It  may  be  said  that  we  can  do  that 
now   through    what   is   termed   provisional   membership ;    but 
during  the  time  that  such  membership  has  been  available  it  has 
failed  to  attract  new  material  in  any  appreciable  quantity.   With 
a  proper  system  of  insurance  and  other  benefits  the  provisional 
scheme  would  have  undoubtedly  been  a  greater  success  as  an 
organizing  agent. 

During  the  industrial  crisis  brought  about  by  the  vast 

722 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

increase  in  the  number  of  trade  union  adherents,  the 
president  said  that  the  International  Typographical 
Union  had  been  fortunate  in  preserving  its  equilibrium 
and  had  pursued  a  calm  and  peaceful  course.  In  discuss- 
ing unions  of  employers  the  president  expressed  regret 
at  the  tendency  on  the  part  of  trade  unions  to  make  light 
of  these  associations  and  questioned  whether  it  would  not 
be  better  to  display  a  tolerant  spirit  toward  them  in  the 
hope  of  establishing  friendly  relations.  "Surely  we  can 
not  deny  to  others  the  right  which  we  claim — the  right  to 
organize — and  it  is  not  aside  from  the  probabilities  that 
during  this  era  of  organization  may  come  the  era  of 
peace."  In  this  connection,  President  Lynch  said  that 
amicable  relations  existed  between  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  the  American  Newspaper  Pub- 
lishers' Association  and  that  with  the  United  Typothetae 
of  America  there  was  at  least  an  armed  neutrality. 

In  calling  attention  to  the  work  for  the  future,  the 
president  observed : 

The  extension  of  the  work  and  scope  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  can  take  the  course  of  added  benefits  to 
its  members  in  the  way  of  financial  relief,  the  renewal  of  the 
demand  for  better  sanitary  conditions  of  the  workroom,  insist- 
ence on  the  proper  instructions  for  apprentices,  the  advancement 
of  the  union  label ;  but,  above  all,  there  should  be  an  effort  to 
encourage  a  system  of  education  that  will  bring  to  our  member- 
ship a  knowledge  of  the  conditions  which  surround  them,  and 
enable  them  to  defend  tlu-ir  position  as  bride  unionists  and 
members  of  a  great  international  organization. 

Great  progress  had  been  made  in  localities  when 
unions  had  existed  for  years,  and  many  new  members  had 
been  added  to  the  rolls  as  a  consequence. 

Arbitration  Agreement —  Commenting  on  the  arbitra- 
tion agreement  with  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association,  which  had  been  in  force  for  over  two  years, 
the  president  reported  that  all  but  two  disputes  had  b. 

7*3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

settled  in  a  fairly  satisfactory  manner  and  that  the 
friendly  agreement  between  the  two  organizations  had 
established  a  much  better  feeling.  The  president  charac- 
terized the  verdicts  rendered  in  the  Minneapolis  and 
Spokane  cases  as  "outrageous,  unjust  and  ridiculous,"  and 
said  that  arbitration  had  received  a  decided  setback  in 
those  cities.    He  said : 

Ours  is  the  first  international  union  to  negotiate  a  general 
arbitration  agreement.  Thus  far  we  have  carried  it  out  faith- 
fully, and  with  an  earnest  desire  to  promote  and  make  secure 
industrial  peace  with  union  employers.  That  this  idea  is  cor- 
rect in  theory  and  right  in  practice  can  not  be  disputed.  Its 
practical  application  has  resulted  in  the  conversion  to  unionism 
of  many  important  newspapers.  If,  however,  the  arbitration 
agreement  is  juggled  with  by  unscrupulous  individuals,  and 
made  the  vehicle  for  unjust  and  questionable  decisions,  through 
the  connivance  of  any  interested  party,  then  the  cause  of  arbi- 
tration, and  necessarily  the  cause  of  industrial  peace,  will 
receive  a  blow  from  which  recovery  will  not  be  possible  for 
years.  Other  organizations,  profiting  by  our  experience,  will  be 
slow  to  adopt  arbitration,  and  the  last  condition  of  the  relations 
between  capital  and  labor  will  be  worse  than  that  which  arbi- 
tration was  intended  to  remedy.  It  is  for  the  American  News- 
paper Publishers'  Association,  if  it  desires  the  continuance  of 
amicable  and  secure  relations,  to  consent  to  such  amendments 
to  the  agreement  as  will  guarantee  justice  and  fair  dealing,  and 
prevent  the  repetition  of  the  unfortunate  and  dangerous 
conditions  brought  about  in  Spokane  and  Minneapolis  through 
decisions  rendered  by  men  who,  to  say  the  least  and  express  it 
in  the  most  charitable  manner,  were  absolutely  unable  to  grasp 
and  pass  upon  the  important  questions  entrusted  to  their  judg- 
ment. The  arbitration  agreement  has  not  quite  four  years  to 
run.  That  period  can  be  made  one  of  satisfaction  and  industrial 
peace,  under  necessary  amendments  to  the  agreement,  and  its 
fair  application,  or  it  may  be  a  period  of  bickering,  dissatisfac- 
tion and  industrial  chaos,  marked  by  events,  unfortunate  but 
none  the  less  unavoidable,  that  will  mean  death  to  the  arbitra- 
tion idea.  It  is  not  believed  that  our  members  will  long 
continue  to  accept  unjust  decisions.  In  the  adoption  of  the 
arbitration  agreement  by  a  vote  of  12,544  to  3,530,  our  Inter- 

724 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

national  expressed  its  endorsement  of  the  peaceful  method,  and 
the  Birmingham  and  Cincinnati  conventions  by  resolutions  de- 
noted satisfaction  with  the  idea. 

President  Lynch  made  his  address  to  the  American 
Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  a  part  of  his  report. 
In  it  he  adverted  to  the  fact  that  there  had  been  no  strike 
or  cessation  of  work  since  formal  relations  had  been 
entered  into  between  the  International  Typographical 
Union  and  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Associa- 
tion and  suggested  that  the  latter  accept  certain  amend- 
ments to  the  agreement  offered  by  the  executive  council 
of  the  International  Union.  He  also  argued  for  better 
sanitary  conditions  in  workrooms  and  the  adoption  of  a 
proposed  apprenticeship  plan. 

Organizing  Work  —  In  speaking  of  the  work  of  organ- 
ization, the  president  said  that  the  spirit  and  intent  of  the 
Cincinnati  convention,  when  it  directed  that  he  appoint 
not  more  than  six  organizers,  had  been  taken  into  con- 
sideration and  that  four  or  five  organizers  had  been  kept 
almost  constantly  in  the  field,  this  being  as  many  as  the 
money  on  hand  would  permit.  He  suggested  the  forma- 
tion of  some  plan  to  reach  the  isolated  printer;  called 
attention  to  the  organizers'  reports  and  asked  that  the 
suggestions  made  therein  receive  consideration. 

Atlanta  Strike  —  The  strike  at  Atlanta  was  then  given 
attention  and  the  events  leading  up  to  its  inauguration 
were  stated  thus: 

The  employers  of  Atlanta  in  the  book  and  job  branch 
formed  an  association  or  club.  Among  other  provisions  in 
their  agreement  there  was  a  price  schedule.  The  club  has  been 
in  existence  more  than  two  years.  About  one  year  ago  it  wat 
claimed  that  one  employer  violated  the  price  agreement,  and, 
under  the  contract  between  No.  48  and  tin-  linns,  the*  latter 
demanded  that  we  withdraw  our  men  from  the  o (Tender's  com- 
posing room.  We  declined  to  do  this  under  our  construction  of 
the  contract,  and  trouble  threatened.     I  visited  Atlanta  and 

7*5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

succeeded  in  adjusting  the  quarrel.  In  March  the  same  em- 
ployer was  again  charged  with  treachery  to  his  associates.  As 
in  the  previous  incident,  we  were  requested  to  withdraw  our 
men,  or,  in  plainer  English,  strike  the  office.  This  we  again 
refused,  and  rested  the  case  on  our  construction  of  the  local 
contract,  offering,  however,  to  submit  that  construction  to  arbi- 
tration. The  associated  employers  refused  to  arbitrate ;  insisted 
that  their  construction  and  contention  were  the  only  ones  that 
could  be  made ;  charged  us  with  violation  of  the  contract  and 
declared  their  composing  rooms  open.  There  the  matter  rested 
until  the  largest  office  employed  two  non-unionists,  and  then 
No.  48  promptly  accepted  the  gauge  of  battle  and  struck  the 
"open"  office.  The  next  most  important  concern  attempted  to 
aid  the  firm  in  trouble  with  the  union,  and  another  strike  re- 
sulted. So  it  went  all  down  the  line,  until  140  of  our  members 
were  idle.  The  Atlanta  affair  was  caused  by  our  refusal  to 
strike  an  office  at  the  dictation  of  an  association  of  employers. 
This  association  could  not  discipline  its  offending  members,  so 
insisted  that  we  do  it.  We  refused.  The  pressmen  and  book- 
binders went  with  the  employers'  club,  on  the  ground  that  "if 
fourteen  offices  are  against  one,  go  with  the  fourteen."  The 
strength  of  No.  48  was  shown,  as  office  after  office  became  in- 
volved, and  with  few  exceptions  the  men  promptly  responded 
to  the  call. 

Kansas  City  —  The  reclamation  of  Kansas  City,  the 
president  set  forth,  was  brought  about  by  a  well-defined 
and  well-executed  plan  of  action  which  had  had  a  most 
important  effect.  It  changed  Kansas  City  from  a  haven 
for  non-unionists  to  a  union  stronghold. 

Agreement  With  Allied  Trades  —  The  agreement  ar- 
rived at  between  the  four  international  unions  of  the 
printing  trades  and  also  between  the  two  factions  of  the 
photo  engravers,  it  was  suggested,  should  be  submitted  to 
the  referendum  for  ratification  or  rejection. 

Trade  Union  Incorporation  —  On  the  subject  of  trade 
union  incorporation  it  was  claimed  that  comparatively 
few  of  the  local  unions  were  incorporated  and  in  these 
cases  the  action  had  been  taken  for  especial  reasons,  or  on 
account  of  peculiar  state  provisions.    It  was  recommended 

J26 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

that  the  convention  adopt  a  law  forbidding  local  unions 
to  incorporate  except  under  exceptional  conditions  and 
with  the  sanction  of  the  executive  council. 

Per  Capita  Tax  —  Under  the  sub-heading  "Per  Capita 
Tax,"  President  Lynch  suggested  : 

It  might  be  well  for  this  convention  to  submit  to  the  mem- 
bership a  proposition  making  the  per  capita  tax  40  cents.  It 
will  be  35  cents,  even  should  the  Los  Angeles  assessment  be 
discontinued  at  the  end  of  the  year,  and  it  is  believed  that  it  will 
be  necessary  to  carry  the  contest  against  the  Los  Angeles  Times 
for  a  longer  period  than  the  present  assessment  has  to  run. 
Even  though  we  are  successful  in  the  Times  contest  sooner  than 
we  expect  the  increased  revenue  can  be  used  to  advantage  for 
similar  purposes  in  other  sections. 

Miscellaneous  —  In  the  closing  paragraphs  of  his  ad- 
dress to  the  membership,  President  Lynch,  after  express- 
ing his  disapproval  of  the  action  of  some  central  labor 
bodies  in  boycotting  union  newspapers  because  of  their 
editorial  policy,  referred  briefly  to  the  abuse  of  the  right 
to  appeal;  the  failure  of  the  efforts  to  secure  the  passage 
of  an  eight-hour  law  by  congress;  the  establishment  of 
printing  offices  on  the  factory  plan  in  small  villages;  the 
flourishing  condition  of  the  printing  business,  notwith- 
standing the  continued  introduction  of  improved  machin- 
ery; the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  campaign  for  label 
text  books;  the  necessity  for  better  sanitary  conditions  in 
composing  rooms;  the  apprenticeship  question,  and,  in 
conclusion,  he  said: 

We  are  doing  well.    Careful  action  on  the  part  of  the  dele- 
I,  coupled  with  moderation  and  ordinary  business  saga> 
will    accelerate    our    progress,    add    to    our    stability    as    an 
organization,   make  our   future  even  more  secure,  and  be  of 

inestimable  benefit  to  the  membership  represented  in  tl: 
ninth  session.     let  wisdom  be  the  watchword. 

Typographic  —  The  second  vice-president  began  his 
report  by  Baying  tliat.  with  the  close  ,.f  the  fiat  ll  vcar,  the 
Typographia  ended  the  thirtieth  year  of  its  useful  career 

7-7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  that  it  was  in  better  financial  condition  than  at  any 
previous  period  in  its  history.  While  the  membership  had 
decreased  during  the  last  decade,  owing  to  the  reduction 
in  the  number  of  German  publications  and  the  introduc- 
tion of  typesetting  devices,  never  before  had  the  German- 
American  unions  more  fully  controlled  their  branch  of 
the  printing, trade.  Vice-President  Miller  also  reported 
that  after  a  struggle  which  had  lasted  for  more  than  seven 
years  the  Illinois  Publishing  Company,  of  Chicago,  had 
been  unionized.  During  the  twelve  months  the  funds  of 
the  Typographia  had  been  increased  from  $11,000  to 
$16,500,  notwithstanding  the  decrease  in  membership. 
There  were  but  two  German  offices  in  the  United  States, 
of  considerable  size,  outside  the  union. 

Mailers  —  Third  Vice-President  Mulcahy  reported 
that  he  had  been  busy  during  the  year  organizing  new 
subordinate  unions  and  strengthening  old  ones.  A  trade 
district  union  had  been  formed  and  since  its  inception 
unions  had  been  organized  in  Omaha,  Providence, 
Springfield,  Mass.,  and  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  The  International 
Typographical  Union  organizers  had  rendered  the  mail- 
ers great  assistance  in  the  work  of  organization  and  thanks 
were  extended  to  the  International  officers  for  assistance 
in  organizing  mailers'  unions  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  and 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.  The  vice-president  complained  that 
organization  by  correspondence  failed  to  produce  satis- 
factory results  and  asked  that  the  sum  of  $1,000  be  set 
aside  to  meet  the  expenses  of  an  organizer  to  work  among 
the  mailers. 

Photo  Engravers  —  Notwithstanding  the  legislation 
enacted  by  the  International  as  a  means  to  suppress  the 
seceders  among  photo  engravers,  Vice-President  Walls 
reported  that  the  secession  movement  had  been  gaining 
strength,  especially  in  New  York  city.  "Every  possible 
means   has   been   used   to   persuade   the  seceding  photo 

728 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

engravers  to  again  connect  themselves  with  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  but  all  in  vain."  On 
January  24,  1903,  an  agreement  was  arrived  at  between 
the  representatives  of  the  two  factions  to  form  an  interna- 
tional union  of  photo  engravers  which  should  work  in 
harmony  with  the  International  Typographical  Union 
provided  it  received  the  endorsement  of  the  proper 
authority  of  the  latter  body.  Later  on  they  had  an  agree- 
ment to  exchange  traveling  cards.  Vice-President  Walls 
thought  it  better  to  accept  this  agreement  than  to  continue 
strife,  and  concluded  his  report  by  saying  that  it  would 
be  presented  to  the  convention  in  regular  form  and  that 
it  had  the  unanimous  endorsement  of  the  photo  engravers 
connected  with  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

Typefounders  —  The  time  and  attention  of  the  sixth 
vice-president  had  been  given  to  the  adjustment  of  dis- 
putes and  to  prevent  the  disruption  of  unions  by  the 
employers  who  made  special  efforts  to  induce  those  hold- 
ing positions  as  foremen  to  withdraw  from  the  union.  In 
only  one  instance,  however,  had  this  attempt  been  success- 
fully carried  out.  Vice-President  Nuernberger  reported 
the  organization  of  a  typefounders'  union  in  San 
Francisco  with  all  journeymen  working  at  the  trade  as 
members.  A  proposition  made  by  the  employers  at  a 
conference  with  delegates  from  local  unions  in  New  York 
suggested  that  the  delegates  make  an  agreement  binding 
the  members  to  sign  individual  contracts.  This  proposi- 
tion was  rejected.  Up  to  date  of  his  report,  Vice-President 
Nuernberger  said  that  all  members  had  remained  loyal 
to  the  union  and  were  working  under  the  uniform  scale 
adopted  two  years  previously 

Secretary's  Report  —  Secretary  Bramwood's  report 
showed  that  the  growth  in  membership  had  been  in 
keeping  with  the  ,i<l\.im<-  made  in  other  directions,  the 
increase  in  the  average  paying  membership  during  the 

729 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

year  having  been  more  than  4,000,  the  largest  in  the 
history  of  the  organization.  Per  capita  tax  was  paid  on 
an  average  membership  of  42,436. 

A  tabulated  statement  of  the  number  of  charters  issued, 
reinstated,  suspended  and  surrendered  was  submitted, 
which  showed  a  net  gain  in  membership  of  2,031  from 
this  source. 

The  record  of  local  unions  showed  that  on  June  I,  1902, 
there  were  559  unions  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Inter- 
national. The  report  also  showed  that  during  the  fiscal 
year  159  new  unions  were  chartered,  1  reinstated,  2 
suspended,  and  18  surrendered,  the  total  increase  in  the 
number  of  local  unions  for  the  twelve  months  being  140, 
while  the  total  number  of  subordinate  unions  to  the 
International  on  May  1,  1903,  was  699,  divided  among 
the  several  crafts  as  follows :  Typographical  (English), 
616;  German-American,  21;  photo  engravers,  16;  mail- 
ers, 21  ;  typefounders,  7;  newspaper  writers,  18. 

The  number  of  death  benefits  paid  during  the  year 
was  476,  which  involved  an  expenditure  of  $30,940.  The 
receipts  of  the  fund  were  $7,318.77  in  excess  of  the 
expenditures,  and  that  amount,  pursuant  to  law,  was 
transferred  to  the  general  fund.  The  death  rate  for  the 
year  was  about  1 1  per  1,000,  while  the  average  death  rate 
since  the  inception  of  the  burial  fund  had  been  nearly 
13  per  1,000.  A  total  of  4,971  death  benefits  were  paid 
from  1892  to  1903,  inclusive,  incurring  an  expenditure  of 
$289,380.  The  amount  of  benefit  paid  had  been  increased 
from  time  to  time,  but  nevertheless  the  receipts  had 
always  exceeded  the  expenditures  and  the  secretary  rec- 
ommended that  the  death  benefit  be  increased  to  $70,  with 
no  increase  in  the  per  capita  tax.  A  tabulated  statement 
giving  the  age  at  death,  the  cause  of  death,  and  the 
number  of  deaths  at  certain  ages  was  presented,  the  aver- 
age age  at  death  during  the  year  having  been  42.62. 

730 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

The  sum  of  $50,925.03  was  transferred  to  the  Union 
Printers  Home  fund  as  its  share  of  the  per  capita  tax  for 
the  fiscal  year. 

Typographical  Journal  —  On  account  of  the  change 
from  a  semi-monthly  to  a  monthly,  two  statements  were 
furnished  regarding  the  Typographical  Journal  account. 
The  excess  of  expenditures  over  receipts  for  the  first  half 
of  the  fiscal  year  was  $3,880.68,  making  the  net  cost  of 
the  paper  for  this  period  9  cents  per  member.  The 
secretary  was  of  the  opinion  that  a  most  progressive  step 
had  been  taken  in  adopting  a  plan  which  allowed  every 
member  to  become  a  reader  of  the  official  paper.  Not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  every  effort  had  been  made  to 
increase  the  advertising  patronage  of  the  Journal,  there 
had  been  little  progress  in  that  direction. 

Strikes  —  Nineteen  unions  were  involved  in  eighteen 
strikes  during  the  year  and  the  number  of  men  affected 
was  397.  Of  the  strikes,  six  were  won,  seven  lost  and  five 
were  pending  at  the  time  the  report  was  filed.  Fifty-five 
men  were  displaced  on  account  of  strikes,  202  returned  to 
work  on  the  settlement  of  disputes  and  140  were  involved 
in  the  pending  troubles. 

Organizers'  Reports  —  The  reports  of  the  organizers, 
as  a  rule,  were  of  an  encouraging  nature.  With  their 
assistance  increases  in  wages  and  reductions  of  hours  had 
been  gained  ill  various  jurisdictions  and  many  new  unions 
had  been  organized  as  a  result  of  their  efforts. 

Organizer  Honnington,  of  San  Francisco,  said  the  year 
had  been  one  of  progress  in  his  territory.  Referring  to 
the  Los  Angeles  situation  he  said:  "The  effects  of  the 
fight  against  the  non-union  Los  Angeles  Times  were 
apparent  in  every  town  in  southern  California.  During 
;m  organising  trip  in  January,  I  visited  many  places  in 

that  part  ..f  the  itate  and  found  the  union  mrn  e\etvu  here 
enthusiastic  in  our  cause.    As  this  matter  will  no  doubt  be 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

fully  dealt  with  in  the  reports  of  the  officers  handling  the 
contest  I  will  only  add  the  earnest  recommendation  that 
the  convention  adopt  whatever  means  is  suggested  by 
them  to  carry  to  a  successful  conclusion  the  winning  fight 
now  being  waged  against  the  last  stronghold  of  the  fra- 
ternity on  this  coast." 

Committee  on  Benefit  Features  —  The  committee  on  the 
establishment  of  benefit  features  reported  that  while  it 
favored  three  classes  of  benefits — funeral,  which  should 
be  graded  according  to  length  of  membership,  and  sick, 
superannuation  or  pension — it  was  not  prepared  to  recom- 
mend all  three  for  immediate  adoption,  but  considered  it 
wise  to  recommend  the  establishment  of  a  graded  and 
increased  funeral  benefit  for  consideration  by  the  con- 
vention, the  other  proposed  benefits  to  be  taken  up  at 
a  later  date. 

American  Federation  of  Labor  —  The  delegates  to  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  submitted  an  exhaustive 
report  of  the  transactions  of  that  body  at  its  New  Orleans 
session.  The  following  is  quoted  as  having  direct  bearing 
on  the  International  organization : 

In  the  controversy  between  the  International  Printing  Press- 
men's Union  and  the  International  Typographical  Union,  the 
committee  on  executive  council's  report  reported  as  follows : 

"It  is  also  pleasing  to  report  that  the  delegates  representing 
the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  and 
the  International  Typographical  Union  have  agreed  upon  a 
basis  by  which  they  will  endeavor  to  settle  by  conference  their 
differences  as  outlined  in  the  executive  council's  report  and 
resolution  No.  128.  The  resolution  referred  to  has,  therefore, 
been  withdrawn." 

•Home  Trustees  —  The  report  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  Home  contained  the  minutes  of  the  meetings  of  the 
corporation  and  board  of  trustees,  the  reports  of  standing 
committees,  the  financial  statement  of  the  treasurer  and 
the  report  of  the  superintendent,  this  latter  document 

732 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

containing  a  brief  report  from  the  Home  physician. 
Several  propositions  were  discussed  involving  proposed 
improvements  at  the  Home  and  it  was  decided  that  all 
work  should  be  done  by  day  labor  as  far  as  practicable. 
It  was  decided  to  add  another  story  to  the  hospital  annex. 
The  report  of  the  Home  treasurer  showed  total  receipts 
for  the  fiscal  year  to  have  been  $68,002.07,  with  expendi- 
tures of  $60,833.49.  The  admission  committee  had 
approved  eighty-one  applications  and  disapproved  eight 
during  the  year.  The  mortuary  record  of  the  Home  for 
the  year  showed  fourteen  deaths,  seven  of  which  resulted 
from  tuberculosis.  The  number  of  residents  domiciled  at 
the  Home  at  the  close  of  the  year  was  1 13. 

CONSTITUTIONAL      AMENDMENTS 

Eight  propositions  were  submitted  to  the  referendum 
by  the  convention,  all  of  which  met  with  approval. 

The  first  proposition  was  to  amend  section  1,  article  i, 
constitution,  relinquishing  jurisdiction  over  photo  engrav- 
ers. It  was  approved  by  a  majority  of  14,121  out  of  a 
total  vote  of  1 7,438. 

The  second  proposition  amended  section  I,  article  ii, 
of  the  constitution,  providing  that  the  International  body 
should  not  enact  legislation  relative  to  the  internal  affairs 
of  printing  offices.   The  majority  for  this  proposition  was 

13.055- 

The  third  amendment  provided  a  salary  of  $50  per 
annum  for  the  mailer  vice-president  and  was  approved  by 
a  majority  of  8,790. 

The  fourth  proposition  amended  section  I,  article  ix, 
constitution,  creating  a  special  defense  fund.  Previous  to 
the  adoption  of  this  amendment  the  International  dues  of 
each  member  were  30  cents  per  month  ami  >  cents  addi- 
tional for  subscription  to  the  Typographical  Journal.  For 
the  year  following  the  Cincinnati  convention,  an 


733 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ment  of  5  cents  per  member  per  month  was  collected  to 
carry  on  the  Los  Angeles  fight,  making  the  total  payment 
40  cents  per  member  per  month.  The  amendment  in- 
creased the  dues  to  35  cents  per  member  per  month,  the 
extra  5  cents  being  placed  in  the  special  defense  fund, 
thus  making  the  regular  dues  and  Journal  subscription, 
40  cents  pei  member  per  month.  The  convention  also 
endorsed  a  proposition  to  continue  the  Los  Angeles  assess- 
ment, but  by  the  adoption  of  the  amendment  creating  a 
special  defense  fund  there  was  no  necessity  for  submitting 
this  matter  to  the  membership. 

The  fifth  proposition  amended  section  I,  article  ix, 
constitution.  The  old  law  required  that  International  dues 
for  each  month  be  forwarded  to  the  secretary-treasurer 
on  or  before  the  third  Monday  of  the  succeeding  month. 
The  amendment  provided  that  such  dues  should  be  for- 
warded before  the  20th  of  the  succeeding  month,  thus 
fixing  a  definite  day  and  allowing  a  little  more  time  in 
most  instances. 

The  sixth  proposition  increased  the  burial  fund  from 
$65  to  $70,  with  no  increase  in  dues.  While  this  propo- 
sition was  endorsed  by  the  referendum,  1,695  votes  were 
cast  against  it.  As  the  amendment  proposed  a  substantial 
increase  in  the  burial  benefit  without  added  taxation  it  is 
presumed  that  the  negative  votes  on  the  proposition 
represented  an  element  in  the  union  opposed  to  benefit 
features  on  general  principles. 

The  seventh  proposition  amended  section  3,  article  xvi, 
constitution,  forbidding  subordinate  unions,  or  a  combi- 
nation of  subordinate  unions,  issuing  labels  of  different 
designs  than  that  furnished  by  the  International,  and 
prohibiting  more  than  one  design  of  label  being  used  in 
any  jurisdiction. 

The  eighth  proposition  was  a  proposed  agreement  with 
other  printing  trades  organizations  recognizing  the  au- 
tonomy    of    the    printing    pressmen,    the    bookbinders, 

734 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

stereotypers  and  electrotypers  and  forming  a  joint  board 
of  appeals.  The  document  was  the  same  as  agreed  upon 
at  the  conference  held  following  the  Cincinnati  convention 
which  is  printed  in  full  in  the  synopsis  of  that  conven- 
tion (1902). 

General  Laws,  etc.  —  The  general  laws  and  the  by-laws 
were  amended  to  conform  with  the  constitutional  changes 
and  with  the  new  agreement  entered  into  with  the  allied 
trades.  Among  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  convention 
were  the  following: 

That  the  International  Typographical  Union  in  convention 
assembled  requests  W.  R.  Hearst  to  acquire  a  morning  n< 
paper  in  Los  Angeles. 

That  the  executive  council  be  instructed  to  expend  such  sum 
as  it  may  see  fit  to  assist  Philadelphia  Union  in  unionizing  that 
city,  the  same  to  be  spent  under  the  direction  of  the  executive 
council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union.  That  owing 
to  the  peculiar  conditions  in  Philadelphia,  which  are  best  known 
to  the  executive  officers  of  the  local  union,  the  executive  council, 
after  consultation  with  the  executive  officers  of  Typographical 
Union  No.  2,  shall  select  its  representative  to  supervise  said 
work. 


RELATIONS      WITH       NEWSPAPER      PUBLISHERS 

The  relations  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
with   the   American    Newspaper    Publishers'   Associat 
had  become  somewhat  strained  owing  to  the  wide  differ- 
ence! of  opinion  regarding  the  purposes  and  limitation 
of  the  arbitration  agreement.    The  matter  was  brought 
squarely  before  the  convention  on  certain  changes  that 
were  suggested  be  made  in  the  agreement.   Commissioner 
Driscoll,  of  the  publishers'  association,   was   Invited 
attend  the  convention  and  address  the  delegates.    In  \ 
of  the  importance  of  the  questions  at  issue  botWOOB  the 
publishers'    association    and    the    union,    Mr.    DriscoM's 
1  in  full : 


Mm.  PurttDRNT  and  Ol  I  «ppr«r  h*for»  yxmt  org»alntloa  la  COM* 

vn.i.,.,,   aMcmblcd   for    the   fourth  time  u  the   representative  of  the   AatriaM 

735 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  and,  as  usual,  by  the  cordial  invitation  of 
President  Lynch.  It  is  true  that  this  invitation  was  extended  before  the  unpleas- 
ant disturbance  of  our  heretofore  completely  harmonious  relations,  which  hap- 
pened last  month.  I  will  say,  however,  that  since  the  regrettable  occurrences 
of  July,  and  notwithstanding  the  same,  this  invitation  has  been  verbally  re- 
peated by  the  members  of  your  executive  council. 

In  the  year  1900,  at  the  initiatory  request  of  our  association,  I  urged  your 
body  to  take  such  action  as  would  secure  arbitration  in  the  settlement  of  any 
differences  arising  which  could  not  be  adjusted  by  conciliation.  You  adopted 
such  action  and  set  in  motion  the  machinery  by  which  representatives  of  both 
organizations  met  and  arranged  a  plan  of  arbitration,  which  was  subsequently 
approved  by  your  referendum  and  our  convention.  The  following  year,  at  Bir- 
mingham, you  empowered  your  executive  council  to  enlarge  the  scope  and  length 
of  the  term  of  the  arbitration  plan,  which  was  done  in  conjunction  with  our 
special  standing  committee. 

For  more  than  two  years,  covering  the  execution  of  the  original  plan  and 
the  enlarged  one,  we  all  enjoyed  continuous  industrial  peace,  and  until  the 
month  of  July  just  past,  when  two  inexcusable  strikes  occurred  in  the  offices  of 
our  members,  one  at  Seattle,  on  July  7,  and  the  other  at  Spokane,  on  July  26. 

I  use  the  word  "inexcusable"  with  the  fullest  deliberation,  for,  in  my  judg- 
ment, the  reasons  put  forth   for  justifying  these  strikes  are  not  tenable. 

I  state  unhesitatingly  that  if  arbitration  had  been  adhered  to  according  to 
the  obligations  of  our  agreement  there  would  have  been  no  strike  or  disturbance 
of  our  friendly  relations. 

The  national  board  of  arbitration  should  have  been  organized  as  provided 
in  the  contract  in  each  of  the  two  cases  referred  to.  That  board,  if  it  had  found 
prior  irregularities  or  even  fraud,  if  publishers  or  unions  had  asked  for  consid- 
eration of  subjects  not  allowed  in  the  contract,  has  and  does  possess  all  necessary 
power  to  annul  and  wipe  out  all  previous  proceedings,  and  begin  anew  from  the 
inception  of  the  issues  raised  and  give  an  award  which  would  be  accepted  by  all 
parties  in  interest. 

It  is  not  a  pleasant  duty  for  me,  I  assure  you,  after  years  of  business  inter- 
course with  your  president  and  executive  council,  unruffled  by  any  serious 
differences,  and  always  characterized  by  the  most  gentlemanly  conciliation,  to 
stand  before  you,  their  constituents,  and  criticize  and  condemn  their  official 
action  during  the  past  month. 

But  as  a  friend  of  your  organization,  as  a  representative  of  the  publishers  of 
our  association,  as  a  man  and  a  citizen,  I  am  obliged  to  enter  my  most  solemn 
protest  against  these  gross  violations  of  our  arbitration  contract. 

As  a  friend  of  your  organization,  I  believe  you  will  give  me  credit  for  doing 
all  in  my  power  since  I  accepted  the  office  of  industrial  commissioner  to  improve 
the  labor  situation  between  your  members  and  the  publishers  of  our  association 
who  had  trade  relations  with  the  union. 

Representing  the  publishers'  association,  I  have  labored  constantly  for  a 
strict  observance  of  the  arbitration  contract.  As  a  man  and  citizen  I  know  that 
if  contracts  with  the  unions  are  not  strictly  observed  and  are  ruthlessly  broken, 
then  we  have  arrived  at  the  end  of  industrial  peace,  and  we  will  be  moved  back- 
ward to  the  disastrous  days  of  the  strike  and  lockout. 

With  reference  to  the  Seattle  case,  there  is  no  word  of  the  arbitration  con- 
tract which  has  been  violated  by  the  publishers  of  that  city,  and  I  challenge  any 
truthful  denial  of  this  statement.  There  is  nothing  in  that  contract  which  pro- 
hibits a  publisher  from  presenting  a  counter  proposition  when  the  union  makes 
a  demand  for  increased  wages  or  shorter  hours.  If  there  was  it  would  be  an 
unequal  contract,  in  that  it  would  deny  to  the  publisher,  one  party  to  the  con- 
tract,   the    same    right    conceded   to    the   union.      The    president    and   executive 


736 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 


council  acknowledge  the  right  of  the  publisher  to  make  an  original  demand  for 
reduced  wages  or  increase  of  hours,  and  in  that  case  the  union  could  not  present 
to  the  board  a  counter  proposition  for  its  consideration.  To  practically  carry 
out  this  idea  would  require  a  half  a  dozen  ambulatory  boards  traveling  all  over 
the  country  to  hear  in  one  case  the  union  demands,  and  during  the  next  month 
of  the  publishers'  association.  If  it  is  desired  to  prevent  the  board  of  arbitration 
from  considering  all  the  facts  in  each  case,  this  is  a  patent  method  of  accom- 
plishing unfair  work,  and  of  needlessly  multiplying  labor  and  effort,  while  keep- 
ing both  parties  in  interest  in  frequent  and  unnecessary  turmoil. 

This  ruling  or  interpretation,  so-called,  has  been  made  by  President  Lynch, 
representing  one  of  the  parties  to  this  agreement,  while  the  commissioner  has 
dissented  therefrom  in  emphatic  terms.  In  June,  1902,  President  Lynch  agreed 
in  writing  with  Mr.  McCormick,  the  chairman  of  our  special  standing  committee, 
after  a  conference  on  the  subject,  that  whenever  the  two  members  of  the  national 
board  of  arbitration  disagreed  as  to  the  interpretation  of  the  terms  of  the  con- 
tract, such  difference  should  be  arbitrated  by  the  selection  of  a  third  arbitrator. 
Out  of  the  many  differences  of  interpretation  which  have  arisen  but  one  came 
has  been  arbitrated  as  provided. 

In  addition,  I  contend  that  even  if  the  publisher  had  exceeded  his  rights 
under  the  contract  in  demanding  to  have  arbitrated  matters  which  were  outside 
of  the  limitations  imposed  in  said  contract,  the  national  arbitration  board  had 
power  to  hold  each  party  within  their  proper  limitations  to  consider  only  what 
was  proper  to  be  beard,  and  to  make  an  award  based  on  the  evidence  and 
pleadings. 

In  the  same  way  the  trouble  at  Spokane  could  have  been  avoided.  Even  if 
gross  fraud  was  proven  on  the  part  of  the  local  board,  which  I  utterly  deny,  it 
was  wholly  within  the  power  of  the  national  board,  when  appeal  and  review  were 
granted,  to  have  ignored  all  that  had  previously  transpired,  and  to  begin  anew 
from  the  inception  of  the  union's  demands.  I  made  the  proposition  to  President 
Lynch  to  join  with  me  in  selecting  a  third  arbitrator,  but  he  declined  to  do  so 
unless  I  would  consent  to  exclude  consideration  of  the  publishers'  requests,  and 
I  regret  to  have  to  state  he  most  grossly  violated  the  express  provision  of  the 
contract  bearing  his  own  signature  and  promise  to  the  publisher  that  there 
should  be  no  strike  during  the  life  of  that  contract. 

Now,  in  view  of  this  sad  experience,  you  will  all  concede  it  would  seem  to 
be  useless  to  make  any  amendments  to  the  contract  with  parties  who  have  here- 
tofore broken  it.  The  special  standing  committee  is  ready  and  willing  at  any 
time  to  take  up  with  your  executive  council  the  consideration  of  whatever  may 
seem  to  you  as  unequal  or  unfair  in  the  arbitration  agreement.  The  only 
assurance  which  would  be  convincing  to  the  publishers  that  you  would  carry 
out  your  agreed  part  in  any  amended  arrangements  would  Ik-  that  you  should 
respect  the  existing  agreement  and  restore  to  the  publishers  of  Seattle  and 
Spokane  the  statu  quo  before  the  strike,  and  proceed  with  regularity  under  th« 
in  mi  of  the  existing  contract  to  arbitrate  and  finally  settle  the  difference*  •«*•(• 
ing  in  our  offices  in  those  two  cities. 

If  you   are   indisposed   or   refuse   to   furnish   such   assurance   the   publishers 
iily   would   look    upon    the    prospect   of    your    union    keeping   any   amended 
agreement  and  faithfully  observing  its  obligations  as  hopcleaa, 

\V.  irK;ir.|  Ihr  honor  of  v.ur  ..t  k.iiii/.iIi..ii  1.  at  .ukr  Your  union  ha*  the 
"  puintion  of  being  one  of  the  most  conservative,  honorable  and  Intelligent  of 
nil  llir  unions  of  the  country.  As  It  is  MM  »(  the  oldest  union*  ft*  loaf 
enee  should  apparently,  at  least,  have  enabled  it  to  acquire 
.tesscd  by  many  younger  organisations.  ThU  wbdoM 
lesson  that  it  is  •xtrtmtr*  unwise  <••  »«•">  *Ml  a  tacred  c«-. 
great  organizations  like  ours,  and  that  no  violation  of  contract  afcovM  he  count*- 


737 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

nanced  by  your  convention  in  this  crisis.  The  happiness  and  comfort  of  thou- 
sands of  your  members  are  involved  in  this  issue,  as  to  whether  you  will  abide 
by  or  break  your  contracts.  Any  party  who  breaks  contracts  forfeits  the  con- 
fidence and  good  faith  which  previously  reposed  in  him. 

It  remains  for  this  convention  to  determine  what  path  shall  be  pursued 
hereafter.  If  the  straight  path  of  carrying  out  our  sacred  obligations  is  followed, 
industrial  peace  with  its  numerous  blessings  will  result.  If  the  crooked  path  of 
broken  contracts  is  to  be  pursued,  the  consequence  will  be  deplored  on  every 
hand. 

Finally,  I  can  not  urge  you  too  strongly  to  adhere  to  the  straight  path,  and 
thereby  not  only  preserve  the  general  estimation  in  which  your  organization  is 
held,  but  also  secure  to  your  membership  the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest 
number. 

The  address  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  arbitra- 
tion. This  committee  submitted  a  report  covering  the 
entire  matter  at  issue  between  the  representative  of  the 
publishers'  association  and  the  executive  council.  The 
report  of  the  committee  is  given  below : 

Your  committee  on  arbitration  respectfully  presents  the  fol- 
lowing for  your  consideration : 

In  the  famous  Spokane  and  Seattle  cases,  in  which  President 
Lynch  is  charged  by  Commissioner  Driscoll  with  violation  of 
the  arbitration  agreement,  we  find,  after  careful  consideration 
of  all  evidence  adduced : 

That  the  publishers  precipitated  the  trouble  by  a  display  of 
bad  faith  in  the  outset. 

We  believe  the  arbitration  agreement  was  promulgated  by 
honorable  men,  who  were  unable  at  its  inception  to  see  the  loop- 
holes through  which  an  unfair  publisher  or  union  might  take 
advantage  of  it. 

We  believe  that  the  apparent  bad  faith  of  the  above-men- 
tioned publishers  nullified  the  arbitration  agreement  as  applied 
to  them,  and  justified  President  Lynch  and  the  executive  council 
to  take  the  course  they  pursued. 

Commissioner  Driscoll  and  President  Lynch  agree,  and  so 
does  your  committee,  that  the  whole  trouble  arises  over  the  lack 
of  a  code  of  procedure  which  shall  define  what  and  how  any 
question  or  questions  are  to  be  arbitrated. 

We  hold  that  this  code  of  procedure  should  be  fixed  only  by 
the  parties  who  conceived  and  promulgated  the  original  arbitra- 
tion agreement. 

We  submit  that  this  agreement  was  effected  without  arbitra- 
tion in  its  popular  sense,  and  now  that  it  has  been  discovered 
that  the  agreement  is  ineffective  without  a  code  of  procedure, 

738 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

we  recommend  that  if  the  agreement  is  to  live  its  acknowledged 
shortcomings  shall  be  remedied  as  above  set  out. 

We  do  not  believe  the  arbitration  agreement  contemplated 
the  arbitration  of  questions  of  International  Typographical 
Union  law,  but  should  be  confined  only  to  questions  over  estab- 
lished wage  scales  and  the  new  one  proposed  by  the  dissatisfied 
party. 

The  International  Typographical  Union  law  in  existence  at 
the  inception  of  the  arbitration  agreement  can  not  be  arbitrated 
for  the  reason  that  only  by  referendum  vote  can  it  be  receded 
from  or  altered.  The  International  Typographical  Union  con- 
stitution and  by-laws,  like  those  of  the  United  States  govern- 
ment, represent  what  the  members  of  this  union  believe  to  be 
principles  that  can  not  be  arbitrated,  and  their  arbitration  was 
Deter  contemplated.  They  are  necessary  to  the  life  of  the 
organization  and  must  be  maintained. 

Commissioner  Driscoll  proposed  to  arbitrate  with  our  presi- 
dent the  questions  presented  in  Spokane  and  Seattle,  and  to 
leave  it  to  any  third  man  that  they  may  agree  upon. 

For  reasons  above  set  forth  your  committee  is  of  the  opinion 
that  this  can  not  be  done. 

The  publishers  there  demanded  the  arbitration  of  matters 
prohibited  by  our  laws,  and  therein  violated  the  agreement,  put- 
ting themselves  beyond  the  pale  of  arbitration. 

We  assert  that  we  believe  in  arbitration,  but  arbitration  is 
only  possible  where  parties  in  dispute  approach  the  question  in 
a  fair  and  conciliatory  manner. 

We  recommend  that  the  convention  endorse  President  Lynch 
and  the  executive  council  in  pursuing  the  course  they  did  pursm-. 
believing  that  it  was  the  only  one  open  when  the  discovery  was 
made  that  the  publishers  were  not  living  up  to  the  spirit  of  the 
contract 

ident  Lynch,  in  his  supplementary  report  to  the 
convention,  referred  to  the  matters  touched  upon  by 
Commissioner  Driscoll  in  his  address.  In  order  that  the 
reader   may   have  a    full    Understanding  of  both   sides  nt 

this  controversy,  bo  much  <>f  President  Lynch'i  report  as 
refers  to  the  controversy  with  the  publishers'  association 

i-  iiu  luded  herewith  : 

Arbitration    Drv.lofmtnts — Reeent    h.ippenings  In   connec- 

739 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tion  with  arbitration  will  be  of  interest.  The  typographical 
union  in  Seattle  presented  a  revised  scale,  embracing  an  increase 
in  the  wage  and  a  reduction  in  the  hours.  The  proprietors 
wanted  arbitration.  The  union  was  not  unwilling ;  that  is,  not 
until  the  employers  presented  a  counter  proposition.  Aside  from 
the  demand  for  the  arbitration  of  a  few  laws,  the  reduction  in 
scale,  the  increase  in  hours,  the  regulation  of  apprenticeship 
terms,  etc.,  embraced  in  this  counter  proposition,  there  was  a 
skilfully  worded  blanket  paragraph  under  which  almost  any- 
thing might  have  been  brought  before  the  arbitration  board. 
Communication  was  opened  with  headquarters.  The  Interna- 
tional officers  were  of  the  opinion  that  if  the  arbitration 
agreement  was  to  be  jockeyed  with  generally  it  was  time  to  take 
an  unequivocal  position.  The  Seattle  Union  was  given  some 
advice.  No.  202  interviewed  the  employers  and  asked  that  the 
questions  to  go  to  the  arbitration  board  be  denned  and  agreed  to. 
This  was  refused.    The  union  then  enforced  its  scale. 

The  Developments  in  Spokane  —  The  scale  of  No.  193  was 
$4  and  $4.50,  seven  and  one-half  hours.  The  union  asked  for 
$4.50  and  $5.  The  chairman  of  the  local  board  voted  to  increase 
the  hours  and  decrease  the  scale.  The  union  appealed  to  the 
national  arbitration  board,  and  in  consequence  I  visited  Spokane 
last  month.  The  question  of  the  illegality  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  lower  board,  raised  by  No.  193,  was  reviewed  by  the 
national  board.  It  was  shown  that  the  local  chairman  was  in 
frequent  consultation  with  the  interested  proprietor ;  that  the 
union's  representative  was  denied  the  right  of  attending  these 
conferences ;  that  certain  telegrams  asking  as  to  living  condi- 
tions in  other  cities  were  sent  out  from  the  office  of  the  inter- 
ested newspaper  without  the  consent  of  the  union's  arbitrator, 
and  that  the  replies  to  these  telegrams,  supporting,  as  was  to  be 
expected,  the  office  contention,  were  submitted  to  the  chairman 
of  the  arbitration  board.  Replying  to  this  charge,  the  weak 
claim  was  made  that  these  telegrams  did  not  affect  the  final 
decision.  Then  to  give  the  proceedings  the  necessary  theatrical 
finish,  the  alleged  award  was  written  and  signed  by  two  of  the 
arbitrators,  and  thus  promulgated,  without  giving  the  union's 
representative  on  the  board  opportunity  to  discuss  the  terms  of 
the  written  award,  suggest  a  change  or  modification  in  these 
terms,  or  even  protest  again  them.  After  the  review  by  the  two 
members  of  the  national  board  of  arbitration  it  was  my  decision 
that  the  interested  newspaper  proprietor  had  violated  his  arbi- 

740 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

tration  contract,  and  was  therefore  entitled  to  no  further 
protection  under  it.  The  Spokane  Union  then  enforced  its 
revised  scale  of  prices. 

Meeting  with  A.  N.  P.  A.  Representatives — Ninety  days 
prior  to  May  I,  as  required  by  the  arbitration  contract,  the 
executive  council  prepared  the  following  amendments  to  that 
document. 

First.  Amend  section  8  of  the  arbitration  agreement  to  read  at  follows: 
Section  8.  This  agreement  shall  bind  only  those  individual  members  of  the 
American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  and  local  associations  of  publishers 
entering  into  the  "contract"  as  herein  set  forth,  and  this  contract  shall  not  apply 
to  disputes  having  their  inception  within  sixty  days  after  such  agreement  shall 
have  been  countersigned  and  guaranteed  by  the  president  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union.  The  inception  of  a  dispute  is  the  date  that  notice  is  given 
of  a  desire  in  any  way  to  change  existing  conditions. 

Second.    Amend  section  15  so  that  the  last  paragraph  but  one  shall  read: 

This  contract  shall  date  from   190 

(This  date  to  be  the  date  of  signature  by  the  president  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  continue  to  the  first  day  of  May,  1907,  unless  amended 
sooner  by  mutual  consent.) 

Omit  date  of  signatures  in  last  paragraph  of  contract. 
Third.    Amend  section  1  by  striking  out  all  subsection  "b." 
In  case  amendment  No.  3  fails  to  meet  the  approval  of  the  American  News- 
paper Publishers'  Association,  the  following  alternative  amendments  are  proposed: 
Fourth.    Amend  subsection  "a"  of  section   1  so  that  the  proviso  shall  read: 
Provided  such  publisher  shall  have  made  an  agreement  with  said  local  union 
to  arbitrate  all  differences  that  may  arise  under  said  verbal  or  written  contract 
or  contracts  between  said  publisher  and  the  local  union,  affecting  union  employes 
in  said  department   or  departments,   if   such   differences  can   not   be   settled   by 
conciliation. 

Fifth.    Amend  subsection  "b"  of  section  1  to  read: 

b.    Such  agreement  with  the  local  union  may  also  provide  that  all  dispute* 
arising  over  scale  provisions  relating  to  wages  and  hours  in  renewing  or  extend- 
ing contracts  shall  likewise  be  subject  to  arbitration  under  the  provisions  of  thi» 
agreement,  if  such  disputes  can  not  be  adjusted  through  conciliation. 
Sixth.    Amend  section  a  to  read: 

Section  a.  The  International  Typographical  Union  further  agrees  to  arbi- 
trate any  and  all  differences  that  may  arise  in  the  mechanical  department,  of 
any  newspaper,  member  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association. 
which  shall  enter  into  an  agreement  with  the  local   unions  to  that   effect;   pro- 

M'lnl,  etc. 

Seventh.  Amend  section  15  so  that  the  first  paragraph  and  the  nrw  para- 
graph of  the  contract  shall  read: 

S..  lion   15.    The   form  of  contract  to  be  entered  into  by  the 
the  local  union  shall  be  as  follows: 

Contract. 

Il   i«   ngree.l  between    

proprietor  of  the »n.t 

of  duly  authoritoU  to  act  In  its  behalf .  parry 

"f  the  first  part,  ami    Unto*,  by 

duly  Authorised  to  act  as  M 

1  !ir   I...I  paragraph  of  contract  in  •ectton   i|  to  read  as  follow*  - 

lii    uitnrx*    wlinc.l.    ilir    undersigned    publisher  <•)    or   pTOpTsHf  (»)   of   aaji 

741 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 


newspaper  and representing 

Union,  have  hereunto  affixed  their  respective  signatures  in  triplicate  this 
day  of  190. . . . 


Publisher(s)  or  Proprietor(s). 


On  behalf  of  Union  No 

This  contract  is  entered  into  by  and  with  the  consent  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  and  the  International  Typographical  Union,  through  its 
authorized  representative,  hereby  agrees  to  protect  the  party  of  the  first  part  in 
case  of  violation  of  the  agreement  by  the  said  party  of  the  second  part  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  said  International  Union. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this 

day  of   


'  President  International  Typographical  Union. 

In  accordance  with  the  action  of  the  Cincinnati  convention, 
the  following  apprenticeship  plan  was  also  submitted  to  the 
American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association: 

To  maintain  the  standard  of  our  craft,  to  give  apprentices  an  opportunity  to 
become  competent  workmen  within  the  term  of  their  apprenticeship,  and  to 
give  a  guarantee  to  employers  that  some  return  will  be  made  them  for  an  effort 
to  turn  out  skilled  workmen,  apprentices  must  be  allowed  to  assist  journeymen 
on  all  classes  of  work  practicable,  under  the  instructions  of  the  journeymen  or 
foreman,  but  they  shall  not  be  allowed  to  operate  typesetting  machines  until 
the  last  three  months  of  their  apprenticeship  and  after  they  have  become  pro- 
ficient in  the  other  branches  of  the  trade.  Apprentices  shall  not  be  confined 
exclusively  to  proving  galleys,  distribution,  or  any  other  work  requiring  com- 
paratively little  skill  for  an  undue  length  of  time.  The  term  of  apprenticeship 
shall  not  be  less  than   four  years. 

Subordinate  unions  shall  make  regulations  limiting  the  number  of  appren- 
tices that  may  be  employed  in  an  office  to  one  apprentice  for  such  number  of 
journeymen  as  shall  be  just  to  the  journeymen  and  enable  the  apprentice  to 
receive  proper  instruction. 

Apprentices,  upon  entering  offices  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  shall  be  registered  by  local  unions.  A  record  shall 
be  kept  of  such  apprentices  and  a  certificate  issued  to  each,  which  certificate 
shall  be  presented  to  the  union  where  application  is  made  for  membership  as  a 
journeymen,  said  certificate  to  be  as  follows: 

Certificate     of     Apprenticeship 
(International  Typographical  Union) 

This  is  to  certify  that   has  on  this   date 

entered  the  employ  of   as  an  apprentice. 


Chairman  of  Office. 
Secretary  Typographical  Union  No 


(Date.) 

Rigid  examination  as  to  the  competency  of  applicants  for  membership  shall 
be  made  by  a  committee  of  the  local  union. 

On  Monday  and  Tuesday,  July  27  and  28,  1903,  the  officers 
742 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

of  the  International  Typographical  Union  met  the  representa- 
tives of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  in 
Chicago,  and  at  this  meeting  our  propositions  were  considered. 
The  newspaper  representatives  agreed  to  the  apprentice  plan, 
but  declined  to  accept  the  vital  propositions  affecting  the  arbi- 
tration agreement.  This  decision  has  been  withheld  temporarily 
in  order  to  give  this  convention  opportunity  to  consider  further 
amendments  or  suggestions.  If  these  are  made  by  the  conven- 
tion they  will  be  taken  up  and  considered  by  the  special 
standing  committee  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association.  The  correspondence  in  connection  with  the  Chi- 
cago meeting  is  embraced  in  an  executive  council  document,  and 
will  be  placed  before  the  convention  or  the  proper  committee, 
if  desired,  as  will  also  the  documents  relative  to  the  events  in 
Spokane  and  Seattle. 

During  the  consideration  of  the  committee's  report, 
President  Lynch  replied  at  length  to  the  charges  made  by 
Commissioner  Driscoll  in  his  address.  He  gave  a  detailed 
statement  of  the  Spokane,  Seattle  and  Minneapolis  cases, 
pointing  out  that  the  interested  publishers  and  not  the 
International  officers  had  been  guilty  of  a  breach  of  the 
arbitration  agreement.  The  president  insisted  the  Inter- 
national officers  favored  arbitration  and  that  the  publish- 
ers had  not  shown  a  disposition  to  be  fair.  The  opinion 
was  expressed  that  when  the  publishers  understood 
that  the  International  Union  would  not  be  imposed  upon 
they  would  manifest  a  spirit  of  fairness  and  that  the  dif- 
ferences would  be  adjusted. 

The  report  of  the  committee  with  its  recommendation 
was  unanimously  adopted  by  a  rising  vote. 

The  convention  then  approved  of  the  changes  suggested 
by  the  executive  council  in  the  arbitration  agreement 

During  October  following  the  Washington  1  ..mention, 
representative!  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association  and  the  International  Typographical  Union 
met  in  New  York  for  the  consideration  of  the  national 

743 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

arbitration  agreement  between  the  organizations  and  for 
the  purpose  of  preparing  a  code  of  procedure  to  govern 
future  arbitration  proceedings.  After  a  full  discussion  of 
all  the  points  involved,  specifications  and  interpretations 
were  prepared  and  a  code  of  procedure  adopted.  The 
conclusions  were  reached  unanimously  and  it  was  the 
opinion  of  the  conferees  that  the  action  taken  would  result 
in  a  more  harmonious  relationship  and  a  better  under- 
standing of  the  rights  of  both  parties.  After  this  business 
had  been  disposed  of,  it  was  unanimously  decided  that  the 
disputes  in  Spokane  and  Seattle  should  be  considered  at  a 
later  conference  to  be  held  at  Indianapolis.  The  points  to 
be  considered  in  the  cases  were  determined,  with  the 
understanding  that  a  decision  would  be  reached  by  the 
joint  committee  consisting  of  three  members  of  the  execu- 
tive council  of  the  International  Union  and  three  members 
of  the  special  standing  committee  of  the  American  News- 
paper Publishers'  Association  and  without  the  aid  of  an 
umpire  or  seventh  member.  At  the  subsequent  meeting, 
both  the  Seattle  and  Spokane  cases  were  settled  by  the 
board  on  a  basis  quite  satisfactory  to  both  parties. 

Code  of  Procedure  —  Following  are  the  specifications, 
interpretations  and  code  of  procedure  decided  upon  by  the 
joint  committee  at  the  New  York  meeting: 

Defining  Matters  Subject  to  Arbitration  —  1.  In  determining  and  inter- 
preting the  provisions  of  subsection  b,  in  section  1  of  the  arbitration  agreement 
between  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  and  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  it  is  understood  that  hereafter  only  disputes  arising  over 
scale  provisions  relating  to  wages  and  hours  shall  be  subject  to  arbitration. 

2.  In  determining  and  interpreting  the  provisions  of  section  2  of  the 
arbitration  agreement  between  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association 
and  the  International  Typographical  Union,  it  is  understood  that  hereafter  all 
matters  affecting  wages  and  hours  shall  be  subject  to  arbitration:  Provided,  that 
local  union  laws  not  affecting  wages  and  hours,  and  the  laws  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  shall  not  be  subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  arbi- 
tration agreement:  Provided  further,  that  International  and  local  laws  enacted 
subsequent  to  the  execution  of  an  arbitration  or  a  local  contract  shall  not 
affect  either  contract  during  its  life. 

3.  Whenever  the  members  of  the  national  board  of  arbitration  shall  dis- 
agree as  to  the  interpretation  of  any  part  of  the  'national  arbitration  agreement, 

744 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 


or  as  to  this  code  of  procedure,  such  disagreement  shall  then  be  referred  for 
settlement  to  a  joint  conference  consisting  of  the  three  members  of  the  executive 
council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  three  members  of  the 
special  standing  committee  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association. 
If  this  joint  body  can  not  agree,  it  shall  select  a  seventh  member,  or  if  it  can 
not  agree  on  one,  then  the  selection  of  the  seventh  member  shall  be  referred 
to  the  National  Civic  Federation.  The  decision  of  the  arbitrator  in  either  case 
shall  be  final  and  binding  upon  the  joint  conference  and  on  the  members  of  the 
national  board  of  arbitration. 

4.  A  form  of  certificate  shall  be  prepared,  and  this  certificate  shall  contain 
a  statement  that  the  office  of  the  publisher  desiring  an  arbitration  contract  is 
union  in  the  department  or  departments  to  be  covered  by  the  contract;  that 
there  is  at  the  time  of  execution  of  the  certificate  no  issue  pending  between  the 
publisher  and  the  local  union,  nor  a  new  scale  or  change  of  scale  of  prices 
under  consideration  by  either  party;  and  that  therefore  the  full  execution  of 
the  arbitration  agreement  is  satisfactory  to  both  parties.  This  certificate  shall 
be  signed  by  the  president  and  secretary  of  the  local  union,  with  seal  attached, 
and  by  the  interested  publisher,  and  forwarded  by  the  latter,  with  his  executed 
arbitration  contract,  to  the  commissioner  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association,  and  by  the  latter  to  the  president  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union.  If  there  is  an  issue  pending,  it  shall  be  defined  in  the  certificate 
and  be  considered  exempt  from  arbitration,  but  as  to  all  other  matters  the 
national  arbitration  agreement  shall  apply  in  the  usual  manner.  No  new  issues 
shall  be  raised  by  either  party  until  at  least  sixty  days  shall  have  elapsed  from 
the  date  of  signing  the  above  certificate. 

5.  An  issue  is  raised  at  the  time  a  written  request  for  a  change  of  condi. 
tions  is  made  by  either  party. 

Local  Arbitration  —  6.  Within  thirty  (30)  days  after  a  union  has  made  a 
demand  for  a  change  of  scale,  or  within  sixty  (60)  days  after  a  publisher  has 
made  such  a  demand,  the  two  parties  in  interest  must  have  a  conference.  A 
shorter  period  than  above  specified  may  be  agreed  to.  At  said  conference  the 
party  on  whom  the  original  demand  was  made  shall  also  have  the  right  to  present 
a  proposition.  This  conference  shall  be  one  of  conciliation,  and  every  effort 
shall  be  made  to  agree  upon  the  points  of  difference.  The  points  upon  which  no 
agreement  is  reached  shall  be  certified  by  both  parties  as  questions  in  dispute 
to  the  national  board  of  arbitration,  which  board  shall  determine  the  questions 
or  subjects  which  can  be  properly  submitted  to  arbitration.  In  case  the  two 
members  of  the  national  board  can  not  agree,  their  differences  shall  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  joint  conference  for  decision,  and  further  procedure  shall  then 
be  in  accordance  with   the  provisions  of  section   3  of  this  code. 

7.  After  the  questions  to  be  arbitrated  have  been  finally  determined,  and  local 
arbitration  has  been  agreed  upon,  and  the  local  board  selected,  the  said  board 
shall  proceed  forthwith  to  conduct  the  hearing  under  the  following  rules: 

8.  The  party  making  the  original  demand  shall  have  the  tight  to  present 
its  case  and  evidence  without  interruption,  excepting  that  when  oral  evidence 
is  intt'xliK  t  d,  irons-examination  of  witnesses  shall  lie  allowed.  The*  opposing 
party  shall  have  the  same  right  in  turn.  The  first  party  shall  then  have  the  right 
to  present  evidence  strictly  in  rebuttal,  and  the  opposing  party  shall  be 
to  present  counter  evidence   strictly   in    «ur  rcl.uttal. 

9.  In  case  of  the  inability  of  either  tide  to  present  evidence  at  the 
the  oid<  1  may  be  varied  to  the  extent  of  allowing-  .u.  h  evidence  to  be  prwfWd 
•t.such  session  as  may  be  agreed  upon  by  the  parties  to  the  contest  or  M  May 
be  ordered  by  a  majority  of  the  local  board  of  arbitration.  No  widwee  •ball  be 
received  or  considered  that  was  not  presented  at  •  regular  open  union  of  list 
board. 


74$ 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

io.  Oral  argument  shall  be  limited  to  one  speech  on  each  side,  after  all 
evidence  has  been  presented.  Written  pleadings  instead  of  oral  arguments  shall 
be  allowed  whenever  agreed  upon  by  the  parties  to  the  contest  or  whenever 
ordered  by  a  majority  of  the  local  board  of  arbitration. 

ii.  There  shall  be  an  agreement  by  at  least  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the 
board  as  to  the  exact  times  and  places  6i  hearing,  of  which  both  parties  shall 
be  notified  in  season.  The  sessions  shall  be  continuous,  except  for  necessary 
intermissions,  until  the  hearing  is  concluded. 

12.  The  chairman  of  the  board,  or  umpire,  shall  not  privately  confer,  directly 
or  indirectly,  on  the  matter  at  arbitration  with  either  or  any  of  the  parties  at 
interest,  from  the  time  of  his  appointment  until  the  formulated  award  has  been 
duly  signed  by  the  board  or  a  majority  thereof.  It  shall  be  allowable  for  all 
the  members  of  the  board  in  any  case  to  visit  together  any  office  to  see  the 
operation  of  labor  therein  or  for  any  other  laudable  purpose  to  aid  in  arriving 
at  a  just  decision  providing  such  action  is  agreed  to  by  all  members  of  the 
board.  Any  violation  of  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  invalidate  the 
decision  and  proceedings  shall  begin  anew. 

13.  When  said  hearing  is  concluded,  the  board  shall,  without  unnecessary 
delay,  go  into  executive  session,  from  which  all  persons  except  the  members  of 
the  board  shall  be  excluded,  for  the  determination  of  its  award.  The  award 
of  the  board  must  be  formulated  and  signed  by  at  least  two  members  thereof, 
at  a  regular  executive  session,  after  there  has  been  full  opportunity  for  con- 
sideration and  discussion,  due  notice  in  writing  of  such  session  having  previously 
been  given  to  each  member.  Any  violation  of  the  foregoing  provisions  shall 
invalidate  the  award  and  proceedings  shall  begin  anew.  If  any  member  of  the 
board  dissents  from  the  award,  and  wishes  to  file  a  dissenting  opinion,  he  shall 
give  immediate  notice  to  that  effect,  and  shall,  within  forty-eight  hours  after 
the  award  has  been  decided  upon,  and  before  it  has  been  promulgated,  formulate 
his  reasons  for  dissenting,  and  such  opinion  must  be  signed  by  him  before  final 
adjournment  at  a  regular  executive  session,  of  which  due  notice  in  Avriting  shall 
have  previously  been  given  to  each  member.  Such  dissenting  opinion,  when  thus 
signed,  must  be  attached  to  the  award. 

14.  The  board  shall  not  be  compelled  to  set  forth  its  reasons  for  making 
the  award,  and  may  only  do  so  in  the  written  award.  In  framing  its  award 
the  findings  shall  be  expressed  in  detail,  to  the  end  that  no  misunderstanding 
shall  afterward  occur. 

15.  All  expenses  of  the  local  arbitration  board  shall  be  divided  equally 
between  the  union  and  the  publishers.  On  the  demand  of  either  party  the  board 
shall  employ  a  competent  stenographer  to  report  the  proceedings,  and  the  tran- 
script of  such  report  shall  be  accepted  as  the  best  evidence  of  what  occurred 
at  such  hearing,  unless  it  can  be  shown  that  gross  errors  exist  in  the  said 
transcript. 

The  National  Board —  16.  So  far  as  they  are  applicable,  the  foregoing  rules 
of  procedure  for  the  local  arbitration  board  shall  govern  the  national  board  of 
arbitration,  in  addition  to  the  rules  comprised  in  section  14  of  the  national 
agreement.  In  case  of  any  conflict  between  the  two  sets  of  rules,  the  provisions 
of  said  section  14  of  the  national  agreement  shall  prevail. 

17.  Should  it  be  alleged  against  either  party  to  a  local  arbitration  under  the 
national  agreement,  that  it  has  omitted  to  perform  any  duty  prescribed  therein, 
or  attempted  to  evade  any  of  these  rules,  or  has  secured  any  unfair  or  fraudu- 
lent advantage,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  national  board  of  arbitration  to  pro- 
ceed without  delay  to  the  locality  affected,  and  consider  the  case  in  conformity 
with  the  rules  provided  by  this  code  and  the  national  agreement.  Should  a 
majority  of  the  board  determine,  after  a  fair  and  impartial  hearing,  that  evasion, 
neglect,  collusion  or  fraud  has  characterized  the  previous  proceedings,  it  shall 
be  wholly  within  its  power  to  commence  anew  in  any  case,  and  reject  all  that 


746 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

has  been  previously  done;  or  it  may  find  against  the  offending  party,  or  annul 
the  arbitration  contract. 

18.  In  the  absence  of  a  local  agreement  to  the  contrary,  all  awards  of  the 
national  board  shall  be  for  at  least  one  year. 

19.  These  rules  and  this  code  may  be  amended  at  any  time  by  the  joint  action 
of  the  special  standing  committee  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Asso- 
ciation and  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

20.  These  stipulations  and  the  code  of  procedure  as  hereinbefore  set  forth, 
are  hereby  ratified  and  confirmed  this  the  eighth  day  of  October,  1003,  by  the 
special  standing  committee  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association 
and  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  it  is 
agreed  that  hereafter  the  national  arbitration  agreement  shall  be  interpreted 
in  accordance  herewith. 

[A  comparison  of  the  code  and  rules  with  the  report  of  President  Lynch, 
covering  the  Seattle  and  Spokane  cases,  will  show  that  every  contention  be 
made  was  recognized,  and  the  code  and  rules  designed  to  prevent  their  re- 
currence.— Ed.] 

ALLIED      TRADES      AGREEMENT      RATIFIED 

A  meeting  of  representatives  of  the  parties  to  the  agree- 
ment between  the  international  unions  of  the  printing 
trades  was  held  at  International  headquarters  at  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.,  on  January  29th,  1904.  A  temporary 
organization  was  effected  and  the  agreement  previously 
adopted  by  the  organizations  interested  was  ratified  as  a 
whole  and  declared  effective  on  and  after  the  above  date. 

Pursuant  to  section  I  of  the  agreement,  the  following 
were  designated  as  representatives  of  their  respective 
organizations  on  the  joint  board  of  appeals  :  International 
Typographical  Union,  James  M.  Lynch,  J.  W.  Bramwood, 
Hugo  Miller;  International  Printing  Pressmen  and 
Assistants'  Union,  Theodore  F.  Galoskowsky ;  Interna- 
tional Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders,  Fdward  W.  Tatcm; 
International  Stercotypers  and  Elect rotypers'  Union, 
James  J.  Freel.  The  joint  board  of  appeals  was  perma- 
nently organized  by  the  election  of  Theodore  F.  Galo- 
ikowsky  as  president;  James  J.  Freel.  vice-president,  and 
I    W.  Bramwood,  secretary-treasurer. 

It  was  decided  that  upon  application  the  photo  engrav- 
ers' unions,  when  amalgamated,  should  become  a  party  to 
the  agreement,  after  being  granted  a  charter  by  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor.   Provision  wan  made  for 

747 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

• 
the  creation  and  maintenance  of  a  fund  of  $200  to  meet 

the  incidental  expenses  of  the  board.  A  resolution  was 
adopted  making  the  rules  governing  the  joint  board  of 
appeals  a  part  of  the  agreement.  These  rules  provided 
that  the  representatives  should  vote  for  and  bind  their 
unions;  specified  the  manner  of  making  appeals  to  the 
joint  board  by  local  councils;  provided  for  arbitration  in 
event  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  verdict  of  the  joint  board ; 
for  naming  the  date  and  place  of  the  annual  meeting,  at 
which  time  the  officers  were  to  be  elected,  and  for  the 
filling  of  vacancies  occurring  between  the  annual  meet- 
ings; gave  members  of  the  board  the  privilege  of  dele- 
gating power  to  proxies;  declared  that  labels  should  be 
procured  from  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  that  any  infraction  of  the 
last-named  rule  should  be  cause  for  dissolution  of  the 
offending  council. 

LOS     ANGELES     TIMES 

In  his  annual  report  to  the  convention  President  Lynch 
referred  to  the  Los  Angeles  Times  affair.  He  said  that 
through  the  columns  of  the  Typographical  Journal  the 
membership  had  been  made  aware,  step  by  step,  of  the 
progress  made  in  the  contest.  Referring  to  the  proposi- 
tions submitted  by  the  Cincinnati  convention  to  levy  an 
assessment  of  5  cents  per  member  per  month  for  a  period 
of  one  year  for  the  benefit  of  Los  Angeles  Union,  the 
president  said  this  was  a  magnificent  endorsement  of  the 
contest  which  the  International  Typographical  Union  in 
conjunction  with  No.  174  was  making  against  the  Times 
and  that  it  was  a  most  emphatic  answer  to  the  editorials 
printed  in  the  Times  vilifying  and  traducing  trade  unions 
and  their  officials  and  the  efforts  made  by  the  Times 
literary  bureau  to  prejudice  the  membership  against  the 
assessment  proposition.    As  a  matter  of  fact  the  union  in 

748 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

self-defense  was  compelled  to  take  up  the  gauntlet  that 
the  Los  Angeles  Times  threw  down. 

A  special  committee  appointed  to  investigate  the 
progress  of  the  Times  contest  reported  having  carefully 
scrutinized  the  work  from  the  documents  available  and 
from  the  information  furnished  by  Mr.  Arthur  A.  Hay, 
the  special  representative  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  in  Los  Angeles,  and  Mr.  T.  D.  Fennessy, 
delegate  from  Los  Angeles  Typographical  Union,  and 
reported  that  every  possible  effort  had  been  made  to  re- 
cord another  victory  for  the  organization. 

Mr.  Hay  was  introduced  to  the  convention  and  fully 
explained  the  progress  of  the  contest,  showing  what  had 
been  accomplished  in  a  few  months,  and  urged  favorable 
action  by  the  convention  on  the  proposition  to  continue 
the  assessment.  Mr.  Fennessy  supplemented  the  remarks 
of  Mr.  Hay  in  a  most  convincing  manner  and  assured  the 
delegates  that  his  union  was  grateful  for  the  support 
given  it. 

In  making  his  verbal  report  Mr.  Hay  announced  that 
"Tip"  Hoy,  of  Washington,  D.  G,  had  contributed  $25 
to  the  Times  fund  and  had  promised  to  make  it  $100. 

[Mr.  Hoy  for  many  years  was  the  proprietor  of  a  well-known  printer  hos- 
telry in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  his  name  and  fame  as  a  friend  of  anion 
printers  is  still   remembered  throughout  the  entire   jurisdiction. — Ed.] 

The  convention  endorsed  the  work  of  the  International 
representative  at  Los  Angeles  and  the  manner  in  which 
the  contest  had  been  carried  on  and  it  was  ordered  that 
tlu  work  undertaken  be  continued  and  that  ample  fund*, 
be  provided. 

1  11  r     BIGHT-HOUI     DAY 

The  committee  on  the  eight-hour  day  presented  a  report 
congratulating  the  president  and  the  executive  council  on  * 
tlu   large  number  of  unions  that  had  secured  or  partially 

■eCuml  tlu-  eight-hour  day  tlu-  preceding  year  and  it  was 

749 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

urged  upon  all  local  unions  and  eight-hour  committees  to 
put  forth  the  greatest  efforts  during  the  coming  year.  It 
was  announced  that  a  large  number  of  local' unions  had 
failed  to  report  their  status  on  the  eight-hour  question  on 
the  blanks  that  had  been  furnished  them  requesting  such 
information  and  the  committee  urged  all  unions  to  take 
a  more  active  interest  and  lend  greater  support  to  the 
executive  officers.  It  was  recommended  and  urged  upon 
delegates  at  the  convention  to  incorporate  in  their  reports 
a  statement  of  the  progress  the  eight-hour  day  had  made 
during  the  preceding  year  and  to  use  their  best  endeavors 
to  have  their  local  union  inaugurate  the  movement  without 
delay  in  such  places  as  the  matter  had  not  been  taken  up. 

HATS      OFF     TO     THE      PRINTERS 

During  the  convention  week  the  Washington  Post, 
under  date  of  August  10,  published  an  editorial  with  the 
above  caption.  By  order  of  the  convention,  the  editorial 
was  read  to  the  delegates  by  the  secretary  and  ordered  to 
be  printed  in  the  Typographical  Journal.    It  follows  : 

Here  is  where  we  all  take  off  our  hats.  We  are  accustomed  to  the  great 
officials,  the  accidents  of  fortune,  the  wealthy,  the  aristocratic,  and  all  the  rest 
of  it,  and  we  easily  know  each  one  of  them  for  what  he  really  is.  But  when 
the  typos  come  to  town  and  gather  together  in  convention  we  realize  that  we 
are  in  the  presence  of  the  most  potent  force  of  civilization — of  the  chosen  rep- 
resentatives of  the  craft  which  for  centuries  has  led  all  others  in  the  dissemina- 
tion of  knowledge  and  the  exaltation  of  mankind. 

Without  them  the  teachers  of  the  ages  would  have  taught  in  vain;  the 
dreams  of  philosophers  would  have  vanished  with  the  tapers  that  burned  for 
their  meditations;  Luther,  Shakespeare,  Goethe,  Wesley,  Swedenborg,  Newton, 
Jenner,  Stephenson,  Rousseau  would  be  unknown  beyond  a  narrow  and  jealous 
circle;  the  Dark  Ages  would  still  brood  over  the  human  race,  and  ignorance 
and  fear  and  superstition  hold  us  in  degrading  bondage.  They  have  been  the 
pioneers  of  the  army  of  human  progress  and  emancipation.  Through  them 
the  thoughts,  the  precepts,  the  inspirations  of  the  captains  have  reached  the  rank 
and  file.  Their  hands  have  held  the  torches  of  illumination  in  whose  radiance 
the  mind  of  man  has  quickened  from  its  swoon.  They  are  the  agency  of  the 
moral  and  intellectual  growth  which  has  lifted  the  world  out  of  savagery 
and  given  it  to  reason  and  to  truth. 

Printing  is  the  science  of  all  sciences,  the  art  of  all  arts,  for  it  has  opened 
the  fair  land  of  opportunity  to  the  untold  millions  and  destroyed  the  cruel 
monopoly  of  the  few.  Since  its  discovery  and  practical  application  mankind 
has  experienced   more   blessings,   greater  enlightenment,   larger   happiness,   truer 

750 


Convention  at  Washington,  1903 

liberty  than  had  come  to  it  with  the  blind  gropings  and  the  voiceless  aspiration* 
of  the  countless  centuries  preceding.  To  that  art,  science,  craft— call  it  what 
you  will — the  race  owes  its  rescue  from  the  blight  of  barbarism.  For  those  who 
have  practiced  it  from  the  beginning  to  the  present  day  no  monument  of  human 
gratitude  would  be  high  enough. 

The  average  individual  seldom  considers  this  aspect  of  the  case.  He  is 
so  used  to  the  fruits  of  the  beneficent  civilization  made  possible  by  the  printer's 
art  that  he  has  come  to  take  it  all  for  granted.  But  the  rulers,  the  writers, 
the  public  men  of  our  day  are  conscious  of  a  keener  obligation,  a  far  closer 
intimacy.  It  is  not  only  that  the  types  enable  them  to  communicate  their 
thoughts  to  others  and  to  impress  themselves  upon  the  age;  it  is  that  the  typo 
is  their  guide,  philosopher,  and  friend  besides.  Speaking  for  those  who  write 
for  publication,  we  make  grateful  acknowledgment  of  that  debt.  Since  the  first 
type  was  set,  those  centuries  ago,  the  printer  has  known  the  maker  of  the  manu- 
script as  no  one — not  even  the  wife  of  his  bosom — knew  him;  known  his  faults, 
his  virtues,  his  weakness,  and  his  strength;  penetrated  bis  secret  purpose, 
unveiled  his  hypocrisies,  perceived  his  errors,  shams  and  subterfuges.  To  delude 
the  reading  public  is  not  impossible.  To  delude  the  typo  is  beyond  hope  of 
the  most  subtle  humbug.  The  man  at  the  case  feels,  as  none  other  can,  the 
beat  of  the  loyal,  kindly  heart.  He  detects,  with  equal  certainty,  the  fal-r 
ring  of  the  counterfeit.  To  know  what  the  printers  of  that  day  thought  of  Dean 
Swift's  alternations  of  mawkish  sentiment  and  passionate  ferocity;  of  Doctor 
Johnson's  solemn  reverberations;  of  Congreve's  sprightly  wit,  and  Charles 
Lamb's  buoyant  persiflage — to  know  this  would  be  to  know  far  more  than  any 
human  being  knows  and  to  be  wiser  than  any  one  alive. 

But  here  are  the  typos  of  our  generation,  assembled  now  in  Washington, 
and  to  them,  as  the  finished  representatives  of  the  printing  art  in  its  last  and 
best  development,  we  wish  to  pay  the  tribute  of  our  sincere  appreciation  and 
respect.  To  tell  the  story  of  what  this  writer  or  that,  or  of  what  this  public 
man  or  that,  owes  to  their  patience,  their  understanding,  their  sympathy,  and 
their  enlightened  appraisement  would  be  to  exhaust  the  space  this  morning  at 
our  disposal,  and  then  be  at  the  threshold  of  the  undertaking.  Enough  to  say. 
All  hail,  and  thanks! 

Officers,  ipo^ipo^  —  At  the  biennial  election  held  in 
May,  1904,  the  following  officers  were  selected  for  tin- 
two-year  period,  beginning  November  I,  1904:  Presi- 
dent, James  M.  Lynch,  Syracuse;  first  vice-president, 
John  W.  Hays,  Minneapolis;  second  vice-president.  Hugo 
Miller,  Indianapolis;  third  vice-president,  James  J.  Mul- 
c.thy,  St.  Louis;  fourth  vice-president,  E.  J.  Bracken, 
Columbus,  Ohio;  fifth  vice-president,  P,  <i  Nm-rnbcrger, 
Chicago;  secretary-treasurer,  J.  W.  B  ram  wood,  Denver. 
Delegates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor — James  M. 
Lynch  (president),  Syracuse;  Max  S.  Hayes,  Cleveland; 
Frank  Morrison,  Chicago;  Frank  Foster.  Boston  J  Victor 
L.  Bcrgcr,  Milwaukee.  Trustees  Union  Printers  Home — 

751 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

James  M.  Lynch,  Syracuse;  J.  W.  Bramwood,  Denver; 
Thomas  McCaffery,  Colorado  Springs ;  Thomas  F.  Crow- 
ley, Cincinnati ;  W.  J.  White,  San  Francisco ;  L.  C. 
Shepard,  Chicago;  H.  H.  Rogers,  Chicago.  Agent — 
William  Kennedy,  Chicago. 

Convention    at    St.    Louis 

[1904]  —  The  fiftieth  session  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  was  called  to  order  by  Chairman  M.  R. 
H.  Witter  of  the  arrangements  committee  of  St.  Louis 
Union  No.  8,  in  Convention  Hall,  World's  Fair  Grounds, 
on  Monday,  August  8,  1904.  Rev.  Dean  Carroll  M.  Davis 
invoked  the  divine  blessing  on  the  proceedings  of  the 
convention  and  President  Joseph  A.  Jackson,  of  St.  Louis 
Union,  together  with  Chairman  Witter,  welcomed  the 
delegates  and  visitors  to  the  World's  Fair  city.  Mr. 
Witter  presented  the  International  president  with  a  hand- 
some union-made  gavel  on  behalf  of  the  local  body. 
President  Lynch  returned  thanks  briefly,  and  declared 
the  convention  open  for  business. 

Secretary  Bramwood  reported  that  the  credentials  of 
264  delegates,  representing  211  unions,  were  regular  and 
that  those  presented  by  four  others  were  defective  in  that 
the  unions  had  not  held  their  elections  according  to  law. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  pass  a  motion  allowing  the  privi- 
leges of  the  floor  to  ex-delegates,  but  this  was  ruled  out  of 
order  by  the  president. 

A  resolution  of  greeting  to  the  International  Stereoty- 
pers  and  Electrotypers'  Union,  then  in  session  in  St. 
Louis,  and  extending  to  that  body  an  invitation  to  attend 
the  sessions  of  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
was  adopted. 

E.  E.  Gessler,  delegate  from  Manila,  P.  I.,  presented 
President  Lynch  with  a  handsome  gavel  and  sounding 

752 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

board  made  from  a  rare  quality  of  hardwood  found  only 
in  the  Philippine  Islands. 

KKVIEW      OF      OFFICERS'      REPORTS 

• 

In  volume  and  in  number  of  subjects  treated  the  officers' 
reports  submitted  to  the  St.  Louis  convention  were  more 
comprehensive  and  contained  more  information  relative 
to  the  interests  of  the  membership  than  any  documents  of 
like  nature  ever  offered  at  a  previous  convention.  Presi- 
dent Lynch  touched  upon  the  industrial  disturbances  that 
had  occurred  during  the  year,  declaring  them  to  be  of  an 
even  more  turbulent  nature  than  the  year  preceding,  and 
said  that  the  opposition  to  union  labor  by  employers' 
associations  had  been  still  more  pronounced.  This  state- 
ment was  made  in  order  that  the  membership  might  be 
reminded  of  the  dangers  existing  to  the  end  that  the 
policy  and  methods  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  should  be  dictated  by  wisdom,  prudence  and  fore- 
thought.   Continuing  on  this  subject  the  president  said  : 

We  should  be  careful  not  to  expose  ourselves  to  attack,  and 
every  movement  that  we  design  for  the  betterment  of  the  condi- 
tions that  surround  us  should  be  capable  of  justification  to  the 
world.  At  the  same  time  there  can  be  no  relaxation  in  the  for- 
ward movement.  We  must  continue  to  organize,  continue  to  up- 
lift, continue  the  agitation  for  reasonable  hours  and  fair  wages, 
and  persevere  in  the  task  of  making  our  great  union  the  ideal 
workingmen's  organization.  Not  forgetting  the  rights  of  others 
and  our  obligations  to  society,  at  the  same  time  let  us  ever  bear 
in  mind  our  rights  and  the  obligation!  we  owe  to  those  depend 
ent  on  us.  Mindful  of  our  present  Interests,  there  should  not 
In-  forgetfulnesi  <>f  the  future  generations,  md  we  should  so 
build  that  the  stru<  turc  we  ST*  rearing  may  he  both  of  present 

■ervicc  and  enduring  character. 

Sirikti  Following  this  the  International  executive 
referred  t<>  the  three  notable  strikes  of  the  year:    "Their 

losi  is  to  be  regretted,  but  they  teach  valuable  lessons, 

753 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

which  should  be  studied  and  remembered."  The  strike  of 
the  typefounders  was  almost  unavoidable  and  its  loss  was 
due  mainly  to  treachery  by  members.  The  president 
referred  to  the  strikes  in  Boston  and  Louisville  and 
asserted  that  they  were  in  defiance  of  International  law 
and  the  advice  of  the  International  officers  and  that  their 
failure  had  done  much  harm  to  the  local  and  International 
organizations.  The  lack  of  funds  had  not  caused  their 
loss.  Had  the  prospects  for  success  warranted  the  expen- 
diture, funds  would  have  been  provided  by  the  executive 
council.  The  local  officers  in  each  case  acknowledged 
defeat.    In  this  connection,  President  Lynch  said : 

If  the  law  is  not  strong  enough  and  explicit  enough  to  pre- 
vent unauthorized  strikes,  then  change  should  be  made,  and 
injunction  should  be  laid  on  the  International  officers,  wherever 
a  strike  occurs  without  sanction  from  the  council,  to  immediately 
disavow  the  act  of  the  local  union  and  to  guarantee  protection 
to  such  members  as  remain  at  or  return  to  work.  In  both  Boston 
and  Louisville,  after  the  unauthorized  strikes  had  taken  place, 
the  council  was  practically  powerless.  If  these  strikes  had  been 
terminated  by  the  council,  the  charge  would  have  been  made 
that  but  for  International  interference  victory  was  assured. 
These  affairs  are  more  to  be  deplored  when  it  is  remembered 
that  the  International  officers  were  and  are  firmly  of  the  opinion 
that  had  the  law  been  observed  and  negotiations  continued,  sat- 
isfactory settlements  would  have  been  forthcoming. 

Turning  to  the  brighter  side,  the  president  referred  to 
the  progress  made  during  the  fiscal  year  and  said  that  the 
victories  of  the  organization  demonstrated  that  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  occupied  a  higher  and 
more  advanced  position  on  May  31,  1904,  than  it  had 
occupied  on  the  same  date  in  1903. 

Eight-Hour  Day  —  Under  the  caption,  "The  Eight- 
Hour  Day,"  President  Lynch  had  this  to  say : 

The  eight-hour  day  subject  will  not  grow  old  until  the 
inauguration  of  the  eight-hour  day  is  itself  an  event  of  the  past, 
rather  than  something  that  must  yet  be  brought   about.     A 

754 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

suggestion  has  been  made  to  the  effect  that  many  of  our  mem- 
bers do  not  thoroughly  appreciate  the  benefits  that  will  be 
derived  by  reason  of  the  reduction  in  hours  contemplated  by 
the  eight-hour  movement.  If  this  is  true — and  it  is  beyond 
belief — then  a  great  object  lesson  has  not  been  taken  advantage 
of,  the  betterment  of  'conditions  because  of  the  enforcement  of 
the  nine-hour  day.  *  *  *  If  our  members  do  not  appre- 
ciate the  benefits  that  will  follow  the  eight-hour  day,  if  they  are 
not  alive  to  their  interests,  if  they  will  not  arise  to  the  duty  of 
the  hour,  then  they  must  assume  the  responsibility  that  attaches 
to  the  crime  of  keeping  the  International  Typographical  Union 
in  the  rear  of  the  great  progress  that  is  being  made  by  the 
industrial  army. 

Following  this  came  a  statement  of  the  conference  held 
on  the  subject  of  the  eight-hour  day  with  the  committee 
of  the  United  Typothetae.  The  president  declared  that  the 
answer  received  from  the  typothetae  was  not  unexpected. 
It  was  contained  in  these  resolutions : 

Whereas  the  International  Typographical  Union  has  asked 
the  United  Typothetae  of  America  to  declare  its  position  upon 
the  proposed  eight-hour  day ;  and 

Whereas  under  existing  conditions  any  attempt  to  redact 
the  hours  of  labor  in  the  printing  trade  would  be  disastrous  t<> 
the  employer  and  employe  alike ;  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  declares 
that  it  is  opposed  to  any  reduction  of  the  fifty-four-hour  week ; 
and,  be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  will  resist 
any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Internation.il  Typographical 
Union  to  reduce  the  present  hours  of  labor. 

It  had  been  asserted  by  some  employers  that  the  Inter- 
national  Union  was  bound  by  the  Syracuse  agreement,  hut 
a  reading  of  the  agreement  referred  to,  made  in  iS«>8. 
would  seem  to  demonstrate  conclusively  the  lack  of  basis 
for  the  statement  made  by  the  typothete,  The  agreement 
only  specified  the  days  on  which  the  nine  and  one-half 
and  nine-hour  day  fchould  become  effective 

Boston  and  Louisville  Strikes  —  The  correspondence 

755 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

between  the  officers  of  the  Boston  and  Louisville  unions 
and  executive  officers  of  the  International,  as  well  as  the 
reports  of  the  organizers  sent  to  assist  the  officers  of  the 
last-named  union  in  effecting  a  settlement  of  the  contro- 
versy, was  presented  to  the  delegates  by  the  president. 
The  basis  of  settlement  of  the  Boston  strike,  as  given  in 
the  Journal,  was  quoted,  and  in  reply  to  the  open  shop 
criticism  in  this  regard,  President  Lynch  said : 

The  council  has  been  criticized  for  the  Boston  settlement, 
and  it  is  claimed  that  because  of  that  settlement  open  offices 
were  established  in  Boston.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  open  offices 
have  existed  in  Boston  for  years  and  years.  The  large  number 
of  female  compositors  outside  of  the  union,  and  the  hitherto 
unsolved  problem  of  how  to  induce  them  to  affiliate  with  the 
union  has  made  open  offices  in  Boston  an  insurmountable  ob- 
stacle. The  agreement  presented  by  No.  13  to  the  Boston 
Typothetae,  prior  to  the  strike,  did  not  provide  for  union  offices. 
During  the  strike  a  very  large  number  of  women  remained  at 
work  in  the  offices  affected.  It  is  also  a  fact  that  the  local  com- 
mittee urged  the  council  to  accept  the  proposition  that  was 
finally  agreed  to,  and  that  two  of  the  members  of  this  com- 
mittee, officers  of  the  union,  coupled  with  this  insistence  the 
declaration  that  if  the  council  left  Boston  without  effecting  a 
settlement  disaster  and  ruin  would  follow. 

The  council,  after  its  Boston  investigation,  was  confirmed 
in  its  opinion  that  had  the  advice  given  in  its  telegram  of  Jan- 
uary 30  been  followed,  and  in  the  event  of  non-agreement,  an 
International  officer  given  an  opportunity  to  take  up  the  nego- 
tiations, that  a  strike  would  not  have  resulted.  The  council  is 
also  of  the  opinion  that  had  its  negotiations  taken  place  with  the 
union  members  at  work  in  the  offices,  instead  of  on  strike — the 
condition  that  faced  the  council — a  much  better  settlement 
would  have  been  possible. 

Arbitration  —  Referring  to  the  arbitration  agreement, 
President  Lynch  said  that  following  the  adoption  of  the 
code  of  procedure  the  relations  between  the  International 
Union  and  the  publishers'  association  under  the  agreement 
had  been  most  cordial  and  the  arbitration  cases  had  been 

756 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

conducted  and  completed  harmoniously  and  satisfactorily. 
In  using  the  word  "satisfactorily,"  it  was  not  meant  that 
in  the  few  cases  where  the  verdict  had  not  been  favorable 
to  local  unions,  these  unions  had  been  wholly  contented. 
The  main  point  was,  however,  that  the  arbitration  agree- 
ment had  preserved  peace  and  whether  the  verdict  had 
been  in  favor  of  the  union  or  the  publishers,  work 
continued,  and  strikes,  friction  and  disaster  had  been 
averted.  The  continuance  of  such  relations  with  the 
majority  of  the  great  newspapers  of  the  country  was 
worth  while  and  it  was  pointed  out  that  when  the  cases 
that  had  been  won  were  taken  together  with  those  lost,  1 
and  the  results  averaged  up,  it  would  be  found  that  the 
union  was  steadily  making  progress.  A  list  of  the  cases 
settled  by  the  national  board  of  arbitration  was  given  in 
the  report.  It  showed  substantial  gains  for  the  unions  in 
almost  every  instance. 

Organization  —  On  the  subject  of  "Organization,"  the 
president  said  that  more  attention  had  been  devoted  to 
strengthening  the  unions  already  in  existence  than  in 
forming  new  ones  and  the  effect  of  this  work  was  shown 
by  the  total  gain  in  membership  during  the  year.  The 
greater  portion  of  the  work  done  by  the  organizers  \\ 
in  settling  disputes  between  employers  and  unions  and 
only  on  rare  occasions  had  these  officers  been  sent  out  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  forming  new  unions.  It  had  been  the 
president's  aim  t<>  n  tain  the  experienced  organizers  and 
none  had  been  removed.  It  was  thought  that  the  system 
of  permanent  organizers  had  worked  for  the  benefit  of  the 
International  Union  and  \\\U  statement  was  backed  up  by 
statistics  showing  the  results  of  the  work  done  by  the 
organizers.  Commenting  on  the  open  shop.  President 
I  \  rich  observed  : 

If  the  International    typographical  Union  had  been  witling 
to   recognize  the  open  shop,  a  working  agreement   with  the 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

United  Typothetae  of.  America  would  now  be  in  effect.  Failure 
to  perfect  such  a  contract  was  due  almost  solely  to  the  desire 
of  the  employers'  committee  to  incorporate  the  open  office  pro- 
I  vision  in  the  proposed  agreement.  Our  union  may  properly  be 
1  termed  the  originator  of  the  strictly  union  office.  This  require- 
l  ment  has  been  a  leading  feature  for  all  of  fifty  years.  For  the 
greater  part  of  that  time,  the  union  office  rule  attracted  little 
attention  from  the  public,  but  recent  events  have  given  what  is 
now  termed  "the  closed  shop"  a  prominent  place  in  public  dis- 
cussion. At  the  October  meeting,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Civic  Federation  in  Chicago,  the  "closed  shop"  topic  occupied 
a  conspicuous  place  in  the  deliberations.  The  trade  union  is  a 
labor  trust,  but  it  is  a  combination  for  the  benefit  of  the  many 
J  rather  than  the  few.  Membership  in  our  International  Union 
is  open  to  every  competent  printer  of  good  character.  Possess- 
ing this  membership,  the  "closed  office"  is  no  longer  closed. 
We  never  have  tried  to  create  a  close  corporation.  On  the  con- 
trary, the  effort  has  been  to  seek  out  all  journeymen  printers 
worthy  of  the  title,  and  induce  them  to  affiliate.  Lack  of  oppor- 
tunities to  labor,  or  their  plentitude,  has  made  no  difference. 
One  job  and  fifty  applicants,  all  an  equal  chance,  with  the  only 
requirement  union  membership,  which  in  its  turn  means  that 
there  shall  be  no  cutting  under  the  established  wage,  the  living 
rate,  by  any  applicant  of  the  fifty.  With  such  a  fair  field,  the 
closed  shop  loses  many,  if  not  all,  of  the  terrors  for  the  wage- 
earner  that  its  enemies  seek  to  ascribe  to  it.  There  remains 
the  charge  that  the  unions  compel  the  employer  to  accept,  with 
the  union  office,  rules  that  are  obnoxious.  Perhaps  this  is  true 
so  far  as  some  employers  are  concerned.  But  any  rules,  almost 
any  wage,  are  obnoxious  to  the  individual  whose  one  aim  in  life 
is  profit.  The  workers  have  a  right  to  prescribe  the  conditions 
under  which  they  will  sell  their  labor,  and  where  these  condi- 
tions are  acceptable  to  90  per  cent  of  the  employers  in  a  given 
trade,  they  must  have  good  reason  for  their  existence.  We  have 
had  large  experience  with  the  open  and  closed  office  question, 
and  it  has  demonstrated  beyond  a  doubt  that  the  strict  union 
requirement  is  necessary  if  satisfactory  and  amicable  relations 
are  to  be  maintained,  and  the  union  live.  Let  our  critics  remem- 
ber that  we  aim  to  meet  conditions  as  they  exist,  and  that  our 
union  enactments  are  founded  on  necessity  and  not  on  theory. 

758 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

Considered  as  a  body,  the  only  free  wage-earners  today  are 
those  who  hold  union  membership.  The  rest  have  as  a  class  or 
individually  absolutely  nothing  to  say  in  the  disposition  of  the 
only  commodity  they  have  for  sale — labor.  It  is  well  enough 
for  the  anti-unionist  to  shout  freedom  of  contract.  But  is  there 
any  freedom  of  contract  for  the  individual?  Is  it  not  a  fact 
that  it  is  the  purchaser  who  sets  the  price,  and  that  this  price  is 
arbitrary,  final,  brutal  in  its  conception,  selfish  in  its  applica- 
tion? Work  made  a  prize  for  the  needy,  dangled  before  their 
wants,  in  order  that  traffic  may  be  made  in  misery,  and  a  job 
knocked  down  to  the  lowest  bidder.  Is  it  not  better  that  the 
wage-earner  should  pool  his  labor,  and  then  sell  it  through  the 
collective  method,  rather  than  that  labor  should  be  made  the 
sport  of  the  man  who  can  buy  ?  The  cry  against  the  closed  shop 
is  raised  because  it  involves  a  feature  of  trade-union  policy 
difficult  for  the  inexperienced  to  grasp,  analyze  and  understand. 
Employers  believe  if  the  open  shop  can  be  established  there  will 
be  speedy  end  to  trade  unionism.  Once  open  the  way  for  elim- 
ination of  the  man  with  a  price  on  his  labor,  and  his  place  will 
be  quickly  taken  by  the  man  with  labor  to  sell  at  any  price.  The 
International  Typographical  Union  has  gone  through  it  all.  It 
knows  the  value  of  the  closed  shop.  It  realizes  the  necessity 
for  collective  bargaining.  As  soon  as  the  reasons  underlying 
the  demand  for  the  union  office  are  more  generally  understood, 
the  critics  will  without  doubt  make  their  attacks  in  another 
direction.  Let  the  criticism  come.  It  all  advertises  trade 
unionism.  And  in  the  meantime  we  will  continue  to  organize 
the  printers  and  unionize  offices. 

Label  —  The  president  said  that  nothing  was  of  greater 
service  to  local  unions  than  the  label  and  added :  "It  is  a 
source  of  regret  that  after  all  the  label  propaganda  there 
is  not  a  more  general  demand  for  union-made  com- 
modities." 

Beneficial  Features  —  The  president  again  presented 
that  portion  of  his  report  t«»  tin-  Washington  convention 
concerning  the  value  to  the  organization  of  benefit  fea- 
tures, such  as  out-of-work,  insurance,  etc  .  "in  the  hope 
that   in   the  near   future  the  greater   percentage  of  the 

759 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

membership  might  be  brought  to  a  realization  of  their 
value."  Under  the  heading  "Laws  Should  be  Consistent," 
the  president  said : 

The  Washington  convention  adopted  and  the  referendum 
approved  this  amendment  to  the  constitution,  and  it  now 
appears  in  section  I,  article  ii: 

"But  nothing  shall  be  enacted  relative  to  the  internal  affairs 
of  printing  offices."  There  are  a  number  of  general  laws  enacted 
prior  to  the  approval  by  the  membership  of  the  amendment 
quoted  that  are  inconsistent  with  it.  If  the  declaration  is  to 
remain  our  enactments  should  conform  with  it,  and  with  other 
changes  in  our  laws  that  will  be  suggested  by  the  International 
officers  will  go  to  a  list  of  the  statutes  that  it  is  believed  are 
related  "to  the  internal  affairs  of  printing  offices." 

The  elimination  of  these  laws  will  make  drastic  changes  in 
many  hitherto  accepted  policies.  Inasmuch  as  general  laws  are 
subject  to  final  action  by  the  convention,  this  is  a  feature  of  the 
convention  work  that  will  require  special  consideration  by  the 
delegates. 

The  Union  Printers  Home,  the  Los  Angeles  Times 
fight,  finances,  the  unionizing  of  Philadelphia  were  among 
the  other  subjects  noted  in  succession  in  the  report  of  the 
president,  who  concluded  by  congratulating  the  member- 
ship on  the  reputation,  strength  and  usefulness  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union. 

The  several  vice-presidents  submitted  reports  covering 
activities  in  the  affiliated  trades  during  the  year. 

Typographic*  —  Second  Vice-President  Hugo  Miller,  of 
the  Typographia,  reported  quite  a  successful  year,  not- 
ing increases  in  wages  and  improved  conditions  in  various 
points  in  the  jurisdiction.  The  financial  affairs  of  the 
German  branch  as  usual  were  found  to  be  in  excellent 
shape,  the  general  fund  containing  $22.80  per  capita, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  out-of-work  benefits 
had  been  increased  $1  per  week.  The  Typographia  still 
continued  its  fight  against  the  Philadelphia  Demokrat,  the 

760 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

only  German  printing  office  of  any  consequence  outside 
the  union  fold  at  that  time. 

Mailers  —  Vice-President  Mulcahy,  of  the  mailers' 
branch,  reported  that  his  union  had  gained  recognition  in 
Louisville  and  Indianapolis  during  the  year.  Also  a  new 
union  had  been  organized  in  Des  Moines  and  the  local  at 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  was  reorganized. 

Newszvriters — Fourth  Vice-President  Bracken  re- 
ported a  slight  improvement  in  the  newspaper  writers' 
branch  during  the  year,  and  said: 

The  newspaper  writers  will  be  of  immense  value  to  the  labor 
movement  in  general,  and  the  printing  crafts  in  particular,  when 
by  association  with  the  trained  unionists  of  the  mechanical  part 
of  the  trade  they  acquire  a  correct  knowledge  of  the  aims  and 
objects  of  organized  labor,  and  with  intelligent  sympathy  for 
the  cause  will  write  the  truth,  and  thus  disperse  the  false  con- 
ception in  the  public  mind  that  often  leads  it  to  espouse  the 
cause  of  the  union  oppressor  and  condemn  the  oppressed. 

Typefounders  —  The  fifth  vice-president,  representing 
the  typefounders,  devoted  his  report  entirely  to  detailing 
the  efforts  made  by  the  International  Union  officers  to 
bring  about  an  amicable  settlement  of  the  typefounders' 
strike.  He  acknowledged  valuable  assistance  rendered  by 
the  executive  council  and  the  organizers  and  spoke  of  the 
appreciation  of  the  typefounders  for  the  valuable  aid 
given  by  several  of  the  subordinate  unions  during  the 
struggle. 

Secretary's  Report  —  Secretary-Treasurer  Brain  wood, 
as  had  been  his  custom  before,  presented  a  summary  of 
the  financial  transactions  of  the  International  Union  in 
brief  form,  though  complete  in  detail.  It  showed  that  the 
total  receipts  of  the  executive  council  ami  joint  dtfttM 
fund  for  tin-  year,  including  the  balance  from  the  previous 
twelve  months,  were  $75,921.64,  and  the  expenditure* 
$73,420.26,  leaving  a  balance  to  the  credit  of  the  fund 
of  $2,501.38. 

761 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

The  secretary-treasurer  reported  that  the  membership 
of  the  International  had  increased  more  rapidly  during 
the  fiscal  year  than  in  any  period  in  its  history,  except  the 
fiscal  year  of  1902-1903,  due  mainly  to  more  thorough 
organization  by  the  unions  already  established.  While 
the  withdrawal  of  the  photo  engravers  had  affected  the 
total  membership  in  a  minor  way,  the  greatest  gains  were 
made  after  the  date  of  their  retirement — January  1,  1904. 
The  total  number  of  members  upon  whom  per  capita  tax 
was  paid  during  the  first  seven  months  of  the  year  was 
45,500,  while  during  the  last  five  months  of  the  fiscal  year 
per  capita  tax  payments  had  been  made  upon  47,095 
members,  making  the  average  paying  membership  for  the 
year  46,165.  The  increase  in  membership  from  1891  to 
the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  was  shown  in  tabular  form. 

Sixty  unions,  with  a  total  membership  of  766,  were 
chartered  during  the  year;  forty-one  unions,  with  640 
members,  surrendered  their  charters;  the  charters  of 
twenty-five  unions,  having  a  total  membership  of  298, 
were  suspended  and  one  charter  was  revoked,  but  the 
union  was  at  once  reorganized.  The  total  number  of  local 
unions — 692 — at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  was  seven  less 
than  at  the  same  time  the  previous  year. 

For  the  purpose  of  comparison,  the  secretary-treasurer 
submitted  a  tabulated  summary  of  the  receipts  and  ex- 
penditures of  the  International  Union  from  1891  to  1904, 
as  follows : 

Notwithstanding  that  the  burial  benefit  had  been 
increased  to  $70  at  the  beginning  of  the  year,  the  receipts 
of  the  burial  fund  exceeded  the  expenditures.  The  secre- 
tary presented  a  table  showing  the  total  number  (5,549) 
and  amount  ($328,305)  of  benefits  paid  since  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  fund  in  1892.  The  total  number  of  deaths 
during  the  fiscal  year  was  578,  the  average  age  at  death 
being  45.5  years.    The  table  giving  the  age  and  cause  of 

762 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

death  and  the  number  of  deaths  at  certain  ages  was  a 
feature  of  this  section  of  the  report. 

During  the  year  the  secretary-treasurer  transferred  to 
the  Home  fund  the  sum  of  $55,670,  being  its  share  of  the 
per  capita  tax.  The  new  law  providing  that  5  cents  of  the 
total  per  capita  tax  collected  from  each  member  monthly 
should  be  credited  to  the  special  defense  fund  became 
effective  on  January  1,  1904,  the  receipts  from  which,  to 
May  31,  1904,  amounted  to  $9,622.95,  and  that  amount 
stood  to  the  credit  of  the  fund,  there  being  no  expendi- 
tures up  to  the  time  the  report  was  filed. 

YEAR  RECEIPTS  EX  tt  N  OITIRI* 

1891 $53.483-SO        $57,396.36 

1892 1 13.134.49       1  u.i  18.32 

1893 "...137,764.14  120.984.9s 

1894 1 19.051. 3J  108,960.92 

1 895 93,903.66  89.650.73 

1896 95,043.90  9j.310.08 

1897 1 10,519-53  IJ5, 163.97 

1898 113,163.79  111.978.03 

1899 138,436.70  '135.7*^54 

1 900 1 77.48479  I85.033-57 

1901 138,631.67  n8.347.54 

1902 51,141.33  145.760.31 

1903 185,183.08  l74.o85-33 

1 904 340,005.00  353,8 1 7.38 


Total $1,845,94481         t$i.83i. 168.81 

*  Kmbraccs   Iom   in    Indianapolis    National   Bank,   $19,955-98. 

t  Includes  sum  transferred  to  treasurer  Union   Printers  Home,  $476,505  33 

A  statement  of  the  Los  Angeles  assessment  fund  showed 
that  the  secretary-treasurer  received  from  January  i. 
1903,  to  May  31,  1904,  $26,350.1 1  and  transferred  to  the 
union  at  that  place,  $24,185.31.  Including  $2,500  drawn 
by  Los  Angeles  Union  before  this  assessment  was  decided 
upon,  that  local  had  received  from  the  International 
Union  during  the  two  fiscal  yean  I  total  of  $26,685  ;  1 

Regarding  a  bond  investment,  the  secrctary-trca- 

said  : 

Three  years  have  elapsed  since  the  firnt  of  the  bond*  now 
held  were  bought.    The  first,  second  and  third  purchases  were 

763 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

composed  of  ten  one-thousand-dollar  2  per  cent  United  States 
bonds.  Irr  this  fiscal  year  another  purchase  of  fifteen  bonds  of 
the  same  character  was  made.  The  aggregate  sum  paid  for  the 
forty-five  bonds  was  $48,525.  Shortly  after  the  last  bonds  were 
acquired,  our  typefounder  members  became  involved  in  a  strike. 
The  large  number  of  men  on  the  roll  soon  made  it  necessary 
to  convert  some  of  our  bonds  into  cash,  and  before  the  strike 
was  finished  fifteen  bonds  had  been  sold  for  $15,918.75.  Thus 
the  investment  was  reduced  to  $32,606.25.  On  these  bonds  the 
sum  of  $1,300  has  been  received,  $800  being.credited  as  interest, 
and  $500  against  the  investment,  reducing  it  to  the  present 
figures — $32,106.25.  The  bonds  will  be  at  par  when  they 
mature,  hence  it  is  necessary  to  charge  a  portion  of  the  interest 
received  against  the  investment,  in  order  to  reduce  the  invest- 
ment to  the  exact  face  of  the  bonds  by  the  date  of  maturity. 

The  receipts  of  the  Typographical  Journal  fund  for 
the  fiscal  year  were  $31,316.78,  and  the  expenditures 
$28,511.75.  The  members  of  the  union  were  again  ui*ged 
by  the  editor  to  patronize  the  Journal  and  to  help  to 
increase  its  efficiency. 

In  reference  to  the  cost  of  publication  of  the  annual 
scale  report,  Secretary-Treasurer  Bramwood  said: 

Among  the  expenditures  of  this  year  will  be  noted  an  item 
of  $1,255.59  for  the  printing  and  distributing  of  the  scale 
report  issued  as  a  supplement  to  the  Journal  of  February,  1904. 
It  has  been  my  privilege  on  four  occasions,  assisted  by  local 
secretaries,  to  gather  data  relative  to  the  wages  received  and 
hours  worked  by  members  of  our  organization,  together  with 
statistics  regarding  the  machines  in  use,  the  number  of  oper- 
ators, etc.,  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union.  The  information  thus  obtained  was  compiled 
and  published  by  your  secretary-treasurer  in  the  shape  of  four 
separate  reports,  the  first  appearing  February  15,  1898,  the 
second  June  1,  1901,  the  third  May  I,  1902,  and  the  last  in 
February,  1904.  Each  report  has  been  more  complete  than  its 
predecessor,  the  last  one  comprising  returns  from  619  cities  and 
62y  unions.  These  reports  are  valuable  not  merely  because  they 
show  the  increases  in  local  scales  and  the  reduction  in  hours  of 
labor ;  they  awaken  apathetic  unions  to  the  opportunities  before 
them  and  lead  to  additional  progress  in  this  direction. 

764 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

Our  laws  provide  for  the  annual  compilation  of  these  statis- 
tics, and  the  publication  thereof  in  the  official  paper.  The  wis- 
dom of  the  latter  regulation  has  been  frequently  attacked  during 
the  year.  It  is  claimed  that  the  printing  of  such  data  in  the 
Journal  not  only  saves  the  employing  printers  the  cost  of  gath- 
ering the  figures,  but  places  in  their  hands  a  potent  weapon  with 
which  to  combat  the  efforts  of  local  unions  for  further  in- 
creases in  wages  or  reduction  in  hours.  Those  holding  to  this 
idea  advocate  the  confining  of  its  distribution  to  the  members  of 
subordinate  unions,  which  can  not  be  done  as  long  as  the  present 
plan  is  followed.  Your  secretary-treasurer  does  not  care  to  dis- 
cuss the  merits  of  these  claims  at  this  time,  but  the  subject  is 
worthy  of  the  attention  of  the  convention.  While  the  prepara- 
tion of  such  statistics  adds  to  the  work  of  the  secretary-treasurer, 
and  imposes  additional  duties  upon  local  secretaries,  the  value 
of  the  information  thus  afforded  more  than  justifies  the  effort 
necessary  to  its  compilation. 

Two  of  the  leading  features  of  the  secretary-treasurer's 
report  were  the  tabulated  statements  under  the  heading 
"Receipts  From  and  Benefits  Drawn  by  Local  Unions" 
and  "Our  Subordinate  Unions — Finances  and  Mem- 
bership." 

These  reports  showed  the  exact  amount  received  from 
each  subordinate  union  and  to  what  funds  amounts  re- 
ceived had  been  credited,  also  the  exact  amount  expended 
from  these  funds  for  the  benefit  of  each  subordinate  union. 

Twenty-five  strikes  occurred  during  the  year  in  which 
674  members  of  twenty-eight  local  unions  were  invoked 
The  number  of  men  who  returned  to  \\<>rk  when  a  settle- 
ment was  reached  was  481,  while  141  were  displaced.  ;.' 
being  involved  in  the  pending  disputes  at  the  time  the 

report  was  filed.    The  itrika  in  Button  and  LoatariUt 
were  not  included  in  the  statement  as  they  were  under- 

t.ikcu  without  the  sanction  of  the  International  Union 

CH  A.N  OBI     I  »      1  n  1      1    \  I 
Six   constitutional  amendments  were  submitted  to  the 
referendum  by  the  convention. 

7«5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

The  first  proposition  was  to  amend  section  I,  article  ii, 
of  the  constitution  by  striking  out  the  words  "but  nothing 
shall  be  enacted  relative  to  the  internal  affairs  of  printing 
offices." 

In  order  that  the  reader  may  fully  understand  the 
importance  and  grasp  the  real  meaning  of  this  proposi- 
tion, it  is  necessary  to  present  a  resume  of  the  events 
leading  up  to  its  adoption  by  the  convention  and  presenta- 
tion to  the  membership. 

At  the  Washington  session  in  1903,  section  I,  article  ii, 
of  the  International  constitution,  was  amended  to  read  as 
follows : 

The  International  Typographical  Union  may  enact  and  en- 
force laws  for  its  government  and  that  of  subordinate  unions 
and  members  thereof  throughout  its  jurisdiction  (but  nothing 
shall  be  enacted  relative  to  the  internal  affairs  of  printing 
offices). 

The  words  in  parentheses  constituted  the  amendment. 
This  change  in  the  laws  was  submitted  to  the  referendum 
and  ratified  by  a  vote  of  16,884  for;  3,829  against. 

The  new  law  became  effective  January  1,  1904.  When 
this  amendment  was  enacted  nothing  was  done  toward 
harmonizing  the  law  with  sections  95,  96,  97,  102  and  103 
of  the  general  laws,  which  related  specifically  "to  the 
internal  affairs  of  printing  offices."  Article  xviii  of  the 
constitution  declared  that  "all  laws  and  parts  of  laws  in 
conflict  with  this  constitution  are  hereby  repealed  or 
changed  in  accordance  therewith,  and  the  secretary-treas- 
urer is  hereby  authorized  to  make  necessary  changes." 
Had  the  secretary-treasurer  exercised  this  authority  in 
compiling  the  book  of  laws  for  1904,  it  would  have  been 
necessary  for  him  to  have  eliminated  a  portion  of  section 
95,  and  sections  96,  97,  102  and  103  of  the  general  laws, 
because  they  were  in  conflict  with  section  I,  article  ii,  of 
the  constitution,  as  last  amended.   The  situation  was  care- 

766 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

fully  considered.  Realizing  the  importance  of  the  general 
laws  in  conflict  with  the  constitution,  and  thinking  that 
the  effect  of  the  constitutional  amendment  adopted  by  the 
membership  might  not  have  been  thoroughly  understood, 
the  secretary-treasurer,  after  consultation  with  the  other 
members  of  the  executive  council,  decided  to  leave  the 
sections  in  question  in  the  book  of  laws,  and  to  call  the 
matter  to  the  attention  of  the  next  convention.  The  execu- 
tive council  therefore  presented  to  the  St.  Louis  session 
the  following: 

Proposition  No.  13 — By  the  executive  council: 

The  repeal  of  the  following  general  laws,  which  appear  to 
be  in  conflict  with  that  portion  of  section  I,  article  ii,  constitu 
tion,  which  declares  that  "nothing  shall  be  enacted  relative  to 
the  internal  affairs  of  printing  offices :" 

That  portion  of  section  95  reading  "such  decrease  to  be 
accomplished  by  discharging  first  the  person  or  persons  last  em- 
ployed either  as  regular  employes  or  as  extra  employes,  as  the 
exigencies  of  the  matter  may  require.  Should  there  be  an  in- 
crease in  the  force  within  sixty  days  after  a  decrease,  the  person 
or  persons  displaced  through  such  cause  shall  be  reinstated  in 
the  order  in  which  they  were  discharged  before  other  help  m.iv 
be  employed."  And  "persons  considered  capable  as  substitutes 
by  foremen  shall  be  deemed  competent  to  fill  regular  situations, 
and  shall  be  given  preference  in  the  filling  of  vacancies  in  the 
regular  force."    Balance  of  section  to  remain  as  at  present. 

Section  96. 

Section  97. 

Section  102. 

Section  103. 

Notk — The  council,  in  compiling  the  above,  desires  to  bring 
the  general  subject  before  the  convention,  as  explained  in  the 
following  section  of  the  report  of  the  International  president 
"Laws  Murr  Bi  CoNtiiTtxt  " 

"The  Washington  convention  adopted  and  tin-  referendum 
approved  this  amendment  to  the  constitution,  and  it  now  appears 
in  section  1,  article  n  :  'Bui  nothing  shall  be  enacted  relative  to 
the  internal  affairs  of  printing  office*'  There  are  a  number  of 
general  laws,  enacted  prior  to  the  approval  by  the  mem! 

7*7 


History  of  The  Typographical 'Union 

of  the  amendment  quoted,  that  are  inconsistent  with  it.  If  the 
declaration  is  to  remain,  our  enactments  should  conform  with  it, 
and  with  other  changes  in  our  laws  that  will  be  suggested  by 
the  International  officers  will  go  a  list  of  the  statutes  that  it  is 
believed  are  related  'to  the  internal  affairs  of  printing  offices.' 
The  elimination  of  these  laws  will  make  drastic  changes  in  many 
hitherto  accepted  policies.  Inasmuch  as  general  laws  are  sub- 
ject to  final  action  by  the  convention,  this  is  a  feature  of  the 
convention  work  that  will  require  especial  consideration  by  the 
delegates."  The  referendum  voted  on  the  proposition  to  amend 
the  constitution  as  follows:  For,  16,884;  against,  3,829;  ma- 
jority for,  13,055. 

The  committee  on  laws  submitted  a  favorable  report, 
and  a  general  debate  was  had  on  this  question.  It  was 
claimed  by  many  delegates  that  the  membership  had  not 
voted  intelligently  upon  the  constitutional  amendment 
submitted  by  the  Washington  convention.  The  members 
of  the  executive  council  maintained  that  a  conflict  existed 
between  the  constitution  and  general  laws,  and  urged  the 
adoption  of  legislation  tending  to  harmonize  them. 

It  seemed  that  a  large  number  of  the  delegates  favored 
the  retention  of  the  general  laws.  Secretary-Treasurer 
Bramwood  took  the  position  that  if  the  general  laws  under 
consideration  were  to  be  retained,  the  constitutional  pro- 
vision in  conflict  therewith  should  be  eliminated,  and  that 
the  International  Union  should  not  by  law  require  the 
secretary-treasurer  to  do  what  its  delegates  declined  to  do. 

After  further  debate,  Delegate  Athey,  of  Portland, 
Ore.,  moved  to  amend  proposition  13,  by  substituting 
therefor  the  following: 

In  article  ii,  section  I,  of  the  constitution,  strike  out  the 
words  "but  nothing  shall  be  enacted  relative  to  the  internal 
affairs  of  printing  offices." 

In  the  event  of  this  amendment  carrying  by  the  referendum, 
that  portion  of  section  95,  as  provided  in  proposition  No.  13, 
sections  96,  97,  102,  103,  general  laws,  to  stand.  In  the  event 
of  the  loss  of  the  amendment,  the  sections  named  shall  be 
stricken  out. 

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Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

This  proposition  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  laws, 
reported  favorably  and  adopted  by  the  convention.  The 
first  proposition,  as  it  appeared  on  the  ballot,  therefore 
read : 

First  Proposition.  Amend  section  I,  article  ii,  constitu- 
tion, by  striking  out  the  words  "but  nothing  shall  be  enacted 
relative  to  the  internal  affairs  of  printing  offices" ;  the  amended 
section  to  reJU  as  follows : 

"Abticle  II — Laws 

"Section  i.  The  International  Typographical  Union  may 
enact  and  enforce  laws  for  its  government  and  that  of  subor- 
dinate unions  and  members  thereof  throughout  its  jurisdiction." 

In  event  of  this  amendment  carrying,  the  following  general 
laws  will  stand.  Should  the  proposition  be  defeated,  that  por- 
tion of  section  95  in  italics,  and  all  of  the  remaining  section* 
herewith  presented,  will  be  stricken  from  the  book  of  laws: 

"rORIMZN 

"Section  95.  Foremen  of  printing  offices  have  the  right  to 
employ  help,  and  may  discharge  (1)  for  incompetency,  (2)  for 
neglect  of  duty,  (3)  for  violation  of  office  rules  (which  shall  be 
conspicuously  posted)  or  of  laws  of  the  chapel  or  union,  and 
(4)  to  decrease  the  force,  such  decrease  to  be  accomplished  by 
discharging  first  the  person  or  persons  last  employed,  either  as 
regular  employes  or  as  extra  employes,  as  the  exigencies  of  the 
matter  may  require.  Should  there  be  an  increase  in  the  force 
within  sixty  days  after  a  decrease,  the  person  or  persons  dis- 
placed through  such  cause  shall  be  reinstated  in  the  order  in 
;,>/iich  they  were  discharged  before  other  help  may  be  emp/o , 
Upon  demand,  the  foreman  shall  give  the  reason  for  discharge 
in  writing.  Persons  considered  capable  as  substitutes  by  foremen 
shall  be  itemed  competent  to  fill  regular  situations,  and  shall  be 
given  preference  in  the  filling  of  vacancies  in  the  regular  /. 
This  section  sluill  apply  to  incoming  as  well  a*  outgoing  fore- 
men. 

'  Si  (  .  <K>.  Foremen  shall  not  designate  any  particular  day. 
nor  how  many  days,  a  man  shall  work  /•/  any  one  ;. 

"Sic.  <)j.  /he  practice  by  foreiMU  of  selecting  their  forces 
from  day  to  day.  or  not  having  any  regular  situations  tn  an 
office,  is  prohibited.  Foremen  must  eive  out  such  minimum 
number  of  situation*  as  are  needed  to  meet  office  requirements. 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Employment  other  than  a  regular  situation  shall  be  classed  as 
extra  work. 

"Sec.  102.  The  practice  of  foremen  of  phalanxing,  or  giving 
out  six-day  situations  on  seven-day  papers,  thereby  controlling 
extra  work,  constitutes  a  sublist.  Any  member  in  an  office, 
seven-day  paper  or  otherwise,  is  entitled  to  employ  in  his  stead, 
whenever  so  disposed,  any  competent  member  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  without  consultation  or  approval 
of  the  foreman  of  said  office.  A  fine  of  $25  shall  be  imposed 
upon  foremen  for  violation  or  evasion  of  this  law.  Any  chair- 
man failing  to  report  the  violation  of  this  section  shall  be 
fined  $25. 

"Sec.  103.  Sections  joo,  101  and  102,  general  laws,  shall  be 
posted  in  all  chapels  and  enforced  by  all  unions  under  the  juris- 
diction of  the  International  Typographical  Union." 

This  proposition  was  adopted  by  the  referendum  by  a 
vote  of  19,994  to  4,515,  the  majority  being  15,429. 

The  second  proposition  submitted  to  the  referendum 
provided  for  an  increase  of  salaries  of  the  president  and 
secretary-treasurer,  and  was  defeated  by  a  majority  of 

5.839- 

The  third  proposition  was  to  include  a  provision  in 
section  1  of  article  ix,  revenue  and  funds,  "that  unions 
located  so  far  from  headquarters  as  to  make  it  impossible 
for  their  dues  to  reach  there  within  the  prescribed  time 
should  not  be  considered  delinquent  if  their  remittances 
bear  postal  mark  date  prior  to  the  15th  of  the  succeeding 
month."   The  proposition  was  approved. 

The  fourth  proposition,  which  was  also  approved, 
required  that  "any  subordinate  union  which  shall  fail  to 
make  reports  required  by  law  or  the  executive  council, 
or  which  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  obey  any  law,  or  legal 
mandate  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  or 
executive  council,  may  be  fined  or  have  its  charter  sus- 
pended by  the  executive  council." 

The  fifth  proposition,  which  was  also  adopted,  amended 
the  law  governing  all  appeals  from  the  decision  of  a  sub- 

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Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

ordinate  union,  requiring  that  such  be  submitted  "in 
written  or  printed  form  only." 

The  sixth  proposition  submitted  to  the  membership 
proposed  a  method  of  financing  the  struggle  for  an  eight- 
hour  day  and  is  included  in  the  summary  of  this  conven- 
tion under  that  head. 

Several  amendments  to  the  by-laws  and  the  general 
laws  were  adopted  by  the  convention,  the  most  important 
among  which  was  the  following  section  added  to  the  gen- 
eral laws,  enacted,  upon  recommendation  of  President 
Lynch,  because  of  abuses  occurring  occasionally  in  the 
administration  of  the  union's  laws  governing  strikes: 

Whenever  a  strike  occurs  without  the  sanction  of  the  execu- 
tive council,  the  council  must  immediately  disavow  the  illegal 
strike  and  notify  all  subordinate  unions  to  that  effect.  Protec- 
tion shall  be  guaranteed  to  all  members  who  remain  at,  accept 
or  return  to  work  in  offices  affected  by  the  illegal  strike,  as 
specified  in  section  122.  Any  officer  or  member  of  a  union  who 
shall  suppress  or  conceal  from  his  union  or  the  executive  council 
any  official  information  concerning  a  strike,  or  a  proposed 
strike,  shall  upon  conviction  by  the  local  union  be  suspended  or 
expelled. 

ARBITRATION       A  (i  R  1C  K  M  I .  N  T 

The  committee  to  which  was  referred  that  portion  <>i 
President  Lynch's  report  relating  to  the  arbitration 
agreement  between  the  International  Typographical 
Union  and  the  .American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Associa- 
tion referred  in  its  report  to  the  satisfactory  conditions 
that  had  followed  the  adoption  of  the  amended  agrcctm-nt. 
which  provided  a  code  of  procedure.  The  committee 
congratulated  the  executive  council  on  the  manner  in 
which  the  difficulty  that  had  been  before  the  Washington 
convention  u.i  ad  justed  and  expressed  the  conviction 
that  peaceful  relations  with  the  newspapers  comprising 
the  publishers'  association  would  be  maintained  for  the 
life  of  the  agreement.    Quite  in  contrast  to  the  sentiments 

77% 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

expressed  in  his  address  before  the  previous  convention, 
Commissioner  Driscoll,  who  was  invited  to  again  address 
the  convention,  spoke  as  follows : 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  state  that  while  at  your  last  convention  it  was  my 
unpleasant  duty  to  criticize  the  acts  of  your  president  I  appear  before  you  today 
to  testify  to  the  full  measure  of  peace  which  has  characterized  the  labor  situa- 
tion of  our  members  having  trade  relations  with  the  unions  during  the  past  year. 
Differences  have  arisen  in  numerous  localities,  but  they  have  been  mostly 
settled,  either  by  conciliation  or  arbitration.  Some  differences  yet  remain 
unadjusted,  of  comparatively  recent  origin,  which  it  is  reasonable  to  expect 
will  be  disposed  of  in  like  manner.  After  more  than  two  years'  experience 
of  the  practical  working  of  the  arbitration  agreement  between  our  organizations, 
and  more  especially  since  the  adoption  of  the  code  of  procedure  last  fall, 
I  am  sure  all  will  agree  that  the  ensuing  beneficent  results  have  fully  justified 
the  policy  and  established  the  wisdom  of  arbitration. 

President  Lynch,  in  his  annual  report  submitted  to  this  convention,  included 
a  statement  of  the  cases  of  differences  settled  by  the  National  Board  of  Arbitra- 
tion, in  which  statement  twenty-three  cities  are  named  where  such  settlements 
were  effected.  Of  these  the  unions  in  twenty  cities  received  an  increase  of  scale, 
more  or  less,  and  but  three  failed  to  receive  any  increase.  In  these  twenty-three 
cities  one  hundred  and  four  newspaper  offices,  and,  it  is  carefully  estimated, 
more  than  .2,500  employes,  were  involved.  In  addition,  new  scales,  as  well 
as  "differences,"  have  been  settled  by  conciliation  in  a  number  of  cities,  with- 
out reference  to  the  National  Board  of  Arbitration,  and  these  settlements  were 
effected  mainly  because  the  parties  otherwise  could  demand  arbitration  as  a  last 
resort.  In  view  of  these  results  I  fully  agree  with  President  Lynch  when  he 
states,  from  a  strictly  union  standpoint,  "that  we  have  made  considerable 
progress." 

During  the  past  year  there  has  been  a  widespread  agitation  and  discussion 
of  the  question  of  the  open  versus  the  closed  shop.  The  attitude  of  your  union 
on  this  question  is  well  known.  Notwithstanding  decisions  of  the  courts  in  the 
various  sections  of  the  country,  the  publishers  whom  I  have  the  honor  to  repre- 
sent fully  realize  that  all  of  them  who  have  entered  into  arbitration  contracts 
with  the  International  Typographical  Union  are  thereby  bound  morally,  if  not 
legally,  to  the  closed  shop  until  May  1,  1907. 

There  are  certain  matters,  however,  which  seriously  affect  the  opinion  of  our 
publishers  on  this  subject.  The  first  I  will  mention  is  the  manifest  endeavor 
of  local  unions  to  exclude  all  unskilled  workmen  from  performing  unskilled 
work  in  the  composing  room.  The  publishers  strenuously  object  to  paying 
journeyman's  wages  for  that  portion  of  labor  which  requires  little  or  no  skill 
or  experience.  The  position  has  been  taken  by  the  highest  authority  in  your 
union,  that  all  labor  in  the  composing  room  must  be  performed  by  members 
of  the  union  or  union  apprentices,  so  long  as  the  present  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  laws  remain  in  force.  Not  only  is  the  number  of  apprentices 
allowed  by  the  union  unreasonably  limited,  but  the  recently  increasing  require- 
ments to  teach  the  trade  to  these  apprentices  will,  if  carried  out,  prevent  them 
from  doing  much  of  this  unskilled  work,  so  that,  if  other  unskilled  labor 
is  prohibited,  the  publisher  will  be  forced  to  pay  the  full  scale  for  this  inferior 
and  subordinate  work. 

Another  requirement  the  publishers  would  ask  is,  that  the  foreman  should 
not  be  necessarily  a  member  of  the  union.  Of  this  I  have  spoken  at  several 
previous  conventions,  urging  its  adoption,  but  without  avail. 

If,  however,  you  are  unwilling  to  make  this  change  in  your  laws,  we  do 
insist  that  you  shall   repeal  all  laws  relating  to  the   duties  of  a   foreman   which 

772 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

hamper  him  in  performing  his  duties  and  obligations  to  hit  employer.  If  be 
attempts  to  prove  faithful  to  such  duties  he  is  liable  to  be  heavily  fined 
l>y  the  local  union.  Should  this  policy  continue  to  characterize  tbe  "closed 
shop"  of  the  future,  the  number  of  its  enemies  will  increase,  and  the  opposition 
grow  until  the  "open  shop"  triumphs  over  such  injustice  and  unfairness. 

If  you  insist  that  the  foreman  must  be  a  member  of  the  union,  give  him 
the  liberty  to  be  a  man,  free  in  every  way  to  perform  his  full  duty  to  the  pub- 
lisher, free  to  employ  the  best  man  he  can  secure  for  any  situation  which  be- 
comes vacant.  Don't  trammel  him  with  priority  lists  and  sub-lists,  and  appeals 
to  the  union  and  fines  by  the  union,  when  he  is  struggling  to  do  bis  best  for 
the  interest  of  the  office,  without  acting  unfairly  toward  tbe  workman. 

With  reference  to  the  priority  law,  I  quote  from  a  contributor  to  the  July 
number  of  The  Typographical  Journal: 

"*  *  *  The  so-called  priority  law  should  be  abolished.  There  is  no  sub- 
stantial reason  why  a  foreman  should  be  bound  hand  and  foot  by  drastic 
exaction  that  works  benefit  to  one  to  the  disadvantage  of  another.  All  should 
stand  on  an  equal  footing,  and  in  these  piping  times  of  strenuous  exertion 
there  should  be  some  slight  reward  for  the  better  man.  The  law  is  not  recog- 
nized in  job  offices — at  least  not  in  Chicago — and  should  have  no  standing 
in  the  newspaper  business.  Foremen  arc  given  their  authority  because  of  their 
ability  to  get  a  maximum  amount  of  work  from  a  minimum  number  of  men. 
He  naturally  wants  to  attain  that  end,  and  he  should  be  allowed  that  privilege. 
He  may  have  some  partially  incapacitated  or  other  men  on  his  force  whom 
he  dislikes  to  dispense  with  for  various  reasons,  because  they  can  do  some 
<lasscs  of  work  as  well  as  another;  but  when  it  comes  to  giving  out  a  situation 
that  requires  an  all-round  man  he  should  be  allowed  some  latitude.  The  argu- 
ment that  if  a  man  is  competent  to  work  as  a  sub  or  extra  he  is  competent 
to*  fill  a  situation,  is  untenable  and  misleading.  It  must  be  admitted  that  there 
are  decided  grades  of  workmen,  both  as  to  quality  and  quantity  of  " 
produced.  One  can  be  lacking  in  both  these  respects,  yet  he  may  hold  a  semi- 
situation  for  years.  It  would  be  an  injustice  to  refuse  him  a  chance  to  work. 
for  he  is  entitled  to  an  opportunity  to  earn  his  daily  bread  as  a  divine  right. 
Yet  he  can  not  hope  to  compete  with  the  more  active  craftsman.  His  abilities 
are  limited.  He  simply  fills  in  because  theru  is  partial  employment  to  be  di« 
penscd.  To  logically  follow  out  the  priority  law  he  should  be  refuted  tin- 
right  to  work  because  the  time  is  surely  coming  when  he  can  claim  the  regular 
situation  as  a  priority  right,  or  else  there  must  be  a  continual  changing  of  the 
medium  or  poor-grade  workman  in  order  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  k 
bin  the  situation  when  that  time  arrives.  Hither  of  these  alternatives  would 
be  a  more  inhuman  act  than  to  slight  him  when  the  office  has  a 
to  k>\<  Out  The  workman  who  shows  ability  gets  the  regtdar  situation 
he   can    Ik;    utilized    to    better    advantage.     That    is    the    law    of    tape  I 

not   priority.     In   fact,  it  is  an  cxcmplihciiion  el   the  old  '  iy   tbe  btst 

man  win,'  or,  'You  can't  keep  a  good  man  down  '  No  matter  how  many  law  • 
1  In-  International  Typographical  Union  make*,  ment  will  win.  |utl  j« 
will  sprout  ami  glow,  wlnlr  tin  lx»d  jnd  indlffciciil  will  fail  !>■ 
up.  or  die  In-fore  maturity.  The  law  kj  a  hamli.ap.  it  ha*  no  standing  a*  btltws 
merit   und    in< -dun  i  it y.      It    should    be    abolished" 

This  is  testimony  and  a.Ku.  fags'  the  union  standpoint,  by  on*  who  has 
labored    inside    and    who    has   witnessed   the    working   of    lb*    "priswif 

following   was    received    from   a   publisher   since   this   addrr**    was   per 

"  \t    n    conference    lietwerii    our    typographical    union    and    law    M  ajaffir 
publishers,  held   less  than  a  year  ago.  «he  publishers  coaaglalwJ  to  the   !• 
national     1  1    about    the    operation    of    the    prior*? 

law    in    this    city     The    International    I'm...    ..  p.eseiitalivs    toid    Ik*    eonf*r««c« 

m 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

there  was  no  such  law  as  priority  law  in  the  International  Union.  Our  union, 
however,  has  a  priority  law  in  operation.  I  am  unable  to  learn  whether  such 
a  law  is  purely  local,  or  is  based  upon  an  interpretation  of  International  law, 
section  95.  If  based  upon  interpretation  of  95,  such  interpretation  is  wrong, 
in  accordance  with  statement  of  the  International  official.  If  it  be  a  local  law, 
it  is  manifestly  unjust  in  that,  not  being  general,  it  permits  foremen  in  one 
locality  to  invade  another  locality  for  its  best  workmen,  the  privilege  of  replen- 
ishing its  staff  of  operatives  with  efficient  workmen.  New  York  city,  for  in- 
stance, has  no  priority  law  and  is  consequently  the  Mecca  of  all  first-class  men 
who  are  at  liberty  to  travel.  The  priority  law  here,  which  in  effect  is  the  same 
as  the  one  Mr.  Rapier  quotes  from  New  Orleans,  is  a  serious  menace  to  the 
organization  and  discipline  of  the  composing  rooms,  and  when  these  two  essen- 
tials are  undermined,  not  only  the  publisher  will  suffer,  but  the  union  men 
themselves  will  invite  the  inevitable  results  of  the  employer's  legal  and  in- 
stinctive right  of  self-preservation. 

"The  foreman,  under  the  operation  of  the  priority  law,  is  nothing  more 
than  a  clerk.  He  has  been  denied  the  right  to  hire  help.  The  act  of  subbing 
is  a  voluntary  one  on  the  part  of  the  sub.  He  reports  on  the  floor  for  work, 
and  by  this  act  establishes  his  seniority  or  priority  in  the  office.  When  a 
vacancy  occurs  the  foreman  has  no  discretionary  power.  He  must  put  to  work 
the  substitute  longest  in  employ  in  the  office,  regardless  of  his  efficiency, 
reliability  or  personal  decorum.  The  sub  becomes  the  regular,  not  through 
choice  of  the  directing  foreman,  but  by  his  own  act  of  reporting  for  work. 

"It  has  been  the  custom  here  for  a  number  of  years  for  foremen  to  fill 
the  vacancies  by  selecting  a  man  from  the  substitutes  working  in  his  office. 
The  justice  of  this  practice  I  will  admit,  but  I  contend  the  foreman  should 
have  the  discretionary  power  to  select  from  those  subbing  in  his  office  the 
one  whom  he  considers  the  most  efficient,  reliable  and  congenial  with  the  men 
with  whom  the  regular  must  associate.  This,  I  believe,  is  the  intent  of  section 
95,  and  an  intelligent  reading  of  the  section,  I  contend,  will  admit  of  no  other 
meaning.  A  competent  sub  will  be  a  competent  regular,  and  he  should  in  fair- 
ness be  given  preference  in  the  office  in  which  he  works,  but  there  is  no  refer- 
ence whatever  to  the  order  in  which  the  subs  in  an  office  should  be  given  pref- 
erence. Therein,  I  believe,  the  International  Union  law  contemplates  that 
foremen  should  have  the  privilege  of  selecting  their  men  with  discretion  and 
an  eye  to  the  welfare  of  his  employer. 

"I  trust  you  will  have  success  in  your  effort  to  point  out  the  errors  of  local 
unions  to  the  International  convention." 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  your  referendum  has  adopted  an  amendment  to 
your  constitution  that  nothing  will  be  enacted  relative  to  the  internal  affairs 
of  printing  offices,  I  fully  agree  with  your  president  when  he  says  in  his  report 
that  you  have  many  general  laws  in  force  enacted  prior  to  last  year  which 
are  inconsistent  with  the  new  amendment.  I  trust  this  opportunity  will  be  taken 
to  repeal  at  least  all  laws  to  which  I  have  referred. 

I  beg  to  call  your  attention  to  the  experiences  of  the  past  year  with  other 
organizations  than  ours,  as  set  forth  in  the  president's  report;  the  typefounders' 
strike,  which  taxed  your  treasury  about  $40,000;  the  strike  in  Boston,  which 
resulted  in  the  continuance  of  the  open  shop  in  the  book  and  job  offices  of  that 
city,  and  finally  the  strike  in  Louisville,  which  after  a  sixty-day  struggle, 
was  declared  by  your  organizer  as  "hopelessly  lost."  In  the  month  of  June 
the  lines  of  battle  were  defined  on  the  eight-hour  issue  between  your  organiza- 
tion and  the  United  Typotheta?  so  that  the  immediate  future  of  your  relations 
with  the  latter  organization  looks  exceedingly  warlike. 

Now,  contrast  all  this  struggling  warfare  with  the  existing  peaceful  con- 
ditions and  relations  between  your  organization  and  ours.    Is  it  not  in  every 


774 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

way  desirable  to  promote  and  foster  our  present  harmonious  policy  by  remov- 
ing every  cause  for  friction  between  the  publisher  and  the  union. 

The  newspaper  composing  room  employe  is  favored  with  very  much  higher 
wages  and  also  reduced  hours  than  union  printers  receive  from  any  other 
class  of  employers.  Therefore,  in  all  fairness,  should  not  the  union  treat 
the  newspaper  publisher  with  greater  consideration  than  hat  been  shown  in 
the  past.  Do  not  attempt  to  govern  the  business  administration  of  the  com- 
posing room.  Do  not  interfere  with  the  judgment  of  the  foreman  as  to  the 
competency  of  workmen  by  establishing  low  standards  of  competency  in  your 
local  union  laws  and  thus  reducing  the  output.  Repeal  all  priority  lists  and 
sub-lists,  either  in  International  Typographical  Union  or  local  laws.  Allow 
the  office  to  employ  unskilled  workmen  to  perform  unskilled  labor  at  a  proper 
wage  for  such  work.  Then  will  publishers  cease  to  object  to  a  closed  shop 
covering  only  skilled  labor.  We  have  before  us  nearly  three  years  in  which 
to  improve  our  trade  relations,  during  which  time  we  will  be  bound  by  arbitra- 
tion and  the  closed  shop.  It  is  for  you  delegates,  representing  a  membership 
of  nearly  fifty  thousand,  to  determine  whether  or  not  you  will  so  act  a» 
to  legislate  to  bring  about  the  results  indicated,  to  make  our  present  peaceful 
relations  permanent  and  enduring,  bearing  in  mind  that  an  unfair  policy 
can  not  be  enduring,  and  that  reason,  not  force,  must  determine  all  Issins. 
unless  we  wish  to  retrograde  from  our  present  high  state  of  enlightened  civil- 
ization back  to  the  barbarism  of  the  savage. 

In  closing,  I  wish  to  thank  President  Lynch  for  his  courtesy  in  inviting 
me  to  be  present  on  this  occasion,  and  also  to  express  my  gratitude  to  you 
for  your  patient  hearing  of  my  frank  presentation  of  the  views  of  the  Amer- 
ican Newspaper  Publishers'  Association.  If,  after  a  full  and  fair  consideration 
of  the  suggestions  I  have  made,  you  should  assent  to  the  adoption  of  any 
or  all  of  them,  rest  assured  such  action  will  be  greatly  appreciated  by  our 
members,  and  that  the  results  will  tend  to  the  continued  growth  and  usefulness 
of  the  International  Typographical   Union. 

T  H  E       K  I  G  H  T  -  H  O  U  R       DA  Y 

The  story  of  the  struggle  for  the  eight-hour  day  can 
perhaps  be  told  best  by  the  reproduction  of  the  reports  of 
President  Lynch  outlining  the  work  done  in  preparation 
for  the  struggle  and  the  action  of  the  conventions  upon 
recommendations  made  in  these  reports.  In  order  that 
this  important  part  of  the  history  may  be  presented  in  a 
manner  so  that  the  reader  may  follow  tin-  Itory  from  its 
inception  to  the  finish,  the  method  thus  outlined  will  be 
pursued.  In  his  report  to  the  St.  Louis  convention,  1904, 
President  Lynch  said : 

The  eight-hour  day  subject  "ill  not  grow  old  until  the 
in. induration  of  the  eight-boui  «la\  is  itteU  in  ,  v,-nt  of  the  peat, 

rather  than  something  that  must   vrt  !><•  bfOUghl  ibOl 

1  si i,,n    lias  been   made  that    many   of  our  member*  do  not 
thoroughly  appreciate  the  benefits  that  will  be  derived  by  reason 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  the  reduction  in  hours  contemplated  by  the  eight-hour  move- 
ment. If  this  is  true — and  it  is  beyond  belief — then  a  great 
object  lesson  has  not  been  taken  advantage  of,  the  betterment  of 
conditions  because  of  the  enforcement  of  the  nine-hour  day.  In 
the  letter  mailed  to  each  member  it  was  said:  "If  you  will 
investigate,  you  will  find  that  the  wage-earner  working  short 
hours  receives  high  pay.  In  our  own  trade,  the  book  and  job 
printers  are  paid  as  much — and  in  many  cases  more — for  nine 
hours  as  they  formerly  earned  in  ten  hours."  The  trite  expres- 
sions that  found  coinage  in  connection  with  the  eight-hour 
agitation  that  has  been  general  for  years,  still  apply.  "Eight 
hours  for  work,  eight  hours  for  sleep,  eight  hours  for  what  you 
will,"  is  as  potent  a  rallying  cry  today  as  at  any  time.  "Whether 
you  work  by  the  piece  or  work  by  the  day,  decreasing  the  hours 
increases  the  pay,"  is  as  true  now  as  the  day  it  was  penned.  If 
our  members  do  not  appreciate  the  benefits,  that  will  follow  the 
eight-hour  day,  if  they  are  not  alive  to  their  interests,  if  they 
will  not  arise  to  the  duty  of  the  hour,  then  they  must  assume  the 
responsibility  that  attaches  to  the  crime  of  keeping  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  in  the  rear  of  the  great  progress 
that  is  being  made  by  the  industrial  army.  "In  the  last  analysis 
victory  depends  on  the  support  accorded  by  the  membership." 

Conference  with  Typotheta  —  The  recently  oft-repeated  as- 
sertion that  the  eight-hour  day  in  book  and  job  rooms  is  a 
question  for  adjudication  between  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  and  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  was  put  to 
the  test  in  St.  Louis  on  June  22  and  23.  The  annual  convention 
of  the  typothetae  was  held  in  the  Exposition  City  the  week  of  the 
20th.  Prior  to  this  gathering  the  International  president  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  the  typothetae  secretary  reciting  the  action 
taken  by  our  Cincinnati  convention  on  the  eight-hour  proposi- 
tion, and  continuing:  "It  has  been  frequently  intimated  by 
local  associations  of  the  typothetae  that  the  eight-hour  day  was 
an  issue  that  should  be  adjusted  between  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  the  United  Typothetae  of  America, 
and  that  these  local  associations  were  willing  to  accept  and  put 
into  effect  any  conclusion  that  might  be  arrived  at  by  the  higher 
bodies.  So  often,  indeed,  has  this  intimation  been  made,  and 
in  several  instances  accepted  by  our  local  unions,  that  the  eight- 
hour  committee  for  the  International  Typographical  Union  is 
prepared  and  anxious  to  demonstrate  the  effectiveness  of  the 

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Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

suggestion.  Therefore,  our  eight-hour  committee  will  be  in  St. 
I.ouis  during  your  eighteenth  annual  convention,  which,  I  un- 
derstand, will  be  held  during  the  week  commencing  Monday, 
June  20,  1904,  in  the  convention  hall  of  the  Century  building. 
Ninth  and  Olive  streets.  Our  committee  will  at  that  time,  or  at 
such  time  during  the  week  as  may  be  designated  by  your 
convention,  be  pleased  to  meet  a  committee  representing  your 
association,  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  the  eight-hour  day. 
and,  if  possible,  arriving  at  a  conclusion  that  may  be  submitted 
to  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  and  the  International 
Typographical  Union  for  consideration  and  possible  ratifica- 
tion." 

The  Committees  Meet —  In  accordance  with  our  request,  the 
typothetae  convention  instructed  a  committee  to  meet  with  our 
International  representatives,  and  conferences  were  held  on 
June  22  and  23.  At  the  first  meeting  the  employers  asked  us  to 
make  a  proposition  for  the  inauguration  of  the  shorter  workday 
which  they  would  present  to  their  convention.  Thi»  wai 
declined,  our  committee  requesting  that  before  any  discussion  M 
to  detail,  the  typothetae  should  declare  its  position  on  the  shorter 
workday  proposition.  If  this  attitude  was  favorable  we  said  the 
two  committees  could  then  take  up  and  endeavor  to  reach  an 
agreement  as  to  the  date  on  which  the  reduction  or  partial 
reduction  in  hours  should  take  place.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the 
attitude  of  the  United  TypothetC  was  unfavorable  to  a  curtail- 
ment of  the  present  working  time,  then  we  wanted  to  know  that. 
and  in  such  a  way  that  there  would  remain  no  room  for  in- 
liinh  rstanding.  In  other  words,  if  the  employers  should 
us  a  negative  reply,  we  wanted  it  on  the  main  question,  and  n«»t 
on  a  proposition  from  us  for  the  inauguration  of  the  shorter 
workday  on  a  certain  date,  which  mi^ht  leave  local  associations 
1  ice  to  assert  that  the  United   Typothetae  had  not  declared  its 

nst  an  eight-hour  day,  but  only  against  its  initiation  on  tin- 
date  which  <«ur  committee  had  named.     This  was  finally  agreed 
to,  and  on  the  23d  we  were  given  a  copy  of  the  resolutions 
adopted  by  the  typothetae  convention,  squarely  setting  forth 
position  of  the   United  Typoth  Vtttrfci  on  the  request 

made  bv  the  International  Typographical  Union  for  an  av.' 
nient  under  which  the  eight  hour  A.w  would  DtCOHM  effective  in 
book  and  job  moms     it  was  just  the  answer  we  expected,  and 
we  were  in  nowise  disappointed.     Indeed,  we  believed  we  had 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

reason  for  congratulating  ourselves  in  that  the  atmosphere  had 
been  thoroughly  cleared,  and  henceforth  we  would  know  exactly 
where  we  stood.  There  can  be  no  further  shifting  of  the  prob- 
lem to  other  shoulders  by  either  local  unions  or  local  employers. 
It  is  a  clean-cut,  well-defined,  pressing  condition. 

The  Resolutions  —  The  following  are  the  resolutions  adopted 
by  the  United  Typothetae  in  convention  in  St.  Louis,  together 
with  the  letter  of  transmission  to  our  representatives : 

St.  Louis,  June  23,    1904. 
Messrs.    Lynch,    Bramwood   and   Miller,    Committee   from   International   Typo- 
graphical Union. 

Gentlemen  :  In  accordance  with  your  request,  expressed  in  the  conference 
yesterday,  that  we  should  obtain  from  the  convention  a  statement  of  its  attitude 
upon  the  proposed  eight-hour  day,  we  placed  the  matter  before  the  convention, 
and  also  the  telegram  addressed  to  you  from  Indianapolis,  and  beg  to  submit 
in  reply  thereto  the  following  resolutions  which  were  passed  unanimously: 

"Whereas  the  International  Typographical  Union  has  asked  the  United 
Typotheta;  of  America  to  declare  its  position  upon  the  proposed  eight-hour 
day;   and, 

"Whereas  under  existing  conditions  any  attempt  to  reduce  the  hours  of 
labor  in  the  printing  trade  would  be  disastrous  to  the  employer  and  employe 
alike,  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  the  United  Typothet*  of  America  declares  that  it  is  opposed 
to  any  reduction  of  the  fifty-four-hour  week;  and,  be  it  further 

"Resolved,  That  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  will  resist  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  reduce  the  present 
hours  of  labor."  Yours  very  truly,  ■ 

William    Green, 
George  II.  Ellis, 
Harry   P.   Pears, 
Thomas  E.   Donnelley, 
F.   C.  Nunemacher. 

What  It  All  Goes  to  Show —  Recently  I  made  reference  in 
my  Journal  notes  to  "Circular  No.  6,"  issued  from  the  head- 
quarters of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America,  and  which 
contained  this  statement:  "The  efforts  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  to  inaugurate  a  shorter  workday  have 
been  met  by  the  earnest  opposition  of  the  United  Typothetae  of 
America,  and  every  possible  effort  is  being  made  to  advise  cities 
where  agitation  is  carried  on  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  any  such 
suggestion,  and,  if  necessary,  to  fight  it."  On  this  the  following 
comment  was  made :  "Some  of  our  members  have  inclined  to 
the  belief  that  conferences  should  be  sought  with  the  officers  of 
the  United  Typothetae  of  America  relative  to  the  eight-hour  day, 
and  the  above  quotation  may  bring  about  a  change  in  this 
regard.  The  typothetae  intends  to  oppose  the  eight-hour  day 
just  so  long  as  opposition  is  feasible.    When  the  employing  book 

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Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

and  job  printers  become  convinced  that  we  are  determined  in 
our  efforts  to  secure  the  shorter  workday,  then  will  it  be  pos- 
sible to  confer  with  prospect  for  success.  The  agitation  for  the 
nine-hour  day  extended  over  many  years  before  it  crystallized 
and  had  result.  Success  came  when  the  membership  was 
aroused."  Under  the  caption  "Some  Additional  Evidence,"  the 
following  was  also  printed  in  my  department:  "In  an  address 
delivered  at  New  Haven,  January  19,  before  the  Connecticut 
State  Typothetae,  by  the  secretary  of  the  United  Typothetae  of 
America,  that  official  is  reported  to  have  said  :  'The  length  of 
the  workday  is  not  of  so  much  importance  as  the  returns 
ived.  We  are  endeavoring  to  suppress  all  agitation  started 
by  the  International  Typographical  Union.  If  the  hours  are 
reduced  the  expenses  of  the  business  are  added  to  by  15  per  cent. 

There  is  a  movement  in  congress  to  frame  an  eight-hour  day, 
which  is  a  dangerous  one.  We  are  opposing  it  because  it  is 
unwise,  and  we  are  petitioning  our  members  to  have  their  sen- 
ators oppose  the  bill.  We  are  also  antagonizing  the  anti-injunc- 
tion bill.  We  stand  for  the  "open"  office,  although  we  agree 
that  the  union  men  are  the  best  workmen  we  can  secure.'  Could 
there  be  clearer  outline  of  the  attitude  of  the  associated  employ- 
ing printers  toward  the  agitation  for  a  shorter  workday?  Yet 
we  are  told  to  confer  with  the  United  Typothetae  of  America! 
Yes,  when  we  have  aroused  the  union  printers  of  the  country, 
when  we  have  imbued  them  with  eight-hour  euthuaiaan,  when 
we  have  solidified  and  crystallized  the  eight-hour  demand,  when 
there  is  no  room  for  doubt  as  to  our  attitude,  then  we  will 
■  onfer.  And  then  will  a  conference  be  successful."  Neverthe- 
less the  agitation  for  the  conference  continued.  It  has  been  held. 
We  have  the  result.  And  we  repeat:  "When  the  emploj 
book  and  job  printers  l>ecome  convinced  tb.it  \\r  arc  determined 

n  our  elTorts  to  lecure  the  shorter  workday,  then  will   it  U- 
mfer  with  prosper!  fur  mi<  cess."      The  next  chapter 
must  be  written  bv  tbe  St.  Louis  convention. 

The  Syracuse  Agreement —  In  some  localities  employer*  in- 
sist  that  we  are  Imund  by  the  nine  hour  agreement.  On  this 
point.  .1  typOthetC  circular  My*:  "It  nuiM  not  bt  forgotten 
that  the  United  Typotheta  of  America  !  r  cement  with 

the   International   Typographical   Union,  a*  well  as  the  other 
unions  connected  with  the  printing  trade*,  fof    »  lift])  f<»»»r  hour 
I  .   entered   into  a!   Svimcum-   in    i8q8,  end  that  the  term- 

'his  igreement  have  neva  btaa  changed,  and  mu*t  remain  in 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

force  until  formal  notice  of  withdrawal  or  request  for  an 
alteration  of  its  requirements  has  been  submitted  to  the  United 
Typothetae  of  America."  A  reading  of  the  1898  agreement 
referred  to  will  demonstrate  conclusively  the  lack  of  basis  for 
the  statement  made  in  the  official  circular.  It  only  specified  the 
dates  on  which  the  nine-and-one-half-hour  day  became  effective. 
Several  queries  have  been  received  from  eight-hour  towns 
asking  why  eight-hour  literature  is  sent  into  these  jurisdictions. 
"We  have  the  eight-hour  day,  and  we  are  satisfied,"  is  the 
assertion.  In  each  case  the  answer  has  been  that  it  is  the  desire 
of  the  International  committee  to  arouse  interest  in  the  eight- 
hour  day  in  every  jurisdiction,  and  that  the  present  eight-hour 
towns  can  do  much  to  assist  unions  that  have  not  been  fortunate 
enough  to  obtain  the  eight-hour  day.  It  is  necessary,  therefore, 
that  the  eight-hour  cities  appoint  eight-hour  committees,  and 
that  these  committees  shall  give  active  support  and  encourage- 
ment to  the  effort  that  is  being  made  by  the  International  eight- 
hour  committee  to  bring  about  an  eight-hour  day  in  all  of  the 
book  and  job  rooms  in  the  International  jurisdiction.  Those 
who  enjoy  the  shorter  workday  jeopardize  it  by  non-action. 

The  convention  committee  on  the  eight-hour  day,  to 
which  was  submitted  that  portion  of  President  Lynch's 
report  dealing  with  the  subject,  submitted  the  following 
to  the  convention : 

Your  committee  on  the  eight-hour  day  has  carefully  consid- 
ered that  portion  of  the  report  of  President  Lynch  captioned 
"The  Eight-Hour  Day,"  and  which  we  are  informed  is  intended 
as  the  report  of  the  International  eight-hour  committee,  and  has 
also  had  in  review  the  circulars  thus  far  issued  by  the  Interna- 
tional eight-hour  committee,  seven  in  number.  We  have  also 
had  before  us  President  Lynch,  who  has  explained  fully  and  in 
detail  the  various  steps  taken  by  the  committee,  the  work  per- 
formed and  the  general  object  in  view. 

After  a  careful  review  of  the  eight-hour  movement  and  the 
documents  indicated,  we  desire  to  report  to  the  convention  as 
follows : 

First.  We  endorse  without  reservation  the  work  and  meth- 
ods of  the  International  eight-hour  committee.  We  believe  in 
this  connection  that  the  committee  has  thoroughly  covered  the 
ground  and  has  put  into  effect  every  method  that  thus  far  has 
given  promise  of  advancement  to  the  eight-hour  cause. 

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Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

Second.  We  believe  with  President  Lynch  that  "the  eight- 
hour  day  subject  will  not  grow  old  until  the  inauguration  of 
the  eight-hour  day  is  itself  an  event  of  the  past  rather  than 
something  that  must  yet  be  brought  about." 

Third.  We  regret  that  the  eight-hour  day  in  book  and  job 
rooms  is  not  a  question  at  the  present  time  for  adjudication  be- 
tween the  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  United 
Typothetae  of  America,  but  in  view  of  the  action  taken  by  the 
United  Typothetae  of  America  in  convention  assembled  at  St. 
Louis,  in  which  it  is  asserted  "That  the  United  Typotheta  of 
America  declares  it  is  opposed  to  any  reduction  of  the  fifty-four- 
hour  week"  and  "that  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  will 
resist  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  to  reduce  the  present  hours  of  labor,"  no  other 
conclusion  is  possible.  That  an  agreement  on  peaceable  lines 
is  not  now  possible  is  solely  the  fault  of  the  associated  employ- 
ers, and  this  contention  is  borne  out  by  the  action  of  their  last 
convention.  Further,  we  dispute  the  statement  of  the  typothetse 
that  a  reduction  in  the  hours  of  labor  would  be  disastrous  to  the 
employe.  We  maintain  that  the  eight-hour  day  is  the  logical 
workday,  that  it  is  sufficient  for  the  needs  of  the  trade,  and  we 
give  emphatic  endorsement  to  the  doctrine  that  the  introduction 
of  labor-saving  machinery  is  not  for  the  benefit  of  the  employer 
alone,  but  should  also  result  in  better  working  conditions  for 
the  employe  in  the  way  of  reduction  in  the  hours  of  toil  and 
increased  remuneration. 

FOURTH.  The  claim  advanced  by  the  typothetce  that  it  bis 
an  agreement  with  the  International  Typographical  Union  for 
a  fifty-four-hour  week  which  precludes  any  attempt  on  the 
part  of  our  organization  for  a  shorter  workday  or  week,  is  not 
borne  out  by  the  terms  of  the  Syracuse  agreement,  and  wc  be- 
lieve it  is  made  at  this  time  simply  in  furtherance  of  the  intcn 
Hon  to  construct  as  many  obstacles  to  the  eight-hour  day  as  is 
possible. 

In  111.  We  congratulate  the  International  eight-hour  com- 
mittee on  the  large  number  <>f  unions  that  have  thu*  far 
mi.  f  ceded  in  inaugurating  the  eight  hour  day.  or  that  have  made 
srrangementi  under  which  tin-  eight  hour  day  will  »hortlv  come 

into  effect      In  view  of  the  fact  that  it  toot  more  than  ft* 

peari  t.>  bring  about  the  nine  hour  day.  we  have  especial  cause 
lor   jubilation  over  the  progress  that  has  thus  far  been  made 
inl  the  logical  and  Inevitable  eight  hour  workday. 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Sixth.  We  endorse  the  statement  made  by  President  Lynch. 
and  we  desire  to  impress  it  on  the  delegates  to  this  convention 
and  through  them  on  the  membership  at  large,  that  "when  the 
employing  book  and  job  printers  become  convinced  that  we  are 
determined  in  our  efforts  to  secure  the  shorter  workday,  then  it 
will  be  possible  to  confer  with  the  United  Typothetae  of  Amer- 
ica with  prospect  for  success." 

After  weighing  carefully  the  various  plans  and  methods  that 
have"  been  suggested  to  your  committee  the  committee  recom- 
mends to  the  convention  the  adoption  of  the  following  preamble 
and  resolutions,  which,  when  referred  to  the  referendum  and 
adopted  by  it,  will  place  the  International  Typographical  Union 
squarely  on  record  on  the  eight-hour  day  proposition,  and  indi- 
cate beyond  question  the  date  on  which  the  eight-hour  day  shall 
become  effective  in  all  union  establishments : 

"Whereas  in  the  movement  for  an  eight-hour  day  for  the 
book  and  job  members  of  the  typographical  union,  authorized 
by  our  Cincinnati  convention,  the  International  eight-hour  com- 
mittee has  sought  an  agreement  with  the  United  Typothetae  of 
America,  under  which  the  eight-hour  day  could  be  made  effect- 
ive on  a  mutually  satisfactory  plan,  and  with  the  minimum  of 
embarrassment  to  the  interests  of  our  employers;  and 

"Whereas  the  overtures  for  peace  thus  made  were  refused 
and  declined,  and  replied  to  with  a  threat,  combined  with  a 
practical  declaration  of  war  should  any  effort  be  made  to 
achieve  the  shorter  workday,  as  witness  the  language  of  the 
resolutions  adopted  by  the  late  typothetae  convention ;  and 

"Whereas  we  reaffirm  and  again  demand  the  eight-hour  day 
for  our  book  and  job  members. 

"Whereas  your  committee  having  carefully  considered 
propositions  Nos.  35,  61,  62,  63,  98,  103  and  129,  submit  in 
lieu  thereof  the  following : 

"Resolved,  That  we  again  declare  our  entire  willingness  to 
negotiate  with  the  United  Typothetae  for  an  agreement  under 
which  the  eight-hour  day  will  become  operative,  and  so  instruct 
our  eight-hour  committee ; 

"Resolved,  That  an  assessment  of  one-half  of  one  (1)  per 
cent  of  all  moneys  earned  be  levied  upon  the  membership  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  for  the  purpose  of  a  defense 
fund.  Such  fund  to  be  held  and  expended  by  the  subordinate 
union,  except  in  those  cases  where  no  trouble  is  experienced 
in  putting  in  operation  the  eight-hour  day,  and  in  such  unions 

782 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

one-half  of  the  assessment  to  be  subject  to  call  of  the  Inter- 
national officers  for  use  in  the  furtherance  of  the  eight-hour 
day  as  deemed  in  their  judgment  necessary; 

"Resolved,  That  on  January  1,  1906,  the  eight-hour  day  shall 
become  effective  in  all  union  establishments  under  the  juris- 
diction of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  where  exist- 
ing contracts  do  not  prevent,  and  in  each  instance  where  the 
eight-hour  day  is  refused  work  shall  cease." 

In  conclusion,  your  committee  desires  to  urge  upon  this 
convention  and  the  membership  at  large  the  advisability  and 
necessity  of  adopting  the  resolutions  herein  set  forth  and  pre- 
paring in  every  way  possible  for  effective  action  if  resistant  «• 
to  the  eight-hour  day  develops  on  or  prior  to  January  I,  1906. 

The  report  of  the  committee,  after  prolonged  discussion 
by  many  delegates  and  after  an  attempt  to  amend,  W1M 
finally  unanimously  adopted,  and  the  recommendation 
contained  in  the  committee's  report  regarding  the  levying 
of  an  assessment  was  favorably  acted  upon  by  the  refer- 
endum by  a  vote  of  19,483  ayes,  5,398  noes — majority. 
14,085. 

THE      PHOTO     ENGRAVKKS 

The  Washington  convention  adopted,  and  the  referen- 
dum approved,  changes  in  the  law  necessary  to  permit  the 
surrender  of  jurisdiction  by  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  over  photo  engravers.  As  soon  as  possible, 
alter  the  amendments  became  effective,  an  agreement  was 
reached  with  the  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union, 
as  follows : 

AGREEMENT     EETWEEN     THE     I  NTEENATION  Al.    T  Vr<V.«Af  II  I  <   M      I    «!"<«     AKO     THE 
INTERNATIONAL   PIIOTii   RNORAVERt'    UNION 

In  consideration  of  the  surrender  of  jnris.in  n«>n  l»y  the 
Intern. itional  'I  ypographieal  I'nion  over  photo  engravers,  the 
following  is  agreed  to  by  the  executive  oonncfl  <>f  tin-  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  acting  with  full  authority,  and 
the  executive  council  of  the  International  Photo  Engraven' 
I  Dion,  acting  with  full  authority. 

PlB8T.  That  the  International  Phot,.  Kn  gravers'  Union 
agrees  to  work  in  harmony  with  the  International  l'y|>ographiral 
Union. 

Ms 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Second.  That  should  trouble  arise  in  the  photo  engraving 
trade,  threatening  to  involve  the  International  Typographical 
Union  or  its  subordinate  unions,  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  shall  be  given  opportunity  to  pass  on  the  matter 
and  adjust  the  dispute,  if  possible. 

Third.  That  should  a  strike  be  necessary  at  any  time  on 
the  part  of  the  photo  engravers,  and  sympathetic  action  be 
sought  on  the  part  of  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
that  the  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union  shall  first 
guarantee  to  the  International  Typographical  Union,  by  cash 
deposit,  that  all  expenses  in  connection  with  the  joint  strike 
shall  be  borne  by  the  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union. 

Fourth.  That  the  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union 
shall,  at  no  time,  give  aid  or  comfort  or  assistance  to  any  trade 
organization  opposed  to  the  International  Typographical 
Union.  The  maintenance  of  a  neutral  position  by  the  Interna- 
tional Photo  Engravers'  Union  shall  be  deemed  a  compliance 
with  this  section. 

Fifth.  That  all  contracts  with  employers  entered  into  by 
photo  engravers'  unions  while  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  In- 
ternational Typographical  Union,  shall  be  faithfully  observed, 
and  their  execution  is  guaranteed  by  the  International  Photo 
Engravers'  Union. 

The  obligations  embraced  in  this  covenant  and  set  forth  in 
paragraphs  I,  2,  3  and  4,  shall  be  mutual;  that  is,  they  shall 
also  apply  to  the  International  Typographical  Union  in  its 
relation  with  the  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union. 
This  agreement  shall  take  effect  immediately. 
In  witness  whereof,  the  undersigned  representatives  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  and  the  International 
Photo  Engravers'  Union  have  hereunto  set  their  hands  and 
seals,  this  April  24,  1904. 

Louis  Flader,  President, 
H.  J.  Griffith,  First  Vice-President, 
Augustus  E.   Blanck,  Second   Vice-President, 
Edward  L.  Henke,  Third  Vice-President, 
H.   E.   Gudbrandsen.  Secretary-Treasurer. 
Executive  Council  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union. 

James    M.    Lynch, 
Hugo  Miller. 
J.  W.  Bramwood, 
Executive  Council  International  Typographical  Union. 

784 


Convention  at  St.  Louis,  1904 

After  the  signatures  had  been  attached  to  the  foregoing 
document  the  executive  council  withdrew  all  objection  to 
an  International  Union  of  Photo  Engravers,  and  the  new 
organization  was  granted  a  charter  by  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor.  The  union  was  also  admitted  to 
membership  and  participation  in  the  compact  between  the 
international  unions  of  the  printing  trade. 

I.  O  S      ANGELES     T  I  M  I •".  - 

In  his  annual  report  to  the  convention,  President  Lynch 
referred  to  the  fact  that  on  December  12.  1903,  an  event 
was  chronicled  in  Los  Angeles  of  supreme  importance  to 
the  International  Typographical  Union.  On  that  day  the 
Los  Angeles  Examiner  made  its  appearance  as  a  morning 
daily  and  in  direct  competition  with  the  unfair  Los 
Angeles  Times.  The  contest  in  Los  Angeles  had  been 
initiated  more  than  two  years  previously  and  it  had  been 
conducted  stubbornly  and  determinedly.  Obstacle  after 
obstacle  had  been  thrown  in  the  way,  but  the  union  had 
persevered.  The  entire  membership  rallied  to  the  fight 
with  magnificent  courage  and  on  two  occasions,  by  grati- 
fying majorities,  voted  the  money  necessary  for  tin- 
struggle.  For  years  the  Times  had  been  on  the  non-union 
list  and  had  never  lost  an  opportunity  to  injure  trade 
unionism  and  editorially  and  otherwise  accepted  every 
opening  that  gave  promise  of  harm  to  the  unions  and 
especially  to  the  International  Typographical  Union 

In  concluding  his  reference  to  tin-  Timet,  President 
Lynch  said:  "This  has  been  endured  with  patience  until 
finally  cur  preservation,  almost  our  existence,  compelled 

us  to  accept  the  gauge  of  battle.    It  may  take  years  t 

this  contest,  bul  it  can  be  won." 
The  convention  committee  to  which  the  Times  affair 

was  referred  reported  that  it  had  carefully  reviewed  the 
work  being  carried  on  by  the  representative  of  the  execu- 
tive council  in  Los  Angeles  and  agreed  that  everything 

7«5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

possible  had  been  done  to  bring  about  a  victory.  The 
committee  had  been  in  conference  with  Mr.  Arthur  Hay, 
special  representative  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  and  with  the  delegates  from  Los  Angeles  and  San 
Francisco,  and  was  assured  by  these  representatives  that 
the  fight  was  being  pushed  vigorously. 

In  view  of  the  facts  ascertained  during  its  investiga- 
tions, the  committee  recommended  to  the  convention  the 
following: 

First.  That  the  executive  council  be  instructed  to  furnish 
such  finances  from  the  defense  fund  as  in  its  wisdom  may  be 
necessary  for  the  continuance  of  the  contest. 

Second.  That  in  order  to  further  the  interests  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  President  Lynch  be  instructed 
to  visit  Los  Angeles  at  his  earliest  convenience,  to  the  end  that 
the  contest  with  the  Times  may,  if  possible,  be  made  more 
effective. 

Third.  That  the  following  proposition,  numbered  ill,  by 
Delegate  Mitchell,  of  San  Francisco,  be  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sentiment  of  this  union  (San  Fran- 
cisco No.  21 )  that  the  fight  against  the  Los  Angeles  Times 
should  be  prosecuted  with  renewed  vigor." 

Fourth.  That  the  secretary-treasurer  be  instructed  to 
write  a  letter  of  thanks  to  Hon.  William  R.  Hearst  for  the 
establishment  by  him  of  the  Los  Angeles  Examiner. 

The  report  of  the  committee  was  concurred  in  by  the 
convention. 

The  convention  adjourned  to  meet  in  Toronto,  Canada, 
in  August,  1905. 

Convention    at    Toronto 

[1905] — The  fifty-first  convention  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  in  the  Labor 
Temple,  Toronto,  Canada,  August  14,  1905,  by  Chairman 
Stevenson  of  the  arrangements  committee,  who  invited 
the  following  gentlemen  to  take  seats  on  the  platform  : 
Rev.  Bernard  Bryan,  an  ex-printer;  Hon.  J.  P.  Whitney, 

786 


Convention  at  Toronto,  19x55 

premier  of  the  Province  of  Ontario;  Thomas  Urquhart, 
mayor  of  Toronto;  Alderman  J.  J.  Graham,  chairman  of 
the  civic  reception  committee;  Prof.  Goldwin  Smith; 
Robert  Glockling,  president  International  Brotherhood  of 
Bookbinders;  Edward  Randall,  first  vice-president  Inter- 
national Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union;  John 
McVicar,  Detroit,  ex-president  International  Typograph- 
ical Union;  John  Armstrong,  ex-president  International 
Typographical  Union  and  president  of  ex-delegates' 
association  of  Toronto;  Edward  Meehan,  president  I 
ronto  Typographical  Union. 

Mr.  Stevenson  welcomed  the  delegates  in  behalf  of  the 
local  organization  and  felicitated  the  International  Union 
upon  wiping  out  all  geographical  lines  in  the  trade  union 
movement. 

President  Meehan  took  the  chair  and  invited  Reverend 
Bryan  to  offer  the  invocation.  All  of  the  speakers  who 
had  been  invited  to  the  platform  addressed  the  convention 
in  words  of  welcome  and  encouragement.  President 
Meehan  then  presented  a  handsome  gavel  to  President 
Lynch,  who  took  the  chair  and  responded  briefly  to  tin 
words  of  welcome. 

Secretary-Treasurer  Bramwood  reported  that  the 
dcntials  of  252  delegates  had  been  filed  with  him.  "t 
which  number  three  were  irregularly  elected  and  one 
came  from  a  delegate  whose  union  was  in  arrears.  The 
credentials  of  the  irregularly  elected  delegates  were 
referred  to  the  credentials  committee  and  the  president 
then  administered  the  obligation  t«>  those  regular  h 
elected.  The  number  of  delegates  in  attendance  was  later 
increased  t<>  260. 

I     II    I  I'    II    I    I      \   l»  I     I     ''    II    I     \        .      \    s  I 

Delegate  Smith  (Philadelphia)  asked  unanimous  con- 
sent for  the  consideration  of  a  resolution  granting  thi 
privilege  of  the  floor  to  officers,  ex -officers  and  organic 

7*7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

but  objection  was  made  and  the  president  ruled  the  resolu- 
tion was  out  of  order  until  permanent  organization  was 
effected  by  the  appointment  of  officers  and  committees. 
The  chair  then  announced  the  appointment  of  the  conven- 
tion officers  and  of  committees.  The  president  explained 
that  the  several  delegates  from  Philadelphia  had  been 
excused  from  committee  duty  at  their  own  request. 

Delegate  Smith  (Philadelphia)  again  asked  unanimous 
consent  for  the  consideration  of  a  resolution  granting  the 
privilege  of  the  floor  to  officers,  ex-officers  and  organizers, 
but  objection  was  made.  The  delegate  then  introduced  a 
proposition  to  amend  the  by-laws  so  as  to  grant  said 
officers  the  privilege  of  the  floor.  Tfce  proposition  was 
referred  to  the  committee  on  laws. 

The  Philadelphia  delegation  then  submitted  the  follow- 
ing proposition : 

Whereas  Philadelphia  Typographical  Union  No.  2  has  for  over  fifteen 
months  been  engaged  in  a  life-and-death  struggle  with  the  Philadelphia  In- 
quirer;  and 

Whereas  the  success  of  the  eight-hour  day  in  a  competitive  district  com- 
prising over  60  per  cent  of  the  total  membership  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  is  dependent,  to  a  great  degree,  on  maintaining  the  integrity 
of  Philadelphia  Union  No.  2,  which  can  be  accomplished  only  by  sustaining 
the   fight  which  Philadelphia  Union   is  now  carrying   on. 

Resolved  (by  the  International  Typographical  Union,  in  fifty-first  annual 
convention  assembled),  That  we  emphatically  endorse  the  fight  now  being 
waged  by  Philadelphia  Typographical  Union  No.  2  against  the  Philadelphia 
Inquirer,   and 

Be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  executive  council  be  and  the  same  is  here- 
by instructed  to  place  at  the  disposal  of  the  Philadelphia  Union,  immediately, 
after  return  to  headquarters,  the  sum  of  $7,800,  this  sum  being  due  Phila- 
delphia Union  under  a  fair  and  equitable  construction  of  both  the  Washington 
and  St.  Louis  agreements  between  the  executive  council  and  Philadelphia 
Union ;  provided,  that  Philadelphia  Union,  out  of  this  sum,  shall  reimburse 
those   of  its  sister  unions  who  have  contributed  financial  support;   and 

Be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  executive  council  be  and  the  same  is  here- 
by instructed  to  continue  financial  assistance  to  Philadelphia  Union  at  the  rate 
of  $200  per  week  until  the  Inquirer  fight  is  won,  or  until  the  next  convention; 
provided,  that  Philadelphia  Union  contribute  at  least  an  equal  amount  and 
that  the  fight  be  conducted  under  the  supervision  and  direction  of  the  executive 
council,  itemized  vouchers  being  furnished  that  body  by  the  local  union  for 
all  moneys  expended,  and  the  work  to  be  in  charge  of  an  International  repre- 
sentative to  be  selected  under  the  terms  of  the   Washington   agreement;   and 

Be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  executive  council  be  and  the  same  is  here- 
by instructed,  in  case  the  eight-hour  fight  or  any  other  circumstances  drain 
the   International   Typographical   Union   treasury  to   such   an   extent  as  to  en- 

788 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

danger  the  continuation  of  the  Philadelphia  campaign  or  the  regular  work  of 
organization,  to  submit  to  a  vote  of  the  referendum  a  proposition  for  an  extra 
assessment  in  such  amount  and  for  such  length  of  time  as  may  be  deemed 
necessary   by   the   executive  council   to   meet   the   contingency. 

The  foregoing  was  referred  by  President  Lynch  to  the 
committee  on  appeals. 

Delegate  Kreft  (Philadelphia)  submitted  a  resolution 
that  the  committee  on  appeals  be  directed  to  report  the 
above  proposition  back  to  the  convention  not  later  than 
Tuesday,  2  p.  If.  Chairman  Draper  (Ottawa)  of  the 
committee  asked  for  an  extension  of  time,  and,  after  some 
discussion,  the  resolution  of  .Delegate  Kreft  was  lost. 

President  Lynch  then  called  Vice-President  Hays  to 
the  chair  and  took  the  floor  as  the  representative  of  the 
executive  council.  He  stated  that  the  executive  council 
had  been  charged  with  "stabbing  No.  2  in  the  back'" ; 
"rendering  aid  and  succor  to  the  rats  in  their  fight  against 
the  union";  with  being  "in  league  with  the  rat  employers 
and  rat  printers  of  Philadelphia",  etc.  If  the  charges 
were  true,  as  made,  the  executive  council  was  not  fit  to 
carry  on  the  eight-hour  movement,  nor  fit  to  conduct  the 
business  of  the  union;  there  was  no  middle  course;  they 
were  either  union  or  non-union  ;  and  if  not  union,  they 
had  no  business  in  the  chairs.  The  papers  in  this  case 
were  in  the  hands  of  the  delegates  and  embraced  in  propo- 
sition No.  1,  an  appeal  by  the  council.  On  behalf  of  the 
council,  he  earnestly  requested  an  early  disposition  01  the 

appeal  presented. 

Delegate  Johnson  (Washington.  D.  C.)  moved  that  the 
committee  on  appeals  be  instructed  t.>  take  up  proposition 
\<».    1,  the  appeal  of  the  executive  council,  and   ret 
I  'in  sday  morning  if  possible 

Proposition  No.  i,  above  referred  to,  arai  the  appeal 

taken  by  the  executive  council  from  the  action  0!  Phi 

<1<  Iphia  Union   No.  2  in   relation  to  tin 

section  81  of  the  general  laws,  III  nn  instance  of  violation 

ft 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  the  law  called  to  the  attention  of  Philadelphia  Union 
by  the  council.  It  related  to  the  Shelby  Smith  case 
(so-called).  The  proposition  was  before  the  delegates  in 
printed  form. 

After  some  discussion  by  Delegates  Smith  (Philadel- 
phia), Steele  (Washington)  and  Faries  (Philadelphia), 
Delegate  Faries  (Philadelphia)  moved  to  amend  that  the 
Philadelphia  case  be  taken  up  prior  to  proposition  No.  I 
(the  council's  appeal). 

Delegate  Kreft  (Philadelphia)  argued  in  favor  of 
considering  the  Philadelphia  matter  first  and  the  Smith 
matter  afterward.  A  rising  vote  was  taken  and  the 
amendment  was  lost  by  a  vote  of  74  ayes  to  135  noes. 

The  original  motion  that  the  committee  on  appeals 
report  on  proposition  No.  1  on  Tuesday,  or  as  early  as 
possible,  was  then  placed  before  the  convention,  and  the 
motion  prevailed. 

The  committee  on  appeals  submitted  its  report  on  the 
fourth  day  of  the  convention  and  it  developed  that  propo- 
sition No.  1  was  an  appeal  of  the  executive  council  from 
the  action  taken  by  Philadelphia  Union  No.  2  in  relation 
to  the  enforcement  of  section  81,  general  laws  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  in  an  instance  of 
violation  of  the  law  called  to  the  attention  of  No.  2  by  the 
executive  council.    This  law  is  as  follows : 

Section  81.  Any  member  or  members  of  any  subordinate 
union  circulating  or  causing  to  be  circulated  in  any  way  mali- 
cious or  untrue  statements  reflecting  upon  the  standing  or  char- 
acter, private  or  public,  of  any  officer  or  member  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  or  impugning  the  motives  or 
reflecting  upon  the  honesty  of  any  officer  or  member  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of 
ununionlike  conduct,  and  upon  conviction  before  a  trial  board 
shall  be  suspended  or  expelled,  as  two-thirds  of  the  members 
may  determine.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  executive  commit- 
tee of  each  subordinate  union  to  investigate  and  prosecute  all 

790 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

violations  of  this  law  occurring  within  its  jurisdiction.  It 
shall  also  be  the  duty,  and  it  is  hereby  imperatively  ordered, 
that  any  subordinate  union,  or  any  member  of  a  subordinate 
union,  shall  prefer  charges  before  the  proper  authorities 
against  all  violators  of  this  section. 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  foregoing  section,  Shelby 
Smith,  a  member  of  Philadelphia  Union  and  editor  of  the 
Trades  Union  News  of  that  city,  was  charged  with  pub- 
lishing derogatory  statements  regarding  the  members  of 
the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  individually  and  collectively,  the  most  violent  of 
which  was  as  follows  : 

■  XECUTIVE    COUNCIL    OF    INTERNATIONAL    TYPOGRAPHICAL    UNION    AGAIN    STAM    NO.    2 

IN    THE  BACK  RENDERS  AID   AND  SUCCOR  TO   THE  RATS  IN    THEIR    RIGHT   AGAINST 

THE    UNION 

Had  anything  been  lacking  to  convince  the  membership  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  of  the  deliberate  intention  of  the  executive  council  t>> 
destroy  Typographical  Union  No.  2,  it  is  supplied  by  the  "open  letter"  of 
the   council   printed   below. 

Mad  anything  been  necessary  to  prove  the  interest  of  the  executive  coun- 
cil in  neutralizing  the  effective  fight  of  No.  2  against  the  scab  Inquirer  it  is 
here    supplied. 

Had  any  evidence  of  the  criminal  refusal  of  the  council  to  obey  the  plain 
letter  of  the  law.  supposed  to  govern  its  action,  been  missing,  that  evidence 
is  here. 

H.kI  there  been  any  proof  needed  that  the  executive  council  is  in  league 
with  the  rat  employers  and  rat  printers  of  Philadelphia  against  Typographical 
Union   No.  2,  that  proof  is  found  in  their  "open  letter"  of  February  7. 

John  McNeal,  president  of  the  International  noilcrrnakers'  Union,  was  ex- 
pelled for  offenses  less  infamous  than  that  committed  by  the  executive  council 
of  the  I.  T.   U.   in  the  issuance  of  this  "open  letter." 

So  dastardly  an  attemptt  to  injure  a  local  union  by  the  officers  of  a  na- 
tional organization  charged  with  its  protection  and  support  has  nrvrt  brm 
known.      It  is  inconceivable   that   it  can   ever  be   repeated. 

The  above  article  appeared  in  the  Trades  Union  News 
of  February  I,  1905.  On  February  25,  1905,  the  execu- 
tive council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  m 
a  letter  to  the  president  and  executive  committer  «»f  Phila- 
delphia Union,  tailed  attention  to  the  provision-*  of 
section  81  of  the  general  laws,  reciting  the  charges  and 
derogatory  itatementi  that  were  particularly  offensive  and 
■  ailing  upon  the  union  through  its  president  and  cxccuti\« 
committee  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  the  section  in 

791 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

question,  which  specifically  applied  to  cases  of  this 
character. 

The  question  was  subsequently  brought  to  the  attention 
of  a  meeting  of  Philadelphia  Union  and  a  trial  committee 
was  appointed. 

The  members  of  the  executive  council  were  summoned 
to  appear  before  the  local  trial  board  at  Philadelphia  but 
declined  to  do  so,  pointing  out  that  under  the  law  Phila- 
delphia Typographical  Union  was  required  to  act,  the 
council  having  pointed  out  the  violations  of  the  law  and 
asserted  that  under  the  law  the  member  who  made  the 
charges  must  prove  them  or  take  the  consequences.  At  a 
later  date  the  secretary  of  Philadelphia  Typographical 
Union  transmitted  to  the  executive  council  the  report  of 
the  trial  board  in  the  case.  Mr.  Smith's  main  defense  was 
that  the  article  written  by  him  and  published  in  the 
Trades  Union  News  was  justified  by  reason  of  the  action 
of  the  council  in  declining  to  extend  Philadelphia  Union 
all  the  financial  aid  it  had  requested  in  its  fight  with  the 
Inquirer. 

The  case  of  the  executive  council  was  fully  stated  by 
Secretary-Treasurer  Bramwood,  and  Mr.  Smith  sub- 
mitted his  defense  to  the  convention  committee,  with  the 
result  that  the  following  findings  of  the  committee  were 
submitted  to  the  delegates  : 

In  the  minds  of  your  committee,  this  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant questions  that  has  ever  been  brought  before  an  inter- 
national convention.  The  laws  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  prescribe  the  duties  of  the  executive  council. 
Among  these  duties  is  the  disposition  of  the  defense  fund.  Cer- 
tain rules  are  laid  down  as  to  its  disposition  by  the  laws  of  the 
organization,  while  its  administration  is  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  executive  council.  The  council,  in  exercising  its  rights  and 
prerogatives  under  the  law,  as  construed  by  the  council,  de- 
cided upon  a  certain  course  of  action  in  the  Philadelphia  case. 
Its  adherence  to  that  plan  is  claimed  by  Mr.  Smith  and  the 

792 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

trial  board  of  the  Philadelphia  Union — and,  in  fact,  by  the 
union  itself,  through  its  adoption  of  the  report  of  the  trial 
board — to  have  been  sufficient  ground  for  the  charge  of  being 
"in  league  with  the  rat  employers  and  rat  printers  of  Phila- 
delphia against  Typographical  Union  No.  2,"  of  "rendering  aid 
and  succor  to  the  rats  in  their  fight  against  the  union,"  and 
other  statements  of  like  character.  We  submit  that  this  is  an 
unjustifiable  assumption  on  the  part  of  any  member  or  local 
union  connected  with  this  organization.  If  the  unionism  of  the 
officers  of  the  International  Union,  charged  with  the  perform- 
ance of  certain  duties,  is  to  be  thus  grossly  attacked  and  be- 
smirched because  official  action  may  not  meet  with  the  ap- 
proval of  certain  members  or  officers  of  a  local  union,  or  t la- 
local  union  itself,  and  the  provisions  of  existing  law  are  not 
strong  enough  to  cope  with  such  cases,  it  is  high  time  that  a 
law  was  enacted  that  will  end,  for  all  time,  such  flagrant  pro- 
cedure by  those  who  wish  to  remain  enrolled  under  the  banner 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union.  But  your  commit- 
tee believes  that  section  81,  properly  enforced,  is  ample  to 
cover  the  case  in  question.  Its  provisions  are  exceedingly  plain, 
and  the  course  of  procedure  is  mandatory.  We  agree  with  the 
members  of  the  executive  council  that  the  charges  as  outlined 
above,  "if  founded  on  fact,  mean  that  the  officers  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  constituting  the  executive  coun- 
cil, are  not  worthy  to  fill  the  positions  they  occupy;  if  not 
founded  on  fact,  or  if  malicious  or  untrue,  the  provisions  of 
section  81  apply."  And  those  provisions  set  forth  in  a  manda- 
tory manner  the  punishment  that  shall  be  administered  to  one 
violating  its  provisions.  In  the  case  at  issue  not  one  scintilla 
of  evidence — direct,  documentary  or  oral — was  produced  btfoft 
your  committee  tending  to  substantiate  the  charges  ma«le  l»> 
Mr.  Shelby  Smith.  The  only  defense  put  in  by  Mr.  Smith  »* 
the  one  which  he  made  before  the  trial  l>oard  of  Philadelphia 
Union,  which  we  submit,  is  not  evidence  at  all.  On  the  other 
side,  the  appellants  (the  memla»rs  of  the  executive  COW 
the  ease  defy  the  produ<  tion  of  .mv  Mich  testimony,  and  th.  \ 
emphatically  state,  collectively  and  individually,  that  no  such 
testimonv  existed.      Your  committee,  therefore,  believes  that   it 

is  warranted  by  the  facts  ;ts  dtoefosed  by  ix'th  «ide*  in  coning 

to   the   decision    that    section   8|    was  deliberately    violated    b\ 
Shelby  Smith,  and  that  the  trial  board  of  Philadelphia  Typo- 

m 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

graphical  Union  purposely  evaded  the  provisions  of  section  8 1 
in  handling  this  case,  and  rendered  a  verdict  that  had  no  evi- 
dence to  sustain  it.     We  therefore  recommend  as  follows: 

First.  That  Shelby  Smith,  who  is  now  seated  as  delegate 
from  Philadelphia  Typographical  Union,  be  expelled  from  the 
convention  and  his  seat  be  declared  vacant. 

Second.  That  Philadelphia  Typographical  Union  be  in- 
structed by  this  convention  to  immediately  expel  Shelby  Smith 
from  membership  in  that  organization,  and  it  is  the  verdict  of 
this  convention  that  such  expulsion  shall  remain  in  effect  until 
such  time  as  Shelby  Smith  shall  make  a  full  and  ample  public 
apology  to  the  members  of  the  executive  council  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  such  apology  to  be  published 
in  the  Typographical  Journal  and  Trades  Union  News  of 
Philadelphia,  and  given  such  other  publicity  as  may  be  deemed 
necessary.  By  the  term  "full  and  ample  apology,"  we  mean 
one  that  will  be  acceptable  to  the  members  of  the  executive 
council,  whose  personal  and  official  characters  have  been  thus 
wantonly  assailed.  If  No.  2  fails  to  enforce  this  verdict  within 
thirty  days  its  charter  to  be  revoked  by  the  executive  council. 

In  concluding  its  report,  your  committee  desires  to  say  that 
the  problem  before  it  was  not  one  of  sentiment,  but  one  of  ren- 
dering justice  under  our  laws  and  according  to  facts.  A  ques- 
tion of  the  character  covered  in  this  report — involving  the 
integrity  of  its  chosen  representatives — should  not  be  passed 
lightly  by.  It  is  necessary  for  the  International  Typographical 
Union  to  take  its  place  among  the  labor  organizations  which 
protect  their  officers  and  members  from  gross  and  malicious 
attacks  of  this  nature.  We  further  believe  that  a  concurrence 
in  the  recommendations  of  this  committee  will  show  conclu- 
sively that  the  laws  of  the  International  Union  are  enacted 
for  the  guidance  of  its  members  and  officers,  and  will  be  en- 
forced without  fear  or  favor. 

The  discussion  following  the  report  of  the  committee 
occupied  a  large  portion  of  the  day's  session,  when  the 
report  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  209  ayes  against  34  noes. 

Just  before  the  vote  was  taken  on  the  question  of  con- 
curring in  the  recommendations  of  the  appeals  committee, 
Mr.  Smith  read  the  following  statement : 

I  confess  that  I  am  not  able  to  produce  evidence  to  substan- 
794 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

tiate  the  statements  made  in  the  Trades  Union  News  of  Febru- 
ary 9  concerning  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  in  the  construction  placed  upon  them  by  the 
council  and  the  committee  on  appeals — a  construction  never  in- 
tended to  be  conveyed.  I  deeply  regret  their  publication,  and 
shall  request  the  publication  of  this  statement  in  the  Trades 
Union  News  regardless  of  the  action  of  this  convention. 

IJRIEF     REVIEW     OF     OFFICERS'     REPORTS 

The  reports  of  the  officers  for  the  fiscal  year  were  the , 
most  voluminous  of  any  documents  of  that  character  pre- 
viously submitted  to  a  convention. 

Aside  from  the  eight-hour  day,  the  Philadelphia  case, 
the  revocation  of  St.  Louis'  charter,  which  are  treated 
under  separate  headings,  the  report  of  President  Lynch 
contained  an  account  of  the  arbitration  proceedings  had 
with  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association 
during  the  year.  The  relations  of  the  International  Union 
with  those  newspapers  holding  arbitration  contracts  were 
reported  to  have  been  both  pleasant  and  profitable.  Sev- 
eral scales  of  prices  had  been  arbitrated  and  numerous 
matters  had  been  adjusted  by  the  commissioner  represent- 
ing the  publishers'  association  and  the  president  of  the 
International  Union.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  much  of  the 
value  of  the  arbitration  agreement  was  in  the  opportunity 
afforded  for  the  settlement  of  minor  contentions  which 
caused  endless  trouble,  often  leading  to  costly  and  useless 
strikes. 

In  connection  with  the  subject  of  arbitration,  a  list  of 
newspapers  holding  arbitration  agreements  was  published 
ami  a  review  of  the  national  board  of  arbitration  awards 
was  given.  The  liberty  of  the  press  as  involved  in  the 
proposed  boycott  of  a  union  paper  because  of  its  pub- 
lished opinions  was  discussed  by  President  Lynch  and 

>nch  action  \v.i--  condemned  by  him 

Under  the  heading  "Organization,     the   International 

705 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

president  presented  a  letter  that  had  been  sent  to  organiz- 
ers which  showed  that  gains  in  membership  and  strength 
had  been  made  even  though  the  union  through  its  eight- 
hour  movement  was  under  fire.  It  was  asserted  that 
despite  the  increased  International  per  capita  tax,  the 
eight-hour  assessment,  supplemented  in  many  instances 
by  local  assessments,  and  the  feeling  of  uneasiness  natural 
to  a  campaign  for  shorter  hours,  the  union  had  not  only 
retained  its  membership  but  had  actually  made  gains.  An 
active  organizing  effort  had  been  initiated  by  local  unions, 
acting  on  suggestions  from  the  headquarters  office,  and 
the  reports  received  indicated  that  the  venture,  notwith- 
standing the  expense  attached,  had  been  justified  by 
results. 

The  various  vice-presidents  submitted  brief  reports 
covering  their  activities  during  the  year. 

Typographia  —  Second  Vice-President  Miller,  for  the 
Typographia,  reported  his  organization  as  being  in  the 
best  of  shape,  the  only  German  printing  office  of  any 
consequence  in  the  country  outside  the  German  union 
being  the  Philadelphia  Demokrat.  The  amount  in  the 
general  treasury  had  been  increased  from  $22,790  to 
$25,095,  or  a  little  more  than  $25  per  capita.  Second 
Vice-President  Miller  discussed  the  injustice  which  he 
thought  had  been  put  upon  the  German  members  by  the 
St.  Louis  convention  in  passing  an  amendment  to  the  old 
law  governing  foreign  language  composition,  which 
placed  the  German  members  of  the  Typographia  in  the 
position  of  working  on  German  composition  in  English 
offices  for  a  lower  scale  than  provided  by  the  local 
Typographia. 

Mailers  —  Third  Vice-President  Mulcahy,  for  the 
mailers,  announced  that  that  branch  of  the  trade  had 
made  wonderful  improvement  during  the  year.  Seven 
new  unions  had  been  organized  and  increases  in  wages 

796 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

were  gained   in  several   instances.     A   steady,   consistent 
increase  in  membership  was  reported. 

Wewswriters — Fourth  Vice-President  Bracken  of  the 
newspaper  writers  reported  that  matters  were  moving 
along  in  a  quiet  way.  He  said  that  the  writers  would  be 
found  in  the  front  ranks  in  the  eight-hour  movement  and 
offered  a  suggestion  to  the  membership  advocating  the 
purchase  of  printing  machinery  and  all  necessary  stock 
to  equip  a  large  plant,  the  material  and  stock  to  be  put  in 
use  wherever  members  were  on  strike,  or  locked  out,  in 
order  that  the  public  might  not  suffer  through  a  cessation 
of  the  printing  business.  This,  Mr.  Bracken  argued, 
would  remove  a  source  of  criticism  of  strikes. 

Typefounders — Fifth  Vice-President  Nuernberger  of 
the  typefounders  reported  that  nothing  of  importance  had 
transpired  in  his  branch  during  the  year.  He  said  that  it 
might  interest  members  of  the  International  Union  to 
know  that  the  cost  of  manufacturing  type  had  been  re- 
duced somewhat,  while  the  price  of  type  had  1><  en 
increased,  or  the  weight  of  fonts  had  been  reduced,  thus 
increasing  the  price  per  pound  and  giving  the  employing 
typefounders  a  greater  profit  than  before. 

Secretary's  Report  —  Secretary-Treasurer  1 1  ram  wood 
opened  his  annual  report  with  a  table  giving  the  complete 
record  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Interna- 
tional body  for  the  fiscal  year.  The  total  receipts  had 
been  $286,187.35,  expenditures,  $205,822.41,  leaving  1 
tuh  balance  of  $80,364.94. 

Under  the  heading  "Our  Membership."  tin-  MCTttaf] 
^ .  1  i < I  that  the  continued  success  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical  Union  and  its  steady  increase  in  membership 
despite  the  opposition  <-f  various  employer*'  associations, 
citizens'  alliances,  etc.,  was  both  encouraging  and  gratify- 
ing Although  the  progress  had  not  been  startling  or 
Mutational,   an    increment   was   shown   by   a   tabulated 

707 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

statement  based  upon  the  per  capita  tax  payments  for  the 
twelve  months  ended  May  31,  1905.  From  this  statement 
it  was  apparent  that  the  average  paying  membership  for 
the  fiscal  year  had  been  46,734,  the  largest  in  the  history 
of  the  organization.  The  list  of  charters  issued  and 
suspended  showed  forty-three  new  unions  formed,  thirty- 
three  charters  surrendered  and  twelve  suspended,  still 
there  had  been  a  net  gain  in  membership. 

A  slight  decrease  was  not§d  in  the  number  of  burial 
claims.  During  the  twelve  months  benefits  to  the  number 
of  578  were  paid.  The  receipts  of  the  fund  were 
$42,060.85,  the  expenditures  $39,690,  leaving  a  balance 
of  $2,370.85,  which,  together  with  the  balance  carried 
over  from  the  previous  year,  amounted  to  $19,927.78. 

The  death  rate  for  the  year  was  1.2 13  per  cent  of  the 
average  membership,  or  a  little  more  than  12  per  1,000. 
The  average  death  rate  since  the  establishment  of  the 
fund  had  been  1.2 19,  ab.out  12  per  1,000. 

The  receipts  of  the  Typographical  Journal  fund  for  the 
fiscal  year  were  $31,312.70.  The  expenditures  from  the 
fund  were  $29,426.77. 

Nineteen  strikes,  involving  sixteen  local  unions,  had 
taken  place  during  the  year,  seven  of  which  were  success- 
ful, six  lost,  one  arbitrated,  four  pending  and  one  result 
not  reported  at  time  report  was  filed.  The  number  of 
men  who  returned  to  work  after  settlement  was  made 
was  in.  The  number  of  men  involved  in  disputes  pend- 
ing was  seventy-three.  This  statement  did  not  include  the 
disputes  in  which  Chicago  and  New  York  stereotypers 
were  engaged. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  The  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Union  Printers  Home  reported  that  the  business  trans- 
acted at  its  annual  meeting  was  of  a  routine  character. 
Plans  for  further  beautifying  the  grounds  were  taken  up 
and  endorsed.    Additional  tents  had  been  procured  for 

798 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

the  use  of  tuberculosis  patients.  The  superintendent  had 
been  instructed  to  confer  with  the  fire  department  of 
Colorado  Springs  relative  to  more  adequate  fire  pro- 
tection and  the  recommendations  of  the  fire  chief  had 
been  carried  out. 

The  total  receipts  for  the  year  were  $69,202.62,  and 
expenditures  $60,732.69,  leaving  a  balance  of  $8,469.93 
in  the  Home  fund.  The  cost  of  improvements  during  the 
fiscal  year  were  $6,157.50  and  an  additional  $1,000  had 
been  expended  in  purchasing  another  cemetery  plot.  The 
total  cost,  per  resident,  of  conducting  the  Home  during 
the  year  was  $453.22  and  the  average  number  of  residents 
was  134.  The  total  number  of  meals  served  at  the  Home 
during  the  year  was  178,203.  The  library  of  the  Home 
was  reported  as  growing  rapidly.  Nineteen  deaths  oc- 
curred during  the  year,  fifteen  of  which  were  caused  by 
tuberculosis.  The  tents  which  had  been  erected  for  the 
use  of  this  class  of  patients  proved  of  great  benefit.  In 
concluding  his  report,  the  superintendent  said  that  the 
conduct  of  the  Home  residents  was  up  to  the  usual  high 
standard. 

CONSTITUTIONAL      AMENDMENTS 

Only  four  amendments  to  the  constitution  were  ap- 
proved by  the  convention  and  referred  to  the  referendum. 
All  of  the  propositions  were  carried  with  the  exception  oi 
one  to  increase  the  salaries  of  the  president  and  secretary  - 
treasurer.  The  majority  against  this  proposition  was 
2,302.  The  total  number  of  unions  entitled  to  vote  was 
706;  the  total  number  voting  was  455.  The  propositions 
submitted,  with  amendments  appearing  in  italics,  together 
with  the  result  of  the  vote,  follows: 

Firnt  proposition— Amend  wotlon  4.  article  I.  ■<■  in*  nwMlWlm.  to  a*  M 
read  a*   follow*: 

Section  4.  Thr  dUllncltvr  ntnwi  of  the  Mtrrral  *uhordlnat*  braactwt 
•hall  Ix-:  Of  ■"«■  printer.,  typographical  onion ;  of  Ik*  mml**».  ■mm!**'  •«*•«; 
,./    the    unlet,.    ntmtpt^tl    nnWi'    ***>».    of    ikt    tyftt*mm4t*i.    Irr+f.mn4**i 

799 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

union;  and  of  all  other  allied  crafts  or  trades,  if  sitck  there  be,  the  distinctive 
name  of  each  branch. 

Result  of  vote — For,  20,330;  against,  1,600;  majority 
for,  18,730. 

Second  proposition — Amend  section  7,  article  vi,  of  the  constitution,  to 
read   as    follows: 

Section  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  agent,  in  the  event  of  the  Union 
Printers  Home  corporation  neglecting  or  refusing  to  comply  with  the  provi- 
sions of  the  deed  under  which  the  land  on  which  the  Home  is  situated  was 
transferred,  or  disobeying  any  of  the  orders  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union,  to  enter  upon  and  take  full  possession  of  the  property  as  the 
custodian  of  the  International  Typographical  Union;  provided,  that  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  agent  to  attend  at  least  one  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees 
during   his  term   of  office. 

Result  of  vote — For,  20,366;  against,  1,740;  majority 
for,  18,626. 

Third  proposition — Amend  section  i,  article  viii,  of  the  constitution — 
"Salaries   and    Expenses" — as   follows: 

Section    I.     The   salary   of     *     *     *.  t 

For   the   president,    $2,100    per    annum     *     *     » 
Secretary-treasurer,   $2,100  per  annum. 

Result  of  vote — For,  9,970;  against,  12,362;  majority 
against,  2,392. 

Fourth  proposition — Amend  section  3,  article  viii,  of  the  constitution,  to 
read   as   follows: 

Section  3.  When  any  officer  or  member  is  required  to  perform  service 
away  from  his  home,  he  shall  be  allowed,  in  addition  to  the  amounts  set  forth 
above,  first-class  railroad  fare  by  the  shortest  route  to  and  from  destination, 
and  actual  hotel  expenses;  provided,  that  an  itemized  bill  shall  in  all  cases  be 
rendered. 

Result  of  vote — For,  13,264;  against,  8,866;  majority 
for,  4,398. 

Affiliated  Unions  and  the  Joint  Agreement  —  An 
amended  joint  agreement  between  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  the  International  Printing  Press- 
men and  Assistants'  Union,  the  International  Brotherhood 
of  Bookbinders,  the  International  Stereotypers'  and 
Electrotypers'  Union,  the  International  Photo  Engravers' 
Union  was  adopted  January  14,  1905.  It  was  reported  to 
the  convention  that  during  the  time  this  agreement  had 
been  in  effect  it  had  given  satisfaction.  Allied  trades 
councils  were  working  under  it  without  friction  and  all 
differences  were  being  adjusted  under  the  provisions  of 
800 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

the  new  agreement.  Several  appeal  cases  had  been  before 
the  joint  board  and  unanimous  decisions  had  been  reached 
in  each  instance.  The  agreement  had  worked  out  splen- 
didly during  the  first  period  of  its  existence  and  it  was 
predicted  that  even  better  results  would  be  forthcoming. 

The  committee  on  allied  trades  relations  recommended 
that  the  amended  agreement  be  approved  and  the  con- 
vention concurred  in  the  suggestion  of  the  committee. 
While  the  committee's  report  was  under  consideration,  an 
attempt  was  made  by  Delegate  Donnell,  of  Cincinnati, 
to  have  the  agreement  abrogated.  This  attempt  failed, 
however. 

Arbitration  —  The  committee  on  arbitration  reported 
to  the  convention  that  145  arbitration  agreements  were  in 
effect  in  seventy-five  cities,  seven  of  which  had  been  nego- 
tiated following  the  St.  Louis  convention.  Attention  was 
called  to  a  part  of  Commissioner  Driscoll's  address  to  the 
convention  wherein  he  suggested  that  the  executive 
council  be  authorized  to  meet  with  the  special  standing 
committee  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publisher's  Asso- 
ciation during  the  coming  year  to  formulate  an  agreement 
to  be  submitted  to  both  organizations  for  approval  at 
their  succeeding  conventions.  In  this  connection  attention 
was  called  to  the  president's  report  on  this  subject,  under 
the  head  of  "Arbitration."  Instead  of  instructing  the 
executive  council  as  suggested  by  the  commissioner  repre- 
senting the  publishers,  the  convention  reaffirmed  its  belief 
in  arbitration,  but  asserted  that  arbitration  was  only  pos- 
sible where  the  parties  in  dispute  approached  the  question 
in  a  fair  and  conciliatory  manner  and  the  executive  coun- 
cil was  instructed  to  proceed  along  the  lines  suggested  by 
the  president  in  h\<  report. 

ST.      LOUIS     CHARTER     REVOKED 

On  Monday,  June  5,  1905,  the  president  of  St.  1 
Typographical  Union  No.  8  telephoned  the  headquarters 

801 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  the  International  Typographical  Union  at  Indianapolis 
and  said  that  at  a  regular  meeting  held  on  June  4,  St. 
Louis  Typographical  Union  had  instructed  its  officers  to 
sign  a  contract  for  three  years  with  the  St.  Louis  Typoth- 
etae,  this  contract  to  be  on  a  nine-hour  basis  for  the 
contract  period.  On  Tuesday,  June  6,  the  International 
secretary-treasurer  visited  St.  Louis  and  protested  against 
the  signing  of  a  nine-hour  contract,  explaining  that  it  was 
illegal  and  in  contravention  of  International  law.  On 
Wednesday,  June  7,  the  executive  council  considered  the 
St.  Louis  situation,  in  Kansas  City,  where  it  was  then 
holding  a  conference  with  the  representatives  of  the 
American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association.  As  a  result 
of  the  consideration  of  the  St.  Louis  matter,  the  following 
telegrams  were  sent : 

BOTH    PARTIES   DULY   WARNED 

[Telegram.] 

Kansas  City,  Mo.,  June  7,   190s. 
Ernest  S.   Hart,  President  St.  Louis  Typotheta   {care  R.  B.  Studley  &  Co.), 
St.  Louis,  Mo.: 

Executive  council  International  Typographical  Union  formally  notifies  you, 
as  president  St.  Louis  Typotheta;,  that  any  contract  made  with  St.  Louis  Ty- 
pographical Union  No.  8,  without  first  receiving  the  council's  approval,  will 
be  repudiated  as  null  and  void,  as  provided  by  our  laws. 

James    M.    Lynch, 
Hugo    Miller, 
J.    W.    Bramwood. 
[Telegram.] 

Kansas  City,  Mo.,  June  7,  1905. 
Joseph  A.  Jackson,  408  Burlington  Bldg.,  910  Olive  Street,  St.  Louis,  Mo.: 

By  action  St.  Louis  convention,  ratified  by  referendum,  contracts  extend- 
ing beyond  January  1,  and  not  including  eight-hour  day  to  become  effective 
on  January  1,  will  be  illegal  and  will  be  repudiated  by  council.  Representa- 
tives of  No.  8  at  Indianapolis  and  Detroit  further  ratified  eight-hour  plan 
and  agreed  that  contracts  before  being  entered  into  should  receive  approval 
of  executive  council.  Therefore  executive  council  will  not  recognize  any  con- 
tract that  has  not  received  its  approval,  and  has  today  so  notified  the  St. 
Louis  Typothetae.  James    m     Lynch 

Hugo  Miller, 
J.    W.    Bramwood. 

The  executive  council  attended  a  special  meeting  of  St. 

Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  8,  held  on  the  evening  of 

-Thursday,  June  9,  and  again  protested  against  the  ratifi- 

802 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

cation  of  a  three-year  contract  on  a  nine-hour  basis,  and 
pointed  out  the  International  law,  the  compacts  entered 
into  by  No.  8  at  Indianapolis  and  Detroit,  and  the  provi- 
sions of  the  eight-hour  plan  endorsed  by  the  referendum. 
The  council  urged  No.  8  to  stand  firmly  for  the  eight-hour 
day.  But  despite  the  emphatic  protest  of  the  council,  the 
officers  of  No.  8  were  again  instructed,  in  compliance  with 
their  recommendation  and  advice,  to  sign  the  illegal  con- 
tract. The  following  documents  explain  further  steps  in 
the  St.  Louis  case : 

BOTH    PARTIES    AGAIN    WARNED 

[Telegram.  1 

Indianapolis.  Ino..  June  9,  1905. 
J.  A.  Jackson,  President  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  9,  40I  Burlington 
Building,  St.  Louis,  Mo.: 

The  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  reaffirm* 
the  decision  embodied  in  its  telegram  to  you  as  president  of  St.  Louis  Typo- 
graphical Union,   dated  June   7,    1905.  .  w    , 

J  '         3  James  M.  Lynch. 

Hugo  Mille*. 
J.   W.    Beam  wood. 

Executive  Council   International   Typographical   Union. 

[Telegram.] 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  June  9.  1905. 

E.   S.  Habt,  President  St.  Louis  Typothet*  (care  R.  B.  Studley  &  Co.).  St. 

Louis,  Mo. : 

The  executive   council   of -the    International   Typographical    Union    reaffirm* 

the    decision    embodied    in    its   telegram   to   you    as   president   of   the   St.    Lonia 

Typothetje,  dated  June  7,  1905.  ,  ... 

James  M.  Lynch. 

Hvoo  Mills*. 

J.  W.   IUamwooo. 

Executive  Council  International  Typographic*!  Union. 

NO.   BIGHT'S  CHABTBB   SL'SPBNDBO 

Indianapolis.  Ind..  June   u,   190$. 
At  a  meeting   of  the   executive  council   of   the    International 


Union,  at  which  all  members  were  present,  which  convened  at  9  J«  »  M.  •»  Um 
above  date,  the  following  resolution  was  introduced  and  unanimonsly  adsBUi 
by  a  roll-call  vote: 

"Resolved,  That   the  charter  of  St.    Louis  Typographical  Union   Mo.  •  bt 
herewith   BaapSBMitd,   in   accordant    »nh   the  provisions  of  •ret ion   *,  artist*  B. 
of  ilir  constitution   "f  the   International  Typographical  Union,  foe 
rrfuvil  to  obey  the  laws  and  legal  mandate*  of  the  International 
I'niun    ;,n.l    rxr.iitivr    ...,m.i1.    an. I    the    instruction*    of    the    r«*c«JtrV« 
Said    suspension    to   take    cfTrct    immedlalrlv    («'*««     Bt..    !»"'    <t.    rf 
BOB  thill  in  rfTrrt  until  St     LotsJl  Typographic  al  Union  Nn   I  rontptlM  wlta  the 
laws  and  legal  mandates  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  nasi  «s*w*> 


*>3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tive   council,    and   until    the    charter   of   the    union    has   been    reinstated   by  the 

executive  council."  T  -,    _ 

James  M.   Lynch, 

Hugo  Miller, 

J.    W.    Bramwood. 

The   foregoing  action  was  telegraphed  to   the   officers  of   No.   8. 

[Telegram.] 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  June  12,  1905. 
E.   S.  Hart,  President  St.  Louis  Typothetce   {care  R.  B.   Studley   &  Co.),  St. 
Louis,  Mo.: 

Following  the  telegrams  sent  you  on  June  7  and  9,  the  executive  council 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  formally  notifies  you,  as  president 
of  St.  Louis  Typothetae,  that  the  charter  of  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  has 
been   suspended   for   violation   of   International   law   in   entering   into   an    illegal 

contract  with  St.  Louis  typothetae.  _  , ,    _ 

James  M.  Lynch, 

Hugo  Miller, 

J.    W.    Bramwood. 

Executive   Council   International    Typographical    Union. 

The  president  of  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  visited 
headquarters  on  Thursday,  June  15,  and  asked  that  the 
executive  council  so  modify  the  order  of  suspension  as  to 
permit  the  issuance  of  traveling  cards,  payment  of  per 
capita,  etc.,  the  suspension  of  No.  8  to  be  nominal  pending 
review  of  the  case  by  the  Toronto  convention.  After  con- 
sidering the  request,  the  council  declined  to  accede  to  it. 

THE    EXECUTIVE    COUNCIL'S    POSITION 

[Letter.] 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  June  17,  1905. 
Mr.  Joseph  A.  Jackson,  1517  Benton  Street,  St.  Louis,  Mo.: 

My  Dear  Sir — Confirming  our  conversation  over  the  long-distance  telephone 
today,  I  desire  to  say  that  the  executive  council  stands  just  where  it  did  on 
the  evening  of  Thursday,  June  8,  as  to  the  support  of  the  members  of  No.  8 
who  may  be  locked  out  by  the  book  and  job  employers  in  St.  Louis,  or  who 
may  be  compelled  to  engage  in   a  strike  in  order  to  conserve  the   law: 

Provided  St.  Louis  Union  repudiates  the  illegal  nine-hour  contract  with 
the  St.  Louis  typothetae  and  reaffirms  its  allegiance  to  International  law,  the 
eight-hour  demand  and  the  eight-hour  plan  endorsed  by  the  referendum  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  and  serves  written  notice  on  the  St.  Louis 
typothetae  that  this  action  has  been  taken. 

Immediately  after  the  action  is  taken  and  the  council  is  furnished  with  an 
attested  record  of  the  action  of  the  union,  together  with  an  attested  copy  of 
the  notice  to  the  St.  Louis  typothetae,  No.  8  will  be  reinstated  by  the  executive 
council. 

Permit  me  to  reiterate  that  if  trouble  should  occur  in  St.  Louis  because  of 
this  action  by  the  union,  and  after  compliance  with  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  law,  as  set  forth  under  the  subdivision  "Defense  and  Strikes" 
(page  66,  laws  of  1905),  then  the  executive  council  will  support  the  rein- 
stated union. 

804 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

Pending  action  by  the  special  meeting  of  No.  8,  which  you  inform  me  is 
to  be  held  tomorrow,  ,no  further  steps  will  be  taken  by  the  council. 

Fraternally, 
Approved:  James  M.   Lynch. 

J.    \V.    Ii  RAM  WOOD, 
Hugo   Miller. 

action   by  typographical  union  no.  8 
[Telegram.] 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  18,  19*5. 
Jakes  M.   Lynch,  Newton  Claypool  Building,  Indianapolis: 

Meeting  of  union  today  declared  submission  to  law  as  declared  by  execu- 
tive  council.      Rescinded    nine-hour    scale.      Particulars   by    mail. 

J.    A.    Jackson. 
J.    J.     Early. 
[Letter] 

St.  Louis,  June  19,  1905. 
Executive    Council,   International     Typographical     Union,    Indianapolis,    InJ., 
James  M.  Lynch,  Chairman : 

Dear  Sir:  The  following  resolutions  were  adopted  at  a  special  meeting  of 
the  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  8  held  on  June  18: 

"Resolved,  That  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  8,  assembled  in  special 
meeting  to  'consider  the  suspension  of  the  charter  and  the  new  scale,'  instructs 
the  president  and  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  union  to  immediately  notify 
the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  by  telegraph, 
and  at  the  earliest  possible  moment  in  writing  under  our  official  seal,  that  Typo- 
graphical Union  No.  8  hereby  submits  to  the  law  as  declared  by  the  council 
and  will  observe  and  obey  the  same;  and  that  all  legislation  by  this  union  in 
connection  with  the  recently  enacted  job  scale  be  and  is  hereby  rescinded.  And 
that  our  officers  are  further  instructed  to  request  the  council  to  notify  the 
union  as  soon  as  may  be  of  the  revocation  of  the  order  suspending  No.  t's 
charter. 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  union  this  action  is  not  an  action 
upon  the  scale,  within  the  meaning  of  the  law,  but  is  a  compliance  with  the 
law  as  declared  by  the  executive  council,  and  is  necessary  in  the  emergency 
now  confronting  the  union,  in  order  to  preserve  our  charter  rights  pending  an 
appeal  to  the  convention  of  the  International  Typographical  Union." 


Respectfully, 


Attest: 

J.  J.  Early, 

Secretary-Treasurer. 


J.    A.    Jackson. 


President  Typographical  Union  N:  i. 
[Letter] 


St.  Louis,  June  19.  »9oj 
C.  M.  Skinner,  Chairman  Executive  Committee,  St.  Louis  Typothef,  St.  Lemis- 

Dear  Sir:    The   following  resolutions  were  adopted  at  a 
St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  H,  held  on  June  18: 

Resolved,  That  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  g.  MssibUii  In 
meeting  to  'consider  the  suspension  o(  the  charter  and  the  new  scalt,'  MMtrtscts 
the  president  and  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  union  10  imracdMitly  notify  is* 
"miiivr  ■..iinril  of  the  International  Typographical  Unto*  by  telegraph,  mm!  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment  in  writing,  under  our  oflkial  seal,  thai  Typogwgnkal 
Union  No.  8  hrrcliy  .iil.inii.  to  thr  law  aa  declared  by  the 
nerve  and  obey  the  same;  and  that  alt  lr«i*lalton  by  I  Ma  •MHOa  la 
the  recently  enacted  job  scale  be  and  is 


lis 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

cers  are   further  instructed  to   request  the  council  to   notify  the  union  as  soon 

as  may  be  of  the  revocation  of  the  order  suspending  No.  8's  charter. 

"Resolved,  That   in   the   opinion   of   the  union   this  action   is   not  an   action 

upon  the  scale,  within  the  meaning  of  the  law,  but  is  a  compliance  with  the  law 

as  declared  by   the   executive   council,   and   is   necessary   in   the   emergency  now 

confronting  the  union  in  order  to  preserve  our  charter  rights  pending  an  appeal 

to  the  convention  of  the  International  Typographical  Union." 

Respectfully,  T     ,     T 

J.  A.  Jackson, 

Attest:  President  Typographical  Union  No.  8. 

J.  J.  Early, 

Secretary-  Treasurer. 

AN    EXCHANGE    OF    MESSAGES 

[Telegram] 

Indianapolis,  June  20,  1905. 
J.  A.  Jackson,  408  Burlington  Bldg.,  St.  Louis,  Mo.: 

Acting  on  the  first  resolution  contained  in  the  communication  of  June  19, 
addressed  to  the  executive  council,  signed  by  J.  A.  Jackson,  as  president  of 
Typographical  Union  No.  8,  and  J.  J.  Early,  as  secretary-treasurer,  the  execu- 
tive council  has  today  revoked  the  Older  suspending  the  charter  of  Typograph- 
ical Union  No.  8.  This  action  is  taken  with  the  understanding  on  the  part  of 
the  executive  council  that  No.  8  in  the  first  resolution  declares  its  allegiance 
to  International  law,  and  that  the  illegal  nine-hour  contract  recently  entered 
into  between  No.  8  and  the  St.  Louis  Typothetae  has  been  rescinded,  and  that 
No.  8  has  placed  itself  in  position  to  co-operate  in  eight-hour  campaign  and 
fulfil  its  pledges  made  at  Indianapolis  and  Detroit,  and  that  no  contract  will  be 
entered  into  without  compliance  with  International  law.  Answer  at  once  if 
council's  understanding  is  correct,  and  then  formal  letter  reinstating  charter  of 
No.  8  will  follow,  reinstatement  to  take  effect  at  twelve  o'clock  noon  today. 

James  M.  Lynch, 
J.  W.  Bramwood, 
Hugo  Miller, 
Executive  Council  International   Typographical   Union. 
[Telegram] 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  20,  1905. 
James  M.  Lynch,  Newton  Claypool  Building,  Indianapolis,  Ind.: 
Executive  council's  interpretation  of  No.  8's  action  correct  one. 

J.  A.  Jackson, 
number  eight's  charter  reinstated 
[Letter] 

Indianapolis,  June  20,  1905. 
J.  A.  Jackson,  President,  and  J.  J.  Early,  Secretary,  St.  Louis  Typographical 
Union  No.  8: 

Gentlemen:  At  a  meeting  of  the  executive  council  held  this  day,  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  were  adopted: 

"Whereas  the  executive  council  did,  on  June  12,  1905,  resolve  'that  the 
charter  of  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  8  be  herewith  suspended,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  provisions  of  section  2,  article  x,  of  the  constitution  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  for  failure  and  refusal  to  obey  the  laws  and 
legal  mandates  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  executive  council, 
and  the  instructions  of  the  executive  council,  said  suspension  to  take  effect  im- 
mediately (9:45  a.  m.,  June  12,  1905)  and  continuing  in  effect  until  St.  Louis 
Typographical  Union  No.  8  complies  with  the  laws  and  legal  mandates  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  and  the  executive  council,  and  until  the  char- 
ter of  the  union  has  been  reinstated  by  the  executive  council;'  and 

806 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

"Whereas  the  International  president  did  on  June  17,  1905,  with  the  approval 
of  his  colleagues  on  the  executive  council,  write  Mr.  Joseph  A.  Jackson  as  fol- 
lows: 'Confirming  our  conversation  over  the  long-distance  telephone  today,  I 
desire  to  say  that  the  executive  council  stands  just  where  it  did  on  the  evening 
of  Thursday,  June  8,  as  to  the  support  of  the  members  of  No.  8  who  may  be 
locked  out  by  the  book  and  job  employers  in  St.  Louis,  or  who  may  be  compelled 
to  engage  in  a  strike  in  order  to  conserve  the  law;  provided,  St.  Louis  Union 
repudiates  the  illegal  nine-hour  contract  with  the  St.  Louis  Typothet*  and  re- 
affirms its  allegiance  to  International  law,  the  eight-hour  demand  and  the  eight- 
hour  plan  endorsed  by  the  referendum  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
and  serves  written  notice  on  the  St.  Louis  Typothetae  that  this  action  baa  been 
taken.  Immediately  after  the  action  is  taken  and  the  council  is  furnished  with 
an  attested  record  of  the  action  of  the  union,  together  with  an  attested  copy  of 
the  notice  to  the  St.  Louis  Typothetx,  No.  8  will  be  reinstated  by  the  executive 
council,'  and 

"Whereas  the  executive  council  has  been  informed,  under  date  of  June  19, 
by  J.  A.  Jackson,  as  president  of  Typographical  Union  No.  8,  and  J.  J.  Early. 
as  secretary-treasurer,  under  seal  of  the  union,  that  at  a  special  meeting  of  St. 
Louis  Typographical  Union  held  on  June  18,  the  following  was  adopted: 
'Resolved,  that  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  8,  assembled  in  special 
meeting  to  "consider  the  suspension  of  the  charter  and  the  scale,"  instructs  the 
president  and  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  union  to  immediately  notify  the 
executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  by  telegraph,  and 
at  the  earliest  possible  moment  in  writing,  under  our  official  seal,  that  Typo- 
graphical Union  No.  8  hereby  submits  to  the  law  as  declared  by  the  council, 
and  will  observe  and  obey  the  same;  and  that  ail  legislation  by  this  union  in 
connection  with  the  recently  enacted  job  scale  be  and  is  hereby  rescinded;  and 
the  officers  above  named  have  also  submitted  copy  of  letter  to  the  St.  Louis 
Typothetz  embodying  the  action  taken  by  St.  Louis  Typographical  Union  No.  8. 

"Now.  therefore,  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  acting  on  the  first  resolution  contained  in  the  communication  of  June  19, 
addressed  to  the  executive  council,  signed  by  J.  A.  Jackson,  as  president  of 
Typographical  Union  No.  8,  and  J.  J.  Early,  as  secretary-treasurer,  has  today 
revoked  the  order  suspending  the  charter  of  Typographical  Union  No.  8,  this 
action  being  taken  with  the  understanding  on  the  part  of  the  executive  council 
that  No.  8  in  the  resolution  quoted  heretofore  declares  its  allegiance  to  Interna* 
tional  law,  and  that  the  illegal  nine-hour  contract  recently  entered  into  between 
No.  8  and  the  St.  Louis  Typothetae  has  been  rescinded,  and  that  No.  8  has  placed 
itself  in  position  to  co-operate  in  the  eight-hour  campaign  ami  fulfil  it«  pledges 
made  in  Indianapolis  and  Detroit,  and  that  no  contract  will  be  entered  into 
without  full  compliance  with  International  law. 

"Resolved,  That  the  order  of  suspension  of  the  charter  of  Typographical 
I'll  inn  No.  8  made  by  the  executive  council  on  June  11,  too$,  be  and  b  k*r*bjr 
revoked,  the  reinstatement  to  take  effect  at  U  o'clock,  noon.  June  #0.  190).** 

Jamks    M.    Lynch. 
J.  W.  IUamwoo*, 
11    M  Miu.it. 
Executive  Council   Inlerntltomal    7  rr«rr«*AM*J   l'» 

The  committee  on  officers'  reports  to  which  the  docu- 
ments in  the  St.  Louis  case  were  referred  reported  that  tin- 
case  was  set  forth  to  rlcarly  that  comment  was  scar* 
necessary.   That  the  executive  council  was  amply  justified 
in  the  steps  that  were  taken,  and  that  the  iwpetstlw  "f  the 

107 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

St.  Louis  Typographical  Union,  so  promptly  made,  was 
the  only  remedy,  drastic  though  it  was,  that  could  be 
applied.  The  committee  therefore  recommended  that  the 
action  taken  by  the  executive  council  in  the  St.  Louis  case 
be  endorsed  by  the  convention  and  the  council  commended 
for  its  prompt  action  in  the  premises. 

Delegate  Hertenstein  (St.  Louis)  desired  to  place  St. 
Louis  Union  on  record  and  moved  that  the  report  of  the 
committee  on  officers'  reports  be  concurred  in.  The  mo- 
tion was  adopted  unanimously. 

THE      LOS      ANGELES      TIMES 

Speaking  of  the  Los  Angeles  Times,  President  Lynch, 
in  his  annual  report,  said : 

We  are  still  prosecuting,  as  vigorously  as  the  monetary 
allowance  will  permit,  the  effort  to  unionize  the  Los  Angeles 
Times.  Early  in  the  year,  the  executive  council,  following  the 
policy  of  subordinating  all  enterprises  to  the  eight-hour  move- 
ment, reduced  to  $600  per  month  the  appropriation  for  financ- 
ing the  Times  contest.  It  was  believed  that  amount  would  per- 
mit as  effective  a  campaign  as  it  was  desirable  to  conduct  until 
the  eight-hour  problem  was  determined.  We  have  more  than 
held  our  own,  and  the  Times  has  continued  to  lose  in  both  ad- 
vertising and  subscriptions.  The  Los  Angeles  Examiner  is  now 
firmly  established,  and  its  managers  assert  that  it  has  more 
advertising  and  a  greater  circulation  than  the  Times.  While  we 
have  expended  a  large  sum  of  money  in  the  Times  affair,  the 
Examiner  has  paid  in  wages  to  union  men  more  than  three 
times  the  amount  we  have  put  into  Los  Angeles.  And  the 
Examiner  is  one  of  the  results  of  our  movement  against  the 
Times.     *     *     *    ' 

Your  president  recommends  that  the  effort  to  unionize  the 
Los  Angeles  Times  shall  be  continued.  Success  will  be  cheap 
at  any  expenditure. 

The  convention  committee  appointed  to  investigate  the 
fight  against  the  Times  said : 

We  find  that  the  present  effort  to  unionize  the  Los  Angeles 
Times   has   been   supported    financially   by   the    International 

808 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

Typographical  Union  for  about  three  years  and  six  months. 
We  gather  from  the  report  of  the  secretary-treasurer  that  Inter- 
national funds  to  the  amount  of  $33,650.1 1  have  been  expended 
in  Los  Angeles  in  connection  with  the  Times  fight.  It  is  fur- 
ther set  forth  in  the  report  of  the  president  that  we  are  now 
prosecuting  as  vigorously  as  the  monetary  allowance  will  permit 
the  effort  to  unionize  the  Times;  that  early  in  the  year  the 
executive  council,  following  the  policy  of  subordinating  all 
enterprises  to  the  eight-hour  movement,  reduced  to  $600  per 
month  the  money  appropriation  for  financing  the  Times  con- 
test; that  even  with  this  reduction  we  have  more  than  held 
our  own,  and  that  the  Times  has  continued  to  lose  in  both 
advertising  and  subscriptions. 

We  gather  further  from  the  report  of  the  president  that 
the  Cincinnati  convention  submitted  to  the  referendum  a  prop- 
osition for  a  special  assessment  of  five  cents  per  capita  to 
finance  the  Los  Angeles  Times  contest,  and  this  proposition 
was  adopted ;  that  later  the  additional  five  cents  was  merged 
into  the  regular  per  capita,  and  that  from  September  26,  1904, 
the  executive  council  has  financed  the  Times  fight  from  the 
regular  funds;  that  both  the  Washington  convention  and  the 
St.  Louis  convention  instructed  the  executive  council  to  con- 
tinue financial  assistance  and  to  press  the  effort  to  secure  a 
victory  in  Los  Angeles. 

After  diligent  investigation,  we  find  that  the  conditions  in 
Los  Angeles  prior  to  the  date  on  which  the  present  contest  was 
inaugurated  were  about  as  bad  as  they  well  could  be.  While 
the  contests  against  the  Times  were  conducted  vigorously  by 
No.  174  while  they  lasted,  they  were  generally  declared  off  at 
the  end  of  a  few  months,  and  accomplished  practically  noth- 
ing of  lasting  benefit.  These  occasional  efforts  usually  served 
only  to  further  anger  the  Times  and  make  it  more  pronounced 
in  its  intense  opposition  to  trade  unionism  generally  and  the 
Typographical  Union  particularly.  When  the  present  fight 
was  begun,  Los  Angeles  Typographical  Union  No.  174  faced 
many  obstacles  and  met  with  great  diflu  ultics  in  inaugurat- 
ing necessary  reforms.  The  Times  not  only  gloated  edi- 
torially over  what  it  considered  a  vanquished  foe,  but  roads 
a  practice  of  educating  in  its  com|>osing  room  young  men  jo 
operate  its  typesetting  machines,  and  also  aided  them  in  ^ 
ing  superficial  knowledge  of  the  compositor's  art.     Later  these 

809 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

partly  instructed  craftsmen  were  sent  to  other  portions  of  the 
coast,  and  in  fact  throughout  the  entire  jurisdiction,  to  aid  un- 
fair employers  in  resisting  requests  made  by  typographical 
unions. 

As  Arthur  A.  Hay,  the  International  Typographical  Union 
representative  in  Los  Angeles,  will  address  the  convention  on 
the  Times  matter,  your  committee  does  not  deem  it  necessary  to 
here  enter  into  details  of  the  contest. 

We  earnestly  agree  with  the  recommendation  in  the  pres- 
ident's report  that  the  efforts  to  unionize  the  Los  Angeles 
Times  should  be  continued,  and  we  are  one  with  the  declara- 
tion that  "success  will  be  cheap  at  any  expenditure." 

We  recommend  to  the  convention,  therefore,  that  it  endorse 
and  approve  of  the  Los  Angeles  Times  contest  as  at  present 
conducted;  that  it  express  its  appreciation  for  the  progress 
thus  far  made,  and  that  it  instruct  the  executive  council  to 
continue  financial  assistance  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the 
effort  to  unionize  the  Los  Angeles  Times,  the  council  to  be  the 
judge  of  the  amount  of  money  necessary  for  this  crusade. 

The  convention  concurred  in  the  recommendation  of 
the  committee. 

THE      EIGHT-HOUR      DAY 

In  presenting  his  annual  report  to  the  convention, 
President  Lynch  said : 

There  is  but  one  subject  before  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union — the  establishment  of  the  principle  of  not 
more  than  eight  hours  for  all  members  of  the  organization. 
All  other  problems,  all  other  questions,  all  other  propositions 
are  incident  to  the  great  economic  advancement  that  we  are 
attempting,  and  which  has  met  with  success  in  many  instances. 
Achieving  the  eight-hour  day,  betterments  will  follow  natur- 
ally. Higher  wages,  if  we  are  to  accept  the  history  of  other 
organizations  enjoying  the  eight-hour  day,  are  sure  to  succeed 
its  general  introduction.  Nor  is  there  ground  for  claim  that 
the  employer  will  be  unduly  burdened  when  he  can  purchase 
from  his  employe  only  eight  hours'  time.  Again  we  can  ap- 
peal to  other  trades  for  substantiation  of  this  claim.  There  is 
more  building  today  than  at  any  previous  period,  aye,  and  bet- 
ter building.     More  people  find  a  livelihood  in  the  structural 

810 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

line,  both  as  employer  and  employed.  Modern  edifices,  com- 
pared with  the  product  of  the  ten-hour  day,  are  as  the  wooden 
brigantine  to  the  modern  battleship,  where  again  the  eight- 
hour  day  has  scored  a  recent  triumph.  More  cigars  are  made 
and  consumed  today  under  the  eight-hour  rule  in  the  cigar  trade 
than  formerly  under  the  ten  and  twelve-hour  requirement.  In 
our  own  craft  larger  and  better  newspapers  are  produced,  with 
a  workday  of  eight  hours  and  less,  than  when  the  endurance 
of  the  individual  marked  the  daily  limit  of  his  toil.  Wherever 
the  eight-hour  day  has  been  introduced  in  the  book  and  job 
trade  it  has  proved  satisfactory  to  employer  and  employe,  de- 
spite recent  artificial  objection  to  it  in  one  or  two  instances, 
created  in  order  to  bolster  up  the  crumbling  contention  of  the 
nine-hour  advocates.  Of  the  total  membership  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  more  than  twenty-five  thousand 
work  eight  hours  or  less  per  day.  We  do  not  want  the  eight- 
hour  day  by  reason  of  charity — or  philanthropy.  We  do  not 
want  it  in  order  that  our  physical  or  mental  well-being  may 
be  improved.  We  refuse  to  abandon  our  eight-hour  demand 
because  we  may  under  present  conditions  be  more  fortunately 
situated  than  other  artisans.  We  want  the  eight-hour  work- 
day because  we  are  convinced  that  it  suffices  for  the  work  there 
is  to  do,  the  work  that  is  to  be  done,  the  demand  of  society  for 
the  product  of  the  press.  We  propose  to  sell  to  the  employer 
eight  hours  of  the  twenty-four,  and  we  will  do  as  we  please 
with  the  remaining  sixteen. 

The  Will  of  the  Membership — The  referendum  approved, 
by  a  most  decisive  majority,  the  eight-hour  plan  submitted  by 
the  St.  Louis  convention.  Another  and  most  decided  step  was 
taken  toward  the  eight-hour  day  for  our  book  and  job  printers. 
And  this  despite  the  fact  that  effort  was  made,  through  print- 
ing trade  publications  and  otherwise,  to  influence  the  book  and 
Job  men  to  vote  against  the  St.  Ioms  method.  In  one  large  city 
several  employers  issued  a  circular  to  their  employes,  intimating 
that  direful  things  would  happen  if  the  printers  attempted  to 
secure  an  eight-hour  day.  Hut  the  eight  -hour  proposition  was 
affirmed,  nevertheless,  by  a  majority  that  even  its  most  enthu- 
siastic supporters  did  not  hop*  for.  The  plan  became  enVttxr 
nil  January  1.  1005.  and  provided  that  an  assessment  of  one 
half  of  one  per  rent  "011  ill  moneys  earned  be  levied  upon  the 
memlwrship   of   the   International   Typographical   Union    for 

8ll 


*w   J 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  purpose  of  a  defense  fund."  On  January  I,  1906,  "the 
eight-hour  day  shall  become  effective  in  all  union  establish- 
ments under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union."  In  each  instance  where  the  eight-hour  day  is  refused 
"work  shall  cease."  In  taking  favorable  action,  the  member- 
ship also  declared  its  "entire  willingness  to  negotiate  with  the 
United  Typothetae  for  an  agreement  under  which  the  eight- 
hour  day  will  become  operative,"  and  so  instructed  its  eight- 
hour  committee.  Harmony,  and  not  war,  is  desired.  But  we 
must  have  the  eight-hour  day. 

And  We  Must  Organize  —  While  the  membership  has  de- 
clared and  denned  its  position,  and  given  to  the  eight-hour 
movement  new  life  and  impetus,  the  problem  is  not  solved  by 
any  means.  We  have  much  work  to  do,  and  we  must  apply 
ourselves  to  our  task  with  zeal  and  determination.  Every  quali- 
fied journeyman  that  can  be  reached  must  be  brought  within  the 
union  fold.  Money  is  valuable,  but  thorough  organization  is 
better.  We  must  protect  the  union  against  the  unaffiliated,  and 
the  surest  way  is  through  the  process  of  elimination.  Why  do 
we  find  it  necessary  to  create  a  defense  fund?  Why  are  strikes 
prolonged  and  defeat  met  with?  Because  of  the  non-unionist. 
Then  in  every  jurisdiction  a  movement  should  be  carried  on 
until  every  journeyman  printer  possesses  a  union  card.  If  on 
January  I,  1906,  we  control  the  situation  through  thorough 
organization,  there  will  be  little  need  of  a  defense  fund,  and 
there  will  be  only  rare  instances  of  suspension  of  work.  It  is 
International  law  that  "any  subordinate  union  may  consider  a 
place  within  a  radius  of  fifty  miles  of  its  location,  in  which 
place  no  union  exists,  as  within  its  jurisdiction,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  admitting  non-unionists  in  such  place  to  its  membership." 
How  many  unions  control  the  territory  within  a  radius  of  fifty 
miles?  And  yet  this  can  be  accomplished.  There  is  no  reason 
why  we  should  not  have  every  printer  on  our  membership  rolls, 
especially  so  in  cities  in  which  unions  are  now  in  existence. 
This  is  a  most  important  question.  It  should  have  considera- 
tion at  every  union  meeting  between  now  and  January  1,  1906. 
Do  not  wait  until  the  eleventh  hour. 

A  Tribute  to  Perfect  Organization  —  In  "Official  Circular 
No.  9"  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  discusses  at  consid- 
erable length  the  campaign  we  are  making  for  the  eight-hour 
day.  Figures  are  juggled  and  preposterous  statements  abound. 
For  instance,  it  is  asserted  that  in  connection  with  cities  in 

812 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

which  the  eight-hour  day  has  been  arranged  for  or  is  in  effect 
"it  is  also  worthy  of  note  that  a  great  majority  of  these  points 
are  away  from  the  great  manufacturing  centers  of  population, 
and  are  in  most  cases  outside  of  any  large  competitive  area." 
It  is  in  the  following  quotation,  however,  that  the  truth  is  told, 
the  tribute  paid  to  militant  unionism,  and  the  cue  given  to  our 
unions.  The  circular  says:  "Again,  the  local  conditions  and 
the  position  of  these  various  points  should  be  considered.  It 
is  undoubtedly  a  fact  that  the  majority  of  the  cities  and  towns 
enumerated  are  ones  in  which  not  only  the  printing  trade,  but 
every  other  trade  in  that  particular  point,  is  strongly  union." 
Is  it  any  wonder  that  we  urge  organization?  It  means  the 
eight-hour  day  and  peace. 

So  That  It  May  Be  Understood  —  Thousands  of  eight-hour  cir- 
culars have  been  distributed  throughout  the  jurisdiction.  Hundreds 
of  eight-hour  letters  are  now  in  the  possession  of  officers  and  mem- 
bers. The  St.  Louis  convention  said: 

We  endorse  without  reservation  the  work  and  methods  of  the  International 
eight-hour  committee.  We  believe  in  this  connection  that  the  committee  has 
thoroughly  covered  the  ground  and  has  put  into  effect  every  method  that  thus 
far  has  given  promise  of  advancement  to  the  eight-hour  cause. 

In  order  that  the  attitude  of  the  associated  employers  may  be 
understood,  the  eight-hour  circulars  should  be  carefully  digested. 
On  this  point  the  convention  declared : 

We  regret  that  the  eight-hour  day  in  book  and  job  rooms  Is  not  ■  ques- 
tion at  the  present  time  for  adjudication  between  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  and  the  United  Typotheta:  of  America,  but  in  view  of  the 
action  taken  by  the  United  Typotheta  of  America  in  convention  as- 
sembled in  St.  Louis,  in  which  it  is  asserted  "That  the  United  Typotheta? 
of  America  declares  it  is  opposed  to  any  reduction  of  the  fiflyfour-hour  week" 
and  "that  the  United  Typotheta;  of  America  will  resist  any  attempt  on  the 
part  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  reduce  the  present  hoars 
of  labor,"  no  other  conclusion  is  possible.  That  an  agreement  en  peaceful 
lines  is  not  now  possible  is  solely  the  fault  of  the  associated  issnlnyore,  ao4 
this  contention  is  borne  out  by  the  action  of  their  last  convention.  Farther,  are 
dispute  the  statement  of  the  typotheta  that  a  rr.luction  in  the  hoars  el 
labor  would  lie  disastrous  to  the  employe.  We  maintain  that  the  •Isjal  attar 
day  is  the  logical  workday,  that  it  is  sufficient  for  the  needs  of  Ike  trsoo. 
and  we  give  emphatic  endorsement  t<>  the  itxtnnr  that  the  Mttrodoctboi  of 
labor-saving  machinery  is  not  for  the  benefit  of  the  employer  alone,  bat  obotsM 
also  result  in  bettor  working  MMbMom  <•"  the  employe  la  ike  way  of  to- 
taction   <>i   the-  hours  of  toil  and  increased  remuneration. 

As  the  I'd,  ration  of  taker  Sm  It  —  President  Oornp< 

his  report  to  the  AmtTn.m  IV.I.r.ition  of  LibQf  convention  at 
San  I  run  Itco,  took  occasion  to  nay: 

The   American   Federation   of   Labor   has  been  of   incekaUhte  heoe*- 
large    number    of    international    unions    and    local    unions    to    lb 


813 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  enforcement  of  the  eight-hour  workday,  as  attested  by  the  large  number 
of  our  fellows  who  now  work  under  that  rule.  Inasmuch  as  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  has  taken  the  initiative  of  its  own  accord  in  the 
matter  of  introducing  and  enforcing  the  eight-hour  workday,  I  submit  for 
your  consideration  and  recommend  that  this  movement  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  receive  the  sincere  and  hearty  endorsement  and  co-op- 
eration of  this  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  and  of 
every  union  member  as  well  as  every  wage  earner  and  those  who  sympathize 
with    practical,    evolutionary,    economic    progress. 

It  is  not  now  known  whether  there  will  be  any  contest  against  the  eight- 
hour  day;  whether  any  antagonistic  action  will  be  taken  by  the  employers  to 
the  men.  We  do  know,  however,  that  at  the  last  convention  of  the  employ- 
ing printers  of  the  United  States,  organized  under  the  name  of  the  typoth- 
eta;,  a  resolution  was  adopted  declaring  against  that  movement.  In  any 
event,  it  seems  clear  to  me  that  every  action  should  be  taken  by  this  con- 
vention and  by  our  organizations  generally,  not  only  to  pledge  the  support  of 
the  American  Federation  of  Labor  and  its  affiliated  unions  to  the  International 
Typographical  Union  in  its  effort  to  enforce  the  eight-hour  day,  but  that  a 
special  committee  be  appointed  by  this  convention  to  give  the  subject-matter 
consideration;  that  the  committee  should  consult  with  the  officers  and  rep- 
resentatives of  the  International  Typographical  Union  during  the  convention 
and  report  thereto  before  adjournment;  that  either  that  committee  or  an- 
other committee  be  authorized  to  be  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  co-operat- 
ing with  the  executive  council  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  and  the 
officers  of  the  Typographical  Union,  so  that  the  best  possible  aid  can  be  ren- 
dered to  our  fellow  workers  in  the  great  movement  that  they  have  under- 
taken and  in  which  they  have  the  hopes,  wishes,  prayers  and  co-operation 
of  every  one  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  human  family  and  the  progress 
and  civilization  of  our  people. 

Of  course,  in  the  effort  to  help  one  particular  organization,  especially  in 
the  laudable  purpose  it  has  mapped  out  for  itself  to  achieve,  we  are  not 
circumscribed  or  limited  in  our  effort  to  help  any  and  all  of  our  fellow  work- 
men who  are  in  a  position  to  make  any  effort  for  the  advancement  or  pro- 
motion of  their  interests.  We  shall,  therefore,  welcome  not  only  the  initia- 
tive of  our  fellow  unionists  to  obtain  improved  conditions,  and  particularly 
the  improved  conditions  that  come  from  a  shorter  workday,  but  we  shall  be 
glad  to  help  in  the  initiation  of  any  movement  that  will  contribute  in  any 
way  toward  the  protection,  the  promotion  of  the  conditions  and  interests  of 
our  fellow  workmen,  and  to  render  them  every  assistance  within  our  power. 

The  Employers  Organize  Opposition  —  Under  the  auspices 
of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America,  mass  meetings  of  employ- 
ing printers  have  been  held  in  St,  Paul,  intended  to  cover  the 
northwest;  Kansas  City,  intended  to  cover  the  southwest;  At- 
lanta, for  the  southeast;  Boston,  for  the  New  England  states, 
and  Philadelphia  for  the  central  states.  At  these  meetings  our 
eight-hour  campaign  is  the  sole  topic  for  discussion,  and  reso- 
lutions are  adopted  pledging  the  attendants  to  oppose  the  in- 
troduction of  the  eight-hour  day.  As  far  as  your  president  is 
aware,  the  main  argument  at  the  meetings  is  that  the  eight- 
hour  day  is  impractical  and  that  it  will  ruin  the  printing  busi- 
ness. 

814 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

We  do  not  coincide  with  this  view,  and  we  believe  that  the 
eight-hour  day  would  stimulate  the  printing  business,  and  in 
the  end  would  be  of  value  to  the  employer  as  well  as  to  the 
employe. 

In  my  department  in  the  official  organ  I  have  covered  all 
of  the  employers'  meetings  at  some  length,  and  a  full  review  of 
the  proceedings  is  not  necessary  at  this  time.  Suffice  it  to  say 
that  the  meetings  have  had  an  effect  contrary  to  that  expected, 
neither  overawing  our  membership  nor  weakening  in  any  way 
the  eight-hour  sentiment,  but  arousing  our  unions  to  the  neces- 
sity for  preparation  and  aggressive  organizing  campaigns  have 
resulted. 

It  is  also  worthy  of  note  that  in  some  instances  the  attend- 
ants at  these  meetings  have  returned  to  their  home  cities  and 
signed  eight-hour  contracts  with  our  local  unions.  The  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America,  at  a 
meeting  in  Kansas  City  on  April  1 1,  the  day  succeeding  the 
mass  meeting  of  employers  in  that  city,  changed  the  arrange- 
ments for  the  1905  typothetae  convention,  and  in  this  respect 
nullified  the  action  taken  at  the  St.  Louis  typothetae  session 
last  year.  The  1905  convention  will  be  held  in  Niagara  Falls, 
N.  Y.,  the  week  of  September  4.  The  St.  Louis  selection  was 
Atlantic  City,  N.  J.,  in  June.  Do  the  employers  hope,  or  have 
they  been  led  to  believe,  that  some  action  may  be  taken  by  our 
convention  that  will  prevent  the  eight-hour  day  from  becom- 
ing effective  on  January  1  ?  The  changed  date  for  the  typoth- 
etae convention  emphasizes  the  importance  of  our  Toronto 
gathering,  and  it  is  believed  that  it  will  give  small  comfort 
to  the  associations  of  employers  who  have  announced  their  op- 
position to  our  eight-hour  day. 

W hat  the  Small  Employer  Can  Expect  —  What  has  the  small 
employer  to  gain  if  he  affiliates  with  an  organization  compo—d 
of  capitalists  who  control  nearly  all  the  profitable  patronage, 
and  are  reaching  out  for  the  little  that  remains  to  the  printer 
conducting  a  modest  business?  Perhaps  the  following,  from 
the  letter  of  my  correspondent,  who  attended  the  St.  Paul  mas* 
meeting,  may  answer  the  question:  "While  the  guests 
assembling  for  the  banquet  and  business  meeting,  seven 
bent  of  the  typothetir  from  South  Dakota  decided  to  hold  a 
little  business  meeting  of  their  own.  There  were  various  ob- 
jections to  a  violation  of  rules  by  South  Dakota  Typotheia* 

815 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

members,  regarding  the  giving  of  knives,  fountain  pens,  sub- 
scriptions to  newspapers,  and  other  presents,  in  order  to  gain 
the  good  will  of  county  officials  and  thus  aid  in  landing  work. 
It  was  decided  that  the  giving  of  presents  must  be  stopped. 
A  motion  was  made  to  have  the  prices  of  county  printing  of  a 
certain  kind  advanced  one  class.  A  member  suggested  that  it 
would  be  necessary  to  advance  with  considerable  caution.  He 
stated  that  the  law  requires  the  county  officials  to  advertise  for 
bids  for  all  county  printing,  and,  while  the  law  was  a  dead  let- 
ter at  the  present  time,  an  incautious  putting  on  of  the  screws 
might  cause  some  one  to  squeal  and  the  law  to  be  revived. 
Another  member  brought  up  the  question  of  furnishing  sup- 
plies, and  moved  that  no  supplies,  legal  blanks,  etc.,  be  fur- 
nished to  country  printers  at  less  than  list  prices,  thus  com- 
pelling the  country  printer,  if  he  desires  to  handle  them,  to 
charge  more  for  them  than  they  are  being  furnished  for  by 
typothetae  members.  A  substitute  motion  prevailed,  however, 
to  the  effect  that  no  county  supplies  whatever  be  furnished  to 
country  printers.  It  would  be  a  good  thing  if  country  printers 
were  made  aware  of  this  fact,  in  view  of  the  effort  that  is  being 
made  by  the  United  Typotheta?  of  America  to  get  the  coun- 
try printer  to  help  that  organization  in  this  fight  against  the 
eight-hour  day." 

There  Are  Two  Objects  —  The  organization  of  the  employ- 
ing printers  is  not  the  only  object  of  these  mass  meetings,  held 
at  central  points.  It  is  realized  by  those  in  charge  of  the  em- 
ployers' campaign  that  in  the  ranks  of  all  unions  there  is  an 
element  that  always  looks  with  apprehension  on  every  forward 
movement.  When  storm  clouds  appear,  it  is  this  element  that 
begins  the  cry  for  "peace  at  any  price."  Then  there  is  the 
obstructionist  and  the  member  whose  activity  is  measured  by 
the  strength  and  continuity  of  the  criticism  of  others  that  is  his 
chief  characteristic.  To  overawe  the  timid  and  supply  the 
critic  with  fresh  ammunition  is  the  main  object  of  these  "mass 
meetings."  Only  when  our  membership,  by  a  majority  of  more 
than  fourteen  thousand  votes,  gave  voice  to  the  almost  unani- 
mous demand  for  a  shorter  workday  in  the  book  and  job  trade 
did  the  employers  realize  the  strength  and  determination  be- 
hind the  eight-hour  movement,  and  only  then  was  it  decided 
that  mass  meetings  were  required.  The  further  action  of  the 
federation  convention  in  San  Francisco,  pledging  us  monetary 

816 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 


support  if  necessary,  again  alarmed  the  typotheta.  They 
saw  that  the  negative  position  taken  at  their  last  convention 
was  not  having  the  expected  effect,  and  they  know  that  the  de- 
mand of  twenty-three  thousand  of  their  employes  cannot  be 
smothered  with  resolutions.  Then  was  the  "mass  meeting" 
idea  brought  to  the  front.  It  is  for  the  timid  member  and  pro- 
fessional critic  that  these  mass  meetings  are  held,  and  behind 
them  is  the  hope  that  our  ranks  may  be  broken  and  thus  our 
object  defeated.  The  answer  rests  with  those  who  have  all 
to  gain — our  members. 

The  Six-City  Conference  —  In  April  there  was  a  conference 
at  International  headquarters  between  representatives  of  six  of 
the  largest  unions  of  the  central  west — Chicago,  St.  Louis, 
Cincinnati,  Cleveland,  Detroit  and  Indianapolis — and  the  ex- 
ecutive council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union. 
This  conference  was  for  the  purpose  of  formulating  a  plan  of 
action  on  the  eight-hour  question  which  could  be  followed  con- 
certedly  by  the  unions  named,  all  of  whose  wage  scales  have 
expired  or  will  expire  prior  to  January  I,  1906.  The  follow- 
ing plan  of  procedure  was  outlined : 

We  greatly  regret  the  hostile  activity  of  the  United  Typothet*  of 
America  and  other  associations  of  employing  printers  in  calling  meetings  for 
the  purpose  of  arousing  opposition  to  and  denunciation  of  the  eight-hour 
workday,  and  we  fear  that  if  this  antagonistic  course  is  continued  the  friendly 
relations  now  existing  between  the  employers'  organizations  and  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  will  be  disrupted.  We  believe  that  the  dignity 
and  business  interests  of  the  organizations  of  the  printing  trade  will  be  best 
served  by  conference  and'  conciliation. 

We  reaffirm  our  belief  in  the  justice  of  the  position  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  on  the  eight-hour  question,  and  we  suggest  the  appoint 
ment  of  a  committee  by  the  United  Typothet*  of  America  to  meet  and  act 
with  our  International  officers,  and  wo  believe  that  if  such  a  conference  is 
held  it  can  adjust  the  points  that  are  at  present  in  contention. 

Pending  a   possible   meeting   of  the    representatives  of   the   associations  re- 
ferred to  herein,  we  are  convinced  that  it   is  incumbent  upon  the 
represented  to  place  present  conditions  before  the  membership  of  it 
so  that  a  course  of  action   may  be  agreed  to  that  will  safeguard  list 
cause.      We   submit,    therefore,    the    following    recommendations: 

That  in  the  event  of  tlir  typothet*  or  other  employing  p 
locking  out  the  members  of  any  union  here  represented,  or  taking 
inn. .u  pre  imitating  a  conflict  on  the  eight-hour  q— <kan  prior  to  Jf— ry  ». 
1006,  and  prior  to  the  effort  at  International  conciliation  alluded  to  nsraka, 
we  can  only  consider  such  action  as  a  violation  of  contract  relalio**,  mi  ••*  • 
character  unwarranted  ami  without  buig  in  common  fairness,  a**1 
for  a  general  suspension  of  work  in  the  book  and  job  trod*. 

That   all  new   agreement*   mint    he   prrwnted   to   too  eaectJItoo 
ml   previous  to  submission   W   tiwploywt'  assoeiatiosvs,  to  «i 

KUlUllUll  in  tbOM  atfirrtnrnt.  will  jeopardise  lh«  fcsffMH  MiroHOlOd  SB  Ust 
nhoitcr  workdsy  movement 

8t7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

We  again  urge  on  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  the  desirability  of  a 
conference  with  the  officers  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and 
we  express  it  as  our  opinion  that  if  the  typothetae  declines  to  participate  in 
such  a  conference,  it  will  be  held  solely  responsible  for  any  friction,  suspen- 
sion of  work,  or  monetary  loss  which  may  occur  on  and  after  January  i, 
1906. 

The  foregoing  was  submitted  to  all  the  unions  represented  at 
the  conference,  and  was  ratified  by  them. 

The  Detroit  Conference  —  This  conference  came  as  a  result 
of  the  six-city  conference  and  scale  negotiations  in  Chicago 
and  St.  Louis.  Representatives  of  the  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  In- 
dianapolis and  Detroit  Typothetae  recently  met  in  the  first- 
named  city  and  agreed  upon  a  uniform  three-year  contract,  with 
the  exception  of  the  rate  of  wages,  said  form  of  contract  speci- 
fying that  the  nine-hour  day  should  prevail  during  the  life  of 
the  agreement.  The  typothetae  representatives  also  asked  that 
a  conference  be  held  between  representatives  of  the  unions  and 
the  typothetae  in  certain  cities,  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the 
points  at  issue — especially  the  shorter  workday — and  endeavor- 
ing to  reach  an  amicable  adjustment,  it  being  understood  that 
the  executive  officers  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
and  United  Typothetae  would  be  in  attendance.  The  repre- 
sentatives of  the  unions  readily  agreed  to  this,  and  the  con- 
ference was  arranged  to  take  place  in  Indianapolis  on  Friday 
and  Saturday,  May  26-27,  the  place  of  meeting  being  later 
changed  to  Detroit,  owing  to  the  disinclination  of  the  execu- 
tive officers  of  the  United  Typothetae  to  meet  in  Indianapolis. 

The  meeting  was  attended  by  representatives  from  Chicago, 
St.  Louis,  Indianapolis  and  Detroit  Typothetae — the  typothetae 
of  Cincinnati  and  Cleveland  failing  to  attend,  though  invited 
to  do  so — and  representatives  of  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  Detroit, 
Indianapolis,  Cincinnati  and  Cleveland  typographical  unions. 
The  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  and  the  executive  officers  of  the  United  Typothetae  at- 
tended in  an  advisory  capacity. 

The  better  part  of  two  days  was  spent  in  endeavoring  to 
arrive  at  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  eight-hour  question, 
but  without  avail.  On  Saturday  the  joint  committee  of  two 
from  each  local  organization  represented — appointed  the  pre- 
vious day — reported  its  inability  to  agree,  and  its  report  was 
accepted  by  the  conference. 

The  committee's  report  showed  that  the  union  representatives 
introduced  and  urged  several  conciliatory  propositions,  but  that 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

they  were  met  on  each  occasion  by  an  utter  refusal  on  the  part 
of  the  typothetae  members  to  consider  aught  except  absolute 
surrender  on  the  part  of  the  union  so  far  as  the  shorter  work- 
day is  concerned. 

After  some  discussion  the  following  resolution,  offered  by  the 
union  representatives,  was  adopted  just  prior  to  adjournment: 

It  is  the  sense  of  this  body  that  the  officers  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  and  the  officers  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  get 
together  some  time  between  now  and  January  i,  1906,  in  an  endeavor  to 
arrive  at  an  amicable  adjustment  of  this  difference. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  union  representatives  after  the  closing 
of  the  conference  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted : 

We,  the  undersigned  representatives  of  Indianapolis  Typographical 
Union  No.  1,  Cincinnati  Typographical  Union  No.  3,  St.  Louis  Typographical 
Union  No.  8,  Chicago  Typographical  Union  No.  16,  Detroit  Typographical 
Union  No.  18  and  Cleveland  Typographical  Union  No.  53,  having  met  in  con- 
ference in  the  city  of  Detroit  with  representatives  of  the  typothetae  in  our 
different  cities,  in  an  effort  to  adjust  the  eight  (8)  hour  question,  and  having 
made  several  fair  and  reasonable  propositions,  all  of  which  have  been  re- 
jected by  the  typothetae. 

Now,  therefore,  take  the  first  opportunity  after  the  adjournment  of  the 
joint  conference,  to  reaffirm  our  allegiance  to  and  support  for  the  eight  (8) 
hour  movement,  and  the  plan  outlined  by  the  International  Typographical 
Union  for  putting  the  eight  (8)  hour  day  into  effect. 

The  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  has  been,  and  is  now,  ready  and  willing  to  meet  the 
executive  officers  of  the  United  Typothetae  for  the  purpose  of 
endeavoring  to  reach  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  eight  - 
hour  question,  but  all  overtures  to  that  end  have  so  far  failed 
to  elicit  a  favorable  response  from  officials  of  the  United 
Typothetae. 

President  Ellis'  Address  —  On  the  morning  of  the  sec- 
ond day  of  the  Toronto  convention.  President  Lynch 
announced  that  George  H.  Ellis,  president  of  the  United 
Typothctse  of  America,  and  William  Green,  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee,  were  in  waiting  and  ready  to 
address  the  convention.  There  being  no  objection,  the 
gentlemen  were  escorted  to  the  platform.  The  president 
of  the  United  Typothetas  of  America  then  addressed  the 

convention  ;ts  follows: 

I  wish  to  thank  your  executive  counril  for  the  invitation  to 

8lQ 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

speak  to  you  this  morning  on  behalf  of  the  United  Typothetae 
of  America,  to  present  as  best  I  may  the  employer's  side  of  the 
eight-hour  question. 

Before  doing  so  I  wish  to  say  a  personal  word.  In  the  last 
number  of  the  Typographical  Journal  is  a  report  of  a  meeting 
of  employing  printers,  held  a  short  time  since  in  Milwaukee,  at 
which  I  am  credited  with  the  following: 

Mr.  Ellis  said  it  was  a  crime  against  the  constitution  to  make  a  con- 
tract with  organized  labor.  It  was  detrimental  to  the  willing  non-union 
workers,  and  tended  to  deprive  them  of  making  a  living.  That  he  hoped 
they  would  never  be  under  obligation  to  sign  any  agreement  in   the  future. 

This  is  absolutely  and  unequivocally  false,  and  such  mean- 
ing could  not  be  twisted  out  of  anything  that  I  said.  To  those 
of  you  who  know  me  I  hardly  need  to  say  that  I  not  only  said 
no  such  thing,  but  that  I  hold  no  such  views. 

I  wish  also  to  correct  another  misstatement.  It  has  been 
repeatedly  stated  in  print  and  in  various  public  meetings  that 
the  officers  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  have  refused 
to  confer  with  your  officers  on  the  eight-hour  question.  This 
is  not  true.  The  officers  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America 
have  not  received,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  request  for  a  con- 
ference until  within  the  last  week,  since  the  meeting  of  the 
United  Typothetae  of  America  in  St.  Louis  in  June  of  last  year. 
At  that  time  a  conference  was  held,  and  the  result  of  the  dis- 
cussion in  our  convention,  as  embodied  in  its  preamble  and  reso- 
lutions, was  reported  to  your  committee.  It  is  true  that  the 
stand  taken  by  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  in  these 
resolutions  was  so  decided  as  to  lead  your  president  to  remark 
that  he  supposed  there  was  no  use  in  further  conference,  but  I 
think  those  resolutions  have  not  been  fully  understood,  and  I 
would  like  to  read  them  here. 

Whereas  the  International  Typographical  Union  has  asked  the  United 
Typothetae  of  America  to  declare  its  position  upon  the  proposed  eight-hour 
day;   and 

Whereas  under  existing  conditions  any  attempt  to  reduce  the  hours  of 
labor  in  the  printing  trade  would  be  disastrous  to  the  emolover  and  employe 
alike; 

Be  it  resolved.  That  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  declares  that  it 
is  opposed  to  any  reduction  of  the  fifty- four-hour  week;   and 

Be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  will  re- 
sist any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  re- 
duce the   present  hours   of  labor. 

That  the  typothetae  is  not  opposed  to  conferences  is,  I  think, 
fully  proved  by  the  action  of  the  local  typothetae  of  Chicago, 

820 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

St.  Louis,  Indianapolis  and  Detroit,  who  themselves  proposed 
the  so-called  Detroit  conference,  at  which,  beside  the  local 
committee,  your  executive  council  and  the  committee  of  the 
United  Typothetae  of  America  were  present. 

As  president  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  it  ha* 
been  my  duty,  with  other  members  of  the  executive  committee, 
to  attend  the  meetings  of  employing  printers  held  to  consider 
this  question  during  the  past  few  months  in  different  parts  of 
the  country ;  not,  as  has  been  frequently  stated,  to  stir  up  oppo- 
sition to  the  ultimatum  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  but  to  learn  the  sentiment  of  the  employing  printers  on 
this  question,  and  of  course  to  assist  in  organizing  such  oppo- 
sition if  it  existed ;  and  almost  without  exception  we  found  the 
conviction  expressed  that  it  would  be  ruinous  to  undertake  to 
put  the  printing  offices  on  an  eight-hour  basis  in  the  immediate 
future. 

This  is  not  guess  work  on  the  part  of  the  employers,  for 
they  had  an  experience  with  the  reduction  from  ten  hours  to 
nine.  This  reduction,  as  many  of  you  will  remember,  was  ad- 
vocated by  members  of  the  Boston  Typothetae,  to  which  I 
happened  to  belong,  for  several  years  before  It  was  brought 
about  by  the  Syracuse  conference ;  and  yet  today,  not  only  is 
every  member  of  the  Boston  Typothetae  opposed  to  this  further 
reduction  of  hours,  but  every  man  will  stand  out  against  it, 
and  while  they  now  have  no  less  sympathy  with  their  employes, 
and  would  be  glad  to  meet  their  wishes  if  possible,  they  are 
convinced  through  experience  that  the  reduction  is  not  so  sim- 
ple a  matter  as  appears  on  the  surface ;  that  its  effects  are  far 
reaching. 

The  theory  that  about  as  much  would  be  accomplished  in 
nine  hours  as  in  ten  was  a  delusion.  Not  only  is  no  more 
work  done  per  hour,  but  the  letter  work  which  it  was  prophe- 
sied would  result  has  not  been  forthcoming,  while  the  reduction 
was  not  merely  one  hour  in  ten,  but  the  actual  working  tunc  on 
a  ten-hour  basis,  being  not  more  than  nine  and  one-half  hours 
on  the  average,  with  the  shorter  day  the  whole  hour  comes  off 
the  working  time. 

The  claim  that  the  introduction  of  machinery  into  the 
composing  room  makes  the  shorter  workday  possible  is  falla- 
cious. Not  only  is  it  impossible  to  do  a  large  part  of  the  work 
coming  to  the  gciur.il  office  today  on  machines,  but  even  on 

m 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

such  work  as  can  be  done  on  them  it  must  be  remembered  that 
the  work  of  operatives  on  machines  is  but  a  part  of  the  neces- 
sary cost  of  the  completed  composition ;  proofreading,  make-up 
and  general  expenses  are  not  reduced  by  them,  while  everv  de- 
partment of  the  business  will  be  affected. 

The  claim  that  the  nine-hour  day  is  excessive  on  sanitary 
grounds  is  hardly  worthy  of  consideration ;  the  phvsical  condi- 
tion of  our  employes  is  sufficient  answer  to  that. 

The  decrease  in  hours  and  increase  in  wages  since  1898 
amount  on  the  average  to  at  least  an  increase  of  33  1-3  per  cent 
in  wages  per  hour,  and  the  increased  cost  of  a  further  reduction 
to  eight  hours  will  result  in  an  additional  increased  labor  cost 
of  from  18  to  25  per  cent,  depending  upon  conditions  and 
locality.  For  it  should  be  remembered  that  this  reduction  must 
be  followed  either  by  increasing  the  size  and  cost  of  the  plant, 
with  attendant  increase  in  rents,  etc.,  or  the  work  must  be 
done '  on  overtime  and  at  overtime  prices — elements  too  often 
overlooked  in  the  computation. 

The  building  trades,  so  often  cited  as  on  eight  hours,  form 
no  basis  of  comparison,  as  the  invested  capital  per  employe  is 
but  a  small  percentage  of  that  in  the  printing  business,  and 
their  work  must  be  done  on  the  premises,  while  much  printing 
can  be  done  anywhere ;  and  such  an  increase  in  cost  as  is  con- 
templated, which  must  inevitably  be  borne  by  the  customer  will 
result  in  driving  no  inconsiderable  work  out  of  the  country. 
This  is  no  idle  dream,  it  is  a  cold  fact  as  stated  by  reputable 
publishers  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The  increase  in  cost  will 
inevitably  result  in  a  reduction  of  the  total  amount  of  work 
to  be  done,  for  the  large  purchasers  of  printing  are  counting 
the  cost  as  never  before,  and  competition  is  not  alone  between 
men,  but  between  methods  as  well,  and  any  considerable  in- 
crease in  cost  will  change  the  current  which  has  been  for  some 
years  so  largely  in  the  direction  of  catalogue  work  and  other 
printing,  into  other  channels. 

Comparison  is  sometimes  made  between  the  working  hours 
in  newspaper  and  in  book  and  job  offices.  I  do  not  need  in 
this  assembly  to  call  attention  to  the  difference  in  conditions. 
In  the  newspaper  offices  the  demand  is  for  the  greatest  possible 
output  in  the  shortest  possible  time,  and  the  nervous  strain  to 
which  a  newspaper  man  is  subjected  when  compared  to  that  of 
the  book  and  job  man  is,  I  believe,  even  now  disproportionate 

822 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

to  the  difference  in  working  time.  Then  the  work  must  be 
done,  not  only  in  a  specified  time,  but  in  a  specified  place,  and 
is  not  in  any  sense  a  subject  of  competition. 

Gentlemen,  if  you  carry  out  your  program  and  insist  on 
eight  hours  or  a  strike  next  January,  sorry  as  we  shall  all  be 
(and  we  shall  be  sorry,  as  we  always  are  at  any  differences 
between  employers  and  employes),  there  is  no  alternative  for 
us.  We  must  meet  you  in  a  fight  which  will  mean  much  to  both 
of  us,  but  in  which  we  are  fighting  with  our  all  at  stake,  and 
we  must  fight  to  win. 

This  is  not  a  matter  of  principle,  but  a  practical  question 
of  dollars  and  cents.  In  our  convention,  in  the  many  meet-. 
ings  of  employing  printers  throughout  the  country  and  during 
the  year  in  constant  interviews  and  correspondence  with  the 
employing  printers  of  the  country,  I  find  there  is  an  almost 
unanimous  feeling  that  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  increase 
the  price  of  their  product  to  their  customers ;  and  under  these 
circumstances  it  means,  should  they  accept  the  eight-hour  day, 
certain  ruin. 

By  your  demand,  you  are  presenting  to  the  employing 
printers  of  the  country  the  two  horns  of  a  dilemma:  Either  to 
accept  the  eight-hour  day  and  face  certain  ruin,  or  to  fight  your 
demand  to  the  very  limit  of  their  resources.  I  recognize  that 
both  your  officers  and  many  of  your  rank  and  file  honestly  dif- 
fer with  the  belief  of  the  employing  printers  that  the  eight- 
hour  day  would  bring  to  them  ruin.  Yet  you  must  accept  their 
honesty  of  mind  in  believing  the  contrary,  and  give  due  weight 
to  their  experience  in  the  conduct  of  their  busii; 

The  situation  then  narrows  itself  down  to  the  following: 
If  you  insist  upon  the  eight-hour  day,  the  printers  of  Arm  : 
must  fight  you.  We  have  no  idea  that  in  every  place  we  will 
be  successful,  but  we  are  confident  that  in  the  majority  of  cases 
we  will  win,  and  that  the  present  relationship  between  your 
union  and  the  United  Typothctce  of  America  will  Ik-  l>r 
up — a  relationship  which  has  been  to  the  benefit  of  l*>th  par- 
tis— and  that,  from  now  on,  throughout  this  country  BOft  of 
the  large  book  and  job  offices  will  operate  b)  disregard  of  your 
organization,  if  not  in  hostile  opposition  to  it 

The  insist,. nee  on  the  right  hour  day  on  January  I,  I90C\ 
will    result    in    a    disastrous    warfare |    and    the   objtCl    ol 
presence  here  today  ll  tO  assure  you.  i;cntl< men.  in  spit,-  <<f  the 

3*3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

many  reports  to  the  contrary,  that  the  employing  printers  of  the 
United  States  are  sincere  in  their  opposition  to  this  movement 
and  will  resist  it  to  the  last  ditch. 

One  thing  more :  It  has  been  stated  that  if  there  is  a  strike, 
we,  the  employers,  will  be  held  responsible.  We  deny  this 
responsibility.  Employing  printers  as  a  class  were  never  more 
anxious  for  co-operation  with  their  employes  than  now.  Never 
did  they  realize  more  fully  that  their  interests  are  largely 
identical,  that  prosperity  for  one  means  prosperity  for  both — 
look  back  over  the  past  few  years  and  see  how  fairly  your  de- 
mands have  been  met — but  when  their  business  sense  and  ex- 
perience tell  them  that  you  are  asking  what  cannot  be  granted, 
they  must'  refuse  at  any  cost. 

I  sincerely  hope  that  your  more  mature  judgment  will  re- 
scind a  resolution,  which,  if  acceded  to  by  your  employers,  will 
mean  ruin  to  many  of  them  and  no  financial  advantage  to 
yourselves. 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  Eight-Hour  Day  —  Fol- 
lowing is  submitted  the  complete  report  of  the  conven- 
tion's eight-hour  day  committee.  The  report  is  given  in 
full  because  of  its  importance  as  an  official  document, 
containing  invaluable  information  concerning  the  pre- 
liminary campaign  leading  up  to  the  real  eight-hour 
struggle : 

Toronto,  Ont.,  August  17,  1905. 
To  the   Officers  and  Delegates  of   the  Fifty-First  Session  of  the  International 

Typographical  Union : 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen — Your  committee  on  the  eight-hour  day  begs  leave 
to  submit  the   following  report: 

In  the  first  instance  the  committee  is  of  the  opinion  that,  owing  to  the 
near  approach  of  the  date  upon  which  it  has  been  determined  by  our  refer- 
endum that  the  eight-hour  day  shall  be  inaugurated,  a  review  of  the  history 
of  the  eight-hour  movement  is  desirable,  in  order  that  the  delegates  to  this 
convention  may  thoroughly  understand  the  steps  that  have  been  taken,  and 
that  they  be  familiar  with  all  phases  of  the  subject.  The  committee  has  been 
to  some  labor  to  prepare  this  data,  and  it  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  report  it 
herewith  submits  will  be  of  value,  not  only  to  this  convention,  but  to  the 
membership  at  large. 

At  the  forty-eighth  session  of  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
held  in  Cincinnati,   August   11-17,    1902,  the  following  was  adopted: 

"That  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
and  the  first  vice-president  are  directed  to  act  as  a  committee  for  the  purpose 
of  devising  and  putting  into  effect  plans  for  the  establishment  of  an  eight- 
hour  day  throughout  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
at  as  early  a  date  as  practicable. 

824 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

"That  local  unions  be  required  to  act  in  conjunction  with  the  said  com- 
mittee in  furthering  its  plans,  and  that  they  be  enjoined  from  making  con- 
tracts extending  beyond  October  i,  1905,  which  require  their  members  to 
work   more   than  eight   hours   per   day. 

"That  the  said  committee  bring  the  matter  before  the  national  typotheur, 
to  the  end  that  the  eight-hour  day  may  be  put  into  operation  without   friction. 

"That  should  the  committee  deem  it  necessary  to  add  to  its  numbers,  it 
shall  be   empowered   to   do   so." 

The  report  of  the  president  to  the  Cincinnati  session,  treating  of  the 
eight-hour  day  in  book  and  job  rooms,  said: 

"Various  methods  have  been  suggested  whereby  the  eight-hour  day  can 
generally  be  put  into  effect  in  book  and  job  rooms,  and  all  of  these  have 
merit.  One  of  these  suggestions  which  particularly  appeals  to  our  members 
as  feasible,  and  also  just  to  the  employers,  is  that  the  working  time  shall  be 
reduced  fifteen  minutes  each  year  for  four  years,  or  until  the  eight-boar  day 
is  an  accomplished  fact.  •  •  •  That  the  eight-hour  day  will  eventually 
be  established  as  the  maximum  for  our  entire  membership  goes  without  chal- 
lenge.    We  trust  that  it  may  come  peaceably,  but  in  any  event,  come  it  must." 

The  Cincinnati  convention  also  directed  that  "Local  unions,  in  forming 
new  scales,  make  an  effort  to  secure  the  eight-hour  day.*' 

In  circular  No.  1,  the  International  eight-hour  committee  made  the  follow- 
ing recommendations: 

"1.  That  in  the  making  of  new  scales  or  contracts  local  unions  endeavor 
to  incorporate  the  suggestion  contained  in  the  president's  annual  report,  and 
made  a  part  of  this  circular — that  the  working  time  in  book  and  job  room* 
be  reduced  fifteen  minutes  each  year  for  four  years.  This  suggestion  to  apply 
in  case  agreements,  embracing  better  terms,  cannot  be  negotiated. 

"2.  That  an  eight-hour  committee  of  not  less  than  five  members  shall 
be  appointed  at  once. 

"3.  Every  movement,  to  be  successful,  must  be  properly  financed.  It  i« 
recommended,  therefore,  that  local  unions  and  eight-hour  committees  give 
consideration  to  the  establishment  of  an  eight-hour  fund.  If  needed,  it  is 
vital  that  the  money  shall  be  on   hand." 

Circular  No.  2  again  made  reference  to  the  request  that  local  eight-hour 
committees  should  be  appointed,  and  asked  for  the  names  of  members  making 
up  these  committees.     It  was  again  pointed  out  that— 

"Every  mqvement  to  be  successful  must  be  properly  financed.  It  to 
recommended,  therefore,  that  local  unions  and  eight-hour  committees  give 
consideration  to. the  establishment  of  an  eight-hour  fund.  If  needed,  11  is 
vital  that  the  money  shall  be  on  hand." 

The  instructions  enacted  by  the  Cincinnati  convention  were  printed  la 
black  type  at  the  beginning  of  circular  No.  j: 

"That   the   local    unions   be    required   to   act    in    conjunction    with   the    said 
committee,    in    furthering    its    plans,   and    that    they    be    enjoined    frc 
contracts  extending  beyond   October    1,   1905,   which   require  their  where 
work  more  than  eight  hours  per  day." 

(  ircular    No.    3    informed    the    membership    that    since    the    eight-hoar    d 
agitation   was   launched   many   locals  have   provided   in   contracts   for   the 
ual   shortening   of   the    hours,    ami   the    inauguration   of   the   eight-hour    day  est 
October    1,    1903.      Continuing,    this   circular    said: 

"In  the  making  of  new  contracts  in  your  jurisdiction,  effort  should  be 
put  forth  to  smiir  thr  right  hour  day  at  ostt  If  possible;  if  not.  the  gia+aal 
rrlurtion  of  the  hours,  or  the  eight-hour  day  Oft  a 
than  October  1.  laot.  *  *  *  Local  eight-hoar  tniilmai 
Inrgrly  by  loral  comliiion..  In  a  sense  the  achievement  of  the  shame  araea- 
day  is  a  local  qurntion.  If  thr  opportunity  presents  Itself,  make  the  moot  of  Is. 
Hold  frequent  committee  meetings  and  discuss  ways  and  atseas  to  ■!■>■»!  Hat 


*9 


X 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

desired    end.      That    which    may    seem    an    impossibility    now,    will    become    a 
reality  through   energetic,   constant  and  intelligent   effort." 

Circular  No.  4  asked  for  local  data. 

Circular  No.  5  gave  certain  statistical  information  that  was  gathered  as 
a  result  of  the  local  data  asked  for  in  circular  No.  4.  The  report  of  the 
eight-hour  committee  at  the  Washington  convention,  which  was  adopted  by 
that  gathering,  is  also  made  a  part  of  circular  No.  5.  The  proposition  re- 
ceiving the  sanction  of  the  committee  was  as  follows: 

"Whereas  many  unions  have  secured  agreements  with  employers  for  the 
inauguration  of  an  eight-hour  workday  in  the  book  and  job  offices;  therefore, 

"ELe  it  resolved,  That  subordinate  unions,  in  entering  into  such  agree- 
ments, are  instructed  to  secure  the  eight-hour  workday  in  preference  to  the 
forty-eight-hour  week,  or  any  plan  that  permits  of  the  time  gained  being  de- 
ducted from  any  one  day,  to  the  end  that  the  spirit  of  the  shorter  workday 
movement  may  be  observed,  and  more  work  distributed  among  the  book  and 
job  men  not  regularly  employed." 

It  was  also  adopted: 

"That  the  committee  on  eight-hour  day  be  instructed  to  notify  local 
unions  which  have  not  already  obtained  the  eight-hour  day  or  made  contracts 
binding  them  to  its  provisional  institution,  that  it  is  the  sense  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  that  they  make  effort  on  January  1,  1905,  to 
obtain  the  eight-hour  day  according  to  plans  deemed  most  expedient  by  such 
local  unions  in  their  several  localities." 

Continuing,   the   committee    said: 

"Your  committee  congratulates  the  president  and  the  executive  council 
on  the  large  number  of  unions  that  have  secured,  or  partially  secured,  the 
eight-hour  day  during  the  past  year  through  their  efforts,  and  urges  upon  all 
local  unions  and  eight-hour  committees  to  put  forth  the  greatest  efforts  during 
the  coming  year. 

"From  the  data  furnished  the  committee  we  find  that  a  large  number  of 
local  unions  failed  to  report  their  status  on  the  eight-hour  day  after  blanks 
had  been  sent  them  requesting  such  information,  and  your  committee  re- 
spectfully urges  all  local  unions  to  take  a  more  active  interest  and  lend  greater 
support  to  the  executive  officers. 

"Your  committee  recommends  and  urges  all  delegates  in  attendance  at 
this  convention,  on  return  to  their  respective  unions,  to  incorporate  in  their 
reports  a  statement  of  the  progress  of  the  eight-hour  day  during  the  past 
year,  and  to  use  their  best  endeavors  to  have  their  local  committee  'wake  up,' 
and  those  not  having  such  committee  to  immediately  appoint  one,  for  it  is 
only  by  persistent  effort  and  keeping  constantly  at  it  that  we  can  hope  to 
achieve   the   desired   aim." 

Circular  No.  6  stated  that  frequently  a  local  committee  wrote  the  Inter- 
national committee  that  the  local  union  which  it  represented  was  situated  in  a 
jurisdiction  too  large  or  too  small  for  an  immediate  attempt  for  the  eight-hour 
day.  Attention  was  called  to  the  fact  that  a  large  union,  San  Francisco  Typo- 
graphical Union  No.  31,  and  a  small  union,  Paducah  Typographical  Union  No. 
134,  had  arranged  for  and  enforced  the  eight-hour  day.  It  was  pointed  out 
that— 

"The  result  achieved  by  these  two  unions,  and  by  more  than  eighty  other 
typographical  unions,  can  be  brought  about  by  every  typographical  union  that 
does  not  at  present  enforce  the   eight-hour  day  in   its  book  and  job  rooms." 

Circular  No.  7  gave  that  portion  of  the  report  of  President  Lynch  to  the 
St.  Louis  convention  dealing  with  the  eight-hour  campaign  and  the  progress 
that  had  been  made,  together  with  excerpts  from  the  reports  of  officers  to 
the  convention  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America,  previously  held  in  the 
city  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

826 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 


We  quote  herewith  the  following  resolutions  adopted  by  the  United 
Typothetx  at  its  St.  Louis  convention,  together  with  the  letter  of  trans- 
mission to  our  representatives: 

"St.  Louis,  June  23.  1904. 
"Messrs.  Lynch,  Bramwood  and  Miller,  Committee  from  International  Typo- 
graphical Union: 

"Gentlemen — In  accordance  with  your  request,  expressed  in  the  con- 
ference  yesterday,  that  we  should  obtain  from  the  convention  a  statement  of 
its  attitude  upon  the  proposed  eight-hour  day,  we  placed  the  matter  before 
the  convention,  and  also  the  telegram  addressed  to  you  from  Indianapolis, 
and  beg  to  submit  in  reply  thereto  the  following  resolutions,  which  were 
passed  unanimously: 

"Whereas  the  International  Typographical  Union  has  asked  the  United 
Typothetx  of  America  to  declare  its  position  upon  the  proposed  eight-boar 
day;  and 

"Whereas  under  existing  conditions  any  attempt  to  reduce  the  hours  of 
labor  in  the  printing  trade  would  be  disastrous  to  the  employer  and  employe 
alike ; 

"Be  it  resolved,  That  the  United  Typothetx  of  America  declares  that  it 
is  opposed  to  any  reduction  of  the  fifty-four-hour  week;  and 

"Be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  United  Typothetx  of  America  will  resist 
any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  reduce 
the  present  hours  of  labor. 

"Your*   very   truly, 

"William  Green. 
"George  H.  Ellis. 
"Harry  P.  Pears, 
"Thomas  E.    Donnelly, 

"F.  C.  Nl'NEMACMER." 
It  was  pointed  out  in  the  report  of  the  president  that — 
"The  recently  oft-repeated  assertion  that  the  eight-hour  day  in  book  and 
job  rooms  is  a  question  for  adjudication  between  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  and  the  United  Typothetx  of  America  was  put  to  the  test  in 
St.  Louis  on  June  22  and  33.  The  annual  convention  of  the  typothetx  was 
held  in  the  Exposition  City  the  week  of  the  30th.  Prior  to  this  gathering. 
the  International  president  addressed  a  letter  to  the  typothetx  secretary  recit- 
ing the  action  taken  by  our  Cincinnati  convention  on  the  eight-hour  proposi- 
tion, and  continuing:  'It  has  been  frequently  intimated  by  local  associations 
of  the  typothetx  that  the  eight-hour  day  was  an  issue  that  should  bt  adjusted 
between  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  United  Typotbctx  of 
America,  and  that  these  local  associations  wrre  willing  to  accept  and  pat 
into  effect  any  conclusion  that  might  be  arrived  at  by  the  higher  bo  Jits.  80 
often,  indeed,  has  this  intimation  botfl  m.i.le.  and  in  several  instance*  tjCMpMd 
by  our  local  unions  that  the  eight  In. ur  •  ..nunittre  for  thr  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  is  prepared  and  anxious  to  demonstrate  the  effectiveness:  ol 
the  suggestion.  Therefore,  our  eight  hour  committee,  or  •  majority  of  loot 
committee,  will  be  in  Bt  Looll  during  your  eighteenth  annual  tuaiinH—. 
which,  I  understand,  will  Ik-  lirl.l  .luring  thr  week  commencing  Monday.  June 
ao,  1904,  in  the  convention  lull  of  the  Century  building.  Ninth  and  OMvt 
streets.  Our  committee  will  at  that  time,  or  at  .urh  t.nw  during 
as  may   be   dasjfnattd   by    v  .ur    <•.. mention,  bt  pltottd   to   pa*. 

renting  your  association,  for  the  purpose  of  diicusaing  the  eight  hour  day. 
nn. I.  arriving  at  m  that  may  bt  •»' 

Typothetx    of    America    and    the    International    Typographical    Union    for   ggs> 
■n    and    po.nil.lr     rat il>.  ■ 

"In   accordance   with   our   request,   the   typotbeto   convention   tsusrwet**]   0 


*-7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

committee  to  meet  with  our  International  representatives,  and  conferences 
were  held  on  June  22  and  23.  At  the  first  meeting  the  employers  asked  us 
to  make  a  proposition  for  the  inauguration  of  the  shorter  workday,  which  they 
would  present  to  their  convention.  This  was  declined,  our  committee  request- 
ing that  before  any  discussion  as  to  detail  the  typothetae  should  declare  its 
position  on  the  shorter  workday  proposition.  If  this  attitude  was  favorable, 
we  said  the  two  committees  could  then  take  up  and  endeavor  to  reach  an 
agreement  as  to  the  date  on  which  the  reduction  or  partial  reduction  in  hours 
should  take  place.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  attitude  of  the  United  Typothetae 
was  unfavorable  to  a  curtailment  of  the  present  working  time,  then  we  wanted 
to  know  that,  and  in  such  a  way  that  there  would  remain  no  room  for  mis- 
understanding. In  other  words,  if  the  employer  should  give  us  a  negative 
reply,  we  wanted  it  on  the  main  question,  and  not  on  a  proposition  from  us 
for  the  inauguration  of  the  shorter  workday  on  a  certain  date  which  might 
leave  local  associations  free  to  assert  that  the  United  TypothetEe  had  not 
declared  itself  against  the  eight-hour  day,  but  only  against  its  initiation  on  the 
date  which  our  committee  had  named.  This  was  finally  agreed  to,  and  on  the 
23  rd  we  were  given  a  copy  of  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  typothetae  con- 
vention, squarely  setting  forth  the  position  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America 
on  the  request  made  by  the  International  Typographical  Union  for  an  agree- 
ment under  which  the  eight-hour  day  would  become  effective  in  book  and  job 
rooms.  It  was  just  the  answer  we  expected,  and  we  were  in  no  wise  dis- 
appointed. Indeed,  we  believed  that  we  had  reason  for  congratulating  our- 
selves in  that  the  atmosphere  had  been  thoroughly  cleared,  and  henceforth  we 
would  know  exactly  where  we  stood.  There  can  be  no  further  shifting  of  the 
problem  to  other  shoulders  by  either  local  unions  or  local  employers.  It  is  a 
clean-cut,  well-defined,  pressing  condition." 

We  continue  to  quote  from  the  report  of  the  president  to  the  St.  Louis 
convention,  as  we  believe  that  that  report,  taken  in  connection  with  the  reso- 
lutions adopted  by  the  St.  Louis  convention  of  the  United  Typothetae  of 
America,  makes  ridiculous  some  recent  statements  by  the  typothetae,  and  also 
clearly  sets  forth  the  attitude  of  that  association  toward  the  eight-hour  day  at 
the  time  our  St.  Louis  convention  met. 

"Recently  I  made  reference  in  my  Journal  notes  to  'Circular  No.  6,'  is- 
sued from  the  headquarters  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America,  and  which 
contained  this  statement:  'The  efforts  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  to  inaugurate  a  shorter  workday  have  been  met  by  the  earnest  oppo- 
sition of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America,  and  every  effort  possible  is  being 
made  to  advise  cities  where  agitation  is  carried  on  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  any 
such  suggestion,  and,  if  necessary,  fight  it.'  On  this  the  following  comment 
was  made:  'Some  of  our  members  have  inclined  to  the  belief  that  confer- 
ences should  be  sought  with  the  officers  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America 
relative  to  the  eight-hour  day,  and  the  above  quotation  may  bring  about  a 
change  in  this  regard.  The  typothetae  intends  to  oppose  the  eight-hour  day 
just  so  long  as  opposition  is  feasible.  When  the  employing  book  and  job 
printers  become  convinced  that  we  are  determined  in  our  efforts  to  secure  the 
shorter  workday,  then  will  it  be  possible  to  confer  with  prospect  for  success. 
The  agitation  for  the  nine-hour  day  extended  over  many  years  before  it  crys- 
tallized and  had  result.     Success  came  when  the  membership  was  aroused.' 

"Under  the  caption  'Some  Additional  Evidence,'  the  following  was  also 
printed  in  my  department:  'In  an  address  delivered  at  New  Haven,  Janu- 
ary 19,  before  the  Connecticut  State  Typothetae,  by  the  secretary  of  the 
United  Typothetae  of  America,  that  official  is  reported  to  have  said:  'The 
length  of  the  workday  is  not  of  so  much  importance  as  the  returns  received. 
We  are  endeavoring  to  suppress  all  agitation  started  by  the  International 
Typographical  Union.  If  the  hours  are  reduced  the  expenses  of  the  business 
are  added  to  by  15  per  cent.     There  is  a  movement  in  Congress  to  frame  an 

828 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

eight-hour  day,  which  is  a  dangerous  one.  We  are  opposing  it  because  it  ta 
unwise,  and  we  are  petitioning  our  members  to  have  their  senators  oppose 
the  bill.  We  are  also  antagonizing  the  anti-injunction  bill.  We  stand  for 
the  "open"  office,  although  we  agree  that  the  union  men  are  the  best  work- 
men that  we  can  secure.'  Could  there  be  a  clearer  outline  of  the  attitude 
of  the  associated  employing  printers  toward  the  agitation  for  a  shorter  work- 
day? Yet  we  are  told  to  confer  with  the  United  Typothetx  of  America!  Yea, 
when  we  have  aroused  the  union  printers  of  the  country,  when  we  have 
imbued  them  with  eight-hour  enthusiasm,  when  we  have  solidified  and  crys- 
tallized the  eight-hour  demand,  when  there  is  no  room  for  doubt  as  to  oar 
attitude,  then  we  will  confer.  And  then  will  a  conference  be  successful. 
Nevertheless  the  agitation  for  the  conference  continued.  It  has  been  held. 
We  have  the  result.  And  we  repeat,  'When  the  employing  book  and  job 
printers  become  convinced  that  we  are  determined  in  our  efforts  to  secure 
the  shorter  workday,  then  will  it  be  possible  to  confer  with  prospect  for  sac- 
cess.'  " 

The  president,  in  referring  to  the  Syracuse  agreement,  said,  in  bis  re- 
port to  the   St.   Louis  convention: 

"In  some  localities  employers  insist  that  we  are  bound  by  the  nine-hoar 
agreement.  On  this  point,  a  typothetse  circular  says:  'It  must  not  be  for- 
gotten that  the  United  Typothetse  of  America  haa  an  agreement  with  the 
International  Typographical  Union  as  well  as  other  unions  connected  with  the 
printing  trades  for  a  fifty-four-hour  week,  entered  into  at  Syracuse  in  1898, 
and  that  the  terms  of  this  agreement  never  have  been  changed,  and  most  re- 
main in  force  until  formal  notice  of  withdrawal  of  request  for  an  alteration 
of  its  requirements  have  been  submitted  to  the  United  Typotbeta  of  America.' 

"A  reading  of  the  1898  agreement  referred  to  will  demonstrate  conclu- 
sively the  lack  of  basis  for  the  statement  made  in  the  official  circular.  It 
only  specified  the  dates  on  which  the  nine  and  one-half  and  nine-boar  day 
became  effective." 

The  number  of  unions  having  the  eight-hour  day,  those  having  arranged 
for  the  same,  the  unions  then  working  less  than  nine  hours  but  having  sent 
in  no  data  for  the  shorter  workday,  and  unions  then  working  less  than  nine 
hours  having  the  eight-hour  day  arranged  for,  were  given  in  circular   No.   7. 

Circular  No.  8  set  forth  the  action  taken  by  the  St  Louis  convention, 
and  which  was  then  before  the  referendum  for  its  consideration. 

Circular  No.  9  again  touched  on  the  St.  Louis  plan,  which  had  received 
a  majority  in  the  referendum  of  14,085. 

Your  committee  reproduces  herewith  entirely  the  report  of  the  eight  hour 
committee  to  the  St.   Louis  convention,  which  wss  later  submitted  to  the 
ercnilum,  and,  as  has  been   pointed   out,   adopted   by   that  body. 

"Your  committee  on  the  eight-hour  day  has  carefully  considered  that 
portion  of  the  report  of  President  Lynch  captioned  "The  Right  Hour  Day." 
and  which  we  are  informed  is  intended  ss  the  report  of  the  International 
eight-hour  committee,  and  has  also  had  in  review  the  circulars  thus  far  Imsf 
by  the  International  eight-hour  committee,  seven  In  number.  We  bare  ass* 
had  before  us  President  Lynch,  who  has  explained  fully  and  la  detail 
various  steps  taken  by  the  committee,  the  work  performed  and  Um 
object  in  view. 

"After  a  careful   review   of   the  eight-hour  movement   an 
indicated,  we   desire  to  report   to   the   convention   as   follows  1 

"First— We  endorse    without    reservation    the   work   and    mUnam)   ed 
Into  national    eight-hour    commuter.      \Vr   believe   In   Ibis 
committee   has   thoroughly  covered  the   ground  and  baa  awl   la 
metioxl   that   thus    far    ha*    given    promise  of   advaaeemeat   la 
cause. 

"Second— We  believe  with   President   Lynch  that  Tbe  Haklbaardgy 


B* 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ject  will   not  grow  old  until  the  inauguration  of  the  eight-hour  day  is  in  itself 
an  event  of  the  past  rather  than  something  that  must  yet  be  brought  about.' 

"Third — We  regret  that  the  eight-hour  day  in  book  and  job  rooms  is  not 
a  question  at  the  present  time  for  adjudication  between  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  the  United  Typothetae  of  America,  but  in  view  of 
the  action  taken  by  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  in  convention  assem- 
bled at  St.  Louis,  in  which  it  is  asserted  'That  the  United  Typothetse  of 
America  declares  it  is  opposed  to  any  reduction  of  the  fifty-four-hour  week,' 
and  'that  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  will  resist  any  attempt  on  the 
part  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  reduce  the  present  hours 
of  labor,'  no  other  conclusion  is  possible.  That  an  agreement  on  peaceable 
lines  is  not  now  possible  is  solely  the  fault  of  the  associated  employers,  and 
this  contention  is  borne  out  by  the  action  of  their  last  convention.  Further, 
we  dispute  the  statement  of  the  typothetae  that  a  reduction  in  the  hours  of 
labor  would  be  disastrous  to  the  employer.  We  maintain  that  the  eight-hour 
day  is  the  logical  workday,  that  it  is  sufficient  for  the  needs  of  the  trade, 
and  we  give  emphatic  endorsement  to  the  doctrine  that  the  introduction  of 
labor-saving  machinery  is  not  for  the  benefit  of  the  employer  alone,  but  should 
also  result  in  better  working  conditions  for  the  employe  in  the  way  of  re- 
duction in  the  hours  of  toil  and  increased  remuneration. 

"Fourth — The  claim  advanced  by  the  typothetae  that  it  has  an  agree- 
ment with  the  International  Typographical  Union  for  a  fifty-four-hour  week 
which  precludes  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  our  organization  for  a  shorter 
workday  or  week,  is  not  borne  out  by  the  terms  of  the  Syracuse  agreement, 
and  we  believe  it  is  made  at  this  time  simply  in  furtherance  of  the  intention 
to  construct  as  many  obstacles   to  the   eight-hour  day  as  is   possible. 

"Fifth — We  congratulate  the  -International  eight-hour  committee  on  the 
large  number  of  unions  that  have  thus  far  succeeded  in  inaugurating  the 
eight-hour  day,  or  that  have  made  arrangements  under  which  the  eight-hour 
day  will  shortly  come  into  effect.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  it  took  more 
than  twenty  years  to  bring  about  the  nine-hour  day,  we  have  especial  cause 
for  jubilation  over  the  progress  that  has  thus  far  been  made  toward  the 
logical   and   inevitable  eight-hour   workday. 

"Sixth — We  endorse  the  statement  made  by  President  Lynch,  and  we 
desire  to  impress  it  on  the  delegates  to  this  convention  and  through  them  on 
the  membership  at  large,  that  when  the  employing  book  and  job  printers  be- 
come convinced  that  we  are  determined  in  our  efforts  to  secure  the  shorter 
workday,  then  it  will  be  possible  to  confer  with  the  United  Typothetae  of 
America  with  prospect  for  success. 

"After  weighing  carefully  the  various  plans  and  methods  that  have  been 
suggested  to  the  convention  the  adoption  of  the  following  preamble  and  reso- 
lution, which,  when  referred  to  the  referendum  and  adopted  by  it,  will  place 
the  International  Typographical  Union  squarely  on  record  on  the  eight-hour- 
day  proposition,  and  indicate  beyond  question  the  date  on  which  the  eight- 
hour   day   shall   become   effective  in   all   union   establishments: 

"Whereas  in  the  movement  for  an  eight-hour  day  for  the  book  and  job 
members  of  the  Typographical  Union,  authorized  by  our  Cincinnati  convention, 
the  International  eight-hour  committee  has  sought  an  agreement  with  the 
United  Typothetae  of  America  under  which  the  eight-hour  day  could  be 
made  effective  on  a  mutually  satisfactory  plan,  and  with  the  minimum  em- 
barrassment  to   the   interest   of   our   employers;    and 

"Whereas  the  overtures  for  peace  thus  made  were  refused  and  declined, 
and  replied  to  with  a  threat,  combined  with  a  practical  declaration  of  war 
should  any  effort  be  made  to  achieve  the  shorter  workday,  as  witness  the 
language  of  the  resolution  adopted  by  the  late  typothetae  convention;  and 

"Whereas  we  reaffirm  and  again  demand  the  eight-hour  day  for  our  book 
and  job  members; 


830 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

"Whereas  your  committee  having  carefully  considered  Propositions  Not. 
35,  61,  62,  63,  98,  103  and  129,  submit  in  lieu  thereof,  the  following: 

"Resolved,  That  we  again  declare  our  entire  willingness  to  negotiate  with 
the  United  Typothetae  for  an  agreement  under  which  the  eight-hour  day  will 
become   operative,   and   so   instruct  our  eight-hour  committee. 

"Resolved,  That  an  assessment  of  one-half  of  one  (i)  per  cent  on  all 
moneys  earned  be  levied  upon  the  membership  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  for  the  purpose  of  a  defense  fund.  Such  fund  to  be  held 
and  expended  by  the  subordinate  union,  except  in  those  cases  where  no  iron* 
ble  is  experienced  in  putting  in  operation  the  eight-hour  day,  and  in  such 
unions  one-half  of  the  assessment  to  be  subject  to  call  of  the  International 
officers  for  use  in  the  furtherance  of  the  eight-hour  day  as  deemed  in  their 
judgment  necessary. 

"Resolved,  That  on  January  i,  1906,  the  eight-hour  day  shall  become  ef- 
fective in  all  union  establishments  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  where  existing  contracts  do  not  prevent,  and  in  each 
instance   where   the   eight-hour   day   is    refused,   work   shall  cease. 

"In  conclusion,  your  committee  desires  to  urge  upon  this  convention,  and 
the  membership  at  large,  the  advisability  and  necessity  of  adopting  the  reso- 
lutions herein  set  forth,  and  preparing  in  every  way  possible  for  effective 
action  if  resistance  to  the  eight-hour  day  develops  on  or  prior  to  January  t, 
1906." 

At  the  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  held  in  San 
Francisco  in  November,  1904,  President  Gompers,  in  his  report  to  the  gath- 
ering, took  occasion  to  say: 

"The  American  Federation  of  Labor  has  been  of  incalculable  benefit  to  a 
large  number  of  International  unions  and  local  unions  in  the  intro- 
duction and  enforcement  of  the  eight-hour  workday,  as  attested  by 
the  large  number  of  our  fellows  who  are  now  under  that  rule.  Inasmuch  as 
the  International  Typographical  Union  has  taken  the  initiative  of  its  own  ac- 
cord in  the  matter  of  introducing  and  enforcing  the  eight-hour  workday,  I 
submit  for  your  consideration  and  recommend  that  this  movement  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  receive  the  sincere  and  hearty  endorse- 
ment and  co-operation  of  this  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor,  and  of  every  union  member,  as  well  as  every  wage  earner  and  those 
who   sympathize   with   practical,    evolutionary,   economic    progress. 

"It  is  not  now  known  whether  there  will  be  any  contest  against  the  eight- 
hour  day;  whether  any  antagonistic  action  will  be  taken  by  the  employers  to 
the  men.  Wo  do  know,  however,  that  at  the  last  convention  of  the  employes*; 
printers  of  the  United  States,  organized  under  the  name  of  the  typotbet*.  a 
resolution  was  adopted  declaring  against  that  movement.  In  any  event,  it 
seems  clear  to  me  that  every  action  should  be  taken  by  this  convention  and 
by  our  organization  generally,  not  only  to  pledge  the  support  of  the 
Federation  of  Labor  and  its  affiliated  unions  to  the  International 
Union  in  its  effort  to  enforce  the  eight-hour  day,  but  that  a  special 
be  appointed  by  this  convention  to  give  the  subject  matter  consideration ;  that 
the  committee  should  consult  with  the  officers  and  representatives  of  the  Inlet- 
national  Typographical  Union  during  the  convention  and  report  thereto 
adjournment;  that  either  that  committee  or  another  committee  be 
to  be  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  co-operating  with  the  eiecutl 
Of    i!.r    Aacrtan    Federation    of    Labor    and   the   odkers  of   ike    Utemitlousl 

■K-raphicnl    Union,    to   that    the   best    possible  aid  can   be  rendered   to  our 

l   worker!  in  the  great  movement  that  they  have  undertaken,  tad  k*  whxh 

tliev  hove  the  hone*,  ■label,  farrrs  and  co-operation  of  oeery  out  baser  weed 

in  th«  welfare  of  Hie  bantu   family  and  the  progress  and  lliMeolton  of  our 

people. 

"Of  course,  in  the  effort  to  help  one  particular  n  ruejilnllio,  uniimly  ha 


Rji 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  laudable  purpose  it  has  mapped  out  for  itself  to  achieve,  we  are  not  cir- 
cumscribed or  limited  in  our  effort  to  help  any  and  all  of  our  fellow  workmen 
who  are  in  a  position  to  make  any  effort  for  the  advancement  or  promotion 
of  their  interests.  We  shall,  therefore,  welcome  not  only  the  initiative 
of  our  fellow  unionists  to  obtain  improved  conditions,  and  particularly 
the  improved  conditions  that  come  from  a  shorter  workday,  but  we  shall  be  glad 
to  help  in  the  initiation  of  any  movement  that  will  contribute  in  any  way 
toward  the  protection,  the  promotion  of  the  conditions  and  interests  of  our 
fellow  workmen,  and  to  render  them  every  assistance  within  our  power." 

Your  committee  finds  that  the  special  committee  to  which  was  referred 
that  part  of  the  report  of  the  president  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor, 
treating  of  our  eight-hour  movement,  made  the  following  report,  adopted 
unanimously  by  the  convention  and  quoted  in  full  in  the  report  of  the  Inter- 
national president  to  this  convention,  and  again  quoted  in  full  in  this 
report : 

"We  have  had  before  us  the  president  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  and  we  find  that  the  movement  for  the  eight-hour  day  for  the  book 
and  job  printers  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  was  inaugurated  at  the 
Cincinnati  convention  of  the  International  Typographical  Unon,  held  in  1902, 
that  it  was  further  considered  at  the  Washington  convention,  held  in  1903, 
and  that  at  the  St.  Louis  convention,  held  in  August  of  this  year,  it  was 
decided  that  the  eight-hour  day  should  be  enforced  on  January  1,  1906,  and 
that  for  the  financial  support  of  this  movement  an  assessment  of  one-half  of 
one  per  cent  should  be  levied  on  the  earnings  of  all  the  members  of  the 
International   Typographical   Union. 

"This  plan  was  submitted  to  a  referendum  vote,  as  provided  by  the  laws 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  President  Lynch  informs  your 
committee  that  the  proposition  received  a  majority  of  more  than  fourteen 
thousand  votes.  Therefore  the  assessment  will  become  effective  on  January  1, 
1905,  and  on  January  1,  1906,  effort  will  be  made  to  put  the  eight-hour  day 
into  effect. 

"We  aie  also  informed  that  there  is  an  association  of  commercial  printers 
entitled  the  LTnited  Typothetae  of  America,  the  employers'  association.  That 
the  officers  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  have  made  effort  to 
secure  an  agreement  with  the  United  Typothetae  under  which  the  eight-hour 
day  for  book  and  job  printers  would  become  effective,  and  that  the  em- 
ployers' association  has  thus  far  refused  to  enter  into  such  an  agreement.  We 
are  furthermore  informed  that  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  is  at  present 
accumulating  a  defense  fund  in  order  that  the  eight-hour  day  enforcement  may 
be  combated.  It  is  hoped  by  the  employers  to  gather  together  at  least  $500,000. 
In  view  of  the  above  your  committee  would   recommend: 

"First — That  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  approve  and  endorse  the 
movement  under  way  by  the  International  Typographical  Union  for  an  eight- 
hour  day  for  the  book  and  job  printers  of  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
and  pledge  to  the  support  of  this  movement,  both  moral  and  financial  assist- 
ance. 

"Second — That  if  at  any  time  after  January  1,  1906,  the  International 
Typographical  Union  desires  the  financial  support  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor,  and  if,  after  investigation  by  the  executive  council,  such  financial 
support  is  found  necessary  in  order  to  insure  victory  to  the  printers,  the  execu- 
tive council  shall  levy  the  constitutional  assessment  on  affiliated  bodies,  this 
assessment  to  continue  for  such  length  of  time  as  in  the  judgment  of  the 
executive  council  may  be  necessary. 

"Third — Your  committee  recommends  that  a  committee  of  five  members 
be  appointed  to  act  with  the  executive  council  in  furthering  the  eight-hour 
day  for  the  book  and  job  printers. 


832 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

"And  we  desire  to  conclude  this  report  by  extending  to  the  International 
Typographical  Union  the  hearty  well  wishes  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor    for   the   success   of   the    printers'   eight-hour   project." 

Circular  No.  1 1  urged  the  necessity  for  organization  work,  and  asserted 
that  the  eight-hour  day  could  be  accomplished  without  friction  if  the  proper 
organization   effort   was  put   forth. 

Circular  No,  12  gave  the  list  of  eight-hour  unions  on  May  1,  1905. 

Circular   No.    13   gave  the   list   of  eight-hour  unions  on  June    1.    1905. 

Circular  No.  14  sets  forth  the  correspondence  and  facta  in  the  St  Louis 
case. 

Circular  No.   15  gave  the  eight-hour  unions  on  July    1,    iooj. 

Returning  now'  to  the  report  of  the  president  to  this  convention,  con- 
taining also  the  report  of  the  International  eight-hour  committee,  and  that 
section  of  the  report  covering  the  eight-hour  campaign,  we  desire  to  say,  in 
entire  agreement  with  the  president,  that  there  is  but  one  subject  before  the 
International  Typographical  Union — the  establishment  of  the  principle  of  not 
more  than  eight  hours'  work  for  all  members  of  the  organization.  We  coin- 
cide  with  his  statement: 

"All  other  problems,  all  other  questions,  all  other  proposition*  are  in- 
cident to  the  great  economic  advancement  that  we  are  attempting,  and  which 
has  met  with  success  in  many  instances.  Achieving  the  eight-hour  day,  bet- 
terments will  follow  naturally.  Higher  wages,  if  we  are  to  accept  the  history 
of  other  organizations  enjoying  the  eight-hour  day  are  sure  to  succeed  its 
general  introduction." 

We  find  from  the  report  of  the  president  that  there  were  issued  during 
the  fiscal  year  10,000  copies  of  Eight-Hour  Circular  No.  8,  10,000  copies  of 
Eight-Hour  Circular  No.  9,  35,000  copies  of  Eight-Hour  Circular  No.  10. 
20,000  copies  of  Eight-Hour  Circular  No.  11,  3.000  copies  of  Eight-Hoar  Cir- 
cular No.  t2,  and  18,000  circulars  under  the  following  titles:  "Golden  Nug- 
gets," "Boost"  and  "Organize  1"  Attached  to  the  latter  were  blanks  showing 
the  plan  used  by  Chicago  Typographical  Union  to  obtain  names  and  addresses 
of  non-union  printers  in  the  jurisdiction  of  No.  16  and  the  adjacent  terri- 
tory, and  it  is  stated  that  this  plan  had  been  adopted  by  many 
Total  number  of  circulars  distributed  was  96,000,  making  23.37$ 
One  thousand  nine  hundred  and  sixty-seven  boxes  of  eight-hour  buttons,  con- 
taining from  15  to  1,000  buttons,  a  total  of  50,000,  were  also  mailed  to  secre- 
taries and  presidents  of  local  unions,  eight-hour  committeemen,  chairmen  of 
chapels.  Ten  thousand  eight-hour  buttons  of  special  design  were  furnished  to 
our    Canadian    locals. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  United  Typotheta  of  America,  mass  sseeting* 
of  employing  printers  have  been  held  in  St.  I'aul.  intended  to  cover  the 
northwest;  Kansas  City,  intended  to  cover  the  southwest:  Atlanta,  for  the 
southeast;  Boston,  for  the  New  England  states:  Philadelphia,  for  the  central 
states,  and  Milwaukee,  for  the  central  northwestern  states.  It  is  stated  by 
the  president  that 

"At  these   mrrtings  our  eight-hour  campaign  is  iht  sole  toast  lor 
and   resolutions  arc  adopted   pledging  the   attendants  to 
iliirtiori   of   ii'    tight-hour  day.     As   far  as  your    prr«ulmi   >• 
argument  at  the  matting,  i«  that  the  right-hour  day  Is  Issarattssal.  aad  that  M 
will    ruin    llir    printinic    baatwgM  " 

Wc  agree  with  the  prr.i.lrnt  that  we  can  not  coincide  wks>  i»>U  stew,  aad 
we  arr  on«  otta  him  in  tl>r  Ix-lirf  that  the  c,«i.t  hour  day  w8t  stiautUtr  the 
printing  btlglnggg.  and  In  the  end  wdl  '  I   to  the  ifliylt  as  we*  a* 

t,.  thr  r.nplovr      It  it  significant,  at  staled  by  the  tutiainl  la  bis  report,  that 
in    some    Instances    the   attendants   si    these    meetings    baea    retataod   to  tbalff 
eMlg  and  signed  eight  hour  coolrscu  wiib  oar  Weal 


tu 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

There  is  another  statement  contained  in  the  president's  report  that  is  of 
extreme  importance,  and  its  significance  should  be  carefully  sought  by  this 
convention:  > 

"The  executive  committee  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America,  at  a 
meeting  in  Kansas  City  on  April  n,  the  day  succeeding  the  mass  meeting  of 
employers  in  that  city,  changed  the  arrangements  for  the  1905  typothetae  con- 
vention, and  in  this  respect  nullified  the  action  taken  at  the  St.  Louis  typothe- 
tae session  last  year.  The  1905  convention  will  be  held  in  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y., 
the  week  of  September  4.  The  St.  Louis  selection  was  Atlantic  City,  N.  J., 
in  June." 

If,  as  the  president  intimates,  the  employers  are  led  to  believe  that  some 
action  will  be  taken  at  this  convention  that  will  prevent  the  eight-hour  day 
from  becoming  effective  on  January  1,  then  the  importance  of  this  gathering 
becomes  at  once  doubly  apparent.  We  trust  with  the  president,  that  our 
deliberations  will  give  small  comfort  to  the  associations  of  employing  printers, 
who  have  announced  their  opposition  to  our  eight-hour  day. 

Referring  to  the  mass  meetings  of  employing  printers,  we  desire  to  quote 
that  portion  of  the  president's  report  in  which  he  sets  forth  what  he  be- 
lieves to  be  the  objects  of  these  meetings:  , 

"The  organization  of  employing  printers  is  not  the  only  object  of  these 
mass  meetings,  held  at  central  points.  It  is  realized  by  those  in  charge  of  the 
employers'  campaign  that  in  the  ranks  of  all  unions  there  is  an  element  that 
always  looks  with  apprehension  on  every  forward  movement.  When  storm 
clouds  appear,  it  is  this  element  that  begins  the  cry  'peace  at  any  price.' 
Then  there  is  the  obstructionist  and  the  member  whose  activity  is  measured 
by  the  strength  and  continuity  of  the  criticism  of  others  that  is  his  chief 
characteristic.  To  overawe  the  timid  and  supply  the  critic  with  fresh  am- 
munition is  the  main  object  of  these  "mass  meetings."  Only  when  our 
membership,  by  a  majority  of  more  than  fourteeen  thousand  votes,  gave  voice 
to  the  almost  unanimous  demand  for  a  shorter  workday  in  the  book  and 
job  trade  did  the  employers  realize  the  strength  and  determination  behind 
the  eight-hour  movement,  and  only  then  was  it  decided  that  mass  meetings 
were  required.  The  further  action  of  the  federation  convention  in  San 
Francisco,  pledging  us  monetary  support  if  necessary,  again  alarmed  the 
typothetae.  They  saw  that  the  negative  position  taken  at  their  last  conven- 
tion was  not  having  the  expected  effect,  and  they  know  that  the  demand  of 
twenty-three  thousand  of  their  employes  can  not  be  smothered  with  resolu- 
tions. Then  was  the  'mass  meeting'  idea  brought  to  the  front.  It  is  for  the 
timid  member  and  the  professional  critic  that  these  mass  meetings  are  held, 
and  behind  them  is  the  hope  that  our  ranks  may  be  broken  and  thus  our  ob- 
ject defeated.  The  answer  rests  with  those  who  have  all  to  gain — our  mem- 
bers." 

The  six-city  conference,  held  at  International  headquarters  in  April,  was 
timely  and  effective,  and  we  endorse  the  conclusions  reached  by  that  con- 
ference. We  note  that  the  conference  referred  to  the  mass  meetings  of  em- 
ployers alluded  to   in   this   report,   and   in  this   connection   said: 

"We  greatly  regret  the  hostile  activity  of,  the  United  Typothetae  of  Amer- 
ica and  other  associations  of  employing  printers  in  calling  meetings  for  the 
purpose  of  arousing  opposition  to  and  denunciation  of  the  eight-hour  workday, 
and  we  fear  that  if  this  antagonistic  course  is  continued  the  friendly  relations 
now  existing  between  the  employers'  organization  and  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  will  be  disrupted.  We  believe  that  the  dignity  and  business 
interests  of  the  organizations  of  the  printing  trade  will  be  best  served  by  con- 
ference  and   conciliation." 

We  also  considered  the  section  of  the  president's  report  covering  the 
Detroit  conference,  and  while  that  conference  was  without  immediate  result, 
we  note  that  the  following  was  adopted  just  prior  to  adjournment: 


834 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

"It  is  the  sense  of  this  body  that  the  officers  of  the  International  Union 
and  the  officers  of  the  United  Typothetx  of  America  get  together  tome  time 
between  now  and  January  i,  1906,  in  an  endeavor  to  arrive  at  an  amicable 
adjustment  of  this  difference." 

And  we  especially  take  cognizance  of  the  concluding  statement  of  the 
president's   review    of   the   eight-hour   campaign    that — 

"The  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  has  been. 
and  is  now,  ready  and  willing  to  meet  the  officers  of  the  United  Typotbetar 
for  the  purpose  of  endeavoring  to  reach  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  eight- 
hour  question,  but  all  overtures  to  that  end  have  so  far  failed  to  elicit  a 
favorable   response  from  the  officials  of  the  United  Typothetx. " 

We  desire  to  report  to  this  convention  that  on  August  14,  1905,  your 
eight-hour  committee  held  a  conference  with  a  committee  representing  the 
United  Typothetae  of  America,  composed  of  President  Ellis,  of  Boston,  Sec- 
retary Macintyre,  of  New  York,  and  Messrs.  Green,  of  New  York,  Don- 
nelley, of  Chicago,  and  Nunemacher,  of  Louisville,  members  of  the  executive 
board  of  the  United  Typothetx  of  America,  and  after  a  thorough  discussion 
of  the  eight-hour  question  received  the  following  proposition  from  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  United  Typothetx: 
"Mr.  Max  Hayes,  Rossin  House,  City: 

"Dear  Sir — As  agreed  at  the  joint  committee  meeting  held  today.  I 
herewith   send   you   the   suggestions  as  outlined. 

"The  committee  from  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  suggests  to  the 
eight-hour  committee  from  the  International  Typographical  Union  that  they 
recommend  to  the  International  Typographical  Union  convention,  now  in 
session,  that  it  vote  in  favor  of  a  reconsideration  of  the  referendum  vote 
taken  last  fall  on  the  eight-hour  day,  and  authorize  a  new  referendum  vote 
to  be  taken  with  the  object  of  rescinding  the  resolution  to  make  the  eight 
hour  day  effective  January  1,  1906;  or  if  the  convention  is  unwilling  to  vote 
affirmatively  on  the  above,  that  the  convention  shall  empower  the  executive 
council  to  call  for  such  referendum  vote  if  at  any  time  between  now  and 
January  1,  1906,  the  executive  council  shall  consider  it  advisable. 
"Sincerely  yours, 

"Johm  Maciktvsr.  Siertfry. 

We  especially  endorse  the  idea  of  thoroughly  organizing  the  so-called 
country  printers,  and  we  urge  it  on  the  membership  so  that  on  January  1.  190ft. 
the  jurisdiction  may  be  thoroughly  organized  and  our  International  Union  in 
condition  to  meet  any  warfare  that  may  be  forced  upon  it  by  employers  re- 
sisting the  general  introduction  of  the  shorter  workday. 

In  this  matter  of  organization  we  may  well  take  a  lesson  out  of  the  book 
of   the    typothetx.      For    the    past    year    they    have   strenuously    made    rfl 
bring    within    their    ranks    publishers    of    country    newspapers,    whom    they   had 
previously  not  only  studiously  ignored,  but   into   whose  job  printing 
thcy   had  continuously   made   sad   inroads.     They   have   succeeded   In 
stances  by   reducing   their   admission   fees,   but   this   bail  Isss  always   failed  wild 
the    country    editor,   who    fails   to    understand   why   he    should    lead  Masai 
pull    typothetx    chestnuts    from    the    In  is    our    duty    in    iMs 

'inrrgcncy  to  organize  the  country  printers,  and  where  they  are  not  aasair- 
DM  enough  in  a  town  to  obtain  a  charter,  they  ran.  with  little  piiso—loa  aad 
by  generous  inducements,  be  prevailed  upon  to  assume  ■wsatrsMy  at 
contiguous    to    their    1  I    m.       I"    <>>'•    end    Jfoajf 

suggest  that  they  be  permitted  to  affiliate  with  the  local  unions  of 
nearest   their   towns   of    rtaidtae*      This    plan    la  alrwdv 
11. >■■  in  torn  ptoo— 1  tad  a*  recommend  thr  >u  ike  local  aasaas  la 

thr    International    jtin«.li<  Itl ..n 

Preai    tat  »f  the   procedure   end   docasneaH  la  as*  ttaJsV 

hour  campaign  It  becomes  at  once  evident  that  the  International  TjrsaataaMcal 


8J3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Union  has,  from  the  inception  of  the  idea,  held  itself  in  readiness  to  confer 
with  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  to  the  end  that  a  peaceful  settlement 
of  the  demand  involved  might  be  reached  and  that  there  might  be  the  mini- 
mum disturbance  of  the  conditions  prevailing  in  the  printing  trade.  It  is 
also  apparent  that  the  United  Typothetae  on  the  other  hand  has  steadfastly 
opposed  any  reduction  of  the  fifty-four-hour  week,  and  has  on  every  occasion, 
through  its  officers,  circulars  and  public  press,  made  known  that  opposition. 
As  far  as  your  committee  is  aware  the  typothetae  has  never  modified  the  posi- 
tion taken  at  its  St.  Louis  convention,  and  while  its  officers  have  seemingly 
been  willing  to  confer  they  have  avoided  acceptance  of  opportunities  for  con- 
ference, and  at  the  employers'  mass  meetings  they  have  uniformly  advised 
aggressive  resistance  and  warfare  if  necessary  in  order  to  prevent  the  gen- 
eral introduction  of  the  eight-hour  workday.  If,  therefore,  trouble  does  occur, 
the  typothetae  will  be  alone   responsible  for  the  rupture  of  present  relations. 

Taking  into  cosideration  the  number  of  unions  that  have  obtained  or  have 
arranged  for  the  eight-hour  day,  the  magnificent  condition  of  the  International 
treasury  and  of  local  treasuries,  the  gradual  accumulation  of  a  large  fund 
through  the  one-half  of  one  per  cent  assessment,  the  moral  and  financial  sup- 
port accorded  by  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  in  the  action  taken  at  its 
San  Francisco  convention  and  quoted  herein,  the  unanimous  support  of  other 
international  unions,  the  healthy  and  growing  sentiment  among  our  own  mem- 
bership in  favor  of  the  eight-hour  day,  we  believe  that  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  could  not  be  in  better  position  nor  could  there  be  better 
prospect  for  success  for  the  movement. 

As  to  the  action  that  shall  be  taken  by  this  convention,  your  committee 
is  of  the  opinion  that  any  change  in  the  present  program  would  of  necessity 
have  to  be  referred  to  the  referendum.  The  eight-hour  proposition  endorsed 
by  the  referendum  provides: 

"That  on  January  i,  1906,  the  eight-hour  day  shall  become  effective  in  all 
union  establishments  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  where  existing  contracts  do  not  prevent,  and  in  each  instance  where 
the  eight-hour   day   is   refused   work   shall  cease." 

There  is  no  room  for  doubt  as  to  the  meaning  of  this  provision.  If  an 
agreement  between  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  United 
Typothetae  of  America  is  not  reached  prior  to  January  1,  1906,  and  if  re- 
sistance to  the  introduction  of  the  shorter  workday  is  met  with  on  that  date, 
it  devolves  on  all  the  members  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
working  in  union  establishments  that  decline  to  accede  to  the  eight-hour  day 
to  at  once  cease  work.  In  other  words,  and  in  order  that  there  may  be  no 
misunderstanding  as  to  the  position  of  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
no  union  printer  can,  after  January  1,  work  in  a  union  office  more  than 
eight  hours  per  day,  forty-eight  hours  per  week,  except  in  emergency  and 
under  overtime  rates. 

We  believe  that  this  convention  should  clothe  the  International  eight- 
hour  committee  with  power  to  negotiate  with  representatives  of  the  United 
Typothetae  of  America  if  opportunity  for  negotiation  occurs  prior  to  January  1, 
and  we  so  recommend,  in  order  that  the  declaration  of  the  referendum  "that 
we  again  declare  our  entire  willingness  to  negotiate  with  the  United  Typothetae 
of  America  for  an  agreement  under  which  the  eight-hour  day  will  become  oper- 
ative,  and  so  instruct  our   eight-hour   committee"   may   not  be  impaired. 

We  further  recommend  that  the  executive  council  be  empowered  to  pro- 
tect unions,  where  the  local  or  national  typothetae  precipitate  trouble,  by  re- 
questing unions  in  contiguous  territory  to  order  strikes  whenever  the  council 
may  deem  necessary  for  the  protection  of  the  unions  involved. 

We  find  that  it  is  the  apparent  intention  in  some  localities  where  job 
offices  are  owned  by  publishers  of  newspapers  to  grant  the  eight-hour  day  in 

836 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

the  newspaper  department  but  not  in  the  job  department;  therefore  your 
committee  would  recommend  that,  where  a  newspaper  and  job  office  is  being 
conducted  at  present  by  the  same  individual,  firm  or  corporation,  on  a  nine- 
hour  basis,  no  settlement  for  the  eight-hour  day  shall  be  made  that  does  not 
provide  that  it  shall  become  effective   in   both  departments. 

We  urge  the  delegates  attending  this  convention  on  their  return  to  their 
unions  to  at  once  bring  this  report  before  these  bodies;  to  urge  upon  their 
unions  the  value  of  organization  work  by  the  appointment  of  special  com- 
mittees to  forward  such  purpose  whenever  necessary,  and  also  ask  these 
unions  to  provide,  if  action  has  not  already  been  taken,  for  the  collection  of 
a  fund,  in  addition  to  that  accruing  under  the  one-half  of  one  per  cent,  so 
that  on  January  i  every  gap  may  be  closed  and  ammunition  gathered  with 
which  to  conduct  warfare,   if  warfare   is   necessary. 

Your  committee,  after  thoroughly  considering  all  of  the  facts  recited  in 
this  report,  after  carefully  scrutinizing  all  of  the  documents  issued  in  con- 
nection with  the  eight-hour  campaign,  after  interviewing  the  International 
officers  and  delegates  to  this  convention,  after  in  every  way  familiarizing  it- 
self with  the  vast  subject  submitted  to  it  for  consideration,  finds  not  a  single 
flaw  in  the  methods  and  policy  that  have  thus  far  been  pursued  by  the  In 
ternational  eight-hour  committee,  and  we  recommend  that  the  continuant  < 
the  campaign  and  the  further  steps  that  are  to  be  taken  in  order  to  secure 
the  shorter  workday  be  again  committed  to  the  International  committee,  with 
assurances  of  the  full  confidence  of  the  delegates  to  the  fifty-first  session  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union. 

Your  committee  would  also  recommend  that  the  secretary-treasurer  be 
instructed  to  incorporate  in  the  book  of  laws  the  propositions  providing  for 
the  establishment   of  the  eight-hour   day  on   January   t,    1906. 

Concluding  the  report,  your  committee  desires  to  reiterate  the  declaration 
of  the  International  president  that — 

"We  do  not  want  the  eight-hour  day  by  reason  of  charity  or  philanthropy. 
We  do  not  want  it  in  order  that  our  physical  or  mental  well-being  may  be 
improved.  We  refuse  to  abandon  our  eight-hour  demand  because  we  may 
under  present  conditions  be  more  fortunately  situated  than  other  artisans. 
We  want  the  eight-hour  workday  because  we  are  convinced  that  it  suffices 
for  the  work  there  is  to  do,  the  work  that  is  to  be  done,  the  demand  of  so- 
ciety for  the  product  of  the  press.  We  propose  to  sell  to  the  employer  eight 
hours  out  of  twenty-four,  and  we  will  do  as  we  please  with  the  rcmaJaftnf 
sixteen."     Yours  for  eight  hours,  fraternally, 

\K\    I     II  v»    I    CfcssVfMsl 
UOi   Tnsosastt.  S*(rtfmy. 

•11    1    Warn 

"Jon*    P.    Kinnnor.   Ss 

...»    (  i.unoin 

Address  of  Samuel  Gompers — President  Lynch  thrn 
introduced  Samuel  Gompcrs,  prt-*idrnt  of  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor.  Mr.  Gompers  congratulated  the 
International  Typographical  Union  on  its  prosperous 
outlook,  and  referred  to  the  coming  eight-hour  struggle. 
lit;  complimented  tin-  or^.ini/.ition  M  ttir  m.istcrlv  com- 
prchniMvcncM  of  tin-  report  Oi  th.  tigfel  hour  committer. 
and  said  if  not  appreciated  Bid  be  by  those 

H9 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

who  came  after  us.  He  had  watched  with  interest  the 
growth  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and 
believed  the  trade  should  be  in  possession  of  the  enjoy- 
ments of  the  shorter  day.  He  referred  to  the  address  of 
President  Ellis,  of  the  United  Typothetae,  and  criticised 
some  of  the  statements  made  therein.  One  of  them  was 
that  the  increased  labor  cost  of  introducing  the  nine-hour 
day  was  33  per  cent,  and  the  increase  in  the  eight-hour 
day  would  be  18  to  25  per  cent.  Mr.  Ellis  had  asked  the 
convention  to  recede  from  its  eight-hour  position  because 
of  the  increased  labor  cost  to  the  employer,  and  the 
threatened  financial  ruin,  with  no  possible  advantage  to 
the  printers.  The  introduction  of  the  eight-hour  day  had 
never  ruined  any  industry.  It  would  be  ruinous  to  the 
International  Typographical  Union  to  change  its  attitude 
on  the  shorter  day.  The  principle — the  thesis  of  shorter 
hours — had  been  justified  by  the  results  in  different  indus- 
tries. He  pledged  his  personal  and  official  support.  "God 
speed  the  movement — the  uplifting  of  the  fellowman  to  an 
appreciation  of  his  rights  and  duties." 

Address  of  Max  Hayes  —  On  the  morning  of  the  fifth 
day,  President  Lynch  announced  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee on  eight-hour  day  as  the  first  business  in  order 
and  said  the  report  was  before  the  convention  for 
consideration. 

Delegate  Cahill  (St.  Paul)  moved  that  the  report  of 
the  eight-hour  committee  be  adopted  and  the  secretary- 
treasurer  be  authorized  to  have  it  issued  in  pamphlet  form 
and  distributed  to  members  of  subordinate  unions. 

Delegate  Hayes  (Cleveland),  chairman  of  the  eight- 
hour  committee,  reviewed  at  length  the  history  of  the 
eight-hour  movement  and  discussed  the  address  made 
before  the  convention  by  President  Ellis  of  the  United 
Typothetae. 

Delegate   Donnell    (Cincinnati)    moved  that  Delegate 

838 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

Hayes  prepare  a  synopsis  of  his  address  and  that  it  be 
made  part  of  the  records  in  connection  with  the  eight- 
hour  committee's  report.  The  motion  was  adopted  and  the 
address  of  Delegate  Hayes  follows  : 

While  the  delegates  are  undoubtedly  anxious  to  finish  the 
work  of  this  convention,  considerable  of  which  remains  to  be 
transacted,  yet  I  believe  that  we  should  give  further  consid- 
eration to  some  facts  that  of  necessity  could  not  be  incorporated 
in  the  committee's  report,  especially  as  the  address  of  Presi- 
dent Ellis,  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America,  has  been 
made  a  part  of  the  record  and  might  influence  unthinking  and 
careless  members  and  cause  them  to  become  lukewarm  toward 
the  progressive  movement  in  which  we  are  enlisted. 

The  salient  features  of  President  Ellis'  address,  directed 
against  the  eight-hour  day,  were  his  cries  of  impracticability, 
and  calamity  and  general  ruination  for  the  printing  business 
if  the  shorter  workday  is  enforced.  His  position  is  that  of 
making  assertions  without  presenting  evidence  to  establish  the 
facts.  Not  an  iota  of  testimony,  not  a  scrap  of  data,  has  been 
furnished  to  substantiate  the  statements  made.  The  employ- 
ing printers  gave  expression  to  similar  sentiments  when  it  was 
proposed  to  reduce  the  working  hours  from  ten  to  nine  per  day. 
Vet  that  reform  has  been  accomplished,  and  who  will  charge 
that  it  has  proved  impractical  and  that  devastation  and  ruin 
has  been  spread  through  the  printing  trade?  Neither  is  the 
.i-Mimption  that  production  will  be  restricted  based  on  sound 
reasoning,  as  governmental  statistics  and  our  own  knowledge 
of  printing  affairs  demonstrate  the  fact  that  production  was 

itly  stimulated  when  the  working  time  was  reduced  from  ten 
or  more  hours  to  nine  hours  per  day.  It  is  fallacious  to  assert 
that  the  output  of  printing  will  be  reduced  when  avenues  of 
1  mployment  are  opened  to  two  or  three  thousand  iillc  printers, 
which  is  the  mission  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
it  present.  On  the  contrary,  those  workers  will  become  larger 
1  onsumen,  and  thus  benefit  the  whole  of  sock1 

This  eight-hour  movement  ||  not  a  new  one.  J.  ThoroW 
Roger*  tells  Hi  in  his  eehhrated  historical  work,  "Six  Centuries 
of  Work  and  Wages,"  that  the  eight-hour  day  prevailed  in  thr 
last  part  of  the  fifteenth  and  thr  cirly  part  «>i  the  sixteenth 
i  entui  iev    Thai  period  is  described  as  the  golden  aft,  and  to 

Sto 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

prosperous  had  the  people  become  that  the  privileged  classes, 
fearful  that  their  reign  would  be  endangered,  adopted  coercive 
measures  to  keep  the  workers  in  subjection.  The  ruling  class 
gradually  lengthened  the  hours  of  toil,  reduced  wages  and  in- 
creased prices,  and  a  long  period  of  exploitation  and  suffering, 
darkness  and  chaos  was  the  result. 

It  was  not  until  1824,  that  the  anti-combination  laws  were 
repealed,  after  Robert  Owens,  the  pioneer  co-operator  collect- 
ivist,  had  made  a  proposition  to  the  British  government  to 
organize  the  industries  of  the  country  upon  a  basis  that  would 
require  the  labor  of  the  men,  women  and  children  not  longer 
than  eight  hours  per  day  to  provide  for  the  well-being  of  all. 
Gradually  the  working  time  was  reduced  in  succeeding  years 
from  sixteen  to  fourteen  and  twelve,  and  finally  to  ten  per 
day.  In  1888  the  gas  workers  and  general  laborers,  unskilled 
men,  by  the  way,  at  one  swoop  cut  the  hours  of  toil  from  twelve 
to  eight,  and  since  that  year  every  trade  in  Great  Britain  has 
been  benefited  by  the  reduction  of  the  hours  of  toil. 

In  Australia,  known  universally  as  the  eight-hour  land,  the 
movement  for  the  shorter  workday  began  in  1856.  Although 
defeated  in  several  disastrous  strikes,  the  trade  unions  per- 
severed in  their  efforts,  and,  supplemented  with  their  political 
power,  made  steady  gains.  As  I  pointed  out  the  other  day,  the 
Australian  workingmen  not  only  strike  and  boycott  shops,  fac- 
tories and  mills  when  necessary,  but  they  have  seceded  from 
both  old  political  parties  and  also  strike  at  the  ballot  box  and 
in  the  leislative  halls,  and  it  is  to  their  everlasting  credit  that 
when  their  labor  party  obtained  possession  of  the  national  gov- 
ernment, John  Christian  Watson,  a  journeyman  printer,  became 
premier  for  a  brief  time,  until  both  old  parties  combined  and 
ousted  the  labor  cabinet  from  office.  The  laborites  are  also  in 
control  of  a  number  of  Australian  states,  and  the  printers  are 
among  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  lawmakers. 

It  is  singular,  indeed,  that  the  spokesman  of  the  so-called 
open  shop — the  National  Association  of  Manufacturers,  of 
which  the  more  or  less  notorious  David  M.  Parry  is  at  the 
head,  and  with  which  the  United  Typothetae  appears  to  be  in 
sympathy — are  unable  to  furnish  us  with  any  proofs  of  the  im- 
practicability and  unjustness  of  the  eight-hour  workday  here 
at  home,  but  depend  upon  alleged  facts  imported  from  Austra- 
lia, which  are  now  being  circulated  through  their  press  and 

840 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

which  are  intended  to  show  that  the  eight-hour  day  and  the 
Saturday  half  holiday  are  proving  ruinous  to  that  country.  Yet 
all  the  governmental  statistics,  the  British  Board  of  Trade 
reports,  as  well  as  the  accounts  contained  in  Australian  news- 
papers, demonstrate  beyond  the  shadow  of  doubt  that  the  claims 
made  by  certain  American  employers  regarding  industrial  con- 
ditions in  the  antipodes  are  absolutely  without  foundation. 
These  stories  are  circulated  for  a  purpose — to  discourage  the 
workers  of  America  from  following  the  example  of  their  breth- 
ren beyond  the  seas  in  combining  industrially  and  politically. 

As  Mr.  Gompers  pointed  out  yesterday,  the  workers  of  con- 
tinental Europe  are  making  steady  progress  in  reducing  the 
working  time  and  securing  greater  benefits  for  themselves.  Per- 
haps you  noticed  in  the  St.  Petersburg  dispatches  only  recently 
that  the  printers  of  Russia  were  playing  a  leading  part  in  the 
great  strikes  and  demanding  the  eight-hour  day.  I  know  for 
a  certainty  that  the  shorter  workday  movement  has  also  taken 
root  in  Japan,  South  Africa,  and  even  in  South  America.  Do 
the  members  of  the  typothetae  believe  that  we,  the  American 
workingmen — who  are  sometimes  flattered  by  being  told  that  we 
are  more  intelligent  than  the  toilers  of  other  countries — are 
going  to  lag  at  the  tail-end  of  the  procession?  Certainly  the 
printers  will  refuse  to  lock  arms  with  the  Chinese  in  walking 
for  the  industrial  cake. 

In  our  own  country— on  this  North  American  continent — 
despite  all  obstacles,  the  eight-hour  movement  has  been  making 
steady  progress  since  1886,  in  which  year  the  German- Amer- 
ican Typographia  (in  job  offices  as  well  as  newspapers),  the 
cigarmakers  and  a  number  of  smaller  trades  established  the 
tight-hour  workday.  Subsequently  the  miners,  carpen? 
plumbers,  bricklayers  and  other  trades  quite  generally  enforced 
the  eight-hour  day,  so  that  now  fully  a  million  trade  unionists, 
at  the  most  conservative  estimate,  and  including  25.000  print 
ran  sing  the  refrain :  Fight  hours  for  work,  eight  hour* 
for  sleep,  and  eight  hours  for  recreation. 

Why  should  we  work  any  longer  than  banker*  or  lawyers 
or  office  holders  or  any  professionals  and  poimctatr*  It  to 
true,  paradoxical  though  it  ni.iv  seem,  that  the  eight  hour  cUy 
would  prove  beneficial  to  proprietors  of  job  and  book  plants 
as  well  as  employes,  as  stated  in  the  committer'*  report.  Quite 
naturally  the  front  offices  will  close  an  hour  earlier  under  the 

841 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

new  system,  which  means  one  hour  less  figure  juggling  and 
business  worry  and  one  hour  more  real  life  and  enjoyment  for 
the  employers.  We  are  really  doing  Messrs.  Ellis,  Green, 
and  the  other  members  of  the  typothetae  a  great  favor,  and 
they  ought  to  appreciate  that  fact,  for,  after  all,  life  should 
not  be  a  mere  sordid  grab  for  dollars.  There  is  an  ethical  side 
to  this  question.  Man  has  a  social  as  well  as  a  physical  na- 
ture, and  while  he  must  preserve  his  animal  existence,  he  must 
not  do  so  at  the  expense  of  his  social  relations.  If  he  becomes 
a  mere  drudge,  our  civilization  is  endangered,  progress  halts, 
retrogression  begins,  and  slavery  and  chaos  naturally  follow. 

There  is  one  point  that  I  desire  to  make  clear  to  the  more 
obstinate  gentlemen  of  the  typothetae,  and  that  is  that  the 
standard  of  living  determines  the  form  of  our  civilization. 
Mechanics  and  laborers  will  not  work  for  less  than  that  which 
furnishes  them  with  subsistence,  with  necessities  and  comforts 
to  which  they  have  become  accustomed.  The  prices  of  food 
products,  clothing,  rents,  etc.,  have  steadily  increased  during 
the  past  decade  and  the  purchasing  power  of  the  dollars  that 
we  receive  as  wages  is  correspondingly  lessened.  Hence  the 
claim  of  Mr.  Ellis  that  wages  have  advanced  33  1-3  per  cent 
is  offset  by  the  cold  fact  that  we  are  also  compelled  to  pay  more 
tribute  to  the  landlord,  the  beef  trust,  coal  combine  and  other 
associations  of  capital  that  are  squeezing  the  people  to  pay  divi- 
dends on  the  watered  stock;  and  therefore  I  deny  the  correct- 
ness of  the  logic  of  Mr.  Donnelley,  who  stated  in  conference  in 
so  many  words  that  we  were  "squeezing"  the  employers. 

It  is  a  truism  that  men  are  never  paid  according  to  what 
they  earn,  but  according  to  the  average  cost  of  living.  Now, 
as  a  simple  matter  of  equity,  how  can  the  typothetae  claim  that 
they,  the  buyers  of  labor  power,  are  to  be  the  sole  judge  of  the 
price  to  be  paid?  The  sellers  of  coal,  meat,  oil,  sugar,  etc., 
fix  their  price;  why  should  not  those  who  dispose  of  their 
labor  power  have  the  same  right?  They  do  have  that  right, 
but  it  can  only  be  maintained  in  a  degree  in  this  capitalistic 
competitive  system  through  organization,  because  the  natural 
opportunities  are  being  monopolized  by  a  few.  Without  organ- 
ization, the  so-called  liberties  of  the  working  people  are  be- 
coming a  delusion,  for  no  moneyless  worker  stands  an  equal 
chance  with  the  millionaire  captain  of  industry. 

Another  objection  that  was  raised  in  the  conference  between 

842 


Convention  at  Toronto,  1905 

the  typothetae  representatives  and  your  committee  was  that 
the  employers  of  the  larger  cities  are  losing  ground  to  theii 
competitors  in  the  smaller  places,  and  one  gentleman  (Mr. 
Green,  J  believe)  raised  the  point  that  some  jobs  had  been 
sent  from  New  York  to  England.  I  imagine  no  system  will 
ever  be  devised  that  will  keep  a  certain  amount  of  book  and 
job  work  in  the  same  office  forever,  or  even  in  the  same  country. 
The  International  Typographical  Union  is  doing  all  in  its 
power  to  abolish  these  alleged  disadvantages,  and  for  that 
reason  the  hours  of  labor  will  be  reduced  generally — printers 
in  Chicago  will  be  affected  no  more  and  no  less  than  those  in 
Podunk  or  any  other  place.  As  for  jobs  going  to  England, 
the  hours  of  labor  are  being  reduced  in  that  country  as  well 
as  in  America  and  the  purchasing  power  of  the  wages  received 
is  almost  the  same  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  English  print- 
ers turn  out  as  great  amount  of  work  in  a  given  time  as  do  the 
Americans. 

In  conclusion,  I  wish  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  and  other  trade  unions,  in 
making  the  reduction  of  the  hours  of  labor  the  paramount 
sue,  are  striving  to  realize  one  of  the  most  far-reaching  and 
noblest  missions  ever  undertaken  by  any  organization.  We  are 
endeavoring  to  open  opportunities  to  all  the  people ;  not  a  few. 

The  eight-hour  day  means  not  less  wages,  but  more  wages; 
it  means  the  absorption  of  the  unemployed  army  of  workers 
and  the  increasing  demand  for  labor  as  well  as  minimizing  of 
the  present  fierce,  cut-throat  competition. 

The  eight-hour  day  means  the  creating  of  new  hopes,  dc- 

-  and  aspirations  among  our  class — a  nobler  manhood  and 
a  happier  womanhood  and  childhood.  The  eight-hour  day 
means  that  those  now  employed  would  be  less  exhausted  after 
.1  May's  toil;  that  mental  and  physical  resources  would  be  foe* 
tered  and  developed  and  life  and  health  prolonged. 

The  eight-hour  day  means  stronger  family  ties,  pleasant 
homes,  more  time  for  good  books,  to  attend  In  tures,  to  cultt 
v.ii.  music,  art  and  science,  and  for  the  study  of  all  the  glories 
lavished  BOOH  mankind  by  gePeroUl  Ifothtl  Nature 

The  eight-hour  day  means  that  poverty  would  Ik-  decreased. 
sweatshops  would  be  wiped  out.  drunkenness,  pro»ututiou. 
•  rime  and  misery  would  Ik-  greatly  reduced .  it  mean*  that 
wealth   would  be  more  equitably  distributed,  enlightenment, 

843 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

dissemination,  invention  and  discovery  stimulated,  and  a  greater 
and  grander  progress  would  bless  the  world  than  mankind  has 
yet  known. 

This  is  the  glorious  ideal  for  which  the  organized  workers 
are  struggling,  and  they  deserve  the  sympathy  and  support  of 
all  true  men  and  women. 

Delegate  Kreft  (Philadelphia)  asked  if  men  who  came 
out  of  open  or  unfair  offices  would  receive  benefits. 

President  Lynch  replied  that  it  would  be  the  policy  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union  to  take  care  of  all 
men  who  left  work  in  support  of  the  eight-hour  day. 

Delegate  Green  (Atlanta)  was  glad  to  hear- of  the 
enthusiasm  and  success  in  the  eight-hour  movement  in 
different  parts  of  the  country;  but  there  were  some  dis- 
tricts that  were  not  as  sanguine  of  success,  and  such 
territory  naturally  looked  for  assistance  from  stronger 
sections. 

Delegate  Fennessy  (Los  Angeles)  declared  that  the 
strong  districts  would  aid  and  assist  the  weaker  ones ;  that 
San  Francisco,  which  had  already  secured  the  eight-hour 
day,  was  pledged  to  assist  Los  Angeles  and  adjacent 
territory  in  the  work. 

Delegate  Hughes  (Providence)  made  a  statement  of 
the  conditions  in  his  vicinity,  and  the  difficulty  that  might 
be  encountered  in  enforcing  the  eight-hour  day. 

Delegate  McCahill  (Columbus)  detailed  the  favorable 
conditions  in  his  territory. 

President  Lynch  stated  that  Delegate  Cahill's  motion 
to  adopt  the  report  of  the  eight-hour  committee,  and 
instructing  the  secretary-treasurer  to  issue  the  same  in 
pamphlet  form  for  distribution,  was  before  the  con- 
vention. 

The  motion  was  adopted  unanimously  by  a  rising  vote, 
amid  scenes  of  unprecedented  enthusiasm. 

Officers,    ipo6-ipoy —  At  the   election    held   in    May, 

844 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

1906,  officers  were  selected  for  the  two-year  term  begin- 
ning November  I,  1906,  as  follows:  President,  James  M. 
Lynch,  Syracuse;  first  vice-president,  John  W.  Hays, 
Minneapolis;  second  vice-president,  Hugo  Miller,  Indian- 
apolis; third  vice-president,  Daniel  L.  Corcoran,  New 
York  city ;  secretary-treasurer,  J.  W.  Bramwood,  Denver. 
Delegates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor — James  M. 
Lynch  (president),  Syracuse;  Michael  Colbert,  Chicago; 
Frank  Morrison,  Chicago;  Frank  Foster,  Boston;  Hugh 
Stevenson,  Toronto.  Trustees  Union  Printers  Home — 
James  M.  Lynch,  Syracuse;  J.  W.  Bramwood,  Denver; 
Thomas  McCaffery,  Colorado  Springs;  L.  C.  Shepard, 
Grand  Rapids,  Mich.;  W.  J.  White,  San  Francisco; 
Thomas  F.  Crowley,  Cincinnati ;  T.  D.  Fennessy,  Los 
Angeles.  Agent — George  P.  Nichols,  Baltimore. 

Convention  at  Colorado  Springs 

[1906]  —  The  fifty-second  session  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  convened  in  Temple  Theater,  Colo- 
rado Springs,  Colo.,  August  13,  1906.  The  convention 
was  called  to  order  by  Charles  Deacon,  superintendent 
Union  Printers  Home  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
arrangements  of  Colorado  Springs  Union  No.  82.  The 
Rev.  Crayton  S.  Brooks,  of  the  First  Christian  Church, 
offered  prayer.  President  Snider,  of  Colorado  Springs 
Union,  in  a  few  appropriate  remarks,  extended  the  hearty 
welcome  of  his  union  to  the  delegates  and  visitor*  and 
promised  to  make  their  visit  to  the  Springs  a  memorable 
one.  The  welcome  of  the  city  of  Colorado  Springs  was 
extended  in  a  felicitous  speech  by  Mayor  Henry  C.  Hall. 
Other  greetings  were  offered  by  R.  L.  Holland,  of  the 
board  of  county  commissioners;  O.  B.  Wilcox,  of  the 
chamber  of  commerce,  and  F.  W.  Kent,  of  the  real  estate 
exchange.    A  letter  was  read  from  Clarence  P.  Dodge, 

«45 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

representing  the  newspaper  publishers  of  the  city,  regret- 
ting his  inability  to  express  in  person  his  appreciation  of 
the  loyalty  of  the  members  of  the  Typographical  Union. 
President  Snider  then  presented  President  Lynch  with  a 
gavel  made  from  wood  grown  on  the  grounds  of  the 
Union  Printers  Home.  President  Lynch  responded  to  the 
addresses  of  welcome,  referring  to  the  bond  of  association 
between  the  city  of  Colorado  Springs  and  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  as  represented  by  the  Union 
Printers  Home,  and  continued  : 

About  four  weeks  ago  it  was  my  privilege  to  attend  a  convention  held  in 
an  eastern  city.  There  were  present  at  that  convention  about  three  hundred 
attendants.  The  sessions  of  the  gathering  were  held  behind  closed  doors; 
nothing  was  permitted  to  escape.  What  a  difference  between  the  convention 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  called  to  order  this  morning  and 
the  convention  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America,  held  in  Buffalo  recently! 
Here  we  have  several  hundred  men  and  women  who  have  traveled  hundreds, 
yes  thousands,  of  miles  to  attend  this  meeting,  notwithstanding  that,  in  every 
locality,  for  more  than  six  months,  the  members  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  have  been  paying  the  ten  per  cent  assessment  for  the  con- 
duct of  our  eight-hour  battle.  We  meet  here  this  morning,  a  great,  large 
gathering,  attended  by  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  delegates,  and  many 
hundreds  of  visitors,  transacting  our  business  in  the  open,  knowing  that  the 
cause  for  which  we  fight  is  just,  anxious  for  the  criticism  of  those  who  watch 
our  deliberations  and  of  the  public  opinion  that  will  follow  after.  It  is  not  my 
intention  to  make  a  speech  this  morning.  I  will  simply  content  myself  by 
again  expressing  the  thanks  of  the  gathering — of  the  delegates  and  visitors 
— for  the  greeting  that  has  been  extended  to  us  this  morning.  We  can  only 
hope  that  the  deliberations  of  this  convention  will  create  a  favorable  opinion 
on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  Colorado  Springs — citizens  who  are  all  friends 
of  the  Union  Printers  Home,  and  whom  we  hope,  when  this  convention  ad- 
journs, will  all  be  friends  of  the  great  International  Typographical  Union. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  president's  response,  a  large 
electric  banner  bearing  the  words  "Eight  Hours"  de- 
scended slowly  from  the  flies  at  the  rear  of  the  stage, 
while  the  orchestra  played  "America,"  amid  great  en- 
thusiasm. 

After  administering  the  obligation  to  the  delegates, 
President  Lynch  announced  that  the  first  business  of  the 
convention  would  be  the  report  of  Secretary-Treasurer 
Bramwood.  The  secretary-treasurer  announced  the  names 
of  delegates  whose  credentials  were  in  proper  form,  fol- 
lowed by  those  irregularly  elected  and  those  whose  unions 

846 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

were  in  arrears,  and  recommended  that  the  credentials  of 
the  irregularly  elected  delegates  and  those  of  the  dele- 
gates from  delinquent  unions  be  referred  to  the  creden- 
tials committee.  The  recommendation  was  concurred  in 
and  the  chair  then  announced  the  convention  officers  and 
the  convention  committees.  The  president  also  announced 
that  the  presidents  of  local  unions  in  jurisdictions  where 
the  eight-hour  fight  was  still  on  would  meet  at  the  Antlers 
Hotel  Monday  evening.  He  expected  they  would  go  over 
the  eight-hour  situation  thoroughly,  together  with  mem- 
bers of  the  eight-hour  committee. 

Home  Library  —  At  the  Monday  afternoon  session, 
James  Monroe  Kreiter,  of  Columbia  Typographical 
Union  No.  101,  was  introduced,  and  presented  to  the 
Home  trustees  a  number  of  books  for  the  Home  library. 
Mr.  Kreiter  was  greeted  with  a  warm  reception  and  his 
address  was  listened  to  attentively  and  at  the  close  was 
given  applause.    He  spoke  as  follows: 

Profoundly  sensible  of  the  honor  accorded  me  on  this  occasion,  I  believe 
that  we  all  feel  thankful  to  our  Heavenly  Father  that  He  has  permitted  us  to 
be  in  beautiful  Colorado  Springs  today.  And  dwelling  in  that  thought  let  me 
say  that  nowhere  on  the  pebbled  margins  of  the  sea  is  there  another  such 
an  institution  as  the  Union  Printers  Home. 

In  distant  states  and  climes  we  refer  to  it  with  prideful  boast  and  rightrou. 
exultation;   today   we   behold   it   in   all   its  grandeur;    in   all   its  magnincwc*. 

This  edifice,  conceived  in  a  spirit  of  kindred  tendencies,  beautiful  in  its 
architecture,  colossal  in  its  eminence,  grand  as  to  its  usefulness,  typifies  the 
benefactions  of  the  union  printer,  symbolizes  hia  benevolence,  indcacs  his 
sweet  charity,  and  is  at  once  a  striking  imprint  of  his  noble  generosity. 

This  period,  then,  is  one  of  more  than  ordinary  satisfaction  to  the  craft 
in  general,  and  it  affords  me  much  pleasure,  Mr.  I'rr.i.lrnt  of  the  Board  ol 
Trustees  of  the  Union  Printers  Home,  to  present  through  you  tb< 
for  the  Home  library.  They  represent  hundreds  of  volumes  which 
noted   by  our   crafts-people   throughout   the    International   jurisdiction. 

The  giving  conveys  that  good   feeling  which  always  follows  in  the 
of  unwonted  kindness  and  joyous  consideration  and  I   fret,  Mr. 
I    do    these    crafts-people    small    ju«tu-r    when    I    aay    that    the 
made  with  that  characteristic  cheerfulness  which  has  won  for  the 
much  applause   from   our   friend*   and   admiration   from  the  enemy. 

Therefore,    in    making   thr    premutation   in   thrlr    behalf    I    sua   lo   low   my 
i.lrnt.ty    in    the    matter,    so   that    thr    fullness   of   praise    may   be   tM 
those  who  not   only   donated  a  book,   but   who  have   devoted  Man*. 
thought    that    thr    hook-giving    project    might    reach    its    rrnilh   M 

1  lie  small  unions,  as  well  as  the  largrr  ones,  are  shelved  M 
The  delegate  anil   the  layman,  the   visitor   and  the  chapel  folk,  the  women  ol 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  auxiliary  (God  bless  them),  will  be  found  side  by  side  in  keen  recollection 
by  those  who  in  time  to  come  will  seek  the  library  as  a  place  of  recreation 
and  of  rest. 

The  touch  of  generous  appreciation  on  the  part  of  eminent  authors  and 
men  prominent  in  federal  and  state  affairs  also  finds  life  upon  the  shelves. 
This  manifest  evidence  of  consideration  on  the  part  of  these  great  men  was 
gathered  solely  through  the  untiring  efforts  of  Mr.  B.  Frank  Swigart,  one  ot 
our  St.  Louis  members. 

That  all  these  books  will  in  time  to  come  be  a  source  of  joy  and  interest 
to  the  residents  of  the  Home  is  the  sincere  wish  of  the  donors,  and  the  se- 
lections, I  am  sure,  were  made  with  a  view  that  the  intellectuality  of  the  oc- 
cupants would  be  satisfied  and  perusal  might  gladden  the  hearts  of  the 
readers. 

And  now,  my  gracious  crafts-people,  kind,  generous,  benevolent,  mag- 
nanimous, as  you  are,  I  want  to  express  my  estimate  and  the  high  regard  I 
have  for  the  union  printer.  How  best  shall  I  say  it?  Let  it  be:  His  loyalty 
to  his  obligation  is  steel-like  in  firmness;  and  his  heart  is  not  only  ox-like 
in  proportion,  but  it  is  beautifully  womanlike  in  tenderness. 

I   thank  you   for  your  pleasing  attention. 

President  Lynch  responded  for  the  Home  trustees,  and 
the  convention  ordered  that  Mr.  Kreiter's  remarks  be 
incorporated  in  the  minutes. 

officers'    reports 

President's  Address  —  A  convincing,  buoyant,  confi- 
dent tone  characterized  the  report  of  President  Lynch  to 
the  fifty-second  session  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union.  The  president  said  that  his  presentation  of 
events  covered  one  of  the  most  important  periods  in  the 
union's  history.  The  fate  of  the  International  body  for  a 
time  had  hung  in  the  balance,  not  in  the  sense  that  the 
organization  could  have  been  crushed  out,  but  that  defeat 
at  any  important  point  in  the  eight-hour  combat  would 
have  meant  a  backward  step,  the  effect  of  which  might 
require  years  to  eradicate.  Plunging  in  a  great  industrial 
struggle  without  the  full  period  of  preparation  that  it  was 
hoped  might  elapse,  forced  for  a  time  to  try  every  re- 
source in  order  to  gather  the  money  with  which  to  carry 
on  the  battle,  the  membership  had  emerged  from  the  con- 
flict with  a  shorter  workday  securely  established  and  the 
hope  for  complete  victory  with  a  safe  basis  on  which  to 

rest.    Attention  was  directed  to  the  declaration  in  the 

• 

848 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

president's  report  to  the  Toronto  convention  that  there 
was  but  one  subject  before  the  Typographical  Union — 
the  establishment  of  the  principle  of  not  more  than  eight 
hours'  work  for  all  members  of  the  organization ;  that  all 
other  problems,  all  other  questions,  all  other  propositions, 
were  incidental  to  the  great  economic  advancement  that 
was  being  attempted  and  which  had  met  with  success  in 
many  instances. 

There  appeared  among  the  other  reports  a  presentation 
from  the  eight-hour  committee.  For  this  the  president 
asked  a  careful  reading  by  all  members  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union.  The  membership  was  asked  to  read  the 
report  adopted  by  the  Toronto  convention,  then  the  report 
of  the  International  committee  submitted  to  the  Colorado 
Springs  convention,  which  would  enable  the  reader  to 
have  a  clear  idea  of  the  history  of  the  eight-hour  move- 
ment. These  reports  would  show  that  every  one  of  the 
important  steps  that  had  been  taken  in  the  crusade  had 
been  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the  eight-hour  day. 
It  would  also  demonstrate  that  the  struggle  was  an  un- 
avoidable one  and  that  before  it  was  entered  into,  every 
possible  avenue  that  gave  promise  of  peace  was  fully 
explored  and  every  possible  suggestion  made  in  order  to 
avert  industrial  warfare.  The  United  Typothctae  of 
America  was  determined  to  have  a  struggle,  and  if  it  had 
not  l>ccn  over  the  question  of  shorter  hours,  than  it  would 
bave  occurred  over  the  effort  that  would  h.i\<  umloubt- 
v(\\y  been  made  by  the  typothetae  to  establish  the  so-called 
"open"  shop. 

The  president  was  thoroughly  optimistic  over  the 
future  of  the  International  Union,  declaring  that  it  was  a 
bright  one    In  this  connection,  he  said : 

While  ilir  ordinary  affair*  of  the  International  body  tar*  b»*i»  —Urdl 
■  Mir, I  to  a  great  extent  to  Um  ri«ht  hour  day  demand.  yei  »«  bav*  aMMfc  *mh 
•tnntial  progress  neverihelei.  in  all  direction*.  The  camdlttoata  of  ma^a*" 
worker*    have   been    improved,    and    wage*   have    been    materially   *»«C—a*il   lei 

B49 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

many  instances.  With  agreements  in  effect  with  nearly  all  of  the  important 
newspapers  of  the  North  American  continent,  with  forty  thousand  members 
now  on  an  eight-hour  basis,  and  with  reasonable  prospect  for  complete  vic- 
tory for  the  eight-hour  day  in  all  instances  where  strikes  are  now  on,  the 
outlook  for  the  future  of  the  International  Union  is  exceedingly  bright.  No 
other  trade  union  on  the  North  American  continent  has  received  so  much 
advertising  as  has  our  own.  Its  aims  and  objects  are  fully  understood  by 
practically  all  of  the  printers  who  are  following  the  art  for  a  livelihood.  He 
must  indeed  be  isolated  who  has  not  been  approached  by  a  representative  of 
the  United  Typothetae  of  America  or  an  organizer  or  member  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  and  urged  to  take  a  position  on  one  side  or  the 
other  of  the  great  struggle  through  which  we  are  passing.  Naturally,  when 
the  battle  is  over,  the  work  of  organization  will  be  much  easier,  and  I  con- 
fidently predict  that  when  peace  again  reigns  in  our  branch  of  the  printing 
industry,  shortly  thereafter  the  International  Typographical  Union  will  num- 
ber many  thousands  more  than  at  any  previous  period.  Of  a  surety,  peace 
will  reign  in  the  book  and  job  branch,  for  the  opinion  is  justified  that  before 
the  employers  in  the  commercial  field  again  deliberately  seek  warfare  with 
the  International  Union,  they  will  exhaust  every  remedy  that  gives  promise 
of  satisfactory  adjustment  without  forcing  the  workers  to  resort  to  the  strike. 
The  contest  has  truly  been  a  fight  for  peace.  The  newspaper  workers  strug- 
gled for  years  before  obtaining  a  position  that  brings  with  it  the  considera- 
tion they  now  receive  from  the  publishers  of  the  great  newspapers  of  the 
country.  The  book  and  job  members  have  concentrated  within  a  few  months  a 
struggle  that  for  the  newspaper  members  extended  ever  the  earlier  life  of 
the  International  body.  With  harmony  in  both  branches,  and  with  conditions 
such  as  our  members  have  a  right  to  demand  and  expect,  we  can  then  turn 
our  energies  into  other  fields  and  devote  time  and  study  to  betterments  that 
are  not  altogether  associated  with  working  conditions.  In  short,  the  oppor- 
tunity will  present  itself  to  make  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
the  model  and  ideal  trade  organization,  furnishing  for  its  members  full  and 
complete   protection,   both   in  the  industrial   and   social   field. 

Acknowledgment  was  made  of  aid  in  the  shorter 
workday  struggle  afforded  by  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor  and  affiliated  organizations.  The  declarations 
of  the  officers  and  convention  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor  were  quoted  at  length.  It  was  declared  that  not 
alone  had  the  union  received  monetary  aid  from  other 
unions  throughout  the  American  Federation  of  Labor, 
but  it  had  received  valuable  assistance  in  many  other 
ways.  The  success  attending  the  eight-hour  movement 
was  largely  due  to  the  organized  condition  of  the  country 
and  the  president  desired,  on  behalf  of  the  organization, 
to  formally  make  acknowledgment  of  that  support. 

Injunctions  —  The  injunction  feature  of  the  eight-hour 
conflict  was  reviewed  at  length  and  the  effect,  or,  more 

850 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

properly  speaking,  non-effect  of  these  writs  was  made 
clear.  In  spite  of  injunctions  and  injunction  judges,  the 
union  had  secured  victories.  Typothetae  misrepresentation 
was  given  a  prominent  place  in  the  president's  report,  and 
specific  instances  were  cited.  The  position  of  the  allied 
trades  was  also  set  forth  in  an  extensive  paragraph. 

General  Conditions  —  As  to  the  general  situation,  the 
president  said : 

The  report  of  the  International  eight-hour  committee  covert  the  general 
features  of  the  eight-hour  campaign,  including  a  statement  of  financial  receipt* 
and  expenditures.  Financial  matters  are  also  covered  minutely  in  the  report 
of  the  secretary-treasurer.  Your  president  has  made  effort  to  keep  closely 
in  touch  with  each  local  strike,  as  the  business  at  headquarters  has  per- 
mitted. Visits  have  been  made  by  your  president  to  localities  where  the  resist- 
ance by  employers  has  been  most  stubborn  and  where  it  was  thought  his 
presence  would  result  in  the  most  good.  A  number  of  local  unions  have  been 
addressed  at  regular  and  special  meetings,  and  the  membership  has  been  en- 
lightened on  every  phase  of  the  struggle.  It  has  been  the  aim  to  dissipate 
dissatisfaction  through  a  full  and  concise  explanation  of  the  progress  and 
needs  of  the  eight-hour  battle.  In  order  to  accomplish  this  many  thousands 
of  miles  have  been  traveled.  Personal  discomfort  and  labor  have  not  been 
taken  into  account,  and  every  atom  of  energy  and  strength  possessed  by  your 
executive  has  been  exerted  in  order  to  bring  an  eight-hour  victory.  The  efforts 
of  your  president  in  this  direction  have  been  ably  seconded  by  the  officers. 
organizers  and  members  of  our  local  unions.  The  organizers'  reports,  appearing 
in  this  volume,  will  give  much  interesting  eight-hour  data  as  the  reward  for 
careful   perusal.     We   have   all   worked   for  the  eight-hour  day. 

British  Strikebreakers  —  The  importation  of  British 
non-unionists  to  Winnipeg  was  given  the  space  that  such 
a  menace  to  the  aspirations  of  organized  workers  de- 
served. 

It  has  been  asserted,  in  some  cases  proved,  that  many  of  the  English 
strikebreakers  were  induced  to  cross  the  line  into  the  states  and  set  as  strike- 
breakers in  American  cities.  It  is  therefore  of  supreme  importance  that  this 
convention,  representing  the  printers  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  should; 
give  endorsement  to  the  recommendation  made  by  the  deputy  minister  of  labor, 
so  that  effective  legislation  in  Great  llriiain  may  be  enacted  and  in  the  (mure 
protect  both  Canadian  and  United  States  toilers  fiont  the  mlsrepeestniatioa 
and  deceit  practiced  by  employers  in  their  desire  to  defeat  strikes  and  pea- 
vent  the  realization  of  the  aspirations  of  the  organised  wage-earners  on  list 
North  American  continent. 

Relations  With  Publishers —  Relations  with  the  Amer- 
ican Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  were  thoroughly 
explained  by  the  president.    As  to  the  proposed  arbitra- 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tion  agreement  that  the  convention  was  asked  to  endorse, 
to  become  effective  May  I,  1907,  the  report  said: 

The  new  contract  was  formulated  at  the  headquarters  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  after  repeated  conferences  between  the  special  standing 
committee  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  and  our  execu- 
tive council.  It  is  submitted  to  the  convention  for  its  approval  or  disap- 
proval, but  it  is  recommended  for  adoption  by  the  executive  council.  Of  course 
there  is  nothing  to  prevent  the  convention  from  amending  the  agreement  or 
changing  its  essential  features,  but  before  this  is  attempted  there  should  be 
most  intimate  knowledge  of  our  arbitration  history  and  familiarity  with  the 
present  and  new  agreement.  This  can  only  be  obtained  by  careful  study  on 
the  part  of  the  delegates.  One  of  the  objections  that  has  been  urged  against 
our  arbitration  policy  is  to  the  third  member,  or  chairman  of  the  arbitration 
board.  It  has  been  pointed  out,  and  with  truth,  that  the  third  member,  or 
chairman,  is  frequently  taken  from  walks  of  life  where  there  is  little  oppor- 
tunity for  the  gathering  of  that  knowledge  of  newspaper  management  and 
composing-room  conditions  that  is  essential  to  a  fair  adjustment  of  a  pro- 
posed wage  scale  in  controversy.  It  has  been  urged  that  a  board  with  equal 
representation,  say  two  members  representing  the  publishers  and  two  the 
union,  would  be  much  better  than  the  present  arrangement.  This  method  of 
arbitration  is  in  effect  in  many  industries  at  the  present  time,  and  has  given 
satisfaction.  In  accordance  with  the  foregoing  it  has  been  the  aim  of  the 
executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  eliminate  the 
third  member  or  chairman  and  to  secure  an  arbitration  agreement  embracing 
equal  representation  on  arbitration  boards.  We  are  pleased  to  state  that  wc 
succeeded  in  this  aim.  The  new  agreement  provides  that  where  local  arbi- 
tration is  resorted  to  the  local  board  shall  consist  of  two  representatives  of 
each  party  to  a  contention.  The  chairman  and  secretary  of  a  local  board 
must  be  selected  from  the  four  members  of  the  board.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
have  local  arbitration  and  cases  may  be  carried  direct  to  the  national  board, 
and  this  course  must  be  taken  where  the  attempt  at  local  arbitration  is  not 
completed.  The  National  Board  of  Arbitration  must  meet  on  the  first  Tues- 
day of  each  month  for  the  consideration  and  adjustment  of  matters  referred 
to  it.  This  insures  a  speedy  settlement  of  all  cases.  The  national  board  is 
to  consist  of  the  three  members  of  the  executive  council  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  the  three  members  of  the  special  standing  committee 
of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association.  The  chairman  and  sec- 
retary of  the  national  board  must  be  selected  from  among  the  six  members 
constituting  the  board.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  fifth  member,  or  arbiter,  is 
eliminated  locally,  and  the  seventh  member,  or  arbiter,  is  eliminated  nation- 
ally. In  its  general  scope  this  is  the  form  of  arbitration  that  has  given  sat- 
isfaction in  England  and  in  all  instances  where  resorted  to  in  this  country. 
It  permits  of  the  broadest  form  of  arbitration,  and  thus  guarantees  industrial 
peace  to  the  parties  to  such  a  contract.  Men  engaged  in  the  industry  cov- 
ered by  such  an  agreement  themselves  adjust  their  differences  without  the  aid, 
advice  or  assistance  of  outside  parties  whose  knowledge  of  the  subject  at  best 
is  but  academic  and  theoretical.  It  may  be  asserted  that  these  evenly-bal- 
anced tribunals  may  deadlock  and  disagree,  but  experience  proves  the  con- 
trary. The  arbiters  approach  their  task  with  the  knowledge  that  industrial 
peace  depends  on  their  ability  to  weigh  impartially  the  evidence  and  facts 
making  up  the  case  presented  for  their  consideration,  and  to  reach  a  verdict 
in  accordance  with  the  circumstances  and  conditions.  There  can  be  no  shift- 
ing of  responsibility,  so  far  as  the  national  board  is  concerned,  to  other 
shoulders.     All  in  all,  therefore,   it  is  the  belief  of  our  executive  council  that 

852 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

the  new  agreement  presented  for  the  consideration  of  the  convention  is  an  al- 
most ideal  document  and  one  that,  if  ratified  and  entered  into,  can  be  still 
further  perfected  as  time  and  experience  bring  forth  its  defects. 

« 

Home  Affairs — Union  Printers  Home  affairs  and 
some  attacks  on  the  institution  were  given  prominence  by 
the  president.  The  growing  need  of  improved  water 
service  was  touched  upon.  The  president  then  declared 
the  Home  should  be  respected,  and  said : 

Inasmuch  as  the  convention  this  year  will  be  held  in  the  Home  city,  there 
should  be  ample  opportunity  for  the  delegates  and  visitors  to  thoroughly  in- 
spect the  institution,  and  a  most  rigid  scrutiny  is  desired.  The  Home  should 
not  be  made  the  football  of  typographical  politics.  It  is  our  one  great  busi- 
ness venture,  aside  from  trade  unionism  per  sc,  and  in  order  to  continue  the 
success  that  has  thus  far  attended  its  administration  it  must  be  separated 
from  the  assaults  of  the  ambitious  statesmen  who  periodically  attempt  to  in- 
flame  the  membership  against  the  officers  of  the  institution  who  may  be  candi- 
dates for  re-election.  We  may  not  be'  able  to  conduct  our  International  elec- 
tions with  freedom  from  the  cheaper  grade  of  politics,  but  we  can  at  least 
guard  the  Home  against  periodical  assaults  that  arouse  suspicion  in  the  minds 
of  the  membership  and  cover  with  opprobrium  one  of  our  most  beneficial  fea- 
tures. It  is  significant  that  the  instigators  of  these  calumnies  quickly  drop 
them  once  the  elections  are  determined.  The  Home  is  a  success,  and  It  can 
lie  continued  as  a  success  if  its  existence  is  properly  safeguarded. 

Under  date  of  April  6,  1906,  a  circular  signed  by  the  officers  of  the  Wom- 
an's Label  League  of  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.,  and  containing  certain  charge* 
against  the  board  of  trustees  and  management  of  the  I'nioii  Printers  Home. 
was  mailed  to  the  unions  chartered  by  the  International  Typographical  Union. 
Neither  the  president  nor  secretary-treasurer  of  the  Home  corporation  MM 
aware  of  the  issuance  of  the  circular  until  inquiries  on  the  subject  were  made 
by  local  secretaries.  It  is  significant  that  the  concluding  paragraph  of  the 
circular  should  read  as  follows r  "We  know  that  this  matter  is  within  the 
province  of  the  board  of  trustees,  and  ask  that  in  voting  for  said  officers  on 
May   16  that  you  elect  only  thoso  who  are  favorable  to  such  action." 

The  records  of  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees,  held  at  the  Home 
last  November,  show  that  a  communication  was  received  from  the  Woman's 
Label  League  of  Colorado  Springs,  dealing  with  the  purchase  of  union  goons 
l>y  the  Home  management.  Other  official  business  prevented  President  Lynch 
.in.l  Secretary-Treasurer  Itramwood  from  attending  the  meeting  In  question, 
Imt  the  communication  from  the  league  was  fully  considered  by  the  board,  and 
its  reply,  setting  forth  the  facts  in  the  case,  and  signed  by  W.  J.  White  an 
•ccretary  pro  tern.,  bears  date  of  November  tj,   1005. 

The  report  contained  the  contents  of  the  circular  in 
question  and  the  reply  of  Thomas  McCaffcry,  of  Colorado 
Springs,  vice-president  of  the  Home  corporation  and 
board  of  trustees,  and  the  board's  local  representor 

In  concluding  his  report,  the  president  expressed  thr 
hope  that  the  convention  would  be  of  great  benefit  to  the 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

organization   and  that  the  union  would   realize  all  the 
bright  prospects  that  the  future  appeared  to  hold. 

Typographic^  —  An  active  and  successful  year  on  the 
part  of  the  German-American  Typographia  was  reported 
by  Second  Vice-President  Miller.  The  Philadelphia 
Demokrat  had  been  reclaimed  after  a  five-year  fight.  A 
German  union  was  organized  at  Winnipeg.  St.  Paul- 
Minneapolis  Union  had  obtained  a  new  scale  and  the 
German-American  local  at  Cleveland  received  an  increase 
in  wages.  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Toledo  and  St.  Louis 
unions  had  a  few  members  involved  in  the  eight-hour 
fight.  Mr.  Miller  pointed  with  pride  to  the  fact  that  there 
was  only  one  non-union  German  daily  in  the  country. 

Mailers  —  Third  Vice-President  Mulcahy,  speaking 
for  the  mailers,  said  that  during  the  year  he  had  been 
unable  to  do  much  organizing  work  in  that  craft  owing  to 
the  eight-hour  strike,  which  had  seriously  handicapped 
the  mailers  in  the  effort  to  extend  their  organization  work 
throughout  the  country.  He  had  been  successful,  how- 
ever, in  organizing  unions  in  Elmira,  N.  Y. ;  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah,  and  Memphis,  Tenn.  Several  of  the  old 
unions  had  renewed  their  agreements  with  the  publishers 
with  an  increase  in  their  scale  of  wages,  and  eight  hours. 

Secretary-Treasurer's  Report  —  Secretary  -  Treasurer 
Bramwood's  report  opened  with  a  summary  of  the  re- 
ceipts and  expenditures  of  the  International  Union  for 
the  fiscal  year.  An  accompanying  table  showed  the  finan- 
cial transactions  for  the  year  to  have  been  larger  than 
those  of  any  previous  similar  period.  The  total  receipts 
were  $1,119,098.78;  expenditures,  $984,744.54,  leaving  a 
balance  of  $134,354.24. 

Eight- Hour  Assessments  —  Commenting  upon  the  ex- 
penses from  the  defense  fund  and  the  eight-hour  contest, 
the  secretary-treasurer  had  this  to  say : 

The    defense    fund    expenditures    for    1906    exceeded    all    the    previous   ex- 
854 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

pen scs  from  that  fund.  It  must  be  remembered  in  this  connection  that  tbe 
money  spent  for  defensive  purposes  during  tbe  year  practically  represent*  tbe 
expenses  of  the  eight-hour  fight  paid  direct  from  International  headquarters. 
The  one-half  of  one  per  cent  assessment,  which  was  collected  from  January 
1  to  November  4,  1905,  inclusive,  was  retained  by  local  unions.  Reports 
filed  with  tbe  secretary-treasurer  show  that  the  receipts  of  subordinate  unions 
from  this  source  were  $150,406.18.  Unions  that  experienced  no  trouble  in 
enforcing  the  eight-hour  day,  and  those  that  had  it,  were  requested  by  the 
executive  council  to  forward  the  International's  one-half  of  their  collections 
on  this  assessment  to  headquarters.  From  this  source  tbe  International  re- 
ceived $35,684.81,  a  number  of  locals  transmitting  tbe  entire  collections.  Of 
the  balance  of  the  assessment,  $18,075.80  remains  with  the  unions  collecting 
it,  and  $96,645.57  was  spent  by  them  in  the  furtherance  of  the  eight 
movement. 

Between  November  6  and  December  30,  1905,  an  assessment  of  so  cents 
per  member  per  week  was  collected  by  the  International  Union.  Tbe  proposi- 
tion  as  voted  upon   by  the   membership  provided  that:   , 

"Said  assessment  shall  not  apply  to  unions  engaged  in  strike  during  tbe 
progress  of  the  strike,  in  case  such  unions  are  collecting  a  local  assessment. 
for  strike   purposes,   equal   to   50  cents   per  week  per   member. 

"When  a  strike  is  settled,  or  the  local  assessment  discontinued  or  reduced 
to  less  than  50  cents  per  week  per  member,  the  International  assessment,  as 
above  specified,  shall  immediately  apply  to  the  members  of  such  unions." 

Under  the  exemption  clause  in  the  above  proposition 
fifty  subordinate  unions  were  not  required  to  pay  the  In- 
ternational assessment,  as  they  were  collecting  local 
assessments  equal  to  that  levied  by  the  International 
Union.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  funds  collected 
by  those  unions  were  expended  in  the  eight-hour  fight. 
The  exemption  of  these  locals  from  the  Inter  national 
assessment  of  necessity  reduced  the  revenue  of  the  parent 
body,  but  the  50-cent  assessment  netted  the  International 
(including  the  amount  paid  by  the  International  Stereo- 
typers  and  Electrotypers'  Union),  $132,326.  It  being 
apparent  that  the  50-cent  assessment  would  not  meet  the 
demands  upon  the  International  treasury  after  January  I, 
1906,  a  proposition  providing  for  a  weekly  assessment  of 
10  per  cent  on  the  earnings  of  all  members  was  submitted 
to  the  membership.  Concerning  the  10  per  cent  assess- 
ment,  the  report  said  : 

This  proposition  was  adopted  by  an  overwhelming  majority,  and  tto  tea 
!••  •■  Mit  assessment  wmt  int..  effect  on  January  i.  1*0*.  Up  W  Map  ji.  I  pen, 
the  International  had  received  therefrom  (including  lb*  assonal  paid  by  U»* 
International   Stcrcotypcra  and  Electrotype  re*  Union)  a  total  of  ttsi.e-ti  •* 

One  clause  of  the  assessment  proposition  rend: 

855 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

"Said  assessment  shall  apply  to  all  unions;  provided,  that  the  executive 
council  shall  have  power  to  permit  local  unions  in  jurisdictions  where  strikes 
are  in  progress  to  retain  the  amount  of  the  assessment  or  any  portion  thereof 
and  expend  the  same  for  strike  purposes,  when,  in  the  judgment  of  the  coun- 
cil, such  action  is  necessary." 

Acting  under  the  foregoing,  the  executive  council  allowed  the  following 
unions  to  retain  all  or  such  portion  of  the  assessment  as  was  needed  by  them, 
the  retentions  and  expenditures  on  this  account  up  to   May   31,    1906,  being: 

Indianapolis,    Ind $6,74499 

Philadelphia,    Pa 17,082  11 

Cincinnati,    Ohio 15.677  02 

ew  York,   N.   Y 212,501  67 

Pittsburgh,  Pa 12,879  W 

St.   Louis,   Mo 36,752  22 

Buffalo,    N.    Y 8,025  15 

Louisville,    Ky ;  .  .  .  7,253  80 

Boston,    Mass 47,402  86 

Rochester,   N.   Y 5.263  92 

■Chicago,    111 105,323  43 

New   Orleans,   La 3.650  60 

Detroit,    Mich 11 ,263  73 


Kalamazoo,    Mich 813  62 

Wilmington,    Del 398  45 

Hartford,  Conn 3.544  40 

Duluth,    Minn 1,819  73 

Jacksonville,    Fla 1,165  00 

Worcester,    Mass 1,855  26 

San  Antonio,  Texas 2,248  35 

Dallas,    Texas 4,198  50 

Los  Angeles,  Cal 8,777  60 

Akron,    Ohio 724  65 

Fargo,  N.  D 902  55 

Omaha,    Neb 5,814  20 

Winnipeg,   Man 6,281   90 


Mobile,  Ala. . , i,777   18 

Galveston,    Texas 2,620  75 

Peoria,    111 2,298  65 

St.   Paul,   Minn 6,713  89 

Providence,   R.   1 4,057  58 

Grand  Rapids,   Mich 2,228  96 

St.  Joseph,  Mo 2,181   80 

Minneapolis,    Minn 8,167   l7 

Leavenworth,    Kan 35  47 

New  Haven,  Conn 2,858  54 

Atlanta,  Ga 2,884  66 

Cleveland,   Ohio 18,031  31 


Springfield,    Mass. .  .  . 
Sioux  Falls,  S.  D. ... 

Norwood,   Mass 

Niagara   Falls,   N.    Y. 

Altoona,  Pa , 

Winona,    Minn 

Fort   Smith,   Ark 

Easton,   Pa 

Aurora,   111 

Watertown,  N.  Y 

Charlotte,  N.  C 

El  Paso,  Texas 

Rome,   Ga 

Champaign,    111 

Stamford,    Conn 

Princeton,  N.  J 

Greenville,    Texas.... 

Niles,   Mich 

Freeport,    111 

Huntington,  W.   Va. . 

Guthrie,    Okla 

Morgantown,  W.  Va. 


2,729  67 
927  10 
120  75 
i95  29 
719  79 
117  60 
345  05 
566  62 
308  26 
179  40 
50  07 

1,557  13 
116  75 
100  00 
"7  47 
49  86 
178  50 

122    95 
321    90 

205  95 
165   25 

185  70 


Syracuse,  N.  Y 5,177  48 

Roanoke,    Va 442  67 

Toledo,  Ohio 3,372  78 

Erie,    Pa 663  84 

San  Bernardino,  Cal 309  65 

St.  John,  N.  B 430  26 

Richmond,   Va 2,328  74 

Little  Rock,   Ark 1,1 59  90 

Jersey  City,  N.  J 392  70 

Washington,    D.    C 30,799  95 

Newark,  N.  J 9,915  04 

Springfield,    Ohio 1,264  63 

Des  Moines,  Iowa 3,932  26 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  assessment  collected  and  retained  by  these  locals 
aggregates  more  than  that  received  by  the  International  Union.  The  subordinate 
bodies  retaining  the  assessment  expended  it  in  paying  a  local  strike  benefit 
(in  addition  to  that  paid  by  the  International),  transportation  of  men  leaving 
town,  picket  expenses,  legal  expenses,  printing,  postage  and  all  the  sundry 
items  that  go  to  make  up  the  cost  of  a  great  strike.  A  few  locals  defrayed 
all  expenses  from  the  International  assessment  retained  and  the  local  funds. 
To  get  the  cost  of  the  eight-hour  fight  to  May  31,  1906,  the  close  of  the  fiscal 


Total   $651,791   73 


856 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

year,    the  expenditures   of   the    International    must   be   added   to   those   of   local 
unions,  as  reported  to  headquarters; 

International  defense  fund  expenditures $815,291   80 

Ten  per  cent  assessment  retained  and  expended  by  local  union*...     651,791   73 
One-half  of  one  per  cent  assessment  retained  and  expended  by  local 

unions 06,645  57 

Total    Si, 563,729   »o 

The  foregoing  total  includes  $13,358  sent  to  California  locals  aa  special 
assistance  in  their  hour  of  need,  and  $7,200  used  by  Los  Angeles  Union  in  the 
Times  fight. 

This  summary  does  not  include  local  funds  or  money  derived  from  local 
assessments  that  have  gone  into  this  fight,  as  the  expenditures  from  such  funds 
have  not  been  reported  to  the  International  Union.  It  it  estimated,  how- 
ever that  such  expenditures  aggregated   $200,000. 

Assistance  from  American  Federation  of  Labor  —  A 
notable  feature  of  the  eight-hour  contest  was  the  aid  fur- 
nished by  the  American  Federation  of  Labor.  That  body 
levied  an  assessment  of  four  cents  per  member  for  the 
benefit  of  the  International  Union.  The  secretary-tn 
urer's  report  showed  that  $47,715.94  was  derived  there- 
from. 

Membership  —  Under  the  heading  "Our  Membership," 
the  secretary-treasurer  reported  the  issuance  of  forty - 
three  charters  during  the  year,  the  surrender  and  suspen- 
sion of  ninety-one,  showing  that  the  International  Union 
had  642  subordinate  bodies  on  May  31,  1906,  or  forty - 
eight  less  than  on  May  31,  1905.  The  decrease  in  the 
average  membership  was  commented  on  in  part,  as 
follows : 

I  <"  the  first  time  in  several  years  the  average  paying  membership  for  the 
fiscal  year  shows  a  decrease  rather  than  an  increase.  Thr  average  paying 
membership  in  1905  was  46,734,  while  that  for  the  year  ending  May  ji.  1906, 
was  44.980.  a  decrease  of  1,754.  There  is  nothing  discouraging  in  these  In- 
ures, however,  when  all  the  circumstances  arc  considered;  in  fact,  the  Inter 
national  Typographical  Union  has  good  cause  for  congratulation  over  the 
showing  in  this  respect.  For  several  mouths  the  organisation  has  boon  en- 
gaged  in  the  greatest  struggle  in  it.  history;  a  druggie  that  oewittttd1  the 
levying  of  an  assessment  of  50  cents  per  member  per  week  foe  •  per  km)  of 
right  weeks,  which  was  increased  t<>  ten  fm  Man  of  the  earnings  of  members 
early  in  January,  and  is  still  in  force.  Lotos*  In  membership  art  to  be  ea 
pected  on  such  occasions,  as  assessment*  are  far  from  popular  with  lb*  •*•»• 
age  member,  or,  for  that  matter,  with  mankind  In  general  t 'onirary.  boerover. 
to  the  general  rule  in  industrial  battles,  the  membership  of  ibe  oil  one  ssUhoff 
engage. I  in  th,   conflict  has  remained  intact,  and  stilt  prtotntt  ■  united  front  to 

857 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  enemy.  And  this  is  the  surprising  feature  to  those  who  predicted  at  the 
opening  of  the  contest  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  would  be 
rent  asunder  if  an  attempt  were  made  to  enforce  the  eight-hour  schedule. 

CONSTITUTIONAL     AMENDMENTS 

Four  constitutional  amendments  were  submitted  to  the 
referendum  by  the  Colorado  Springs  convention.  Three 
were  carried,  and  one,  to  increase  the  salaries  of  officers, 
was  defeated.  The  majority  against  this  proposition  was 
11,436.  The  total  number  of  unions  entitled  to  vote  was 
611;  total  number  voting,  349.  Each  proposition  with  the 
vote  thereon  is  given  below : 

First  Proposition — Amend  section  i,  article  viii,  of  the  constitution — 
"Salaries  and  Expenses," — by  changing  the  figures  after  "For  the  President" 
from  $1,800  to  $2,400;  and  in  the  last  line,  after  "Secretary-Treasurer,"  from 
$1,800   to   $2,400. 

Result  of  vote — For,  6,401;  against,  17,837;  majority 
against,  1 1,436. 

Second  Proposition — Amend  section  i  and  3,  article  ix,  of  the  constitu- 
tion, to  read  as  follows: 

Article  IX — Revenue  and  Funds. 

Section  1.  The  revenue  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  shall 
be  derived  as  follows:  From  dues,  which  shall  be  forty  cents  per  month  per 
member;  from  charters  for  subordinate  unions,  $5  per  charter;  from  necessary 
supplies,  at  prices  to  be  fixed  by  law.  International  dues  for  each  month  shall 
be  collected  by  subordinate  unions,  and  shall  be  transmitted  to  the  secretary- 
treasurer  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  before  the  20th  of  the 
succeeding  month.  Unions  failing  to  comply  with  this  provision  shall  be  con- 
sidered delinquent  and  debarred  from  benefits.  '  Provided,  That  unions  located 
so  far  from  headquarters  as  to  make  it  impossible  for  their  dues  to  reach 
there  within  the  prescribed  time  shall  not  be  considered  delinquent  if 
their  remittances  bear  postmark  date  prior  to  the  15th  of  the  succeeding 
month. 

Sec.  3.  The  dues  of  the  International  Union  shall  be  apportioned  to  the 
several  funds  as  follows:  5  cents  to  the  general  fund;  5  cents  to  the 
special  defense  fund;  7I/2  cents  to  the  defense  fund;  7^2  cents  to  the  burial 
fund,  and  15  cents  to  the  endowment  fund  of  the  Union  Printers  Home. 

Result  of  vote — For,  15,114;  against  10,030;  majority 
for,  5,084. 

The  increase  of  per  capita  tax  provided  by  the  adoption 
of  this  amendment  did  not  become  effective  until  the 
eight-hour  assessment  was  discontinued. 

Third  Proposition — Amend  section  3,  article  ix,  of  the  constitution,  by 
adding  after  the  words  "7yi   cents  to  the   defense   fund:" 

Section    3.     *     *     *     Provided,    That   in    all   cases    where   an    assessment    is 

858 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

levied  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  an  International  strike  all  money*  be 
transmitted  to  the  executive  council  and  not  be  retained  in  any  case  by  a 
subordinate   union.     •     •     • 

Result  of  vote — For,  16,594;  against,  7,283;  majority 
for,  9,311. 

Fourth  Proposition — Amend  section  i,  article  xii,  of  the  constitution,  to 
read   as    follows: 

Article  Xii — Obligation 

Section  i.  All  subordinate  unions  shall  have  an  article  in  their  constitu- 
tion which  shall  read  as  follows: 

Obligation  for  Members — Every  person  admitted  as  a  member  of  this 
union  shall  subscribe  to  the  following  obligation,  wbicb  shall  apply  only  to 
matters  pertaining  to   the  printing   industry: 

I  (give  name)  hereby  solemnly  and  sincerely  swear  (or  affirm)  that  1 
will  not  reveal  any  business  or  proceedings  of  any  meeting  of  this  or  any 
subordinate  union  to  which  I  may  hereafter  be  attached,  unless  by  order  of 
the  union,  except  to  those  whom  I  know  to  be  members  in  good  ■*»TU*Hg 
thereof;  that  I  will,  without  equivocation  or  evasion,  and  to  the  best  of  my 
ability,  abide  by  the  constitution,  by-laws  and  the  adopted  scale  of  prices  of 
any  union  to  which  I  may  belong;  that  I  will  at  all  times  support  the  laws, 
regulations  and  decisions  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  will 
carefully  avoid  giving  aid  or  succor  to  its  enemies,  and  use  all  honorable 
means  within  my  power  to  secure  employment  for  members  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union  in  preference  to  others;  that  my  fidelity  to  the  union  and  my 
duty  to  the  members  thereof  shall  in  no  sense  be  interfered  with  by  any 
allegiance  that  I  may  now  or  hereafter  owe  to  any  other  organization,  social. 
political  or  religious,  secret  or  otherwise;  that  I  will  belong  to  no  society  or 
combination  composed  wholly  or  partly  of  printers,  with  the  intent  or  pur- 
pose to  interfere  with  the  trade  regulations  or  influence  or  control  the  legts 
lation  of  this  union;  that  I  will  not  wrong  a  member,  or  sec  him  or  her 
wronged,  if  in  my  power  to  prevent.  To  all  of  which  I  pledge  my  moat 
sacred  honor. 

Result  of  vote — For,  20,668;  against,  3,073;  majority 
for,  17,595. 

THE     SAN     FRANCISCO     DISASTER 

The  story  of  the  San  Francisco  disaster  of  April  t8, 
1906,  in  so  far  as  it  concerned  the  Typographical  Union 
as  an  organization,  is  told  in  the  following  report  sub* 
mitted  to  the  Colorado  Springs  convention  and  in  the 
action  of  the  convention  on  the  rej> 

<>ti    the  morning  of   April    tg  the   associated   press  gave   to  the   world  a   re- 
port  of   the    terrible  disaster   in   San    Francisco  and   other 
tag  that  our  members  in  San  Francisco  would  need 
utivr   council   wired   the   prr.idrnt   of   No.    SI   as   folio*  • 

'India* trolls.  Ian.  April  is.   ti 
Ml  A.  Tbacy.  K»«m  i».  «jj  KaWaJ  ■  Frearttre.  CW. 

"Kxerutivc  council   International  Typographical  Union 


199 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

pathy  to  members  of  San  Francisco  Typographical  Union  and  citizens  gener- 
ally, in  their  hour  of  affliction.  Let  us  know  what  we  can  do,  financially  or 
otherwise.  J.   W.   Bramwood,  Secretary." 

No  answer  was  received  to  this  message.  The  spread  of  the  fire  possibly 
prevented  its  delivery.  On  the  afternoon  of  April  19,  however,  the  following 
message  was   received   from   Organizer    F.  J.   Bonnington: 

"Oakland,  Cal.,  April  19,  1906. 
"James  M.  Lynch,  Newton  Claypool  Building,  Indianapolis. 

"Every  printing  office  wiped  out  in  San  Francisco.  Suffering  among 
members  inevitable.  Wire  authority  to  use  International  funds  now  on  hand. 
Address  here.  F.   J.   Bonnington." 

This   answer  was   sent: 

_   _    '  _  , . '         _  ,  "Indianapolis,  Ind.,  April  19,  1906. 

F.  J.  Bonnington,  Oakland,  Lai. 

"Union  authorized  to  use  funds  on  hand.  International  will  furnish  more 
if  necessary.     Council  wired  Tracy  this  morning.  James  M.   Lynch." 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st  this  dispatch  was  received  from  Organizer  Bon- 
nington, it  being  dated  at  Alameda,   Cal.,  two  days  earlier: 

"Alameda,  Cal.,  April   19,   1906. 
"James  M.  Lynch,  Claypool  Building,  Indianapolis. 

"Can  not  reach  Tracy  or  White,  but  know  all  moneys  are  in  ruins  of 
banks.  Suggest  council  advance  funds  for  immediate  relief  of  our  members. 
Endeavoring  to  get  meeting  of  No.  21 's  officers  tomorrow  in  Oakland.  Frisco's 
destruction  practically  complete.     Wire  will  reach  me  here  or  Oakland. 

"F.  J.   Bonnington." 

The  council   decided  to  place  $2,000  to  the  credit  of  Mr.   Bonnington  in  an 

Oakland   bank    for   the    use    of   our    San    Francisco   members,    and   answered   as 

follows: 

_   _  '  _/  '   , ,      ,    _  ,  "Indianapolis,  Ind.,  April  21,  1906. 

"F.  J.  Bonnington,  Oakland,  Cal. 

"Fletcher  National  Bank,  this  city,  has  wired  Union  National  Bank,  of 
Oakland,  to  pay  you  $2,000  account  of  International  Typographical  Union. 
Keep  us  posted.     You  can  have  more  money,  if  necessary,  on   receipt  of  wire. 

"J.   W.    Bramwood." 

Though  the  foregoing  was  duplicated  to  Organizer  Bonnington's  home  ad- 
dress at  Alameda,  no  answer,  was  received,  but  on  the  22d  Arthur  A.  Hay 
wired  from  Los  Angeles  as  follows:  • 

"Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  April  22,   1906. 
"James  M.  Lynch,  650  Newton  Claypool  Building,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

"Did  you  receive  Bonnington's  Alameda  message?  Tracy  and  Bonning- 
ton say  $10,000  imperative,  and  requested  me  to  send  this  message,  as  wires 
around  San  Francisco  in  bad  condition.  Drafts  will  not  be  honored,  so  send 
money  in  small  denominations  by  express  to  Bonnington  in  Alameda.  Have 
just  returned   from   San  Francisco.     Job  and  newspaper  offices  all   destroyed. 

"Arthur  A.  Hay." 

On  receipt  of  this  the  council  voted  to  send  $10,000  more  to  San  Fran- 
cisco. Arrangements  were  made  to  forward  the  money  by  express,  the  pack- 
age being  made  up  of  bills  of  small  denominations,  as  requested.  Mr.  Hay 
was  informed  that  the  terms  of  his  message  had  been  complied  with,  and 
Organizer  Bonnington  was  notified  as  follows: 

"Indianapolis,  Ind.,  April  23,  1906. 
"Frank  J.  Bonnington,  1304  Grove  Street,  Alameda,  Cal. 

"Ten  thousand  in  small  bills  goes  to  you  today  by  express  in  accordance 
with   telegraphic   request  from  Hay.     Acknowledge   this   and  previous  messages. 

"James   M.    Lynch." 

860 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

•April  jy   1906. 
"Frank  J.  Bonningtoh,  1304  Grove  Street,  Alameda,  Col. 

"Look  after  our  members  of  typefounders'  and  mailer*'  unions  from  funds 
forwarded.  J  amis   M.    Lva 

The  following  was  received  from  Organizer  Ronnington: 

"Oaklakd,  Cal.,  April   »5.   1906. 
"James  M.  Lykcii,  Newton  Claypool  Building,  Indianafolu,  Ind. 

"Your  telegram  and  Bramwood's  received.  Oakland  banks  closed  indefi- 
nitely. All  money  should  be  sent  in  small  currency  by  express  to  Alameda; 
congestion  here  great.  Our  men  being  cared  for  best  possible  under  circum- 
stances. F.   ).   Bokximo: 

In  circular  No.  44,  issued  by  the  International  shorter  workday  committee  on 
April   21,  attention  was  directed  to  the  San   Francisco  disaster  in  this  manner: 

"Local  unions  should  prepare  to  furnish  financial  relief  to  San  Francisco 
Typographical  Union  No.  SI.  The  executive  council  will  do  all  within  its 
power,  but  with  every  printing  office  in  San  Francisco  wiped  out,  and  the  city 
practically  destroyed,  the  needs  of  our  afflicted  members  will  be  many.  No. 
21  in  its  recent  struggle  for  the  continuance  of  tho  eight-hour  day  paid  all 
expenses  connected  with  its  strike,  and,  after  its  cause  was  won  and  the  general 
contest  was  on,  did  not  ask  the  International  for  a  dollar  by  way  of  reimburse- 
ment. On  the  contrary.  No.  21  contributed  far  more  than  its  proportion  to  the 
International  treasury,  so  that  the  eight-hour  day  might  be  established  generally. 
Now  our  members  in  San  Francisco,  together  with  the  citizen*  generally,  are 
in  direst  need. 

"Let  us  help  to  the  extent  of  our  ability. 

"Money  may  be  sent  to  Secretary  Bramwood,  who  will  in  turn  forward 
same  to  officers  of  No.  21   as  soon  as  possible." 

Subordinate  unions  immediately  began  contributing  to  the  relief  of  No.  M. 
Up  to  May  31,  1906,  donations  in  the  sum  of  $6,799.7$  had  been  received  by 
your  secretary-treasurer  and  transmitted  to  the  officers  of  San  Francisco  Union. 

As  will  be  seen  by  the  report  of  the  executive  council.  No.  at  was  amassed 
from  the  defense  fund  to  the  extent  of  $12,658.  The  executive  council  also 
appropriated  a  sufficient  sum  to  cover  the  per  capita  tax  of  all  San  Francisco 
unions  until  they  should  again  be  in  position  to  pay  the  same,  and  authorised 
them  to  temporarily  discontinue  the  collection  of  the  10  per  cent  assessment 

AT   OTHER    FOINTt 

Reports  were  received  from  Santa  Rosa  that  a  large  portion  of  the  bu»inr«. 
seition  of  that  city  had  been  destroyed  by  the  earthquake.  One  of  our  members 
clit.l  .it  bit  post  of  duty,  and  others  were  injured,  though  not  seriously.  Aid  lo 
the  extent  of  $800  was  given  this  union,  and  the  burial  brnefit  was  promptly 
p. ...I.     The  collection  of  the  assessment  was  also  discontinued  temporarily 

Baa  Jose  also  reported  connidcrahlc  damage,  and  asked  for  temporary  r*l»»l 
1 1  "in  t he  assessment,  which  wan  granted 

<  lakland  Union  requested  and  was  granted  permission  to  temporarily 
tiiiui   assessment  collections. 

Palo  Alto  I'ni.Mi  riporfd  amamfs  by  earthquake,  hut  was  aid*  »a 
tin    storm  without  finanrial  assistant 

The  committee  on  officers'  report-  to  which  wa>- 
ferred  thai  portion  of  the  executive  council  ml 

regarding  the  San  Fran<  Ik  o  Inddeal  rccommnulol  to  tbc 
convention  thai  it  emphatically  endorse  the  •>  I  lhe 

council  in  furnishing  prompt  financial  rclnf  to  member* 

861 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

involved  in  the  California  disaster,  it  being  an  unusual  , 
situation  and  requiring  unusual  action.    The  convention 
concurred  in  this  recommendation. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  the  convention,  Delegate  Tracy 
(San  Francisco)  secured  unanimous  consent  to  present 
the  following  resolution,  by  the  San  Francisco  delegation  : 

Whereas  the  city  of  San  Francisco  and  vicinity,  on  April  18,  19  and  20, 
suffered  calamities  exceeding  in  magnitude  any  disaster  recorded  in  modern 
history — calamities  that  rendered  several  hundred  thousand  people  homeless 
and  destitute  for  a  time;  and 

Whereas  the  moment  the  nature  of  the  disaster  became  known,  our  Inter- 
national executive  council  telegraphed  a  large  sum  of  money  to  our  officials 
for  the  relief  of  our  distressed  members,  and  this  generous  donation  was 
quickly  followed  by  liberal  contributions  from  sister  unions,  chapels  and  in- 
dividuals of  all  sections  of  the  country,  these  contributions  aggregating  the 
magnificent  sum  of  more  than  twenty-five  thousand  dollars    ($25,000);   and 

Whereas  the  unexampled  generosity  of  our  brethren  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  enabled  San  Francisco  Typographical  Union  No.  21  to 
afford  its  hundreds  of  distressed  members  immediate  and  adequate  relief — 
enabled  it  to  provide  for  those  members  more  liberally  than  probably  any 
other  organization  in  the  city  was  able  to  do  for  its  members,  and 

Whereas  the  action  of  the  union  printers  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  affords  convincing  evidence  that  the 
strength  of  the  bond  of  fraternity  that  exists  between  trade  unionists  is  un- 
surpassed in  any  other  form  of  organization,  and  also  affords  a  notable  illus- 
tration of  the  character  of  trade  unionism;  therefore 

Be  it  resolved,  By  San  Francisco  Typographical  Union  No.  21,  that  the 
members  thereof  hereby  express  to  their  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  and  to  individual  contributors,  heartfelt  appre- 
ciation of  their  noble  generosity,  and  assure  them  that  their  conduct  in  our 
hour  of  trial  has  imbued  us  with  a  feeling  of  gratitude  that  will  last  while 
life  lasts,  and  has  excited  within  us  a  sentiment  toward  them  that  passes 
beyond  the  bonds  of  mere  fraternity  and  causes  us  to  look  upon  them  rather 
as  brothers  bound  to  us  by  ties  of  blood  than  by  the  tie  of  common  interest 
and  association. 

Resolved,  That  our  delegation  to  the  convention  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  to  be  held  at  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.,  commencing  August 
13,  1906,  be  instructed  to  present  these  resolutions  to  that  body,  expressing 
the  sentiments  that  prompted  them;  that  a  copy  thereof  be  forwarded  to  each 
of  6ur  sister  unions,  chapels  and  individuals  that  contributed  to  the  relief  of 
our  distressed  members,  and  that  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  our  min- 
utes. 

The  following  is  an  excerpt  from  the  minutes  of  the 
Colorado  Springs  convention : 

Delegate  Tracy  (San  Francisco)  spoke  of  conditions  in  his  city  at  the 
time  of  and  immediately  following  the  earthquake.  He  spoke  feelingly  of  the 
action  of  the  executive  council  offering  any  assistance  possible,  and  almost 
immediately  following  this  up  by  sending  at  one  time  $2,000  and  a  few  days 
later  the  sum  of  $10,000,  even  before  help  had  been  asked  of  them.  Thanks 
to  the  generosity  of  the  executive  council  and  of  subordinate  unions  and  in. 
dividual    members   of   our   organization,    not   one    member   of   No.    21    has   suf- 

862 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

fered  for  food,  clothing,  or  shelter.  More  than  $25,000  had  been  received 
from  these  sources,  and  every  cent  of  this  sum  will  be  accounted  for,  and 
not  one  cent  will  be  charged  up  for  administrative  purposes.  Mr.  Tracy  also 
took  occasion  to  thank  the  Order  of  Elks  for  the  help  they  had  given  to 
members  of  his  union.  The  speaker  said  that,  speaking  from  tbe  bottom  of 
his  heart,  he  was  proud  to  belong  to  the  International  Typographical  Union. 
proud  to  be  under  an  executive  council  which  had  offered  atiistance  to  a 
stricken  subordinate  union  before  assistance  had  been  asked.  The  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  had  done  more  to  alleviate  suffering  in  San  Fran- 
cisco than  any  other  labor  organization  in  this  country.  Mr.  Tracy  closed  by 
saying  that  in  behalf  of  San  Francisco  Typographical  Union  he  thanked  not 
only  the  executive  council,  not  only  the  local  unions,  but  the  individual  mem- 
bers of  the  organization,  for  so  nobly  responding  to  the  call  of  tbe  distressed. 

Delegate  McCullough  (Omaha)  seconded  the  resolu- 
tions of  the  San  Francisco  delegation. 

The  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted. 

THE     EIGHT-HOUR      DAY 

Report  of  International  Eight-Hour  Committee — In 
order  that  the  reader  may  follow  the  history  of  the  eight- 
hour  struggle,  the  report  of  the  International  eight-hour 
committee  made  to  the  Colorado  Springs  convention  is 
reproduced  herewith. 

In  its  report  the  International  committee  refers  directly 
to  the  report  made  at  the  Toronto  convention  by  the 
convention's  eight-hour  committee  and  that  document  wu 
included  as  a  part  of  the  International  committee's  report 
to  the  Colorado  Springs  convention.  Inasmuch  as  that 
matter  was  given  proper  attention  under  the  summary  of 
the  Toronto  convention  it  will  not  be  included  here.  Fol- 
lowing is  the  report  of  the  International  eight-hour 
committee : 

To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  the  International  ryftoeref-airo/  !/■»>•. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Attached  to  this  report  is  the  report  of  the  con- 
\<ntion  eight-hour  committee  at  Toronto.  Mm  to  a  consideration  of  tte 
report  we  herewith  submit,  we  bespeak  careful  reading  of  the  Andknga  of  law 
committee  at  the  Toronto  convention,  so  that  full  and  cosooWto  oodoiotaoiMog 
may  be  had  of  the  history  of  our  right  hour  movement.  Along  otter  tteage, 
the  report  of  the  committee  adopted  by  the  convention  cootalood  tte  following! 
\\-  bsJkvg  that  this  convention  should  clothe  tte  International  etgwt- 
hour  committer  with  power  to  negotiate  with  representatives  of  tte  Uoted 
Typothetw  of  America  if  an  opportunity  for  negotiation  occurs  prior  to 
uary  1,  and  we  to  recommend.  In  order  that  the  declaration  of  tte  reff  undoes. 
•That  we  again  declare  our  entire  wiltlngnroa  to  negotiate  with  tte  Uate4 
Tvpotheta*  of  America   for  an  agreement   under   which  tte  eigot-teor  da*  wH 

«3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

become   operative,   and   so   instruct   our   eight-hour    committee,'    may   not   be    im- 
paired." 

On  September  7,  1905,  President  Lynch  and  Vice-President  Hays,  acting 
under  instructions  from  the  International  eight-hour  committee,  despite  lack 
of  invitation,  and  pursuant  to  the  action  of  the  Toronto  convention  quoted 
hereinbefore,  attended  the  convention  of  the  United.  Typothetae  of  America  at 
Niagara  Falls  and  attempted  to  get  a  hearing  on  the  eight-hour-day  proposi- 
tion from  the  assembled  employers.  The  reception  given  President  Lynch  and 
Vice-President  Hays  was  in  striking  contrast  to  the  reception  and  hearing 
given  President  Ellis  and  Chairman  Green,  of  the  typothetae,  by  our  Toronto 
convention.  Instead  of  being  at  once  invited  to  address  the  convention,  our 
representatives  were  only  allowed  to  meet  the  typothetae  executive  committee, 
and  were  not  informed  that  the  convention  had  formally  opened  the  way  for  a 
hearing  until  the  typothetae  had  acted,  negatively  on  the  eight-hour  proposition 
submitted  by  the  union  representatives.  After  conferring  for  some  time,  the 
executive  committee  informed  -the  International  Typographical  Union  repre- 
sentatives that  the  only  proposition  the  committee  would  make  or  that  the 
committee  believed  would  be  acceptable  to  the  convention  was  for  a  three- 
year  contract,  based  on  a  fifty-four-hour  week  and  an  open-shop  provision. 
As  a  counter  proposition  the  International  representatives  submitted  this: 
"That  if  the  convention  is  in  a  receptive  mood,  that  is,  if  the  convention  de- 
sires to  approach  the  question  with  the  intention  of  adjusting  it  so  as  to 
eventually  reach  the  eight-hour  day,  we  are  here  to  negotiate  on  that  basis." 
The  word  "eventually"  was  used  advisedly,  and  only  after  full  consideration. 
It  was  believed  that  the  proposition  allowed  the  widest  field  of  choice  to  the 
typothetae,  and  that  it  also  showed  beyond  question  that  the  International 
Typographical  Union  was  willing  to  go  to  the  limit  in  order  to  preserve  in- 
dustrial peace.  The  proposal  was  taken  before  the  typothetae  convention,  and 
its  position  is  set  forth  in  the  following  letter,  handed  to  the  International 
president  by  the  chairman  of  the  typothetae  executive  committee: 

"Convention  United  Typothetae  of  America. 

"Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.,  September  7,   1905. 
"Messrs.    Lynch    and    Hays,    Representing    the    Eight-Hour   Committee    of    the 
International  Typographical  Union. 

"Gentlemen:  Concerning  the  following  proposition,  presented  by  you  this 
morning:  'That  if  the  convention  is  in  a  receptive  mood,  that  is,  if  the  con- 
vention desires  to  approach  the  question  with  the  intention  of  adjusting  it  so 
as  to  eventually  reach  the  eight-hour  day,  we  are  here  to  negotiate  on  that 
basis.' 

"The  convention  instructs  the  committee  to  inform  you  that  it  is  unable 
to  consider  any  agreement  leading  toward  the  eight-hour  day. 

"Very  truly  yours, 

"William  Green,  Chairman." 
After  the  above  action  was  communicated  to  the  International  president,  he 
was  informed  .by  the  typothetae  chairman  that  the  latter  had  been  subjected 
to  some  criticism  because  the  president  had  not  been  invited  to  address  the 
convention.  He  was  informed  that  an  opportunity  to  address  the  convention, 
prior  to  its  action,  would  have  been  taken  advantage  of.  "It  would  have  ac- 
complished   nothing,"    said    the    executive    committee    chairman. 

the  executive  council  acts. 
Immediately  following  the  burning  of  its  bridges  by  the  United  Typoth- 
etae of  America,  the  executive  council  met  and  canvassed  the  situation  in  all 
its  phases.  It  was  realized  that  those  in  control  of  the  destinies  of  the  typoth- 
etae intended  to  maintain  the  hostile  attitude  first  announced  at  the  St.  Louis 
convention  of  the  United  Typothetae,  held  in  June,   1904,   and  it  was  believed 

864 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

that  the  militant  element  in  that  society  wai  spoiling  for  a  fight,  and  Hi- 
tended  to  have  one  on  some  other  issue  if  the  eight-hour  excuse  did  not  suf- 
fice. Strikes  had  been  invited  by  the  typothetae  in  San  Antonio,  Detroit  and 
Chicago,  and  it  was  not  deemed  wise  that  these  unions  should  longer  bear  the 
brunt  of  the  eight-hour  battle.  Accordingly,  all  local  unions,  except  where 
contracts  were  in  effect,  were  on  September  8  and  9  instructed  by  wire  to  im- 
mediately demand  eight-hour  agreements,  effective  January  1,  1906,  and  in 
each  instance  where  refusal  was  met  with  our  members  to  cease  work.  The 
order  was  complied  with,  and  the  results  have  been  set  forth  in  bulletins  ia- 
sued   from  headquarters. 

THE    SPIRIT   Or   THE    NIAGARA    FALL*   CATHIRING. 

The  Niagara  Falls  Cataract- Journal  of  September  7  had  the  following: 
"Secrecy  marked  the  executive  sessions  of  the  United  Typotheue  meeting  in 
the  Cataract  Hotel  today.  The  officers  of  the  association  had  tightened  their 
buckles,  as  it  were,  to  meet  the  eight-hour  law  proposed  to  them  by  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  in  Toronto  some  time  ago,  when  there  waa  a 
convention  of  the  printers'  representatives  in  the  Canadian  city.  President 
Lynch  and  Vice-President  Hays,  of  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
and  President  Higgins,  of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants' 
Union,  attended  a  conference  of  the  typothetse  today  to  discuss  the  question 
of  an  eight-hour  day.  The  employing  printers  seemed  determined  to  hold  oat 
against  the  movement  instituted  at  the  Toronto  convention  of  the  typos  last 
month.  Even  on  the  street,  when  delegates  of  the  typothetx  met  today  they 
greeted  each  other  with  'Open  shop,  friend,  open  abop.  Come  and  hare  an 
open  drink  with  me  from  an  open-faced  bartender.  Come.'  Determination 
was  written  in  their  faces,  as  they  firmly  believed  that  should  the  hours  of 
labor  be  reduced,  and  the  pay  remain  the  same,  the  cost  of  production  would 
be  considerably  greater.  The  meetings  of  the  typotheta*  were  all  of  an  execu- 
tive nature,  and  it  was  seen  that  no  unauthorized  person  gained  admittance, 
not  excepting  delegates  who  were  not  deemed  sufficiently  close-mouthed  to 
keep  a  secret.  The  latter  sought  and  found  refuge  in  the  large  convention 
hall,  wnere  the  committee  on  distribution  of  topics  were  holding  a  semi-open 
session."  The  Niagara  Falls  Gazette  of  September  8  added  this  testimony: 
"A  'fight  to  the  finish'  is  the  slogan  of  the  employing  printers.  This  stand 
was  taken  yesterday  in  reference  to  the  attitude  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  on  the  eight-hour  question.  President  Lynch  and  Vice-Pres- 
ident Hays,  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  were  in  the  city  jrta- 
terday.  An  invitation  had  been  extended  them  to  appear  before  the  typothetar 
and  address  the  delegates  on  the  eight-hour  question.  They  did  not  appear 
before  the  convention,  for  the  reason  that  they  received  no  formal  invita- 
tion. They  were,  however,  closeted  with  the  mem!>cr«  of  the  esrcuiive  com- 
mitter for  a  short  time  yesterday.  Following  the  conference  President  Lyttca 
informed  the  Gazette  reporter  that  they  had  asked  for  a  consideration  of  law 
eight-hour  proposition,  the  members  of  the  committre  being  asked,  if  they 
would' not  stand  for  the  eight-hour  system  at  the  present  time,  when  wcasld 
tliry  stand  for  It?  The  rxcctiti\e  committee  al»olutety  refused  to  St— d  for 
the  eight  hours  at  any  time.  Upon  receiving  this  ultimatum  Preside*!  Lywk 
and  Vice-President  Hays  retired  from  the  conference  "  Both  the  Cataract- 
I  iiual  and  the  Gazette  were  members  of  the  United  Typothet*  al  the  tisae 
the  rnnvrntion  was  in  session,  and  it  Is  fair  to  presume  their  quoted  I 
ances  are  authoritative.  Iloth  papers  are  now  fighting  the  eight  host r  ssssm,  and. 
as  their  appearance  well  demonstrate*,   are   the  product  of  nmt  unionists. 

DITIOIT,   SAN    ANTONIO.  CMICAOO 

(in    WY.lnesday,    Attaint     to.    Bj  n  unionist*    were    pat    so    work    to    several 
in    Detroit,    and    .■•    a    rc.tilt    the    member,   of    TypograplltoH    Unto*    No. 


Ms 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

1 8  employed  in  twenty-five  offices  were  called  out,  and  the  eight-hour  fight 
was  on  in   Detroit. 

On  Tuesday,  August  15,  non-unionists  were  employed  in  three  offices  in 
San  Antonio,  and  the  members  of  No.  172  employed  in  these  offices  declined 
to  remain   at  work,  and   the   eight-hour   contest   was   on   in   San   Antonio. 

On  Saturday,  August  26,  non-unionists  were  put  to  work  in  R.  R.  Don- 
nelley &  Sons',  Rand,  McNally  &  Co.'s,  and  several  other  offices  in  Chicago, 
and  the  members  of  No.  16  employed  in  these  offices  promptly  accepted  the 
gage  of   battle.      The   eight-hour   fight   was   on   in    Chicago. 

In  each  instance  the  issue  was  made  by  the  proprietors,  and  the  steps 
taken  by  them  were  with  the  deliberate  intention  of  bringing  on  a  conflict. 
Inasmuch  as  the  International  Typographical  Union  provided  that  the  eight- 
hour  day  should  become  effective  on  January  1,  1906,  the  International  officers, 
in  every  instance  where  a  local  union  desired  to  enforce  the  eight-hour  day 
by  strike  prior  to  the  date  set  for  its  general  introduction,  had  declined  sanc- 
tion and  assistance,  and  prevailed  on.  the  union  to  forego  its  intention.  It 
was  the  idea  of  the  International  officers  that  if  peace  could  be  maintained 
opportunity  might  be  afforded  for  a  satisfactory  adjustment  of  the  eight-hour 
contention.  After  the  action  taken  by  the  United  Typothetae  at  Niagara  Falls, 
set  forth  above,  it  was  realized  that  immediate  action  was  necessary  if  our 
unions  in  San  Antonio,  Detroit  and  Chicago  were  to  be  preserved,  and  the 
eight-hour  movement  continued.  It  was  apparent  that  if  the  unfair  em- 
ployers in  the  three  cities,  with  the  active  assistance  of  members  of  the 
typotheta?  in  other  localities,  could  win — and  the  chances  favored  victory  for 
them,  if  they  had  only  the  three  unions  to  contend  with — that  with  the  ad- 
vantage thus  gained  other  unions  could  and  would  be  opposed,  and  over- 
whelming and  crushing  defeat  would  be  our  portion.  Therefore,  the  general 
strike  was  immediately  ordered,  and  nearly  four  months  in  advance  of  the 
date  originally  set — January   1. 

AID    FROM    THE    AMERICAN    FEDERATION    OF    LABOR 

The  San  Francisco  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  in 
considefing  the  eight-hour  movement  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  adopted  the  report  of  a  special  committee  on  the  subject,  which,  among 
other  things,  contained  the  following: 

"That  if  at  any  time  after  January  1,  1906,  the  International  Typographical 
Union  desires  the  financial  support  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  and 
if  after  investigation  by  the  executive  council  such  financial  support  is  found 
necessary  in  order  to  insure  victory  to  the  printers,  the  executive  council  shall 
levy  the  constitutional  assessment  on  affiliated  bodies,  this  assessment  to  con- 
tinue for  such  length  of  time  as  in  the  judgment  of  the  executive  council  may 
be  necessary." 

Knowing  that  the  funds  on  hand  would  not  suffice  to  finance  the  eight- 
hour  movement  until  such  time  as  the  referendum  could  act  on  an  assessment 
proposition,  the  executive  council  determined  to  appeal  to  the  American  Fed- 
eration of  Labor  to  accord  the  financial  aid  promised  by  the  San  Francisco 
convention  prior  to  the  date  set  in  the  foregoing  quotation.  The  following 
correspondence  explains   further: 

"Indianapolis,   Ind.,    October   19,    1905. 
"Mr.   Samuel  Gompers,  President  American  Federation  of  Labor,   Washington, 

D.  C. 

"Dear  Mr.  Gompers:  We  desire  at  this  time  to  draw  to  your  attention 
the  action  taken  by  the  San  Francisco  convention  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor,  relative  to  the  movement  for  the  eight-hour  day  by  the  book  ana 
job  printers  of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  The  federation  adopted  the 
following   provisions: 

866 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

"  'First.  That  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  approve  and  endorse 
the  movement  under  way  by  the  International  Typographical  Union  for  an 
eight-hour  day  for  the  book  and  job  printers  of  the  United  State*  and  Canada, 
and  pledge  to  the  support  of  this  movement  both  moral  and  financial  assist- 
ance. 

"  'Second.  That  if  at  any  time  after  January  I,  1906,  the  International 
Typographical  Union  desires  the  financial  support  of  the  American  Federa- 
tion of  Labor,  and  if  after  investigation  by  the  executive  council  rach  finan- 
cial support  is  found  necessary  in  order  to  insure  victory  to  tbe  printers, 
the  executive  council  shall  levy  the  constitutional  assessment  on  affiliated 
bodies,  this  assessment  to  continue  for  such  length  of  time  as  in  tbe  judgment 
of  the  executive  council  may  be  necessary. 

"  'Third.  Your  committee  recommends  that  a  committee  of  fire  members 
be  appointed  to  act  with  the  executive  council  in  furthering  the  eight-hour  day 
for  the  book  and  job  printers.' 

"You  are  somewhat  familiar  with  the  campaign  the  Interantional  Typo- 
graphical Union  has  conducted  thus  far,  and  we  will,  therefore,  be  as  brief 
as  possible  in  covering  recent  events  leading  to  the  general  strike  that  we 
now  have  on. 

"At  our  Toronto  convention,  held  in  August,  and  before  which  yon  ap- 
peared at  our  invitation  in  advocacy  of  the  eight-hour  movement,  there  was 
present  a  committee  representing  the  United  Typotheta  of  America.  This 
committee  met  the  convention  eight-hour  committee,  and,  notwithstanding  that 
effort  was  made  to  reach  an  agreement  by  our  committee,  the  typothet*  abso- 
lutely refused  to  concede  anything.  Later  the  president  of  the  United  Typoth- 
etae  appeared  before  our  convention  and,  in  effect,  reiterated  tbe  position 
taken  by  the  committee  representing  his  association. 

"A  few  days  prior  to  our  convention  the  Detroit  Typothet«  precipitated  an 
eight-hour  conflict  by  employing  non-union  men,  and  a  general  strike  occurred 
in  the  typothet*  offices  in  that  city. 

"Immediately  following  our  convention  the  Chicago  Typothetat  precip- 
itated the  conflict  in  that  city.  In  San  Antonio,  Texas,  the  same  tactics  were 
followed.  Notwithstanding  these  hostile  measures  on  tbe  part  of  tbe  e*»- 
ployers,  our  executive  council  decided  to  make  one  more  effort  to  secure  • 
settlement,  and,  accordingly,  the  president  and  vice-president  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  attended  the  convention  of  the  United  Typothet* 
of  America,  held  in  Niagara  Falls  early  in  September.  We  enclose  herewith 
circular  containing  facsimile  of  letter  handed  to  our  International  representa- 
tives by  the  chairman  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  United  Typothet*  of 
America,  and   setting   forth   the  action  taken   by  the   Niagara   Falls   convention. 

"Realizing  that  if  the  eight-hour  movement  was  to  be  preserved  and  Ike 
eight-hour  day  made  effective  in  our  branch  of  the  printing  trade,  immediate 
action  was  necessary,  and,  further,  for  the  protection  of  our  unions  m  De» 
troit,  San  Antonio  and  Chicago,  the  executive  council  on  September  t,  9.  and 
tli<  m  after,  ordered  the  eight-hour  demand  to  be  made  in  jurisdictions  wkere 
contracts  did  not  prevent,  and,  where  reftual  was  met  with,  work  to 
You   were  notified   of   this  policy  by   wire  on   September    11 

"Since  the  general  strike  was  ordered  we  have  secured  right  hour 
in    many    cities,    and    we    also    have    eight  hour    iontra<t.    »•'»    rtruss    in 
in  which   strikes  arc  now  on.      Since  the  inception  of   the  difficulty  we 
had   and   now   have   out    upwards   of   3.000    men.   and    this  has  keen   a 
drain  on  tlir  nstOvrOM  of  the  International  Typographical  Union, 

"While,  for  more  than  a  year,  we  have  keen  collecting  an 
which  to  finance  tlir  right  limit  tight,  vet.  in  view  of  Ike 
of  tlir  typOnMtn  t»  rr«mt  the  enforcement  of  the  right  hour  any  in  nit  ettnw 
whrrr  the  typodwtn  in  organised,  and  the  consequent  sneonrnsnonnt  and  In- 
ducement  to   resist    to   employers   in  other   cities,   we  have  keen  akle 


807 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

on  but   a  small    portion   of  this  assessment,   as   our  unions   require   it   for   their 
local  use. 

"We  are  now  appealing  to  our  membership,  and  we  are  proposing  an  as- 
sessment of  50  cents  per  member  per  week.  We  have  no  doubt  but  that  this 
assessment  will   be   voted  by   the   membership. 

"We,  of  course,  need  money,  and  we  need  it  badly,  and  assistance  from 
the  federation,  to  be  effective,  must  come  now.  While  the  San  Francisco 
convention  provided  that  'If  at  any  time  after  January  1,  1906,'  we  desired 
financial  support,  the  subject  would  be  taken  up  by  the  executive  council  of 
the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  yet  the  action  of  the  United  Typothetae 
of  America  in  precipitating  the  contest  prior  to  January  1  makes  action  by 
the  federation  necessary  at  this  time;  and  our  request,  therefore,  is  not  in 
violation  of  the  spirit  and  intent  of  the  action  of  the  San  Francisco  con- 
vention. 

"We  have  spent  many  thousands  of  dollars  in  this  struggle,  and  we  are 
preparing  to  spend  additional  thousands.  We  are  not  seeking  aid  from  other 
unions  without  also  ourselves  furnishing  the  major  portion  of  the  money 
that  is  necessary  to  finance  the  contest.  We  are  met  with  the  opposition  of 
the  manufacturers'  associations  and  citizens'  alliances,  and  we  are  convinced 
that  these  associations  are  supplying  the  main  portion  of  the  money  with 
which  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  is  opposing  our  eight-hour   demand. 

"We  believe,  therefore,  taking  into  consideration  the  facts  recited  here- 
tofore, that  we  are  entirely  within  both  the  law  and  good  ethics  in  requesting 
financial  support  from  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  at  this  time. 

"Asking  that  you  bring  this  matter  to  the  attention  of  the  executive  coun- 
cil at  once,  and  that  you  also  appoint  the  committee  provided  for  in  the 
third  proposition  adopted  by  the  last  American  Federation  of  Labor  conven- 
tion, we  beg  to  remain,  Fraternally, 

"James  M.  Lynch, 
"Hugo  Miller, 
"J.  W.   Bramwood, 
"Executive  Council  International  Typographical  Union." 

To  the  above  the   following  reply  was   received: 

[Telegram] 

"Washington,  D.  C,  October  21,  1905. 
"James  M.  Lynch,  Newton  Clay  pool  Building,  Indianapolis,  Ind 

"Letter  and  telegram  received.  Is  it  not  possible  for  you  to  come  to 
Washington  for  conference?  It  is  of  utmost  importance.  Were  it  possible  I 
would  not  hesitate  a  moment  to  come  to  Indianapolis.     Please  wire  answer. 

"Samuel   Gompers." 

[Telegram]  ,(/-       , 

"October   at,    1905. 

"Samuel  Gompers,  423-425  G  Street,  N.   W.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

"Will  leave  Monday  afternoon  for  Washington.  Must  be  here  Monday 
to  keep   in   touch   with   Philadelphia.     Answer   if   satisfactory. 

"James  M.   Lynch." 
[Telegram] 

"Washington,  D.  C.,  October  22,   1905. 
"James  M.  Lynch,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

"Just  received  your  telegram.  That  time  will  do.  In  fact  any  time  con- 
forming to  your  early  convenience  will  be  agreeable.  My  only  purpose  is  to 
be  helpful.     Wire   in   advance.  Samuel   Gompers." 

[Telegram]  ,._      , 

"October  24,   1905. 

"Samuel  Gompers,  423-425  G  Street,  N.  W.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

"Leave  here  this  afternoon.    Will  arrive  tomorrow  afternoon   1  o'clock  via 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

Pennsylvania    and    go    direct    to    federation    headquarters.      Want    to    leave    7 
o'clock  tomorrow  evening  for  Indianapolis.  James  M.   Lynch." 

THE  WASHINGTON    CONFERENCE 

Conference  was  had  in  Washington  with  President  Oompcrs  and  Secretary 
'  Morrison,  and  these  gentlemen  said  a  proposition  would  at  once  be  placed  be- 
fore the  American  Federation  of  Labor  executive  council  for  an  assessment, 
the  proceeds  to  be  used  to  aid  the  International  Typographical  Union  in 
establishing  the  eight-hour  day.  Some  anxiety  was  experienced  by  your  of- 
ficers, caused  by  the  unavoidable  delay  in  gathering  the  votes  of  the  Federa- 
tion officials,  and  the  appended  telegrams  explain: 

[Telegram]  .,_,  . 

November  2,  1905. 

"Fran,k  Morrison,  Secretary  American  Federation  of  Labor,  4*3-4*$  G  Street, 
N.  W„  Washington,  D.  C. 

"Waiting  to  hear  result  of  council's  action.  Most  important  that  propo- 
sition shall  be  endorsed  so  we  can  proceed  this  week. 

"James  M.   Lynch." 
[Telegram] 

"Washington,  D.  C,  November  a,  190$. 
"James  M.  Lynch,  Newton  Claypool  Building,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

"Secretary  Morrison  showed  me  your  telegram  to  him;  replying  would 
say  in  all  likelihood  I  shall  be  in  position  to  give .  you  definite  answer  to- 
morrow. "GoMrsas." 

[Telegram] 

"Washington,  D.  C,  November  3,  1905. 
"James  M.  Lynch,  Newton  Claypool  Building,  Indianapolis. 

"Application  for  financial  assistance  in  support  of  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  eight-hour  strike  approved  by  executive  council.  An  ■ascsi- 
mcnt  of  1   cent  per  member  for  four  weeks  has  been  levied. 

"Samuel  Commas." 

The  assessment  circular  issued  by  the  president  and  secretary  of  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  is  also  reproduced: 

"Washington,  D.  C,  November  j,  iooS- 
"To  all  National  and  International  Unions  Affiliated  to  the  American  Federation 

of  Labor. 

"Dear  Sirs  and  Brothers:  The  International  Typographical  Union  has 
been  compelled  to  make  its  fight  for  the  establishment  of  the  eight-boor  day 
fully  four  months  in  advance  of  the  time  contemplated.  'I  hi.  «u  doe  to  the 
plan  of  the  employing  printers'  association,  which  undertook  to 
upon  several  local  unions,  hoping  to  defeat  the  International 
Union  by  these  tactics.  A  large  number  of  establishment*  have  already 
the  eight-hour  day,  but  there  are  thousands  of  printer*  still  on  strike,  and  M 
msy  be  necessary  for  them  to  continue  «<>  for  a  considerable  period  of  tisse. 
An  assessment  hss  been  levied  upon  it*  membership  by  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  and  another  in  addition  has  ju*t  bean  enforced.  Tka  strika 
involves  an  immense  expenditure  of  money,  because  of  tka  coatinaal  wids  atw> 
test  and  the  large  number  involved 

"At  the  San  Francisco  convention  the  American  Federation  of  Lake*. 
true  to  its  policy,  pledged  full  sympathy  and  assistance,  kotk  saoral  and  fkaaa- 
clal,  to  the  International  Typographical  Union  in  its  effort  to  en  fore*  tftt 
eight-hour  workday.     The  executive  council,  conaciotts  of  the 

run, 1    ,,f    tlir    turn    of    our    movrmrnt.    ha*    derided    to    Carry    In 

pressed,  as  well   a*  the   unexpressed,  wish  of  oar  fallow  nnlonssts,  to  render 
(he    International   Typographical  Union  every  support   within  Ma  power. 


tfg 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

"Therefore,  the  executive  council,  in  compliance  with  article  x  of  the 
constitution  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  has  decided  and  hereby 
notifies  you  that  it  has  levied  an  assessment  upon  all  affiliated  organizations 
of  i  cent  per  member  for  four  consecutive  weeks,  or  in  all  4  cents  per  member. 

'The  International  Typographical  Union  is  doing  its  full  share,  not  only 
in  making  the  contest  for  the  eight-hour  day,  but  in  the  assessment  of  its 
members,  so  that  success  may  come  to  them  in  the  movement.  Its  officers 
feel,  however,  that  the  members  of  the  trade  union  movement  desire  and 
intend  something  more  than  mere  expressions  of  sympathy,  and  have  there- 
fore applied  to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  for  such  financial  assist- 
ance, which  we  all  propose  to   render  as  already  stated  herein. 

"It  is  urged  that  all  organizations  which  are  in  a  position  to  do  so  will 
forward  at  once  the  assessment  levied.  Those  which  may  not  be  in  so  for- 
tunate a  position  will  do  so  at  the  earliest  possible  moment.  If  it  be  incon- 
venient to  transmit  the  assessment  at  once,  it  might  be  found  convenient  to 
send  it  in  two  installments,  one  following  as  closely  as  possible  upon  the 
other. 

"It  might  not  be  amiss  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  3-cent  assess- 
ment levied  by  the  San  Francisco  convention  secured  for  the  textile  workers 
of  Fall  River  not  only  an  honorable  adjustment  of  their  last  strike,  but  an 
increase  of  9  per  cent  in  their  wages  just  now,  and  we  feel  that  as  prompt 
compliance  as  possible  in  the  payment  of  this  present  assessment  levied  will 
materially  help  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  victoriously  enforce 
the  eight-hour  day. 

"Forward  all  payments  to  Secretary  Frank  Morrison,  423-425  G  Street, 
N.  W.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

"With   fraternal   greetings, 

"By  order  of  the  executive  council  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor, 
"Attest:  Samuel  Gompers,  President. 

"Frank  Morrison,  Secretary." 

"article  x 

"Section  I.  The  executive  council  shall  have  power  to  declare  a  levy  of 
1  cent  per  member  per  week  on  all  affiliated  unions  for  a  period  not  exceed- 
ing ten  weeks  in  any  one  year,  to  assist  in  the  support  of  an  affiliated  organ- 
ization   engaged   in    a   protracted    strike    or   lockout. 

"Sec.  2.  Any  union,  international,  national,  or  local,  failing  to  pay  within 
sixty  days  the  levies  declared  in  accordance  with  section  1 '  shall  be  deprived 
of  representation  in  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  and  in 
city  central   bodies  affiliated  with  the   American   Federation  of  Labor." 

On  the  strength  of  the  receipts  that  were  assured  by  the  American  Fed- 
eration of  Labor  assessment,  and  also  acting  on  the  belief  that  the  50-cent 
assessment  proposition,  then  before  the  referendum,  would  be  endorsed  by 
the  membership,  the  president  and  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  on  a  note  signed  by  these  officials  as  such,  borrowed  $20,000 
from  the  Fletcher  National  Bank,  of  Indianapolis.  This  money,  together  with 
the  amount  in  the  treasury,  assured  the  proper  financing  of  the  eight-hour 
contest  until  othe.-  resources  were  available.  The  committee  desires  to  say 
here  that  the  aid  guaranteed  by  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  was  of 
great  assistance,  and  the  money  was  forthcoming  at  a  time  when  it  accom- 
plished the  greatest  amount  of  good.  At  no  time  since  has  there  been  occa- 
sion for  anxiety  as  to  the  financial  outlook. 

conference  of  presidents 
On    Sunday,   November    12,   a   meeting   of   presidents   and   other    representa- 
tives of  unions  on  strike  was  held  at  International  headquarters.     Those   pres- 


87O 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

ent  were:  W.  C.  Hewitt,  Springfield,  Ohio;  C.  \V.  Dickson,  Detroit.  Mich.; 
W.  B.  Wilson,  Grand  Kapids,  Mich.;  K.  S.  Fisher,  Omaha,  Neb.;  A.  D.  Cal- 
vert, Philadelphia,  Pa.;  James  J.  Hoban,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  William  D.  Wil- 
liams, New  Haven,  Conn.;  Wade  P.  Harding,  Atlanta,  Ga.;  M.  R.  Pace. 
Richmond,  Va. ;  P.  N.  Gould,  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  T.  F.  Thomas,  St.  Pnl, 
Minn.;  C.  K.  Kinskey,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  Joseph  A.  Jackson.  St.  Louts,  Mo.; 
Bert  H.  Bates,  Rochester,  N.  Y.;  E.  H.  Ashton,  Newark.  N.  J.;  E.  M.  Stew- 
art, Toledo,  Ohio;  James  Taylor,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  Edgar  A.  Perkins  and  E. 
P.  Barry,  Indianapolis,  Ind.;  E.  R.  Wright,  Chicago,  HI.;  B.  E.  Barnham. 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.;  James  M.  Lynch,  Hugo  Miller  and  J.  W.  Bramwood,  coos- 
prising    the    executive    council. 

The  gathering  was  for  the  purpose  of  an  interchange  of  ideas,  and  it  de- 
veloped into  a  sort  of  "experience"  meeting.  Great  good  was 
through  a  comparison  of  methods  in  the  conduct  of  the  fight. 
International  officers  were  to  the  situation  in  the  various  towns,  the  state- 
ments of  the  representatives  at  the  meeting  were  a  pleasing  revelation  to  them 
Not  one  discordant  note  was  struck  in  the  course  of  the  meeting,  which  lasted 
for  eight  hours.  As  one  after  another  arose  and  described  the  condition*  is 
his  locality,  the  conviction  grew  that  there  could  be  no  such  word  as  "fail." 
Every  union  represented  had  the  local  situation  well  in  hand. 

The  International  officers  offered  suggestions  as  to  the  conduct  of  the 
struggle  in  various  jurisdictions,  submitted  statistics  relative  to  the  iiuaaber 
on  strike,  benefits  thus  far  paid,  etc.,  and  announced  that  the  American  Fed- 
eration of  Labor  had  levied  an  assessment  for  the  typographical  union  that 
would  net  $60,000.  They  also  informed  the  meeting  that  the  passage  of  the 
50-cent  assessment  proposition  would  assure  a  steady  income  for  the  payment 
of  strike   expenses. 

THE    EICHT-HOUS    ASSESSMENTS 

Acting  in  accordance  with  our  laws,  the  executive  council  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  on  October  17,  submitted  to  the  referendum  the 
following   proposition: 

"Shall  an  assessment  of  fifty  (50)  cents  per  week  per  memhrr.  pajrwbw) 
each  week,  be  levied  on  the  membership  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  for  the  purpose  of  financing  the  eight-hour  contest  until  its  termination, 
under  the   following  terms  and  conditions: 

"Said  assessment  shall  not  apply  to  unions  engaged  in  strike  during  the 
progress  of  the  strike,  in  case  such  unions  arc  collecting  a  local  assessment, 
for  strike  purposes,  equal  to  50  cents  per  week  per  member. 

"When  a  strike  is  settled  or   the  local  asses«mrnt   discontinued  or 
to  less  than   50  cents  per   week   per   member,   the    Interna! 
above  specified,  shall  immediately  apply  to  the   memt>cr«  ..f   ssjol 

"The   assessment   shall    take   effect    with    the    week    »ir«m,.iri«    Monday.    No- 
vember 6,    190$,  and   shall  continue   in   the   discretion   of   the   e%r 
of  the  International  Typographical   Union,  it   being  understood  that  the 
ment   shall   be   promptly   discontinued    when   conditions   warrant    swell   a 

"It    shall    be    the   duty    of    local    official  >.s«aaaBent    si 

•fid    of   each    week    and    transmit    the    tame,    without    delsr.    t..    list 
treasurer  of  the  International  Typographies!  Union." 

1  irrulars   dealing   with    this   subject    were    mailed    to  all   ss*  sabers  of   1 
organization  whose  names  appear  on  the  Journal  maillnf  ■•**• 

The    proposition    was   adopted    by    the    overwhelming    vole   of    St.***   (W 
6.333  against.      If  anything  were  needed  to  ahow  the  •arnsstufaa  as> 
nation    of   our    memher*   to    fight   the   shorter   workday   baiite   to  a 
trim, nation,    the    result    oi    tWi    vote    demonstrated    It.      Twtfw 
doul.t   ■bout   the  outcome  of  thr  voir— it  was  simply  a  aula*.—  wf  now  large 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  majority  in  its   favor   would  be.    The  assessment  took  effect  with   the  week 
beginning   Monday,   November   6. 

THE    TEN    PER    CENT    PROPOSITION 

As  January  i,  1906,  approached  it  became  more  and  more  apparent  that 
the  opposing  employers,  under  the  leadership  of  the  officers  of  the  United 
Typothetae  of  America,  intended  to  test  to  the  limit  the  resources  and  fight- 
ing capacity  of  the  International  Typographical  Union.  Accordingly,  our 
executive  council  prepared  for  the  battle.  It  was  seen  that  the  money  accru- 
ing from  the  50-cent  assessment  would  not  be  sufficient  to  finance  a  contest 
of  the  magnitude  that  was  promised  on  the  first  of  the  year,  and  it  deter- 
mined to  submit  to  referendum  vote  a  proposition  for  a  10  per  cent  assess- 
ment on  the  earnings  of  the  entire  membership.     The  proposition  follows: 

"Shall  an  assessment  of  ten  (10)  per  cent  of  the  earnings  of  all  mem- 
bers, payable  each  week,  be  levied  on  the  membership  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  for  the  purpose  of  financing  the  eight-hour  contest  until 
its  termination,  under  the  following  terms  and   conditions: 

"Said  assessment  shall  apply  to  all  unions;  Provided,  That  the  executive 
council  shall  have  power  to  permit  local  unions  in  jurisdictions  where  strikes 
are  in  progress  to  retain  the  amount  of  the  assessment  or  any  portion  thereof 
and  expend  the  same  for  strike  purposes,  when,  in  the  judgment  of  the  coun- 
cil, such  action  is  necessary. 

"The  assessment  shall  take  effect  with  the  week  beginning  Monday,  Jan- 
uary 1,  1906,  and  shall  continue  in  the  discretion  of  the  executive  council  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union,  it  being  understood  that  the  assess- 
ment shall  be  promptly  discontinued  when  conditions  warrant  such  a  course. 

"It  shall  be  the  duty  of  local  officials  to  collect  this  assessment  at  the 
end  of  each  week  and  transmit  the  same,  without  delay,  to  the  secretary- 
treasurer  of  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

"In  case  the  foregoing  is  adopted,  the  assessment  of  50  cents  per  member 
per  week  shall  be  discontinued  with  the  week  ending  Saturday,  December  30, 
1905." 

The  proposition  was  endorsed  by  the  referendum  by  a  vote  of  25,046  for  to 
6,945  against.     The  total  vote  was  31, 991. 

METHODS    OF    THE    EMPLOYERS 

Every  scheme  that  has  been  developed  in  industrial  warfare  by  employers 
was  resorted  to  by  the  eight-hour  opponents  in  the  effort  to  defeat  our  unions 
in  the  shorter-workday  campaign.  As  in  other  strikes,  the  injunction  was  the 
favorite  weapon.  Affidavits  were  easily  obtained  from  non-union  printers,  and, 
armed  with  these  instruments,  the  employers'  attorneys  resorted  to  the  courts, 
and  in  all  but  a  few  instances  succeeded  in  securing  temporary  restraining  or- 
ders that  were  afterward  made  permanent.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  all 
kinds  of  crime  and  contemplated  crime  was  charged  against  our  members  on 
strike,  yet  there  has  been  but  one  single  conviction  for  violation  of 'the  law. 
The  only  object  in  securing  the  injunctions  has  been  to  terrorize  our  members 
with  threats  of  the  application  of  the  law  under  allegation  of  violation  of 
injunction  writs.  But  public  sentiment  has  been  against  the  injunction  mill 
in  our  struggle,  and  the  employers  have  not  dared  to  put  their  cases  to  the 
test  of  trial.  Only  in  Chicago  was  a  conviction  secured,  and  the  proceed- 
ings in  that  injunction  case  excited  so  much  indignation  that  the  employers 
were  glad  to  rid  themselves  of  the  opprobrium  heaped  upon  them  by  failing 
to  press  the  alleged  victory  that  was  secured  and  insist  on  the  officers  of  No. 
16  serving  their  sentences  in  jail.  The  injunctions  have  had  the  contrary 
effect  to  that  expected.     In  almost  every  instance  they  have  nerved  our  mem- 


872 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

bers   to    renewed   effort,    and   they    have    demonstrated   the   desperate   plight   in 
which  the  employers  have  found  themselves. 

FAILED   TO   STARVE   US 

At  the  Niagara  Falls  convention  of  the  United  Typotheue  it  was  the  uni- 
versal belief  of  the  assembled  delegates  that  the  members  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  could  be  starved  into  submission.  It  was  not  thought 
for  a  moment  that  money  could  be  secured  by  us  with  which  to  finance  a 
general  strike.  The  strike  was  expected  to  last  for  not  more  than  six  weeks. 
In  fact,  typothetae  bulletins  issued  subsequent  to  the  strike  endeavored  to  as- 
sure typothetz  members  that  the  rank  and  file  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  would  not  for  many  weeks  consent  to  the  payment  of  assessments. 
This  was  especially  true  after  the  passage  of  the  50-ccnt  assessment,  but 
when  the  10  per  cent  assessment  was  endorsed  by  an  overwhelming  majority 
the  hope  on  the  part  of  the  employers  that  money  would  not  be  forthcoming 
was  abandoned.  Our  members  have  not  been  starved.  There  has  not  been 
a  case  of  destitution  reported  to  the  International  officers,  nor,  so  far  as  we 
are  aware,  to  the  local  officers.  Every  call  for  funds  that  was  well  founded 
has,  after  investigation,  been  met.  In  short,  neither  the  injunction  nor 
starvation  have  had  the  hoped-for  disastrous  effect  in  this  eight-hour  strike. 

THE   EXECUTIVE  COUNCIL'S  WORK 

The  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  has  met 
daily  since  the  first  of  the  year.  All  applications  for  special  monetary  as- 
sistance, and  the  situation  in  the  various  jurisdictions  where  strikes  arc  on, 
were  carefully  considered,  and  such  action  taken  as  the  council  deemed  nec- 
essary. It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  council  to  conserve  the  funds  of  the  In- 
ternational Typographical  Union,  but  at  no  time  has  the  council  been  nig- 
gardly in  acting  on  requests  from  local  unions  for  monetary  or  other  aid. 
The  effort  has  been  to  properly  finance  each  strike.  The)  council  has  also  given 
continued  consideration  to  the  general  situation,  and  has  tried  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  every  opportunity  that  promised  betterment.  The  eight-hour  cosa- 
mittee  has  issued  circulars  from  time  to  time  and  has  endeavored  in  every 
way,  through  these  circulars  and  through  the  Typographical  Journal,  to  keep 
the  membership  thoroughly  informed  as  to  the  events  in  the  strike.  In  short. 
the  business  of  each  local  union,  and  of  the  International  union,  as  concerned 
the  strike  and  otherwise,  has  been  given  careful  attention  by  your  officers. 

THE  EIGHT-HOUR   CIRCULARS 

The  eight-hour  battle  opened  slmost  without  warning  to  the  mrmberskia. 
After  it  was  on  it  was  necessary  to  get  to  the  members  promptly  information  la 
relation  to  the  conflict.  This  wss  accomplished  through  the  medium  of  the 
Typographies!  Journal  and  eight-hour  circulars. 

Circular  No.   15  contained  list  of  eight-hour  unions.   No.   16  the 
No.    17  the  report  of  the  eight-hour  committee  at  the   Toronto  conn 

The  first  circular  issued  sftrr  the  battle  opened  was  No.  it,  00 
Mi  1905,  and  gave  a  resume1  of  the  proceedings  <•(  the  typothctw 
these  proceedings  affected  our  Interests,  together  with  a  facsimile  of  the  salts r 
t>  "M<-!i«rs.  Lynch  and  Hays,  representing  the  eight  hour  cowMsw  wf  tfcw 
International  Typographical  Union,"  from  the  chairman  of  Ike 
tive  committrr.     'I'm  thousand  copies  of  this  circular  wci 

<  miliar  No.    19  was  Issued  on   September  is.   too  J.  «ad  gave  Ik*  rsaaha 

.1. -Iiirvrd    in    tlir    l.attle   up   to    that    dstr.      It   contained   tkc   sdlOnhio*    to   "Stand 
Mir  union   gad   virtnry  Is  absolutely  certain."     Five  llont—  d  coasts  of  tkkS 
circular   were   issued. 


BW 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Circular  No.  20  was  issued  on  September  18,  1905,  and  continued  the  data 
as  to  victories  secured.     Five  thousand  copies  of  this  circular  were  issued. 

Circular  No.  21  was  issued  on  September  20,  1905,  continuing  reports  of 
progress,  stating  that  "We  are  winning  because  our  members  are  loyal  and 
true."     Five   thousand  copies   of   this   circular   were   issued. 

Circular  No.  22  bears  date  of  September  23,  1905,  and  in  addition,  to  the 
continued  progress  reported  there  is  explanation  of  the  situation  in  each  strike 
jurisdiction.     Five  thousand  copies  of  this  circular  were   issued. 

Circular  No.  23  was  issued  on  September  30,  1905,  and  contained  list  of 
eight-hour  unions  and  unions  conducting  strikes.  Explanation  of  conditions 
in  strike  jurisdictions  was  also  given.  Five  thousand  copies  of  this  circular 
were  issued. 

Circular  No.  24,  October  4,  1905,  gave  report  of  continued  progress.  Five 
thousand   copies   of  this  circular  were   issued. 

Circular  No.  25,  October  7,  1905,  explained  the  abandonment  by  the  ty- 
pothetae  of  open  opposition  to  the  eight-hour  day  and  the  substitution  of  the 
cry  for  the  "open  shop."  Conditions  where  strikes  were  on  were  also  given 
in   this   circular.      Five   thousand   copies   of   this   circular   were   issued. 

Circular  No.  26,  October  12,  1905,  warned  our  members  of  the  typothetae 
injunction  tactics.     Ten  thousand  copies  of  this  circular  were  issued. 

Circular  No.  27,  October  14,  1905,  had  the  following:  "The  associated  em- 
ployers abandoned  opposition  to  the  eight-hour  day  and  raised  the  cry,  'Open 
shop,'  hoping  that  would  lead  them  to  the  promised  land  of  low  wages,  long 
hours  and  huge  profits.  Now  the  'open  shop'  has  forsaken  its  progenitors,  and 
in  hysterical  desperation  they  turn  to  the  courts.  Injunctions  are  the  re- 
maining and  only  hope  of  the  opposition,  and  we  will  beat  them  on  that  issue 
also.  Stand  firm,  no  matter  from  which  avenue  comes  the  attack."  The  cir- 
cular contained  list  of  eight-hour  unions,  list  of  strike  jurisdictions  and  further 
explanation  of  conditions  in  these  jurisdictions.  Five  thousand  copies  of  this 
circular  were  issued. 

Circular  No.  28,  October  21,  1905,  was  devoted  mainly  to  the  conditions  in 
strike  centers.      Six  thousand   copies   of  this   circular   were   issued. 

Circular  No.  29,  October  25,  1905:  "The  injunction  mills  continue  to 
grind,  and  our  courts  of  justice  are  now  the  tail  of  the  employers'  kite.  But 
our  members  are  not  going  back  to  the  nine-hour  composing  rooms.  That's 
what  counts."  Also  contained  reports  of  progress  in  various  centers.  Six 
thousand   copies    of   this   circular   were    issued. 

Circular  No.  30,  October  28,  1905,  predicted  the  passage  of  the  fifty-cent 
assessment  and  gave  the  speech  of  the  president  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor  before  our  Toronto  convention.  This  circular  also  contained  a  list 
of  eight-hour  unions  and  strike  jurisdictions.  Six  thousand  copies  of  this  cir- 
cular   were   issued. 

Circular  No.  31,  November  1,  1905:  "Notwithstanding,  on  two  different 
occasions,  we  have  exposed  the  falsehood  and  misrepresentation  that  go  to  make 
up  the  bulletins  issued  from  the  New  York  headquarters  of  the  United  Ty- 
pothetae, the  deception  continues."  Examples  of  this  deception  were  given. 
Ten  thousand   copies   of   this   circular   were   issued. 

Circular  No.  32,  November  4,  1905,  devoted  to  conditions  in  strike  juris- 
dictions.     Ten   thousand   copies   of   this   circular   were    issued. 

Circular  No.  33,  November  15,  1905,  list  of  eight-hour  unions  and  strike 
jurisdictions  and  extract  from  the  report  of  the  president  of  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor  to  the  Pittsburgh  convention  of  the  federation.  Vote  on 
the  50-cent  assessment  was  also  announced — 25,948  for,  6,334  against.  Ten 
thousand   copies  of  this   circular  were  issued. 

Circular  No.  34,  November  25,  1905,  result  of  label  campaign.  Also  con- 
tained the  report  of  the  committee  on  president's  report  to  the  Pittsburgh  con- 


874 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

vention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor.  Ten  thousand  copies  of  this 
circular   were    issued. 

Circular  No.  35,°  December  14,  1905,  analyzes  typothetc  statements  and 
shows  their  absurdity.  This  circular  set  forth  at  some  length  condition*  in 
various  strike  jurisdictions.  The  circular  contained  fourteen  pages,  includ- 
ing list  of  eight-hour  unions  and  strike  jurisdictions.  Thirty  thousand  copies 
of  this  circular  were   issued. 

Circular  No.  36,  December  20,  1905,  contained  facsimile  of  circular  letters 
issued  by  the  National  Manufacturers'  Association  in  support  of  the  United 
Typothetac  It  also  exposed  a  scheme  on  the  part  of  the  employers  which  was 
floated  through  the  medium  of  a  letter  presumed  to  come  from  a  member  of 
one  of  our  unions  affected  by  the  strike.  Ten  thousand  copies  of  this  circular 
were  issued. 

Circular  No.  37,  December  30,  1905,  predicted  the  passage  of  the  ten  per 
cent  assessment,  gave  a  list  of  the  eight-hour  unions  and  strike  jurisdictions  and 
gave  verbatim  endorsements  from  various  sources  for  our  eight-hour  cam- 
paign. Typothetx  misrepresentation  was  further  exposed.  Ten  thousand  copies 
of  this  circular  were  issued. 

TYPOTHETAE    ATTACKS     NEWSPAPEIS 

Circular  No.  38,  January  8,  1906,  gave  a  review  of  the  general  situation, 
exposed  the  typothetse  misrepresentation  and  contained  an  attack  by  the  United 
Typothetse  on  newspapers  supposed  to  be  friendly  to  our  eight-hour  struggle. 
There  was  also  given  a  list  of  eight-hour  unions,  strike  jurisdictions,  together 
with  an  editorial  from  the  Chicago  American,  Sunday,  December  31.  Ten 
thousand  copies  of  this  circular  were  issued. 

Circular  No.  39,  January  15,  1906,  reproduced  circular  issued  by  the  presi- 
dent of  the  National  Manufacturers'  Association,  and  also  gave  conditions  in 
various  strike  jurisdictions,  together  with  list  of  eight-hour  unions  and  strike 
centers.     Ten  thousand  copies  of  this  circular  were  issued. 

Circular  No.  40,  January  24,  1906,  general  situation,  conditions  in  strike 
centers  and  an  answer  by  the  president  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  to  a  statement  appearing  in  the  Boston  Post  and  emanating  from  the 
president  of  the  United  Typothetse  of  America.  Also  list  of  eight-hour  unions 
and  strike  jurisdictions.     Ten  thousand  copies  of  this  circular  were  issued. 

Circular  No.  41,  February  2,  1906,  information  as  to  Chicago  injunction 
proceedings,  half  page  reproduced  from  the  Chicago  Sunday  American.  Jan- 
uary 28,  list  of  eight-hour  unions  and  strike  jurisdictions.  Ten  thousand  copioa 
of  this  circular  were  iasued. 

Circular  No.  42,  March  8,  1906:  "Thirty-nine  thousand  members  In  taw 
eight-hour  division."  Excerpt  from  the  Los  Angeles  Examiner  M  to  is*> 
portnnt  victory  in  that  city  and  general  situation  and  conditions  la 
Information  as  to  the  ten  per  cent  assessment  and  ll«t  of  eight-hoar 
and  strike  jurisdictions.     Ten  thousand  copirs  of  this  circular 

tlar  No.  43,  April  14,  1006:     General  review  of  the  artoation.  especially 
in  New  York,  Detroit,  Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Pittsburgh  and  Akron.   Ten 
copies  of  this  circular  were  Issued. 

Circular  No.  44,  April  at,   1006,  news  of  the  San   1 
dttoM    in    Detroit,    Philadelphia.    Indianapolis    and    New    York 
frightens  them.     The  officer*  of   the   United  Trpothrtar  of 
a    special    bulletin   calling   attention    1  .    our    general    label   eaa 
unfair  employers  to  do  everything  possible  to  minimise  the  effect  of  lakes  agH- 
i.iti.'n."     Ten    thousand    DOptal   »f    t>>'«   .""ilsr    were  laauirl. 

alar  No.  45.  April  28.  1906:  Further  In  format  loo  an  to  lost  Fraawtarot 
eoisWllOBi  in  St.  LmIi  and  the  general  situation.  Ten  inoneann  caalu  of  tats 
circular  were  Issued. 


*9 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Circular  No.  46,  May  5,  1906:  Sixteen  pages,  exhaustive  review  of  con- 
ditions in  strike  jurisdictions.     Ten  thousand  copies  of  this  circular  were  issued. 

Circular  No.  47,  May  12,  1906:  Conditions  in  Duluth,  Sioux  Falls,  Chi- 
cago and  Winnipeg.  A  complete  report  of  the  deputy  minister  of  labor  for 
Canada  on  the  investigation  of  alleged  fraudulent  practices  in  England  to  in- 
duce printers  to  come  to  Canada.  Ten  thousand  copies  of  this  circular  were 
issued. 

Circular  No.  48,  May  26,  1906:  Conditions  in  Peoria,  Indianapolis,  Chi- 
cago and  Cumberland  (Md.)  and  International  Typographical  Union  unfair 
list.     Ten   thousand  copies   of  this   circular  were   issued. 

Circular  No.  49,  June  23,  1906:  Conditions  in  Leavenworth,  Davenport, 
Cincinnati  and  Wilmington  (Del.)  and  International  Typographical  Union  un- 
fair list.  This  circular  contained  reference  to  the  Buffalo  convention  of  the 
United  Typothetae  of  America  to  convene  on  July  16,  and  extract  from  the  con- 
vention call  issued  over  the  signature  of  the  president  of  the  United  Typothetae. 
Ten  thousand  copies  of  this  circular  were   issued. 

The  foregoing  includes  circulars  issued  up  to  the  time  of  the  report  of  the 
eight-hour  committee  going  to  the  delegates.  It  was  the  intention  to  issue 
additional   circulars   as  circumstances   warranted. 

WORK    OF    THE    ORGANIZERS. 

The  International  eight-hour  committee  feels  that  its  report  would  not 
be  complete  without  special  mention  of  the  work  performed  during  the  strug- 
gle by  the  organizers  for  the  International  Typographical  Union.  Many  of 
these  organizers  have  been  devoting  their  entire  time  to  eight-hour  supervision, 
together  with  the  adjustment  of  scale  contentions  and  other  difficulties.  The 
general  eight-hour  scheme  of  the  International  officers  included  proper  super- 
vision of  local  contests.  There  have  been  many  requests  for  the  services  of 
the  organizers,  and  these  requests  have  been  complied  with  in  nearly  every 
instance.  In  some  localities  members  of  local  unions  have  been  appointed  as 
representatives  of  the  International  Union,  so  that  there  would  be  direct  super- 
vision by  the  International  Union  through  a  paid  representative.  The  duty  de- 
volving on  these  members,  difficult  and  arduous  at  all  times,  has  been  cheer- 
fully performed,  and  ready  acquiescence  of  organizers  to  all  instructions  issued 
from  the  International  headquarters  has  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to 
the  success  that  we  have  achieved  in  our  campaign  for  the  shorter  workday. 
It  is  true  that  the  International  has  paid  its  representatives  for  services  ren- 
dered, but  the  value  of  these  services  to  the  organization  and  the  eight-hour 
cause  can  not  be  measured  in  dollars  and  cents.  Loyalty,  intelligence  and  in- 
dustry have  a  higher  standard  of  measurement.  A  perusal  of  the  reports  of 
the  organizers  is  recommended  to  those  who  desire  intimate  acquaintance  with 
the  details  of  our  shorter  workday  movement. 

WORK   AT    HEADQUARTERS 

The  shorter  workday  campaign  more  than  trebled  the  routine  work  at 
headquarters,  and  in  order  to  promptly  and  properly  dispose  of  correspondence, 
bookkeeping,  correction  of  records,  issuance  of  circulars,  etc.,  it  was  necessary 
to  largely  increase  the  office  force.  The  added  work,  taken  in  connection  with 
the  increase  in  the  office  force,  also  required  additional  room.  For  a  time  in 
the  earlier  part  of  the  eight-hour  struggle,  our  offices  were  disconnected  and 
scattered.  We  have  now  succeeded  in  rearranging  this.  The  offices  are  well 
connected  and  commodious,  and  the  arrangement  of  office  rooms  and  working 
force  guarantee  the  proper  handling  of  the  tremendous  amount  of  work  that 
is  transacted  daily  at  the  International  headquarters.  Aside  from  this,  we  are 
now  in  a  position,  when  the  shorter-workday  campaign  is  ended,  to  undertake 
the  work  of  reconstruction  that  will  be  necessary.     Facilities  are  at  hand,  and, 

876 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

so  far  as  they  are  concerned,  the  International's  field  of  action  can  be  properly 
attended  to. 

FINANCING    THE    STRIKE 

The  manner  in  which  the  membership  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  has  financed  the  eight-hour  struggle  hat  been  at  once  the  wonder  and 
the  admiration  of  the  trade-union  world.  On  June  1  upward  of  one  million 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars  had  been  expended  in  the  effort  to  make  the 
eight-hour  day  general.  As  the  result  of  this  vast  expenditure,  about  forty 
thousand  members  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  are  safely  on  an 
eight-hour  basis.  The  council  has  acted,  however,  on  the  conviction  that  the 
fight  should  not  be  ended  until  the  shorter  workday  was  secured  for  all  of  the 
members  who  were  compelled  to  relinquish  their  situations.  It  must  not  be 
forgotten  that  the  men  on  strike  secured  the  eight-hour  day  for  those  who 
now  enjoy  it. 

LOYALTY  OF  THE    MEMBEBSII1P 

More  so,  we  believe,  than  in  any  other  industrial  struggle,  has  the  mem* 
bership  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  been  loyal  to  the  obligation 
to  the  organization.  Upward  of  twelve  thousand  members  have  at  one  time 
or  another  been  on  strike,  and  the  percentage  of  defection  has  been  very  small 
indeed.  We  made  the  great  progress  that  has  been  a  feature  of  our  eight- 
hour  movement  because  of  the  loyalty  of  the  general  membership. 

FINANCES 

Secretary-Treasurer  Bramwood's  report  contains  an  itemized  statement  of 
the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  executive  council  or  joint  defense  fund. 
From  this  fund  the  expenses  of  the  eight-hour  fight  have  been  defrayed.  By  ref- 
erence to  the  report  mentioned  it  will  be  found  that  the  International  Union 
received  a  total  of  $35,684.81  from  the  one-half  of  one  per  cent  assessment, 
$132,326  from  the  50-cent  assessment  and  $$81,641. 66  from  the  to  per  cent 
assessment.  The  American  Federation  of  Labor  levied  an  assessment  on  be- 
half of  the  International  Union  which  netted  $47,715.94.  The  executive  coun- 
cil transferred  $47,000  from  the  special  to  the  regular  defense  fund.  The 
major  portion  of  this  money,  together  with  the  receipts  of  the  defense  fund 
from  per  capita  tax  and  other  sources,  was  used  in  the  eight-hour  fight.  To 
get  the  cost  of  the  eight-hour  fight  up  to  May  31,  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year. 
the  expenditures  of  local  unions  must  be  added  to  those  from  the  International 
defense  fund.     A  summary  of  these  expenditures  is  as   follows: 

International    defense    fund    expenditures $*.i  5.201   So 

Ten  per  cent  assessment  retained  and  expended  by  local  unions..      651.791    7 J 
1  'in-  half   of   one    per   cent   assessment    retained    and    expended   by 

local   unions    06.645   }? 

Total it.M&m  •• 

The   expenditures    from    the   defrrne    fund,    a*    given   above,    include    J 
assistance    rendered    our   California    unions    which    suffered    through    the    earth- 
qoaln  disaster,  and  $7,200  used  by  I.os  Angeles  Union  in  it* 
Times.     The  above  summary  docs  not  include  local  union 

1    from  local  assessments  that   have  gone   Into   the  right-hoar   fight,   lor  the 

reason  that  the  HtptndkarM  from  such   funds  have  not  been   reported  to  lot 

Intr111.tl1.ma!     1'ui.ui.       It    it    estimated,     however,    thai    local    unions    have    «S> 

prnded  at  least  $200,000  of  their  own  money  In  the  furtherance  of  the  eight* 

bear   ■OTOtnent      If   tail   !«•   added   i»   «»c   i«>ul   given   above  the  coal  of  tho 

right-hour  fight  to  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  I*  Increased  to  ti.yoj.yao.io. 

In    connection    with    the    a«*i*tanre    rendered    California    union*    It    aso*    bo 

I  that  San  Francisco  Union  No.   »i  defrayed  alt  of  too  lapasjtM  of 

(fat    for  the  eight  hour  day  without  calling  upon  the   International  Union. 


*77 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

In  the  statement  of  the  executive  council,  given  in  the  secretary-treasurer's 
report,  appears  an  item  of  $12,137.61  representing  the  expenses  of  this  com- 
mittee.     This   sum   includes  the   following: 

Circulars    and    cards $2,494  85 

Buttons 1 98  74 

Clerical   and   stenographic    work 4.951  93 

Stamped    envelopes 2.733  7° 

Postage    stamps 959  90 

Traveling    expenses    of   committee 213  70 

Secret    work 31  50 

Expressage    53  29 

Interest    100  00 

Special    organization    work 400  00 

Total $12,137  61 

In  taking  into  account  the  expenditures  in  the  eight-hour  crusade,  it  must 
be  remembered  that  the  executive  council  disbursed  only  the  amount  appro- 
priated from  the  defense  fund   ($815,291.80),  and  local  unions  the  balance. 

A  detailed   statement   of  the   financial   features   of   the   eight-hour  contest   is 

given  under  the  head  of  "The   Executive   Council  or  Joint  Defense  Fund,"  in 

the   secretary-treasurer's   report.  _  ,  „         ... 

Respectfully  submitted, 

James.    M.    Lynch, 

John   W.   Hays, 

Hugo   Miller, 

J.  W.  Bramwood, 

International  Eight-Hour  Committee. 

Report  of  Convention's  Eight-Hour  Committee  —  The 
convention's  eight-hour  committee,  to  which  the  foregoing 
report  was  referred,  reported  that  it  had  carefully 
weighed  the  information  submitted  to  it  from  various 
sources  and  recommended  the  following: 

A.  That  the  time  for  enforcing  the  eight-hour  day  in  Montreal,  where 
the  contract  expires  in  October,  1906,  be  extended  to  June,  1907,  the  date 
when  the  Toronto  contract  expires,  the  committee  believing  that  the  conditions 
in  Montreal  warrant  such  a  course,  and  that  an  International  Typographical 
Union  organizer  be  assigned  to  Montreal  for  purpose  of  strengthening  that 
city,   particularly   the   English-speaking   union,   No.    176.' 

B.  Your  committee  further  recommends,  that  on  and  after  October  1, 
all  assessments  collected  under  authority  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  be  sent  to  that  body  intact,  the  purpose  being  to  give  the  executive  coun- 
cil full  control  of  all  strike  moneys  and  disbursing  the  same. 

C.  That  the  sum  allowed  members  on  the  strike  roll  be  not  in  excess  of 
$7  for  single  men  and  $10  for  married  men,  and  that  the  constitutional  benefit 
as  it  appears  on  the  books  at  present,  of  $5  and  $7,  be  adhered  to  as  closely 
as  possible,  localities  and  contingencies  arising,  in  the  judgment  of  the  execu- 
tive council,  being  the  sole   cause   for  an  increase  over   the   latter   amount. 

Where  unions  desire  to  increase  the  amounts  named  it  must  be  done  by 
still  further  increasing  the  local  dues,  or  assessments,  such  dues  or  assessments 
not  being  subject  to  the  control  of  the  executive  council,  but  wholly  under 
the   direction   of  the   local   body  collecting   the   same. 

D.  That  where   men   refuse  to  work  because  the  amount  earned   does  not 

878 


Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 

equal  the  strike  benefit,  that  they  be  cut  off  from  the  benefit  lilt  entirely,  it 
being  evident  that  the  disposition  thus  shown  is  not  in  accordance  with  the 
true  spirit  of  unionism  and  a  desire  to  advance  the  out-of-work  settlement. 

E.  Your  committee  has  carefully  considered  the  assessment  problem  in 
all  its  phases  presented.  It  believes  that  in  some  localities  money  i*  expended 
economically  and  equitably.  In  others,  without  due  regard  to  the  sacrifices 
made   by  the  membership   who  have   financed  this  strike. 

Your  committee  is  firmly  convinced  that  in  the  event  of  the  assessment 
being  forwarded  intact  to  the  executive  council  and  disbursed  under  its  direc- 
tion, as  above  recommended,  that  the  assessment  can  be  cut  to  8  per  cent  and 
to  continue  at  that  figure  until  the  executive  council  considers  it  advisable  to 
make  a  still   further  reduction. 

F.  Your  committee  further  recommends  that  in  cities  where  90  per  cent 
of  the  membership  are  employed  that  those  cities  be  declared  eight-hour"  cities. 
the  benefits  cut  off,  the  executive  council  rendering  special  assistance  where 
deemed  advisable,  and  that  the  assessment  be  continued  as  in  other  cities. 

It  is  fair  to  presume  that  in  ordinary  times  fully  to  per  cent  of  mml 
unions  are  out  of  work  and  your  committee  does  not  believe  it  is  assuming 
an  unwarranted  position  when  it  takes  the  stand  that  a  union  that  has  on 
per  cent  of  its  membership  working  today  under  the  eight-hour  day  is  nnt 
worse  off  than  in  ordinary  times,  when  no  great  question   is  at  stake. 

Your  committee  believes  that  the  executive  council  should  open  communi- 
cation with  English,  Irish  and  Scotch  typographical  societies,  with  a  view  to 
becoming  more  closely  connected  in  the  matter  of  importation  of  strike-breaking 
printers. 

A  heart-to-heart  correspondence  would  undoubtedly  result  in  our  foreign 
brothers  interesting  themselves  in  this  subject  and  giving  us  important  relief 
from  what  is  commonly  called  the  English  invasion. 

Your  committee  would  further  recommend  that  the  battle  cry  of  the  mem- 
bership of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  which  has  been  so  full  of 
hope  and  good  cheer  the  past  year — 

"We  propose  to  sell  to  the  employer  eight  hours  out  of  twenty-four,  and  we 
will  do  as  we  please  with  the  remaining  sixteen,"  be  officially  amended  as 
follows: 

"We  are  selling  to  the  employer  eight  hours  out  of  twenty-four,  and  we 
are  doing  aa  we  please  with  the  remaining  sixteen." 

Gtouc.r.  J.  Knott,  Chairman 
John    E.    Pcndmgast,   Secretary. 
F.  W.  Smith. 
Wiil   Hai  Y. 
T.  J.  Qvitrn. 

The  various  suggestions  of  the  convention's  eight-hour 
committee  were  considered  seriatum  and  after  prolonged 
discussion  the  recommendations  and  the  entire  report 
were  concurred  in  unanimously. 

OLD     AGE     PENSIONS 

Delegate  Coughlin  (Chicago)  submittal  Hm  following 
proposition,  which  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  reso- 
lutions : 

Resolved,  That  owing  to  the  constantly  increasing 

«70 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

for  young  and  active  men  in  composing  rooms  and  the  gradual 
discarding  of  the  older  members  of  our  craft,  the  urgent  neces- 
sity for  the  establishment  of  a  pension  system  for  our  superan- 
nuated and  incapacitated  members  should  be  apparent  to  every 
one;  therefore,  the  president  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  is  hereby  respectfully  requested  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee of  three  to  draw  up  a  plan  and  report  same  to  the  next 
convention  of  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

The  committee  reported  the  resolution  to  the  conven- 
tion with  a  favorable  recommendation  and  the  same  was 
concurred  in. 

Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  was  selected  as  the  convention  city 
for  the  year  1907. 

Convention    at    Hot   Springs 

[1907] — The  fifty-third  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  in  the 
Eastman  Hotel,  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  Monday,  August  12, 
1907,  by  Charles  M.  Millar,  chairman  of  the  local  com- 
mittee of  arrangements,  who  called  on  the  Rev.  C.  H. 
Kues  to  offer  prayer.  President  Bumpass,  of  Hot  Springs 
Union,  welcomed  the  delegates  and  visitors  on  behalf  of 
the  local  organization,  while  the  welcome  of  the  city  of 
Hot  Springs  was  extended  by  Mayor  Jodd,  who  granted 
the  freedom  of  the  city  to  the  members  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union.  Ex-Mayor  Belding,  president  of  the  busi- 
ness men's  league,  addressed  the  convention  and  extended 
the  greetings  of  the  business  men  of  Hot  Springs.  Mrs.  A. 
W.  Bowen,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  president  of  the  Wom- 
an's International  Auxiliary,  delivered  a  brief  address. 
President  Lynch  responded  to  the  addresses  of  welcome 
and  declared  the  convention  ready  for  business. 

The  secretary  read  the  list  of  delegates  entitled  to  seats 
in  the  convention,  together  with  the  names  of  several 
delegates  irregularly  elected.   The  latter  were  referred  to 

880 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

the  committee  on  credentials.  The  regularly  elected  dele- 
gates were  seated  and  the  chair  named  the  various  con- 
vention officers  and  committees. 

Old  Age  Pensions  —  After  several  minor  matters  had 
been  disposed  of,  J.  D.  CoughHn,  chairman  of  the  old  age 
pension  committee,  presented  the  following: 

To  the  Officers  and  Delegates,  Fifty-Third  Session,  International  Typographical 

Union. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  At  the  fifty-second  convention  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  held  at  Colorado  Springs,  August  13-18,  1906,  the  follow- 
ing resolution  was  adopted: 

"Resolved,  That,  owing  to  the  constantly  increasing  demand  for  young  and 
active  men  in  composing  rooms  and  the  gradual  discarding  of  the  older  hum 
bers  of  our  craft,  the  urgent  necessity  for  the  establishment  of  a  pension  iy»v 
tem  for  our  superannuated  and  incapacitated  members  should  be  apparent  to 
every  one;  therefore  the  president  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
is  hereby  respectfully  requested  to  appoint  a  committee  of  three  to  draw  np  a 
plan  and  report  same  to  the  next  convention  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union." 

In  pursuance  of  the  above  resolution,  your  committee  appointed  by  President 
Lynch  for  the  purpose  of  submitting  a  plan  for  the  establishment  of  an  old  age 
pension  system  to  the  fifty-third  convention  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  at  Hot  Springs,  respectfully  reports  as  follows:         * 

The  committee  has  held  sessions  for  the  past  several  days,  and  baa  care- 
fully considered  propositions  and  communications  submitted  to  it  by  member* 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  as  well  as  such  other  data  as  has 
been  gathered  together  by  the  committee. 

The  committee  will  continue  to  hold  daily  sessions  from  0:30  a.  at.  to 
6  p.  m.  at  room  I),  Eastman  hotel,  and  cordially  invites  delegates  and  members 
who  may  have  propositions  or  suggestions  to  offer  to  appear  before  said  cosB- 
tnittee. 

Wc  ask  that  this  report  be  accepted  as  progress. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

J.   D.   Couonlik. 
Edwabd   P.    DaACKtar. 
R.  If.  McCvixovoa. 

OFFICERS'     REPORTS 

The  report  of  President  Lynch  was  a  comprehensive 
document  and  reviewed,  under  appropriate  headings,  the 
various  matters  that  had  occupied  the  attention  of  the 
International  Union  for  the  period  following  the  Colo- 
rado Springs  convention. 

The  president  opened  his  report  by  calling  attention  to 

a  statement  made  the  previous  yr.ir  'that  ulnlr  the  ordi- 
nary affairs  of  the   International  Typographical   Union 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

had  been  subordinated  to  a  great  extent  to  the  eight-hour 
day,  we  had  made  substantial  progress  in  other  direc- 
tions." The  president  declared  this  was  also  true  of  the 
period  covered  by  his  report,  and  then  continued  : 

We  have  put  forth  constant,  and  we  hope  consistent,  effort  to  bring  the 
eight-hour  campaign  to  a  successful  close.  That  we  have  succeeded  to  a  large 
degree,  the  results  that  have  been  placed  before  the  membership  each  month  in 
the  official  organ  must  be  the  standard  by  which  our  work  will  be  gauged.  The 
strike  roll  has  been  reduced  to  comparatively  inconsequential  proportions  in 
all  but  a  few  cities.  In  these  centers  of  agitation  and  trouble,  such  as  Phila- 
delphia, Buffalo,  Detroit,  St.  Paul  and  Louisville,,  we  are  still  stubbornly  op- 
posed by  employers  conducting  what  are  to  us  unfair  offices,  and  we  are  just 
as  stubbornly  contesting  for  the  recognition  of  the  eight-hour  day.  We  have 
not  abandoned  the  contest  at  any  point,  and  vim  and  aggressiveness  keep  pace 
with  the  varying  conditions  that  confront  us  in  localities  where  the  shorter 
workday  is  not  as  yet  the  general  rule.  As  to  progress  in  other  directions 
alluded  to  in  the  opening  sentence  in  this  report,  the  files  of  the  official  organ 
will  again  bear  mute  but  none  the  less  emphatic  testimony.  Prior  to  and  dur- 
ing the  eight-hour  agitation  and  contest,  it  had  been  repeatedly  asserted  by  your 
president  that  the  only  substantial  basis  for  the  improvement  of  the  condition 
of  the  book  and  job  members  was  to  be  secured  through  the  enforcement  of  the 
eight-hour  day.  We  have  had  abundant  proof  of  the  soundness  of  this  statement 
in  the  betterments  that  have  been  gained  during  the  past  year  in  jurisdictions 
where  the  eight-hour  day  has  been  effective  for  a  year  or  more.  These  unions 
abandoned  for  the  time  being  their  desire  for  increased  compensation  and 
rested  their  cause  solely  on  the  request  for  the  eight-hour  day.  They  now 
experience  little  difficulty  in  obtaining  additional  remuneration,  with  the  eight- 
hour    day    securely    established.      And    there    will    be    continued    improvement. 

It  is  not  out  of  the  bounds  of  reason  to  assert  as  a  principle,  and  as  an 
ultimate  object,  that  the  book  and  job  branch  of  our  craft  must  be  eventually 
placed  in  as  good  a  condition,  both  as  to  hours  and  wages,  as  is  enjoyed  by 
our  newspaper  workers.  There  never  has  been  brought  forward  an  adequate 
and  indisputable  reason  why  our  book  and  job  members,  highly  skilled  in  their 
branch  of  the  trade,  should  not  be  adequately  paid  and  enjoy  reasonable  hours. 
Of  course,  there  has  been  a  reason  why  our  book  and  job  members  have  not 
enjoyed  adequate  remuneration,  and  have  been  compelled  to  work  a  greater 
number  of  hours  than  obtain  in  the  newspaper  composing  rooms,  and  this  rea- 
son can  be  traced  largely  and  irrefutably  to  the  apathy  and  neglect  of  self- 
interest  that  have  characterized  the  book  and  job  printers.  We  believe  that  all 
this  is  changed  now,  and  that  at  last  we  have  aroused  the  book  and  job  men 
and  women  to  a  realization  of  what  they  can  accomplish,  and  what  they  are 
entitled  to  if  they  only  will.  The  enforcing  of  the  shorter  working  day  in  the 
commercial  offices  in  the  International  jurisdiction  will  place  the  commercial 
printing  business  on  a  higher  plane,  will  bring  fair  reward  to  our  members  who 
follow  the  commercial  line  for  a  livelihood,  and  will  eventually  stamp  out  and 
make  impossible  the  cheap,  huckstering  and  unscrupulous  employer  competing 
unjustly  and  piratically  with  the  fair  employer. 

As  to  lack  of  co-operation,  it  is,  of  course,  regrettable  that  the  employers 
as  a  whole  did  not  join  with  our  International  body  in  bringing  about  a  shorter 
workday,  and  thus  make  possible  a  subsequent  effort  to  jointly  improve  the  book 
and  job  business.  We  realized  from  the  outset  that  a  contest  with  the  book 
and  job  employers  would  most  seriously  cripple  and  in  many  instances  ruin  the 
business  of  these  employers,  and  at  the  same  time  would  be  vastly  hurtful  to 

882 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

a  considerable  portion  of  our  membership.  As  hat  been  repeatedly  asserted, 
and  as  we  will  continue  to  assert  to  the  end  of  the  chapter — submitting  proof 
in  substantiation  of  the  statement — we  made  every  possible  effort  to  adjust  the 
eight-hour  difficulty  without  friction  between  employer  and  employe,  bat  every 
proposition  that  we  advanced  in  pursuance  of  this  most  laudable  purpose  was 
met  and  contemptuously  thrown  back  at  us  by  the  association  of  book  and  job 
printers  terming  itself  the  United  Typothetae  of  America.  We  now  trust  that 
with  the  passing  of  time,  that  great  healer  of  all  social  and  industrial  wounds, 
a  better  feeling  will  be  established  between  the  International  Typographical 
Union  and  the  few  offices  that  are  yet  contesting  us  on  the  eight-hour  battle- 
field, and  that  as  a  result  of  this  better  feeling  there  will  come  mutual  co-oper- 
ation and  good  will,  and  we  will  both  find  a  way  to  labor  together  so  that  the 
field  of  our  common  endeavor,  the  source  from  which  we  draw  our  sustenance, 
may  be  tilled  with  a  common  purpose,  to  the  end  that  it  may  furnish  for  all  of 
us  a  most  bountiful  harvest. 

Publicity  Campaign  —  The  president  then  referred  to 
the  "publicity"  campaign  which  had  been  inaugurated 
early  in  the  year,  in  order  that  the  aims  and  methods  of 
the  union  might  have  a  larger  audience  and  a  wider 
hearing  and  consideration.  In  connection  with  this  pub- 
licity campaign,  the  aid  of  the  newspaper  press  had  been 
enlisted.  It  was  pointed  out  that  the  printers  had  helped 
to  make  the  newspapers  possible.  Their  loyalty  and  their 
industry  helped  to  make  profitable  business  ventures  of 
the  newspapers  to  a  great  extent.  Why,  then,  should  the 
union  not  ask  for  some  recognition  for  the  organization 
that  had  placed  the  compositors'  craft  on  a  high  plane  and 
that  had  spent  millions  of  dollars  in  order  to  maintain 
that  high  standing  and  superior  skill?  The  reliance 
placed  on  the  gratitude  of  the  daily  press  had  l> 
entirely  justified  by  results.  Hundreds  of  newspapers, 
many  of  them  of  large  circulation,  all  of  them  of  great 
influence,  had  accorded  space  in  their  columns  and  it  was 
thought  that  hundreds  of  thousands  of  people  not  particu- 
larly interested  in  the  trade  union  movement  had  bet' 
acquainted  with  the  International  Typographical  Union 
and  of  many  of  its  accomplishments.    The  president  then 

s.iii I  : 

If  it  meets  with  the  approval  of  the  convention,  the  publicity  Wtlgjn  wW 

be  continued,  ami  ilir  ir.im y   to  the  need  and  rOcktacy  of  as  OfgjMaNCsMi 

like  ourt,  nut  only   bj  our  craft  but  in  all  crafts,  will  be 


m 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

person  whom  it  is  possible  to  reach  through  the  public   prints  will  have   a  faif 
knowledge  of  the  objects  and  aims  of  a  great  trade  union. 

Label  —  The  label  campaign  and  the  necessity  for 
label  advertising  was  gone  over  extensively  in  the  presi- 
dent's report  and  a  full  history  of  the  steps  taken  was  set 
forth.  In  connection  with  the  vast  field  for  label  exploita- 
tion open  to  the  International  Union  the  president  said  a 
great  sum  of  money  was  expended  annually  for  printed 
matter  of  all  descriptions,  the  percentage  going  to  non- 
union offices  being  of  large  proportions.  A  way  should  be 
found  to  diminish  this  percentage  and  to  divert  as  much 
as  possible  the  flow  of  money  to  the  union  employer  from 
the  non-union  factory  and  printing  office.  The  success 
attending  the  label  campaign  had  secured  opportunities 
for  employment  of  the  union's  members  and  yet  the 
results  accomplished  in  this  direction  were  trivial  in 
comparison  with  what  might  be  achieved  by  determined 
and  intelligent  label  agitation. 

One-Man  Shop  —  The  small  shop  policy  also  occupied 
a  portion  of  the  president's  report,  it  being  asserted  that 
much  interest  had  been  aroused  in  the  economic  standing 
of  the  one-man  shop.  It  was  asserted  that  the  critics  of 
the  one-man  institution  appeared  to  have  been  misunder- 
stood; that  they  did  not  desire  to  eliminate  the  one-man 
shop  but  did  insist  that  the  proprietor  shall  observe  union 
rules  in  the  conduct  of  his  business.  Continuing,  the 
president  said : 

One  of  the  strongest  objections  the  bona  fide  employer  has  to  the  union 
label  is  its  use  by  the  small  proprietor.  It  is  claimed,  and  in  many  cases  the 
evidence  is  at  hand,  that  by  reason  of  his  opportunity  to  work  any  number  of 
hours  soliciting  and  executing  work,  and  with  one  or  two  platen  presses,  a  few 
cases  of  type  and  the  union  label,  the  small  proprietor  can  cut  the  life  out  of 
prices  for  the  work  that  his  mechanical  facilities  will  permit  him  to  take.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  bona  fide  employer  is  compelled  to  pay  his  solicitor,  and  of 
necessity  the  latter's  work  is  confined  to  the  business  day.  The  real  employer 
is  also  expected  to  pay  the  union  scale,  which  carries  with  it  union  hours. 
Unless  there  is  radical  reform  in  the  method  of  supervision  of  the  small  shop 
with  the  label,  under  which  the  proprietor  will  be  compelled  to  confine  his 
soliciting  and  mechanical  execution,  together  with  all  other  work  necessary  to 
the  conduct  of  his  business,  to  an  eight-hour  day,  then  there  must  be  a  reversal 
of  our  present  attitude  toward  the  small  shop. 

884 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

Sanitary  Composing  Rooms  —  One  of  the  most  impor- 
tant propositions  touched  upon  by  the  International 
president  in  his  report  appertained  to  the  sanitary  condi- 
tions of  composing  rooms.  "While  we  have  been  conserv- 
ative in  the  adjustment  of  disputes  over  wages  and  hours, 
we  can  afford  to  be  intensely  radical  in  insisting  that 
employers  give  earnest  consideration  to  the  preservation 
of  the  health  of  their  employes."  The  president  said  that 
in  establishing  the  eight-hour  day  in  the  printing  trade, 
the  International  Typographical  Union  had  taken  a  long 
step  toward  the  elimination  of  tuberculosis  among  the 
members  of  the  organization.  With  the  awakening  that 
had  taken  place  in  the  book  and  job  branch  of  the  Inter- 
national Union,  coupled  with  the  reduction  in  hours,  and 
the  rapidly  increasing  wage  scales,  there  would  undoubt- 
edly be  a  vast  improvement  from  a  health  standpoint  in 
the  followers  of  that  branch.  The  president  then  con- 
tinued : 

Few  wage-earners  are  more  vitally  and  none  more  nearly  interested  in  the 
anti-tuberculosis  crusade  than  the  printer.  Fur  many  reason*  tuberculosis  ha* 
been  prevalent  among  the  followers  of  the  art  preservative.  It  is  believed  that 
one  of  the  principal  causes  can  be  traced  to  the  unsanitary  and  crowded  condi- 
tion of  the  composing  rooms  in  which  our  members  labor.  In  this  respect  the 
newspapers  are  the  chief  offenders.  Preaching  the  doctrine  of  good  health  and 
effective  agencies  in  the  crusade  against  tuberculosis,  the  newspapers  rarely 
heed  the  injunction  to  put  their  own  houses  in  order.  Their  composing  room* 
are  poorly  lighted  and  badly  ventilated  and  crowded  with  machinery  and  the 
appurtenaces  that  are  necessary  to  the  production  of  a  daily  paper.  Th* 
machines  pollute  the  air  with  the  fumes  from  the  molten  mrtal.  In  m*n> 
stances  floors  are  not  properly  cleaned  and  the  walls  rarely  receive  any  ••.■ratio* 
in  this  connection.  Your  president  has  often  asserted  that  wages  and  hoar*  ar* 
not  the  only  subjects  that  should  challenge  the  attention  of  the  Ira 
With  the  typographical  unions  it  is  believed  that  good  results  would 
determined  crusade  for  better  working  conditions  in  and  mora 
arranged  composing  rooms.  That  newspaper  which  erects  ■  magwIsVwt 
then  rents  the  desirable  portion*  for  Imtiness  oflkces  and  Blows  the 
room  away  in  the  lanrmnii  or  In  the  gstrn,  incidentally  enttrtac  lot*  a 
paign  for  reform  in  tlir  ailmiui«ttiitii>ii  of  the  local  health  board.  *s 
11p.11    tin-   in.  ..11  ivi.ni       In  M  n.l.lrr..  in  •  tJM  of  the 

Publishers*  Association,  drlivrfr.l  several  years  ago,  yowr 
dion  to  the  bad  condition*  in  many  of  th*  cngtBOting  roooss  of  the  eou 

I   that    timr    tl.rrr   bat   Ix-rn    .  nnsldcrabW   lmprov*in*nt.      V**l   hrttr.mrnl    -.11 

follow  a  crusade  a,  ..mimed  on  the  part  of  local  unlaw*,     fair  wage*  and  do 

creased   number   of  hour,   are  of   value,   but   the   value   •psvdity  VoUhti   If  ««• 

com|>cl!r.l   to  labor  under  condition,  which  tvtw  twisty  •***!  •»  «■* 

885 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

white  plague.  The  pace  is  terrific  and,  with  ideal  surroundings,  not  conducive 
to  health.  It  is  well  enough  to  grind  wood  into  pulp  and  turn  it  out  in  the 
form  of  a  newspaper,  but  when  flesh  and  blood  are  added,  then  should  the  pro- 
test be  most  emphatic. 

Los  Angeles  Times  —  Referring  to  the  Los  Angeles 
Times  contest,  the  president  said  that  it  had  cost  many 
thousands  of  dollars  but  that  it  was  one  of  the  contests 
that  the  International  Typographical  Union  could  not 
afford  to  abandon.  It  was  one  of  the  contests  that  the 
International  Union  must  insist  should  receive  the  active 
and  generous  moral  and  financial  support  of  the  entire 
labor  movement.  The  Los  Angeles  Examiner,  established 
because  of  the  fight  against  the  Times  and  through  direct 
request  of  the  officers  of  the  International  and  one  of  the 
conventions,  was  still  in  the  field  and  prospering.  This 
paper  had  paid  in  wages  to  the  union's  members  at  least 
five  times  as  much  money  as  had  been  expended  in  the 
Times  fight.  There  were  several  union  newspapers  in  the 
Los  Angeles  field,  employing  a  considerable  number  of 
the  organization's  members,  and  the  president  held  that 
it  was  the  duty  of  the  union  to  safeguard  those  interests 
in  the  southern  California  city  and  to  do  so  would  require 
persistent  effort  and  a  liberal  expenditure  of  funds. 

Union  Printers  Home  —  In  the  opening  paragraph  of 
the  section  of  the  report  devoted  to  the  Union  Printers 
Home,  the  International  president  said  that  largely 
because  of  the  firm  stand  taken  by  the  Colorado  Springs 
convention  and  during  the  succeeding  week  by  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  Home,  that  institution  had  enjoyed  a 
year  of  peace  and  progress  uninterrupted  by  petty  squab- 
bles and  unfounded  criticism.  It  was  earnestly  recom- 
mended that  this  policy  of  protection  for  the  Home  be 
continued.  If  there  was  good  ground  for  criticism,  then 
that  criticism  should  be  made,  and  if  a  wrong  condi- 
tion was  unearthed,  that  condition  should  be  promptly 
remedied. 

886 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

Typographies  —  Second  Vice-President  Miller  reported 
having  been  uniformly  successful  in  obtaining  better  con- 
ditions for  members  of  the  German  branch  during  the 
year.  No  strikes  of  importance  had  occurred  and  increases 
in  scales  had  been  secured  in  Philadelphia,  New  York, 
Newark,  Chicago,  Milwaukee,  Pittsburgh,  Louisville  and 
Belleville,  111.  The  German  Express,  of  Toledo,  Ohio, 
had  been  reclaimed  and  a  new  union  was  formed  at 
Davenport,  Iowa,  and  shortly  afterward  the  eight-hour 
day  and  an  advance  in  scale  was  granted. 

Secretary  Bramwood's  Report  —  A  summary  of  re- 
ceipts and  expenditures  for  the  fiscal  year  was  given  in 
the  first  table  of  Secretary-Treasurer  Bramwood's  report. 
The  financial  transactions  for  the  fiscal  year  showed  total 
receipts,  $1,939,304.91  ;  expenditures,  $1,642,441.94, 
leaving  a  balance  of  $296,862.97.  Following  this  was  a 
table  showing  the  amounts  paid  to  the  various  subordinate 
unions  for  strike  benefits  and  special  assistance  in  estab- 
lishing the  eight-hour  day,  also  the  amounts  paid  t<> 
various  organizers  engaged  during  the  eight-hour 
struggle. 

Burial  Fund —  The  claims  on  the  burial  fund  had 
increased  perceptibly  during  the  year,  the  number  of 
benefits  claimed  being  561  and  the  expenditures  $39,270, 
an  excess  over  receipts  of  $1,149.24.  The  death  rate  for 
the  year  was  1.32  of  the  average  membership,  or  a 
little  more  than  13  per  1,000,  slightly  above  the  average 
since  the  establishment  of  the  fund.  The  average  age  at 
death  during  the  year  was  46.7  years. 

Home  Fund  —  At  the  Colorado  Spring*  convention  of 
th.  International  Union  a  proposition  was  unanimously 
adopted  increasing  the  per  capita  tax  from  35  cents  to  40 
cents  per  month,  exclusive  of  the  Journal  nubscription,  and 
the  dues  were  reapportioned  to  thr  several  funds  in  s 
manner  so  as  to  increase  the  amount  credited  to  the  Union 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Printers  Home  from  io  cents  to  15  cents  per  member,  per 
month.  This  action  was  taken  because  the  delegates  were 
convinced  from  the  official  reports  that  the  resources  of 
the  Home  were  inadequate.  The  amendment  further 
provided  that  the  increase  in  dues  "shall  not  become 
effective  until  after  the  10  per  cent  assessment  has  been 
discontinued."  At  a  subsequent  date  the  proposition  was 
enacted  into  law  by  referendum  vote. 

Realizing  that  some  means  should  be  immediately  pro- 
vided to  meet  the  increased  expenditures  of  the  institution, 
the  Colorado  Springs  convention  also  adopted  a  resolution 
authorizing  the  executive  council  to  transfer  to  the  credit 
of  the  Union  Printers  Home  from  any  available  funds, 
such  amounts  as  might  be  needed  to  meet  the  deficiency 
until  the  increased  apportionment  was  available.  During 
the  fiscal  year  the  executive  council  had  found  it  neces- 
sary to  transfer  $10,654.55  to  the  Home  fund,  this  sum 
being  taken  from  the  regular  defense  fund.  The  report 
of  the  Home  trustees  contained  a  complete  statement  of 
the  financial  transactions  connected  with  that  institution. 

During  the  year  charters  of  108  unions  were  surren- 
dered or  suspended,  with  a  total  membership  of  1,234. 
During  the  same  period,  forty-two  unions  were  chartered 
or  reinstated,  with  a  membership  of  621,  leaving  a  net 
decrease  from  this  source  of  sixty-six  unions,  or  a 
membership  of  613.  On  June  1,  1907,  there  were  576 
local  unions,  divided  thus:  English,  typographical,  534; 
German,  22;  mailers,  17;  newswriters,  3. 

Membership  —  Under  the  heading  "Our  Membership," 
Secretary  Bramwood  said : 

For  the  second  time  in  recent  years  the  average  paying  membership  has 
decreased  instead  of  increased.  In  1905  the  average  paying  membership  reached 
its  highest  point  (46,734),  and  my  report  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  May  31, 
1906,  showed  a  decrease  of  1,754,  the  average  paying  membership  being  44,980. 
During  the  fiscal  year  ending  May  31,  1907,  there  was  a  decrease  of  2,623,  the 
average  paying  membership,  according  to  the  per  capita  tax  payments,  being 
42,357. 

888 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

In  this  connection,  however,  it  is  well  to  remember  that  for  twenty  months 
the  organization  has  been  battling  for  a  universal  eight-hour  day  in  all  branches 
of  the  printing  trade.  For  all  thinking  men  recognized  at  the  outset  that  the 
future  working  hours  of  the  other  printing  crafts  depended  mainly  upon  the 
results  attained  by  the  International  Typographical  Union.  In  conducting  this 
battle  it  has  been  necessary  to  levy  large  assessments,  and  the  decrease  in 
membership  is  due  to  the  cancellation  and  surrender  of  charters  and  the  sus- 
pension or  expulsion  of  members  for  failure  to  meet  their  financial  obligations. 
Furthermore,  no  member  is  considered  in  good  standing  with  the  International 
Typographical  Union  unless  in  possession  of  a  current  working  card,  showing 
all  dues  and  assessments  paid  to  date. 

The  loss  entailed  through  the  cancellation  and  surrender  of  charters  it  not 
a  serious  one.  The  members  of  these  locals  were  anxious  to  remain  in  the 
organization  if  they  could  be  relieved  of  the  assessment,  and  a  thorough  reor- 
ganization could  be  readily  effected  at  the  present  time  if  the  executive  council 
would  cancel  the  indebtedness  that  has  accrued  in  each  instance.  The  fore- 
going is  also,  true  with  regard  to  members  disciplined  by  local  unions.  In  the 
belief,  however,  that  the  adoption  of  any  other  policy  would  be  a  gross  injustice 
to  those  who  have  been  loyal  to  the  cause  and  promptly  met  all  financial  obliga- 
tions, the  executive  body  has  so  far  held  that  all  indebtedness  up  to  the  date  of 
reorganization  must  be  met  before  a  new  charter  can  be  issued  or  a  union 
reinstated.  The  same  decision  has  also  been  repeatedly  rendered  in  the  cases 
of  members  suspended  or  expelled  by  local  bodies  on  account  of  indebtedness. 
Moreover,  little  attention  has  been  given  to  the  organization  of  new  unions 
during  the  past  year,  though  reports  presented  herewith  show  that  twenty-eight 
charters  have  been  issued  and  fourteen  unions  reinstated.  Since  the  reduction 
of  the  assessment  to  2  per  cent,  all  new  locals  have  been  required  to  begin 
paying  the  assessment  immediately,  and  it  must  be  apparent  to  all  that  organ- 
ization work  will  be  greatly  hampered  until  normal  financial  conditions  again 
prevail.  The  foregoing  statements  are  entitled  to  consideration  in  connection 
with  the  reduction  in  the  average  paying  membership  during  this  fiscal  year. 

CONSTITUTIONAL      AMENDMENTS 

The  Hot  Springs  convention  adopted  six  constitutional 
amendments,  which  were  submitted  to  the  referendum. 
All  received  a  majority  favorable  to  adoption.  The  high- 
est vote  cast  was  for  the  amendment  to  the  constitution 
providing  for  an  additional  one-half  of  one  per  cent 
assessment  on  earnings  of  members  for  an  old  age  pen- 
sion fund. 

A  complete  summary  of  the  six  propositions,  together 
with  the  vote  cast  for  and  against  each,  follows: 

Fir«t   proposition— Amend   «rrti<>n    1    urti.tr    1.   constitution,  by   striking   oat 
the  words,  in  lines  9  and  to,  "editors  (other  than  managing  editors),  report 
•o  as  to  read  as  follows: 

Annexe  I — Jurisdiction 

Src-TioM  t.  This  body  shall  he  Vnown  a«  the  Internal  tonal  Typographical 
Union  of  North  America.  lis  jurisdiction  shall  include  all  branch**  of  the 
printinK  and  kindred  trades,  other  than  those  over  which  jurisdiction  hm  bata 


Bag 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

conceded  by  agreement.  In  it  alone  is  vested  power  to  establish  subordinate 
unions  of  printers  (printers,  proofreaders  who  are  practical  printers,  machine 
tenders,  and  all  other  skilled  employes  not  otherwise  herein  excepted),  mailers, 
typefounders  and  kindred  trades,  and  its  mandates  must  be  obeyed  at  all  times 
and  under  all  circumstances.  To  the  International  Typographical  Union  ot 
North  America  is  reserved  the  right  to  fix,  regulate  and  determine  all  matters 
pertaining  to  fellowship  in  its  branches  of  the  printing  and  kindred  trades; 
while  to  subordinate  unions  is  conceded  the  right  to  make  all  necessary  laws 
for  local  government  which  do  not  conflict  with  the  laws  of  the  International 
Union.  In  cases  where  allied  trades  have  formed  district  unions  the  powers 
hereinafter  specified  shall  be  delegated  to  said  trade  district  unions. 

Amend  section  4,  article  i,  constitution,  by  striking  out  the  words,  in  lines 
3  and  4,  "of  the  writers,  newspaper  writers'  unions,"  the  section  to  read  as 
follows: 

Section  4.  The  distinctive  names  of  the  several  subordinate  branches  shall 
be:  Of  the  printers,  typographical  union;  of  the  mailers,  mailers'  union;  of 
the  typefounders,  typefounders'  union,  and  of  other  allied  crafts _  or  trades,  if 
such  there  be,  the  distinctive  name  of  each  branch. 

Result  of  vote — For,  19,856;  against,  5,694;  majority 
for,  14,162. 

Second  proposition — Strike  out  figures  "$20,000"  in  section  5,  article  vi, 
constitution,  and  insert  "$50,000,"  the  section  to  read  as  follows: 

Sec.  5.  The  secretary-treasurer  shall  attend  all  conventions  of  the  Inter- 
national Union,  and  shall  devote  his  entire  time  to  the  business  of  this  union; 
he  shall,  in  connection  with  the  president,  establish  an  office  in  the  city  of 
Indianapolis,  which  shall  be  the  official  headquarters  of  the  International  Union, 
and  where  all  books,  records,  etc.,  shall  be  kept;  he  shall  be  the  custodian  of 
the  funds  of  the  International  Union,  and  shall,  under  the  direction  of  the 
president,  deposit  all  funds  in  some  responsible  banks  in  said  city;  he  shall 
give  bond  to  the  president,  from  a  solvent  guarantee  company,  in  the  sum  of 
$50,000,  previous  to  assuming  office,  which  bond  shall  be  paid  for  by  this  union 
and  shall  be  approved  by  the  president;  he  shall  also  be  secretary  of  the  ex- 
ecutive council,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be  required  by  law.  He 
shall  be  ex  officio  the  nominee  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  for  the 
office  of  secretary  of  the  Union  Printers  Home. 

Result  of  vote — For,  22,714;  against,  3,354;  majority 
for,  19,160. 

Third  proposition — Amend  section  i,  article  viii,  constitution,  "Salaries  and 
Expenses,"  page  8,  by  changing  figures  after  "for  the  president,"  from  $1,800 
to  $2,000. 

Result  of  vote — For,  13,240;  against,  13,134;  majority 
for,  106. 

Fourth  proposition — Amend  section  i,  article  viii,  constitution,  "Salaries 
and  Expenses,"  page  8,  by  changing  figures  in  the  last  line,  after  "secretary- 
treasurer,"  from  $1,800  to  $2,000. 

Result  of  vote — For,  13,961  ;  against,  12,763;  majority 
for,  928. 


890 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

Fifth  proposition — Amend  section  7,  article  ix,  constitution,  by  striking 
out  "$70"  in  the  last  line  and  inserting  in  lieu  thereof,  "$75"  so  said  section, 
when  amended,  will  read  as  follows: 

Sec.  7.  The  burial  fund  shall  be  used  to  pay  the  burial  expenses  of  mem- 
bers in  good  standing  at  time  of  death,  and  the  amount  of  benefit  in  each  case 
shall  be  $75. 

Result  of  vote — For,  24,391  ;  against,  2,144;  majority 
for,  22,247. 

Sixth  proposition — The  following  are  the  amendments  to  the  constitution 
and  by-laws  for  the  establishment  of  an  old  age  pension: 

Add  to  third  line,  article  ix,  page  9,  section  1,  constitution,  "and  an  addi- 
tional one-half  of  1  per  cent  assessment  on  earnings  of  members  for  old  age 
pension  fund,"  the  section  to  read  as  follows: 

Section  i.  The  revenue  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  shall  be 
derived  as  follows:  From  dues,  which  shall  be  40  cents  per  month  per  member, 
and  an  additional  one-half  of  1  per  cent  assessment  on  earnings  of  members  for 
old  age  pension  fund;  from  charters  for  subordinate  unions,  $5  per  charter; 
from  necessary  supplies,  at  prices  to  be  fixed  by  law.  International  dues  for 
each  month  to  be  collected  by  subordinate  unions,  and  shall  be  transmitted,  to 
the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  before  the 
20th  of  the  succeeding  month.  Unions  failing  to  comply  with  this  provision 
shall  be  considered  delinquent  and  debarred  from  benefits;  provided,  that  unions 
located  so  far  from  headquarters  as  to  make  it  impossible  for  their  dues  to 
reach  there  within  the  prescribed  time  shall  not  be  considered  delinquent  if 
their  remittances  bear  postmark  date  prior  to  the  15th  of  the  succeeding  month. 

Add  the  following  new'  section  to  the  same  article: 

Sec.  9.  The  old  age  pension  fund  shall  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  main- 
taining and  disbursing  pensions  to  aged  and  superannuated  members. 

Renumber  present  section  9  to  10. 

Add  subhead,  page  32,  by-laws,  "Old  Age  Pension  Fund." 

Sec.  6.  Any  member  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  (including 
members  of  the  typographia  at  the  time  of  the  consolidation  with  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union)  who  has  reached  the  age  of  60  years  and  who  has 
been  in  continuous  good  standing  for  a  period  of  twenty  years,  and  who  finds 
it  impossible  to  secure  sustaining  employment,  and  who  has  no  other  adequate 
means  of  support,  may  receive  the  sum  of  $4  per  week,  subject  to  the  provi- 
sions hereinafter  set  forth. 

Sec.  7-  Applications  for  pensions  shall  be  made  on  blank  forma  prepared 
and  furnished  from  International  headquarters.  Applicants  shall  set  forth  all 
the  facts  and  answer  fully  all  the  questions  contained  in  said  form,  which 
shall  lie  certified  to  by  the  executive  officers  of  the  local  union  of  which  appli 
cant  is  a  member.  Said  application  to  be  published  in  the  Typographical 
Journal,  and  should  no  objection  be  made  within  thirty  days  from  the  date  of 
said  publication  the  member  shall  then  be  placed  on  pension  mil.  Should  ob- 
jection be  raised,  the  case  shall  be  investigated  by  the  executive  council. 

t.    Any   member   earning  $4  or  over  In   any  one   week   shall   not  br 
entitled  to  pension  for  that  week. 

Sec.  0.    Secretaries    of    subordinate    union*    shall    forward    weekly    t"    thr 
International   secretary-treasurer   a   true   and   correct    lt«i   of   applicants   *«• 
to  pensions.     On  receipt  of  such  list  the   International  secretary  treasurer  shall 
transmit  the  amount  due  tu  the  local  «rcrrtary  for  flMrisM 

Sic.  to.    Any  beneficiary  who  hat  knowingly   testified   falsely   concerning 

89I 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

his  or  her  qualifications  as  a  worthy  applicant  for  said  pension  shall  be  debarred 
from  receiving  pension   for  such  time  as  the  executive  council  may  deem  fit. 

Sec.  ii.  The  executive  council  shall  have  the  power  at  all  times  to  re- 
view any  pension  case,  and  if  in  their  opinion  circumstances  warrant  it  the 
beneficiary  may  be  debarred   from   further   participation   in  the  pension   fund. 

Sec.  12.  In  order  to  meet  exigencies  that  may  arise,  the  executive  council 
is  authorized  and  empowered  to  make  such  changes  in  administering  the  old  age 
pension  fund  as  they  may  deem  wise  after  said  plan  has  been  established. 

Sec.  13.  The  assessment  for  the  old  age  pension  fund  shall  begin  January 
1,  1908;  provided,  the  present  2  per  cent  assessment  for  the  eight-hour  strike 
has  been  taken  off  on  or  before  that  date.  In  no  event  is  this  section  to  be- 
come operative  until  the  strike  assessment  is  discontinued.  The  disbursement 
of  said  pension  to  begin  five  months  from  date  of  levying  first  assessment  for 
old  age  pension  fund. 

Sec.  14.  For  the  purpose  of  securing  necessary  data  the  International 
secretary-treasurer  shall  furnish  local  secretaries  with  blanks  to  be  filled  out 
by  each  member,  setting  forth  his  or  her  record  as  a  member  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union.  Said  blanks  to  be  returned  to  International  secre- 
tary-treasurer for  future   reference. 

Result  of  vote — For,  17,177;  against,  9,194;  majority 
for,  7,983. 

THE      EIGHT-HOUR      CAMPAIGN 

The  International  eight-hour  committee  submitted  a 
brief  report  to  the  Hot  Springs  convention,  but  it  had 
been  mutually  agreed  by  members  of  the  committee  that 
the  president,  in  his  annual  report,  should  cover  the  work 
of  the  committee  for  the  period  following  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  Colorado  Springs  convention.  For  that  rea- 
son, in  order  that  the  history  may  contain  a  complete 
synopsis  of  the  eight-hour  struggle,  that  portion  of 
President  Lynch's  report  is  herewith  reproduced  and  the 
formal  report  of  the  International  eight-hour  committee 
is  omitted.   President  Lynch  said  : 

Previous  reports,  submitted  to  the  Toronto  and  Colorado  Springs  conven- 
tions, fully  covered  the  eight-hour  campaign  and  the  progress  made  up  to  the 
assembling  of  those  gatherings.  Additional  history  begins  with  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  fifty-second  session  of  last  year,  and,  in  order  to  refresh  the 
memories  of  the  delegates  and  the  membership  generally,  it  will  be  well  to 
briefly  summarize  the  eight-hour  action  of  the  last  session.  It  unanimously 
adopted  the  report  of  the  convention  eight-hour  committee  "by  a  rising  vote 
amid  great  enthusiasm."  This  committee,  in  its  report,  reviewed  the  progress 
of  the  eight-hour  movement  from  its  inception  in  1902  to  the  Colorado  Springs 
meeting,  and  paid  especial  attention  to  the  work  of  the  International  eight-hour 
committee  and  the  conduct  of  the  strike  by  the  executive  council.  It  conferred 
with  the  presidents  of  the  striking  unions  who  were  in  attendance  at  the  con- 
vention, and  compiled  data  concerning  conditions  as  reported  by  the  delegates. 

892 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

In  short,  the  committee  made  an  "exhaustive  search  for  facts"  and  presented  a 
most  excellent  report. 

This  report  was  not  presented  or  considered  behind  closed  doors.  It  was 
unanimously  adopted  in  open  session,  and  by  its  ratification  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  with  85  per  cent  of  its  members  on  an  eight-hour  basis, 
officially  announced  the  successful  inauguration  of  the  shorter  workday  among 
the  book  and  job  printers  under  its  banner. 

By  resolution  the  convention  decided  that  the  provisions  and  recommenda- 
tions in  the  report  shall  become  effective  October  1,  1906,  unless  otherwise 
provided. 

The  conclusions  and  recommendations,  embraced  in  the  committee  report, 
together  with  the  subsequent  action  of  the  executive  council,  are  coupled  and 
given  below : 

CONVENTION    AND    COUNCIL    ACTION 

The  circular  issued  by  the  executive  council  in  relation  to  the  convention's 
action,  the  council's  position,  the  reduction  in  the  assessment  and  the  conduct 
of  the  eight-hour  strike  after  October   1,   1906,  are   reproduced  herewith: 

„_.._,  "Indianapolis,  Ind.,  September  11,  1906. 

"To  the  Membership. 

"Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  The  executive  council  submits  herewith  the  con- 
clusions and  recommendations  embraced  in  the  report  of  the  convention  eight- 
hour  committee  at  Colorado  Springs  (the  report  was  unanimously  adopted), 
together  with  the  council's  policy  as  to  the  future  conduct  of  the  eight-hour 
campaign: 

"Excerpt  No.  1 — There  are  at  present  about  4,700  strikers,  or  members  who 
are  directly  affected  by  the  strike,  who  must  be  taken  care  of  until  conditions 
are  such  that  they  can  be  given  work.  The  International  Typographical  Union 
owes  that  debt  to  the  men  who  have  stood  the  full  force  of  the  onslaught.  It 
would  be  a  contemptible  act  to  throw  those  men  to  the  mercy  of  charity,  the 
typothetx  or  the  poor-house.  There  may  be  isolated  cases  where  it  would  seem 
some  unworthy  have  been  the  recipients  of  benefits,  but  your  committee  is  of 
the  opinion  that  they  are  not  numerous  enough  to  outweigh  the  grand  work  so 
far  accomplished  in  caring  for  the  worthy.  An  organization  that  can  command 
the  commendation  of  President  Ellis,  of  the  typothetx,  through  its  steadfast 
purpose  in  caring  for  its  striking  or  out-of-work  membership,  certainly  will  con- 
tinue in  the  work  it  inaugurated.  It  is  the  opinion  of  your  committee  that  this 
convention  should  in  no  uncertain  manner,  but  decidedly  and  emphatically, 
declare  a  unanimous  endorsement  and  full  concurrence  in  the  advisability  of 
the  continuance  of  an  adequate  assessment. 

"Council's  Position — Under  the  foregoing,  the  assessment  will  be  continued 
at  a  sufficient  percentage  to  furnish  money  to  carry  out  the  spirit  of  the  con- 
vention's recommendation.  It  is  believed,  however,  that  a  material  reduction 
is  possible. 

"Exctrpt  No.  > — Your  committee  has  entered  into  an  exhaustive  search  for 
facts  a*  to  conditions  in  the  widely-extended  jurisdiction  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union.  It  finds  that  the  benefits  paid  range  from  the 
tional  amount  to  a  sum  that  might  be  best  described  as  out  of 
the  commonly  accepted  idea  of  what  s  strike  benefit  should  he.  Sows  cities  are 
paying  an  executive  strike  benefit.  The  inequalities  of  the  strike  henetta 
iIh.iukIi.mii  til(    jurisdiction  are  so  apparent  as  to  CWM  conmnii 

"At  the  conference  of  presidents  called  by  President  Lynch  the  situation 
in  their  several  jurisdictions  was  carefully  gone  over,  and  the  testimony  offeree} 
bears  out  the  above  MMftsfW 

"The  fnnur   ..f  presidents  resulted  In  the  submission  of  the  following 

to  your  committee: 


toa 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

"  'Resolved,  That  the  chairman  and  secretary  of  the  meeting  of  presidents 
and  representatives  of  the  presidents  of  unions  on  strike  convey  to  the  eight- 
hoar  committee  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  convention  the  judg- 
ment of  the  struck  city  representatives  that  there  shall  be  no  cessation  of  the 
vigorous  prosecution  of  the  eight-hour  strike  until  the  shorter  workday  is  estab- 
lished  in   every  city  under   the   jurisdiction   of   the   International   Typographical 

Union.  ,,  ,„  ,,  T, 

Kempton  McKim. 

"  'Chairman  Presidents'  Meeting. 

"  'T.  J.  Donnelly, 

"  'Secretary  Presidents'  Meeting.'  " 

"One  of  the  questions  that  has  been  considered  is  the  excessive  amount  of 
overtime  worked  in  some  localities  while  there  are  members  on  strike,  which, 
under  an  effort  to  more  fully  equalize  the  conditions,  would  afford  relief  to  both 
the  overtime  worker  and  the  out-of-work  member.  Your  committee  believes 
that  if  the  overtime  could  be  distributed  in  these  centers  it  would  materially 
decrease  strike  rolls. 

"In  one  city  there  is  an  accumulation  of  800  hours'  overtime  standing 
against  members,  while  the  strikers  in  that  town  are  on  the  benefit  roll,  and 
in  another  town  there  has  accumulated  400  days'  overtime,  principally  through 
inability  to  secure  subs  or  extras  in  that  city. 

"One  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  situation  where  the  400  days'  overtime 
has  accumulated  is  that  when  subs  are  available  the  overtime  is  charged,  and 
when  subs  are  not  available  the  overtime  account  goes  by  default  and  is  for- 
gotten. 

"Your  committee  acknowledges  that  all  the  strikers  could  not  fill  the  posi- 
tions where  the  enormous  quantities  of  overtime  accumulate,  but  we  certainly 
believe  that  in  the  event  of  some  effort  being  made  to  move  some  of  the 
strikers,  the  unmarried  members  particularly,  to  the  districts  congested  with 
overtime,  the  situation  can  be  materially  relieved  and  the  work  throughout  the 
country  be  more  equally  distributed. 

"Your  committee  has  had  several  propositions  referred  to  it  covering 
changes  in  the  laws,  but  does  not  believe  it  should  be  the  object  of  this  com- 
mittee to  recommend  any  changes  in  any  laws. 

"It  does,  however,  believe  it  is  within  its  province  to  suggest  emergency 
changes  covering  the  time  of  this  strike,  but  not  to  change  any  strike  laws  on 
the  books  which  were  made  to  cover  ordinary  strikes  and  not  the  problems 
which  have  arisen  the  past  year. 

"Your  committee  has  carefully  weighed  the  information  submitted  to  it 
from  the  various  sources,  including  presidents,  delegates  and  officers  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  and  would  respectfully  recommend  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"A.  That  the  time  for  enforcing  the  eight-hour  day  in  Montreal,  where 
the  contract  expires  in  October,  1906,  be  extended  to  June,  1907,  the  date  when 
the  Toronto  contract  expires,  the  committee  believing  that  the  conditions  in 
Montreal  warrant  such  a  course,  and  that  an  International  Typographical  Union 
organizer  be  assigned  to  Montreal  for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  that  city, 
particularly  the  English-speaking  union,   No.   176. 

"B.  Your  committee  further  recommends  that  on  and  after  October  1  all 
assessments  collected  under  authority  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
be  sent  to  that  body  intact,  the  purpose  being  to  give  the  executive  council  full 
control  of  all  strike  money  and  disbursing  the  same. 

"Council's  Position — Beginning  with  the  week  of  Monday,  October  1.  1906, 
all  moneys  accruing  from  the  eight-hour  assessment,  in  all  local  jurisdictions, 
must  be  forwarded  to  the  International  secretary-treasurer. 


894 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

"Excerpt  No.  3.  C.  That  the  sums  allowed  members  on  the  strike  roll  be 
not  in  excess  of  $7  for  single  men  and  $10  for  married  men,  and  that  the  con- 
stitutional benefit,  as  it  appears  on  the  books  at  present,  of  $5  and  $7,  be  ad- 
hered to  as  closely  as  possible,  localities  and  contingencies  arising,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  executive  council,  being  the  sole  cause  for  an  increase  over  the 
latter  amount. 

"Where  unions  desire  to  increase  the  amounts  named,  it  must  be  done  by 
still  further  increasing  the  local  dues  or  assessments,  such  dues  or  assessments 
not  being  subject  to  the  control  of  the  executive  council,  but  wholly  under  the 
direction  of  the  local  body  collecting  the  same. 

"Council's  Position.  The  constitutional  benefit  of  $5  and  $7  will  apply 
beginning  with  the  week  of  October  1,  1906.  Local  unions  conducting  strikes, 
believing  that  "localities  and  contingencies"  justify  additions  to  the  constitu- 
tional benefits,  should  communicate  with  the  executive  council  at  once.  In  no 
instance  will  the  executive  council  sanction  benefits  in  excess  of  $7  and  $10. 
and  only  in  excess  of  $5  and  $7  in  those  instances  where  strong  reason  and 
argument  are  presented. 

"Excerpt  No.  4.  D.  That  where  men  refuse  to  work  because  the  amount 
earned  does  not  equal  the  strike  benefit,  that  they  be  cut  off  from  the  benefit 
list  entirely,  it  being  evident  that  the  disposition  thus  shown  is  not  in  accord- 
ance with  the  true  spirit  of  unionism  and  a  desire  to  advance  the  out-of-work 
settlement. 

"Council's  Position.  No  interpretation  is  necessary.  The  recommendation 
is  plain. 

"Excerpt  No.  5.  E.  Your  committee  has  carefully  considered  the  assess- 
ment problem  in  all  its  phases  presented.  It  believes  that  in  some  localities 
money  is  expended  economically  and  equitably.  In  others,  without  due  regard 
to  the  sacrifices  made  by  the  membership  who  have  financed  this  strike. 

"Your  committee  is  firmly  convinced  that  in  the  event  of  the  assessment 
being  forwarded  intact  to  the  executive  council  and  disbursed  under  its  direc- 
tion, as  above  recommended,  that  the  assessment  can  be  cut  to  8  per  cent,  and 
to  continue  at  that  figure  until  the  executive  council  considers  it  advisable  to 
make  a  still  further  reduction. 

"Council's  Position.  Beginning  with  the  week  of  October  1,  and  thereafter 
until  further  notice,  the  assessment  will  be  7  per  cent  of  all  moneys  earned. 
Further  reduction  will  be  made  as  the  situation  warrants.  It  is  the  inten- 
tion of  the  executive  council  to  maintain  a  balance  in  the  International  treas- 
ury of  not  less  than  $100,000,  as,  in  the  opinion  of  the  council,  this  amount 
is  necessary  to  safeguard  the  general   situation. 

"Excerpt  No.  6.  F,  Your  committee  further  recommends  that  in  cities 
where  90  per  cent  of  the  membership  are  employed  that  those  cities  be  de- 
clared eight-hour  cities,  the  benefits  cut  off,  the  executive  council  rendering 
special  assistance  where  deemed  advisable,  and  that  the  assessment  be  con- 
tinued as  in  other  cities. 

"It  is  fair  to  piesume  that  in  ordinary  times  fully  10  per  cent  of  most 
unions  arc  out  of  work,  and  your  committee  doe*  not  believe  it  Is  assuming  an 
unwarranted  position  when  it  takes  the  stand  rtiat  •  union  that  hat  00  per 
cent  of  its  membership  working  today  under  the  eight-hour  day  it  no  worse 
off  than   in   ordinary   times,   wlirn   M   great   <|iir«tion   is  at   stake. 

"Council's  Position.  The  recommendation  U  plain  and  needs  no  esplana 
tion.      It   will   be   enforced. 

"Excerpt  No.  7.  Your  committee  would  farther  recommend  that  the  battle 
cry  of  the  ■HlHnn1ll|l  of  thr  International  Typographical  Union,  which  has 
been  so  full  of  hope  and  good  cheer  the  past  year— 

"  'We   propose   to  sell   the  employer   eight   boar*  out  of  twenty-four,  and 


B95 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

we   will   do   as   we  please   with   the  remaining   sixteen,'   be   officially   amended   as 
follows: 

"  'We    are    selling    to    the    employer    eight    hours    out    of    twenty-four,    and 
we  are  doing  as  we  please  with  the  remaining  sixteen.' 
"The   foregoing   is  respectfully  submitted. 

"James  M.  Lynch, 
"J.  W.   Bramwood, 
"Hugo  Miller, 
"Executive  Council,   International   Typographical   Union." 
The    recommendation    contained    in    section    A    was    made    effective    by    the 
International    president.      An    organizer    was    placed    in    Montreal    at    what   was 
deemed   to   be   the   most   opportune   time,   and,   as   a   product   of   the  organizer's 
work   and  the   settlement   secured   in   Toronto,    the   eight-hour   day  became   ef- 
fective in  Montreal  on  June  i. 

FURTHER     ASSESSMENT     REDUCTION 

Money  is  the  lifeblood  of  the  strike.  Without  money  it  is  rarely  suc- 
cessful. Present  financial  needs  may  well  be  accepted  as  the  standard  by 
which  to  measure  the  success  attending  our  eight-hour  movement  since  the 
Colorado  Springs  convention  passed  into  history.  If  the  situation  had  not 
warranted  the  action  the  executive  council  would  not  have  made  the  first 
reduction  in  the  assessment  from  10  per  cent  to  7  per  cent  It  has  never 
been  the  council's  policy  to  in  any  way  jeopardize  the  success  of  the  shorter 
workday  movement  by  ill-considered  or  hasty  action.  Had  the  10  per  cent 
assessment  been  necessary,  then,  as  far  as  the  council  was  concerned,  the  10 
per  cent  assessment  would  have  been  maintained.  But  its  continuance  was 
not  necessary  by  reason  of  continuous  success  in  the  campaign  to  establish 
the  eight-hour  day,  and  the  council  was  thus  enabled  to  make  the  first  ma- 
terial reduction  in  the  assessment,  the  7  per  cent  becoming  effective  on  Octo- 
ber 1,  1906. 

On  November  12,  1906,  the  executive  council  ordered  the  eight-hour  as- 
sessment reduced  from  7  to  5  per  cent,  beginning  with  the  week  of  November 
19,    1906. 

On  January  29,  1907,  the  executive  council  ordered  the  eight-hour  as- 
sessment reduced  from  5  to  3  per  cent,  beginning  with  the  week  of  February 
3.   1907. 

On  March  1,  1907,  the  executive  council  ordered  the  eight-hour  assess- 
ment reduced  from  3  to  2  per  cent,  beginning  with  the  week  of  March  3, 
1907. 

The   assessment  has   since   March  3,   1907,   remained  at  2  per  cent. 

TORONTO,      MONTREAL,      MILWAUKEE 

At  a  special  meeting  of  Toronto  Typographical  Union,  held  on  Saturday 
night,  June  1,  the  agreement  which  had  been  previously  entered  into  by  Vice- 
President  Hays,  representing  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  the 
Toronto  Employing  Printers  and  Bookbinders'  Association,  was  ratified.  This 
was  a  signal  triumph  for  the*  allied  printing  trades,  as  all  of  them,  including 
the  printers,  bookbinders,  pressmen,  press  feeders,  stereotypers,  electrotypers, 
mailers  and  bindery  women,  are  parties  to  the  new  contract,  and  this  makes 
Toronto  a  straight  eight-hour  city  for  the  next  five  years.  While  the  scale 
carries  with  it  no  immediate  increase  in  printers'  wages,  a  substantial  ad- 
vance will  begin  January  1,  1909,  followed  by  a  further  increase  on  January 
J,  1910.  Toronto,  Montreal  and  Milwaukee  were  three  of  the  few  remaining 
cities  where  the  printers  were  still  working  nine  hours  a  day  under  unex- 
pired contracts,  and  the  complete  success  in  the  two  Canadian  cities,  and  the 
gratifying  progress  made   in    Milwaukee,    is    further   evidence   of   the   conviction 


896 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

that  the  eight-hour  day  is  logical,  and  that  it  will  soon  be  introduced  in  all 
printing  plants  throughout  our  jurisdiction   without  much  opposition. 

When  the  Master  Printers'  Association  of  Montreal  was  informed  of  the 
peaceable  arrangement  at  Toronto,  no  trouble  was  experienced  in  negotiating 
a  like  agreement  in  that  city.  At  a  joint  meeting  of  the  French  and  English 
typographical  unions,  Nos.  145  and  176,  the  offer  made  by  the  employing 
printers  was  accepted.  The  scale  is  to  run  for  five  years,  and  all  disputes 
are  to  be  settled  by  a  board  of  arbitration.  In  the  Montreal  negotiations 
Organizer  Charles  S.  Brown,  of  Toledo,'  Ohio,  rendered  valiant  service  to 
the  two  unions.  Some  months  ago  he  took  up  the  work  there  under  exceed- 
ingly unfavorable  circumstances,  and  the  great  victory  for  the  shorter  work- 
day is  highly  appreciated  by  the  membership.  This  puts  practically  every 
typographical  union  in  Canada  on  an  eight-hour  basis. 

At  the  expiration  of  nine-hour  contracts  between  employing  book  and 
job  printers  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  Typographical  Union  No.  23,  on  June 
3.  it  was  necessary  to  call  a  strike  in  the  offices  of  the  members  of  the  Mil- 
waukee Master  Printers'  Association,  and  Organizer  Colbert  was  placed  in 
charge  of  affairs.  On  the  day  of  the  strike  no  men  responded,  and  100  suc- 
ceeded in  having  the  shorter  workday  granted.  The  first  week  two  large 
firms  capitulated,  and  at  the  end  of  the  second  week — June  17 — only  sixty- 
six  were  on  strike,  with  thirty  shops  signed  up  and  twenty  still  holding  out. 
The  contest  had  reached  the  injunction  stage  by  June  23,  when  one  firm 
secured  a  temporary  order  from  the  United  States  court  restraining  member* 
of  the  union  from  picketing,  intimidating,  interfering,  and  almost  everything 
else  except  breathing.  Of  those  still  resisting  the  union's  demands,  the  ma- 
jority are  small  concerns.  There  are  314  members  of  No.  23  now  enjoying 
the   eight-hour    day. 

TWO    CITIES    ONLY    REMAIN 

With  the  establishment  of  the  eight-hour  day  on  June  1  of  this  year  in 
the  great  cities  of  Toronto  and  Montreal,  and  with  the  success  that  has  at- 
tended the  effort  to  establish  the  shorter  workday  in  the  Milwaukee  jurisdic- 
tion, the  nine-hour  territory  is  materially  curtailed.  Only  two  of  the  larger 
cities  remain,  and  it  is  believed  that  little  opposition  will  be  experienced  when 
the  time  arrives  to  make  the  eight-hour  day  effective  in  Kansas  City  and 
Nashville.  In  Kansas  City  we  have  had  an  organizer  at  work  for  several 
months,  and  we  hope  that  on  October  1  that  jurisdiction  will  Ik-  so  thoroughly 
organized  that  even  the  most  radical  employer  will  tee  the  futility  of  oppos- 
ing the  introduction  of  the  eight-hour  day.  As  to  Nashville,  the  nine-hour, 
contract  will  run  for  a  considerable  period  of  time.  This  contract  was  en-  • 
tcred  into  by  the  typographical  union  in  Nashville  over  the  objection  ami 
protest  of  the  International  president.  There  was  not  at  that  time,  howrv 
.111  International  law  or  resolution  that  prevented  the  Nashville  Union  from 
agreeing  to  the  five-year  contract  on  a  nine-hour  basis.  In  justice  to  oar 
Nashville  members  it  must  be  said  that  thry  have  for  some  time  seen  clearly 
the  error  that  was  made  in  the  ratification  of  the  five-year  agreement.  When 
this  contract  expires  tlir  rii<ht  -hour  day  will  be  in  general  effect,  and  cer- 
tainly there  is  no  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  employer*  will  at  that  late 
day  make  a  serious  objection  to  the  peaceable  inauguration  of  the  right-hour 
day.  Another  tribute  that  must  he  paid  to  our  Nashville  member*  is,  that 
notwithstanding    thev    were    bound    for    years    by    a    nine  hour    agreement    they 

mlly  contributed  their  assessments  toward  thr  magnificent   fund  that 
possible    the    success   of    the    International    tight fcOQf    campaign. 

BOA&    HAS    atKN    Ml  I 

Even    the    contentious    employer    will    acknowledge    the    truth    of    the 
lion    thai    thr    riKlii  liom    day    is   won.      It    may    take    a    few   additional    months 


( 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

or  years  to  regain  all  the  offices  lost  to  the  union  by  reason  of  the  eight-hour 
strike  that  was  necessary  because  of  the  unfortunate  position  taken  by  the 
employers'  organization,  but  these  offices  will  gradually  come  back  to  the 
fold.  In  this  history  will  only  repeat  itself.  The  union  embraces  the  com- 
petent printers,  and  in  order  to  do  business  at  a  profit  competent  printers 
must  be  employed.  As  the  non-unionists  at  present  working  gain  ability  and 
confidence  they  will  seek  union  membership.  The  tendency  of  the  wage- 
earner  is  to  combine.  This  tendency  is  becoming  more  pronounced  as  busi- 
ness rapacity  and  greed  develop.  Given  sufficient  opportunity,  unrestrained  by 
union  regulations  and  combinations  of  workingmen,  and  the  employer  as  a 
class  is  the  best  union  evangelist.  The  non-union  printer,  aside  from  the 
pronounced  blackleg  whose  principle  is  revenue  only,  will  gravitate  to  the 
union  because  he  must. 

WHAT    HAVE    WE    GAINED 

If  it  is  true  that  we  have  established  the  eight-hour  day  in  our  branch 
of  the  printing  industry,  then  what  have  we  gained?  If  the  shorter  work- 
day were  universal,  the  condition  of  the  country  generally  would  be  on  an 
upward  trend  much  more  pronounced  than  now  evident.  The  producer,  not 
driven  from  his  bed  to  his  work  and  from  his  work  to  his  bed,  to  use  the 
expression  recently  given  birth  by  one  of  the  foremost  of  American  citizens, 
would  have  time  to  think,  time  to  formulate  his  policy  as  a  unit  in  the  gen- 
eral community,  and  time  to  put  that  policy  into  effect.  With  time  to  think 
would  come  the  desire  for  greater  knowledge,  and  with  that  knowledge  would 
come  ambition  in  other  directions,  the  desire  for  education  for  the  children, 
beautifying  of  the  home,  and  a  better  home  life.  That  man  who  works  while 
daylight  permits  for  a  mere  existence  may  be  industrious,  but  as  far  as  he 
himself  is  concerned  that  is  all  he  is.  He.  may  be  a  useful  citizen  to  the 
community,  but  to  himself  and  his  own  he  is  merely  a  hewer  of  wood  and  a 
drawer  of  water.  Our  children  may,  with  honor  and  profit,  be  the  carpenters, 
bricklayers,  painters,  pressmen,  printers,  etc.,  of  the  future,  but  we  want 
them  to  work  under  better  conditions  and  surroundings,  and  with  better 
wages  and  hours,  than  their  fathers  enjoyed.  If  the  eight-hour  day  will  ac- 
complish this,  then  it  is  the  duty  of  all  good  citizens  to  work  for  the  reform. 
On  the  well-being  and  intelligence  of  the  masses  depend  the  progress  and  se- 
curity  of  the  republic. 

BOOKBINDERS     AND     PRESSMEN     DECLARE     FOR     EIGHT      HOURS 

In  June,  1906,  in  Washington  and  Pittsburgh  respectively,  the  bookbinders 
and  pressmen  assembled  in  convention.  Both  organizations  declared  emphat- 
ically for  the  eight-hour  day,  and  that  they  would  move  together  for  this 
reform  last  May.  The  conventions  were  enthusiastic  eight-hour  assemblages, 
not  the  slightest  opposition  appearing  to  the  proposed  hour  reduction.  Your 
president  was  before  both  gatherings,  and  set  forth  the  progress  made  by  the 
International  Typographical  Union  in  its  eight-hour  crusade.  The  San  Fran- 
cisco convention  of  the  pressmen,  held  in  1905,  adopted  the  following:  "We 
recommend  that  the  board  of  directors  be  instructed  to  secure  a  conference 
with  a  committee  of  the  national  typothetae,  with  a  view  of  arranging,  if  pos- 
sible, a  workday  of  eight  hours."  This  was  presented  to  the  typothetae  at  the 
Niagara  Falls  convention  of  1905,  and  as  to  the  result  the  pressmen's  inter- 
national president  said  in  his  report  to  the  1906  convention:  "At  the  close  of 
the  interview  we  were  informed  that  an  answer  to  our  eight-hour  resolution 
would  be  sent  us  by  letter  as  to  the  exact  position  of  the  typothetae  on  the 
subject."  This  was  in  September,  but  the  request  of  the  pressmen  for  an 
eight-hour  day  was  not  considered  until  the  following  April,  at  a  meeting  in 
Chicago  of  the  typothetae  executive  committee.  Then  the  typothetae  secretary 
wrote:      "I    am    instructed   by   our    national    executive    committee    to    state    that 


898 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

the  committee  decline  to  take  up  the  consideration  of  an  eight-hour  workday." 
It  did  seem,  in  view  of  the  action  taken  at  the  Pittsburgh  convention,  that 
the  pressmen  were  at  last  convinced  that  the  typothetae  was  not  in  a  "re- 
ceptive mood,"  was  not  conciliatory,  and  would  concede  the  eight-hour  day  only 
when  forced  to  do  so. 

THEN    THE    PRESSMEN    RECEDED 

Then  on  the  eighth  day  of  January,  1907,  the  International  Printing 
Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union,  acting  through  its  board  of  directors,  signed 
a  five-year  agreement  with  the  United  Typothetae  of  America.  As  far  as  the 
union  was  concerned  the  agreement  was  final,  but  as  to  the  typothetae  the 
agreement  was  subject  to  ratification  by  a  special  convention.  The  agreement 
was  practically  a  renewal  of  the  open-shop  compact  negotiated  some  years 
ago,  and  which  expired  on  May  1  of  this  year.  It  was  this  agreement,  it  will 
be  recalled,  that  was  rejected  by  the  executive  council  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union.  Tho  open-shop  clause,  which  is  now  clearly  understood 
as  such,  reads:  "The  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union 
shall  not  engage  in  any  strike,  sympathetic  or  otherwise,  or  boycott,  unless 
the  employer  fails  to  live  up  to  this  contract,  it  being  understood  that  the 
employer  fulfils  all  the  terms  of  this  contract  by  paying  the  scale  of  wages 
and  living  up  to  the  shop  practices  as  settled  by  the  committee,  regardless  of  " 
his  employes'  union  affiliations;"  •  •  •  The  shorter  workday  is  disposed 
of  thusly:  "It  is  expressly  agreed  that  until  January  1,  1909,  fifty-four  hours 
shall  constitute  a  week's  work,  and  that  thereafter,  during  the  life  of  this 
contract,  forty-eight  hours,  or  eight  hours  a  day,  shall  constitute  a  week's 
work;  arrangements,  however,  can  be  made  locally  to  bring  the  forty-eight 
hours  so  that  a  Saturday  half-holiday  can  be  enjoyed  without  overtime  cost 
to  the  employer,  it  being  distinctly  understood  that  the  employer  is  entitled 
to  the  forty-eight-hour  week  fifty-two  weeks  in  the  year,  except  where  legal 
holidays  intervene." 

PRESSMEN    REPUDIATE    THE    OPEN     SHOP 

The  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  was  in  con- 
vention at  Brighton  Beach  June  17  to  23,  and  the  session  will  for  all  time 
be  marked  as  one  of  the  most  important  ever  held  by  a  labor  organization. 
Open  shopism  was  repudiated.  The  officers  who  negotiated  the  open-shop 
agreement  with  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  were  also  repudiated.  With 
one  exception  these  officers  failed  of  re-election,  notwithstanding  that  they 
were  avowed  candidiates  and  were  earnestly  supported  by  their  fricntU.  The 
exception  escaped  defeat  only  because  of  dissension  in  the  delegation  repre- 
-•iiiting  the  union  in  which  his  opponent  held  membership,  several  delcaatrt 
from  this  union  voting  for  the  one  successful  administration  candidate.  Thru 
for  two  days  the  convention  discussed  the  typothetae  agreement,  it  was  con- 
sidered from  all  viewpoints,  many  of  the  delegates  who  advocated  its  ratifica- 
tion as  a  whole  doing  so  only  because  of  the  danger  of  placing  the  union  m 
a  position  to  be  charged  with  contract  breaking  »hould  the  agreement  be  re- 
pudiated.  The  opposition  to  the  agreement,  backed  by  the  new  administra- 
tion, was  successful,  and  by  a  close  vote — to*  to  «<* — the  convention 
to  ratify  the  open-shop  claiue  in  the  contract.  The  new  board  o(  .In 
was  instructed  accordingly,  and  also  to  demand  nine  hours'  pay  for  an 
liour  day.  In  event  the  United  I  'v  pot  beta-  refu«c  to  aitree  |<>  ttie 
as  ameniled,  thru  tlir  pi ..p..Miion  M  put  the  eight  hour  day  into  effect  is  to 
be  pl.M.'l  btfON  the  referendum.  The  revolution  adopted  read*'  "That  said 
agreement  is  hereby  ratified  and  approved,  provided  the  'open-shop'  clause  la 
'.  >n  out  and  an  amendment  it  inserted  providing  (or  nine  liour.'  pay  for 
die  eight-hour  day.  And  that  in  r\rnt  the  United  Ty  pot  he  tar  of  America 
ts  throe  amendments  our  board  of  .lire,  ton  1.  instructed  to  submit  the 
ion   a.   the   immediate   inauguration  of  the  eight  hour   day   to   1! 


B99 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

dum,  said  referendum  to  be  taken  thirty  days  after  such  rejection."  The 
president  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  was  in  attendance  upon 
the  convention   on   invitation  from   the   pressmen's   international   president. 

WHAT     THE     BOOKBINDER     THINKS 

In  the  March  number  of  the  International  Bookbinder  the  president  of  the 
International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  speaks  for  this  organization.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  the  pressmen  and  bookbinders  were  to  "co-operate" 
in  the  movement  for  the  eight-hour  day,  and  that  at  the  last  moment  the 
pressmen's  officers  threw  the  bookbinders  over  and  signed  the  open-shop  pact. 
We  quote:  "The  proposed  co-operative  action  decided  upon  by  both  conven- 
tions does  not  seem  to  have  received  serious  consideration  from  him;  the 
alliance  was  of  secondary  importance;  his  goal  seems  to  have  been  a  settle- 
ment with  the  typothetae  at  any  price.  He  has  succeeded.  We  do  not  be- 
grudge  him  the  victory.  So  far  as  the  bookbinders  are  concerned,  the  price 
is  not  suitable;  we  decline  the  bargain."  As  to  the  struggle  that  the  printers 
have  made  for  the  eight-hour  day  without  assistance  from  the  allies,  we  again 
quote  from  the  bookbinders'  president:  "As  to  the  utility  of  the  principle  of 
joint  issue  within  the  printing  trades  for  the  eight-hour  day,  or  any  other 
'  general  advantage,  I  fully  agree  with  him  and  have  often  so  expressed,  but 
that  the  struggle  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  for  the  shorter 
•  workday  during  the  last  year  and  a  half  has  made  it  more  difficult  for  the 
other  trades  within  the  alliance  'to  secure  instead  of  easier  accomplishment' 
I  take  issue,  and  can  not  for  the  life  of  me  understand  what  process  of  logic 
would  lead  to  such  a  conclusion.  On  the  other  hand,  I  feel,  and  have  no 
hesitancy  in  saying,  that  the  printer  has  cleared  the  way.  And  let  me  say 
further  to  friend  Higgins,  distasteful  as  the  thought  may  be  to  him,  that  I  am 
of  the  opinion  that  this  clearing  of  the  path  by  the  printer  is  the  prime  factor 
in  the  evolving  of  the  consideration  accorded  him  by  the  United  Typothetae  of 
America,  without  which  the  eight-hour  day  would  not  have  formed  a  part  of 
their  renewed   agreement." 

The  bookbinders,  by  referendum  vote,  determined  to  continue  their  eight- 
hour  agitation,  and  make  their  demand  on  October  i.  We  wish  them  the 
fullest  measure  of  success. 

Report  of  Convention's  Eight-Hour  Committee  —  The 
convention's  eight-hour  committee,  after  giving  full  con- 
sideration to  the  report  submitted  by  the  International 
president  and  also  to  several  propositions  offered  by  dele- 
gates, presented  the  following  report : 

Your  committee  has  carefully  reviewed  those  portions  of  the  report  of 
President  Lynch  referring  to  the  progress  made  in  the  eight-hour  campaign 
since  the  Colorado  Springs  convention  of  last  year,  and  also  the  report  of 
the  International  eight-hour  committee,  and  your  committee  expresses  the 
opinion  that  great  headway  has  been  made  during  the  past  year  in  the  en- 
forcement of  the  eight-hour  day  in  the  offices  that  joined  with  the  United 
Typothetae  of  America,  in  opposing,  or  were  members  of  the  United  Typoth- 
etae of  America,  and  opposed  the  establishment  of  the  shorter  workday. 

We  agree  with  the  statement  made  by  the  International  president  in  his 
report  that  there  never  has  been  brought  forward  an  adequate  and  indisputable 
reason  why  oar  book  and  job  members  who  are  skilled  in  their  branch  of  the 
trade  should  not  be  adequately  paid  and  enjoy  reasonable  hours.  We  also 
believe  that  the  apathy  and  neglect  of  self-interest  that  have  characterized 
the  book  and  job  printers  in  the  past  is  now  changed,  and  that  we  have  at 
least  aroused  these  members  to  a  realization   of  what  they  can   accomplish   and 

900 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

what  they  are  entitled  to  if  they  only   will.     We   reproduce  herewith  and  en- 
dorse the   following  declaration  by  the  International  president: 

"The  enforcing  of  the  shorter  working  day  in  the  commercial  offices  in 
the  International  jurisdiction  will  place  the  commercial  printing  business  on 
a  higher  plane,  will  bring  a  fair  reward  to  our  members  who  follow  the  com- 
mercial line  for  a  livelihood,  and  will  eventually  stamp  out  and  make  impos- 
sible the  cheap,  huckstering  and  unscrupulous  employer  competing  unjustly 
and  piratically  with  the  fair  employer." 

Exhaustive  reports  were  presented  by  the  convention  eight-hour  commit- 
tees to  the  gathering  in  Toronto  and  Colorado  Springs,  and  it  is  not  necessary 
that  your  committee  should  in  detail  allude  to  the  incidents  of  the  campaign 
prior  to  the  convention  of  last  year.  We  can  say,  however,  that  the  battle 
for  the  eight-hour  day,  as  conducted  by  the  International  eight-hour  committee, 
has  been  along  consistent  lines  since  its  inception,  and  that  the  main  object — 
the  establishment  of  the  shorter  workday — has  always  been  kept  in  view.  This, 
the  most  stupendous  contest  that  has  engaged  the  attention  of  organized  labor 
since  the  formation  of  trade  unions,  has  brought  luster  to  the  name  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union.  No  method  has  been  pursued  or  act  com- 
mitted which  the  organization  can  not  endorse  and  for  which  it  may  not  ac- 
cept the  full  responsibility.  We  have  come  through  a  great  industrial  battle 
with  inestimable  benefit  to  the  membership  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  and  we  believe  that  the  victorious  issue  in  this  mighty  conflict  will  ad- 
vance the  universal  eight-hour  cause  and  will  aid  millions  of  toilers  to  eventu- 
ally   secure   the   eight-hour   day. 

Your  committee  heartily  and  unequivocally  endorses  the  assertion  of  the 
International  eight-hour  committee  made  a  part  of  its  report,  and  which  we 
quote  herewith: 

"We  assumed  control  of  a  great  economic  movement  at  a  time  when  the 
International  Typographical  Union  was  at  the  height  of  its  power  and  strength, 
both  numerically  and  financially.  We  relinquish  our  task  with  the  eight-hour 
day  firmly  established,  and  with  a  membership  united  and  militant,  and  an 
organization,  from  a  trade-union  standpoint,  immeasurably  stronger  than  when 
the  battle  opened.  Henceforth,  that  employer,  or  association  of  employers, 
seeking  a  contest  with  the  International  Typographical  Union,  will  count 
well  the  cost." 

In  accordance  with  the  recommendation  contained  in  the  report  of  the 
International  eight-hour  committee  your  committee  advises  that  the  Inter- 
national committee  be  discharged,  and  that  the  work  of  winding  up  the  af- 
fairs of  the  eight-hour  movement  and  the  necessary  campaign  for  the  regain* 
ing  of  the  offices  that  have  been  lost  during  the  struggle  be  referred  to  the 
executive  council.  We  desire  to  especially  impress  on  the  council  ihc  new 
■ity  of  giving  attention  to  the  preliminary  work  necessary  in  order  I. 
force  the  eight-hour  day  in  Kansas  City  and  Nashville.  While  we  trust  that 
we  may  have  no  difficulty  in  those  cities,  yet  we  should  be  prepared  for  .1  < f 
ficulty  if  it  is  forced  upon  us.  The  eight-hour  day  must  be  enforced  in  the 
cities  named  and  in  all  localities  where  it  is  not  now  effective. 

For  the  pressmen  and  the  bookbinders  In  their  struggle  for  «hr  ei^M  hour 
day  we  have  the  greatest  sympathy  and  the  keenest  Interest.  We  believe  the 
rxreutive  council  should  be  instructed  to  render  all  possible  moral  aid  to  the 
allies  if  they  experience  difficulty  in  enforcing  the  shorter  workday.  This 
Is  especially  true  as  to  the  pressmen,  who,  we  undcr»und.  are  endeavoring 
to  shake  off  an  odious  open-shop  contract  and  to  also  secure  the  modification 
of  the  clause  In  that  contract  relating  to  the  date  for  the  enforcement  of  the 
eight-hour   day. 

As  thr  Inlrriiiiliini.il  prr«idcni  point*  "Ut.  the  United  I  v  not  beta-  of  Amer- 
ica will  undoubtedly  put  forth  rvrry  effort  to  the  end  that  the  preoanwn  may 
be  induced   t<>   defeat   the  tight  hour   legislation   proposed  by  their   recent  con* 

QOI 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

vention.  Intimidation,  falsification  and  secret  methods  will  be  the  weapons 
and  instruments  used,  and  our  executive  council  should  stand  ready  to  ac- 
cord all  possible  aid  to  the  officers  of  the  pressmen  in  their  efforts  to  secure 
an  expression  by  their  membership,  uninfluenced  by  the  dictation  or  efforts 
of  the  employers  who  are  opposing  the  eight-hour  day.  If  the  International 
Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  or  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  As- 
sistants' Union  should  desire  financial  assistance  from  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  the  executive  council  is  hereby  empowered  to  take  such  action 
as  the  council  may  deem  wise  and  necessary,  in  view  of  the  conditions  which 
may  then  exist.  And  finally,  to  the  bookbinders  and  pressmen  we  wish  the 
greatest  amount  of  success  in  their  efforts  to  secure  for  their  members  the 
great  boon   of  the   shorter  workday. 

As  to  the  present  assessment,   your  committee   feels  that   it   would   not  be 
safe  at  this  time  to  declare  it  off,  but  we   recommend  that  the  executive  coun- 
cil,   at   the   very  earliest   opportunity   consistent    with    the    safeguarding   of    our 
interests,  make  such  further  reduction  as  shall  be  possible. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

James  Tole, 
W.  B.  Atchison, 
Joseph  Maiden, 
Harry  L.  Young, 
William   G.  Murphy. 

Delegate  McCullough  (Omaha)  moved  to  amend  the 
report  as  follows : 

In  recommending  the  discharge  of  the  International  eight-hour  committee 
something  more  fitting  than  a  mere  vote  of  thanks  is  due  to  the  officers  who, 
in  season  and  out  of  season,  early  and  late,  constantly  and  unflinchingly  have 
labored  for  the  success  of  the  great  eight-hour  cause.  Resolutions  of  thanks 
are  at  the  best  but  a  passing  expression  of  opinion.  It  is  not  proper  for  this 
convention  in  a  monetary  sense  to  in  any  way  express  its  approval  of  the 
work  of  the  International  committee,  but  we  do  believe  that  a  memento  or 
token  of  appreciation,  in  substantial  and  lasting  form,  and  a  perpetual  re- 
minder of  the  gratitude  of  the  entire  membership  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  should  be  devised  and  presented  to  each  member  of  the  In- 
ternational committee.  To  this  end  a  committee  of  two  members  of  the 
committee  on  eight-hour  day,  one  of  whom  shall  be  the  chairman,  shall  be 
charged  with  the  task  of  devising  a  suitable  tribute  to  be  presented  to  each 
member  of  the  International  committee,  this  tribute  to  be  coupled  with  suit- 
able resolutions,  to  be  drawn  up  by  the  committee,  framed  and  presented  to 
each  member  of  the  International  committee,  and  that  the  cost  of  this  token 
and  the  framed  resolutions  be  borne  by  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

The  amendment  was  adopted.  The  report  of  the 
committee  was  then  adopted  as  a  whole  and  the  recom- 
mendations therein  were  concurred  in.  The  International 
eight-hour  committee  was  then  discharged. 

LOS      ANGELES     TIMES      AND      PHILADELPHIA 
INQUIRER 

The  story  of  the  progress  of  the  fight  against  the  Los 
Angeles  Times  and  Philadelphia  Inquirer  can  best  be  told 

902 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

by  reproducing  the  report  of  the  convention's  committee, 
which  follows :  „     „ 

Hot  Springs,  A*k.,  August  16,  1907. 
To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Your  committee  on  Los  Angeles  Times  and  Phila- 
delphia  Inquirer  respectfully   presents   the    following    for   your  consideration: 

Your  committee  has  carefully  considered  the  Los  Angeles .  Times  contest 
in  all  its  phases  and  details,  and  was  unanimous  in  its  determination  to  get 
at  the  facts  and  diligent  in  putting  that  determination  into  effect.  To  this 
end  we  called  before  us  Delegates  Fisk,  of  Seattle;  Young,  of  Portland; 
Sawyer  and  Scott,  of  San  Francisco;  Ryan,  of  Oakland;  Morse,  of  Pasadena, 
and  Hickman,  of  Los  Angeles.  These  gentlemen  were  questioned  exhaustively 
as  to  their  views  on  the  Los  Angeles  situation.  Your  committee  also  had 
before  it  for  several  hours  the  International  Typographical  Union  representa- 
tive in  Los  Angeles,  Arthur  A.  Hay.  Preliminary  to  his  examination  Mr.  Hay 
was  asked  if  he  would  answer  any  questions  put  to  him,  and  promptly  re- 
sponded that  he  would  be  pleased  to  do  so.  He  was  then  questioned  at  length 
by  the  committee  and  the  members  of  the  coast  delegation.  After  carefully 
considering  all  the  evidence  presented  to  it  your  committee  is  unanimous  in 
the  opinion  that  Mr.  Hay  has  put  into  effect  and  vigorously  forwarded  every 
method  that  could  possibly  be  devised  in  the  prosecution  of  the  campaign 
against  the  unfair  Los  Angeles  Times.  This  opinion  is  substantiated  by  the 
sentiments  expressed  by  the  members  of  the  Pacific  coast  delegation,  each  of 
whom  stated  that  Mr.  Hay  had  rendered  excellent  service.  Delegate  Hick- 
man, of  Los  Angeles,  coincided  with  this  sentiment,  and  also  testified  that  the 
honesty  and  integrity  of  Mr.  Hay  could  not  be  brought  into  question,  and, 
furthermore,   Mr.   Hay  had  accomplished  all  that  any  man  could  accomplish. 

Your  committee  commends  Mr.  Hay  for  his  exhaustive,  painstaking  and 
intelligent  conduct  of  the  battle  against  the  most  notorious,  most  persistent 
and  most  unfair  enemy  of  trade  unionism  on  the  North  American  continent. 

As  to  the  Los  Angeles  Times  contest,  your  committee  is  unanimous  in  the 
belief  that  that  contest  should  be  carried  on.  Without  question  the  Lot  An- 
geles Times  is  a  hard  proposition  to  proceed  against.  Firmly  entrenched  in 
its  position,  enjoying  a  remarkable  advertising  patronage,  reaching  a  clientele 
that  is  peculiarly  susceptible  to  the  anti  trade-union  views  that  it  expresses, 
it  can  be' easily  seen  that  the  movement  to  curtail  its  advertising  patronage 
and  limit  its  circulation  is  one  that  must  proceed  slowly,  and  in  order  to  be 
successful  requires  persistence  of  endeavor  and  undaunted  courage  in  execu- 
tion. The  International  Typographical  Union  is  in  this  fight,  and  the  organ- 
ization must  win  its  fight.  Your  committee  believes  that  Arthur  A.  Hay 
should  be  continued  in  charge  of  this  work,  and  that  the  fullest  monetary  sup- 
port and  executive  assistance  that  the  International  officers  can  accord  should 
In-  given  him  in  his  effort  to  bring  success  to  the  task  under  hi*  direction.  In 
this  connection  the  officers  and  members  of  our  local  union*  on  the  North 
American  continent  can  be  of  the  greatest  assistance.  The  Lot  Angeles  Timet 
enjoys  a  large  foreign  advertising  patronage.  These  patron*  can  be  reached 
if  the  membership  will  take  up  the  battle  tnd  make  of  it  their  battle. 

Your    committee    alto    endortet    and    recommends    to    the    convention    for 
adoption    the    following    resolution    introduced   by    Delegate   White,    of    |.o* 
gelet,   and   endorsed    by   Typographical    Union    X..     174: 

Win  (FAS   the    Los    Angclc*   Times,    having   secured   the    unlimited 
htcklng  of   the   National    Manufacturers'   Association  and  other   kindred 
itations   of   capital,    it   today   not  only   the   leading   exponent    of   the   to-ctdled 
"op«n    ilii>p."    Iiut    i»    the    nto,t    unfair.    uti«crupulou«   and    malignant    encn.  | 
organised    labor    in    America:    ami. 

Win  kin-,   the    limes  has   succeeded   In   practically  disrupting   many  of   lb* 

903 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

unions  of  Los  Angeles,  and,  unless  strenuously  opposed,  will  eventually  make 
that  city  thoroughly  non-union,  thereby  creating  a  breeding  place  for  strike- 
breakers   of   all    crafts    and    trades;    and, 

Whereas  if  unionism  is  crushed  in  Los  Angeles  it  will  be  but  a  short 
time  before  the  same  methods  are  applied  to   other  cities;  and, 

Whereas  the  International  Typographical  Union,  having  spent  more  than 
$50,000  in  an  effort  to  unionize  the  Times,  believes  the  struggle  in  Los  An- 
geles has  become  national  in  its  scope,  vitallv  affectine  all  organized  labor, 
and  should  therefore  be  financed  and  prosecuted  by  the  great  American  labor 
movement  through  its  recognized  head,  the  American  Federation  of  Labor;  and. 

Whereas  we  believe  that  if  this  course  is  pursued  it  will  mean  not  only 
the  unionizing  of  the  Los  Angeles  Times,  but  the  winning  of  a  victory  that 
will  be  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  cause  of  unionism;   therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  executive  council  be  instructed  to  prepare  resolutions 
to  be  presented  to  the  next  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor 
to  the  effect  that  a  per  capita  tax  of  1  cent  per  month  be  levied  on  all  mem- 
bers of  the  federation,  the  money  raised  thereby  to  be  expended  by  a  rep- 
resentative appointed  by,  and  under  the  immediate  supervision  of,  the  president 
of  the  American   Federation   of  Labor;    and,   be   it   further 

Resolved,  That  the  executive  council  be  instructed  to  appoint  one  or 
more  representatives  to  attend  the  conventions  of  national  and  international 
organizations  and  endeavor  to  get  similar  resolutions  adopted  and  in  every 
way   to   further   this   movement. 

As  to  the  contest  against  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer  your  committee  has 
interviewed  the  Philadelphia  delegation,  and  endorses  the  request  of  this 
delegation  that  the  fight  be  continued  along  lines  that  promise  the  maximum 
degree  of  success.  Your  committee  can  readily  see  that  the  eight-hour  contest 
in  Philadelphia  has  for  the  time  being  dwarfed  the  movement  against  the 
Philadelphia  Inquirer.  Your  committee  believes,  however,  that  when  eight- 
hour  affairs  in  Philadelphia  are  in  better  condition  and  our  interests  have 
assumed  their  normal  state,  that  the  movement  against  the  Inquirer  can  be 
again  taken  up  and  vigorously  prosecuted  to  a  successful  conclusion.  As 
with  the  Los  Angeles  Times  contest,  we  are  in  the  Inquirer  fight,  and  we  must 
stay  in  until  a  victory  is  secured.  Respectfully  submitted, 

George  W.  Ryan, 
Charles    R.    White, 
James  P.   Bowen, 
George  Wilby, 
J.    J.    Padden, 

Delegates  Riggins  (Tacoma),  Sawyer  (San  Francisco) 
and  Scott  (San  Francisco)  spoke  on  the  report. 

Delegates  Hickman  (Los  Angeles)  and  Young  (Mult- 
nomah) claimed  that  the  committee  had  partially  misrep- 
resented them  in  its  report. 

Delegate  Tracy  (San  Francisco)  said  that  Los  Angeles 
Typographical  Union  was  rent  assunder  by  factions,  the 
condition  of  the  organization  being  very  deplorable,  and 
moved  to  amend  the  committee's  report  by  striking  out 

904 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

that  part  referring  to  factions  and  factional  differences. 
The  motion  to  strike  out  was  adopted.  The  report  of  the 
committee  as  amended  was  adopted  without  division. 

OLD      AGE      PENSIONS 

In  accordance  with  the  suggestion  contained  in  a  reso- 
lution adopted  by  the  Colorado  Springs  convention,  the 
president  appointed  a  committee  to  devise  ways  and  means 
for  the  establishment  of  a  pension  system  for  superannu- 
ated and  incapacitated  members,  this  committee  of  three 
being  charged  by  the  resolution  referred  to  with  the  task 
of  drawing  up  a  plan  and  reporting  it  to  the  Hot  Springs 
convention.    Referring  to  this  matter,  the  president  said : 

Now  that  a  great  eight-hour  contest  is  rapidly  drawing  to  a  close,  we  can 
give  attention  to  some  methods  and  features  that  have  hitherto  been  almost 
entirely  neglected.  It  is  true  that  the  pension  and  insurance  propositions  have 
been  before  two  conventions,  but  both  these  gatherings — that  at  Washington 
and  in  the  succeeding  year  at  St.  Louis — were  occupied  fully  with  the  con- 
sideration of  the  shorter  workday  movement,  and  were  not  in  a  position  to 
give  the  necessary  consideration  and  attention  to  the  suggestion  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  relief  measures.  This  relief  program  might  well  start  with  pen- 
sions for  the  incapacitated  and  superannuated.  It  should  not,  however,  be  per- 
mitted to  rest  with  the  establishment  of  such  a  pension.  It  has  long  been 
the  opinion  of  your  president  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  >- 
great  enough,  experienced  enough,  and  in  the  possession  of  the  necessary  ma- 
chinery to  establish  and  successfully  carry  on  out-of-work  benefits,  a  pension 
system,  and  last  and  greatest  of  the  three,  an  insurance  system.  The  present 
burial  fund  feature  has  demonstrated  that  an  organization  such  as  we  have 
can  supply  insurance  at  a  very  much  less  cost  than  insurance  can  now  be  had 
by  our  membership  in  purely  insurance  ventures.  If  we  can  succeed  in  ulti- 
mately establishing  this  insurance  feature,  coupled  with  the  pension  and  out- 
of-work  funds,  we  will  have  made  membership  in  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  so  valuable  that  in  case  of  industrial  disturbance  the  member  who 
might  otherwise  be  weak  will  hesitate,  for  purely  selfish  reasons,  foreign  en- 
tirely to  any  idea  of  obligation  to  his  fellow  man,  before  he  will  violate  his 
union  obligation.  This  suggestion  as  to  an  insurance  feature  i«  rntirc-ly  feas- 
ible, and  not  only  is  it  possible,  but  It  is  believed  that  the  time  i«  near  al 
hand  when  it  will  be  imperatively  necessary.  The  method  of  producing  printed 
matter  has  changed  radically  within  a  score  of  years,  and  there  is  reliable 
testimony  at  hand  to  warrant  the  statement  that  the  method  of  producing 
printed  matter  may  change  radically  within  thr  nrxt  score  of  years.  Kcgardks* 
of  the  process  under  which  ihe  world's  printing  will  »«•  produced,  one  fact  will 
always  remain,  and  that  is  that  a  certain  number  of  wageeamers  will  gain 
a  livelihood  tfcrtMafft  the  production  of  the  printed  word.  Wny  not  now.  through 
the  establishment  "f  the  three  fund*  alluded  In.  initiate  a  movement  whkfc 
will  cement  together  the  present  and  future  followers  of  the  compositors'  craft, 
and   In   this   way  make  of  our   union   an    instrument   that  will  always  he  In  a 

905 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

position   to   control  the   printing   industry,    no   matter   what   new  avenue   it   may 
explore  and  follow. 

A    SUCCESSFUL    INSURANCE    INSTANCE 

To  those  who  favor  the  insurance  idea,  the  plan  put  in  effect  by  one  of 
our  typographical  unions  will  be  of  interest:  To  each  six-months  member  of 
the  union  in  good  standing  there  is  issued  by  the  financial  secretary  a  benefi- 
ciary certificate,  entitling  the  beneficiary  therein  named  to  an  amount  equal- 
ing $i  per  capita  for  each  six-months  member  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  the 
holder  of  the  certificate.  A  warrant  for  this  amount  is  drawn  on  the  mortu- 
ary fund,  by  the  board  of  trustees,  as  soon  as  proof  of  death  is  established. 
It  is  provided  that  there  shall  be  collected  from  each  six-months  member  of 
the  union  the  sum  of  25  cents  each  week  for  four  weeks,  or  until  the  amount 
collected  shall  equal  $1  per  capita,  which  amount  shall  be  set  apart  for  the 
payment  of  death  benefits,  and  shall  be  separate  from  all  other  funds.  If 
the  amount  of  money  in  the  mortuary  fund  at  the  death  of  a  member,  or  mem- 
bers, is  not  sufficient  to  pay  all  benefits,  there  shall  be  a  pro  rata  assessment 
levied  on  all  six-months  members.  In  case  a  member  dies  and  the  beneficiary 
named  in  the  certificate  be  deceased,  and  no  other  beneficiary  be  known  to 
the  union,  the  union  shall  bury  the  deceased  member,  and  all  funeral  ex- 
penses shall  be  deducted  from  the  amount  called  for  in  the  certificate,  and  if 
a  balance  should  remain  it  shall  be  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  mortuary  fund. 
In  order  that  the  fund  may  meet  all  ordinary  demands,  enough  money  is  kept 
in  the  fund  to  pay  the  next  demand  upon  it.  Members  of  the  union  who  have 
had  continuous  membership  for  three  years  may  retain  their  membership  in 
the  mortuary  fund,  although  they  leave  the  city,  if  they  send  their  assessments 
of  $1  to  the  secretary.  Members  on  the  retired  list  may  retain  their  mem- 
bership in  the  mortuary  fund.  This  plan  was  put  into  effect  in  1892.  Previous 
to  that  benefits  amounting  to  about  $75  in  each  case  were  paid  out  of  the 
general  fund.  Under  the  present  plan,  the  benefits  received  from  the  local 
are  in  addition  to  the  benefits  received  from  the  International.  The  average 
number  of  deaths  in  the  local  union  has  been  four  a  year — the  highest  being 
five  a  year  and  the  lowest  three  a  year.  The  average  amount  paid  out  by 
the  local  on  each  death  was  $375,  though,  of  course,  the  amount  paid  depends 
on  the  number  of  members  in  the  local.  The  present  membership  of  this  local 
is  about  425.     There  were  four  deaths  among  the  members  last  year. 

For  the  information  of  the  delegates  to  the  Hot  Springs 
convention  and  especially  for  the  information  of  the 
old  age  pension  committee,  the  president  in  his  report 
included  the  report  of  a  committee  appointed  at  the 
forty-eighth  convention  of  the  International  Union  held 
in  Cincinnati,  which  had  investigated  the  pension  ques- 
tion. This  report  was  submitted  to  the  Washington  con- 
vention the  following  year,  but  was  rejected  by  that 
convention  on  the  ground  that  the  time  was  not  opportune 
for  favorable  action. 

The  committee  on  benefit  features  to  which  the  report 

906 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

of  the  old  age  pension  committee  had  been  submitted, 
offered  a  report  to  the  convention,  in  part  as  follows : 

Hot  Springs.  Ark.,  August  16,  1907. 
To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  the  International  Typographical   Union. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  The  committee  on  benefit  features,  after  carefully 
considering  all  propositions  intrusted  to  its  care  presented  by  the  delegates 
and  members  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  respectfully  submits 
the  enclosed  reports  and  recommends  that  the  special  committee  of  three  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lynch  be  given  the  privilege  of  the  floor. 

George  Boehler, 
Eugene  S.  Nordhaus, 
W.   H.   Stanley, 
H.  P.  Berkshire. 
H.   D.   Wallace. 

There  being  no  objection,  Messrs.  Coughlin,  Drackert  and  McCullough, 
of  the  old  age  pension  committee,  were  granted  the  privilege  of  the  floor  to 
speak  on  this  report  and  each  addressed  the  convention  at  length. 

Proposition   No.    143 — By   International   old  age   pension  committee: 
To  the   Officers  and  Delegates  Fifty-Third  Session   of  the   International   Typo- 

graphical   Union: 

Your  committee  on  old  age  pension  plan,  appointed  pursuant  to  resolution 
introduced  at  the  Colorado  Springs  convention,  respectfully  submits  the  fol- 
lowing: 

From  the  expressed  sentiment  of  the  membership  at  large,  gathered  through 
correspondence  and  through  the  Journal,  a  pension  for  the  old  members  of 
the  craft  seems  to  meet  with  general  approval. 

It  is  therefore  incumbent  upon  the  International  Typographical  Union  to 
devise  some  method  for  caring  for  our  old  and  infirm  members  who,  through 
their  steadfast  loyalty  and  many  sacrifices  to  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  have  made  our  present  organization  possible — a  plan  that  will  insure 
them  against  abject  poverty  and  public  or  private  charity;  a  pension  suitable 
to  their  needs. 

Such  a  system  is  in  keeping  with  the  dignity  and  policy  of  the  organiza- 
tion, and  we  confidently  believe  that  the  referendum  will  heartily  support  a 
proposition   that   will  ultimately  bring  about  the  desired   results. 

The  recent  eight-hour  struggle  has  left  many  old  men  who  gave  up  {he  last 
position  they  would  ever  have  for  the  principle  and  honor  involved,  and  for 
these  benefits  lasting  and  positive  to  the  young  men,  the  old  men  have  sacri- 
ficed their  all,  thus  placing  the  International  Union  under  a  heavy  mortgage 
to  them,  since,  without  their  aid,  the  eight-hour  struggle  would  not  have  been 
so  successful. 

Considered  from  a  purely  sentimental  standpoint,  there  in  every  reason 
why  the  members  who  have  carried  the  burdens  and  fought  the  halt  lei  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  in  past  years  should  be  provided  for  tn 
some  manner  by  the  organization  thrv  have  supported  and  preserved,  when  their 
failing  powers  make  it  impossible  for  (Item  to  earn  a  compeMMt, 

I  h<  membership  must  Ik-  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  there  are  many  aged 
and  incapacitated  members  who  are  unable  to  avail  thcm»clvc«  tfl  the  t>rnrrtt<  •>< 
tin  Union  Printer!  Home  at  Colorado  Spring*,  because  of  family  tin  and  long 
associations  In  their  respective  localities      The  committee,  mindful  of  this  con* 

dition,    believe*    that    an    old    a«e    petition    i«    *    ».»luti.Mi    -i    the    question    that    CO*V 

frontl   the    International  Typographical   Union    ">   dtttamffkaf   Its  obligation   to 
such  members  as  can  not  take  advantage  of  tbt  Home  and  its 


900! 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Aside  from  the  sentimental  features  involved  there  are  at  least  two  other 
points  in  the  old  age  pension  plan  that  should  appeal  to  every  member: 

First.  As  an  organizing  factor  its  value  to  the  International  would  be 
inestimable.  To  the  printer  outside  the  ranks  it  is  sure  to  be  so  attractive, 
once  it  is  established,  that,  instead  of  remaining  outside,  a  constant  menace,  he 
is   sure  to   identify  himself   with  the  union. 

Second.  Because,  as  its  basic  feature,  it  has  a  provision  for  twenty  years' 
continuous  membership,  lapses  for  any  cause  are  sure  to  be  reduced  to  a 
minimum.  The  fact  that  the  International  will  reward  the  loyalty  of  its  mem- 
bers by  providing  for  their  declining  years  will  cause  many  to  consider  well 
before  severing  their  connection  with  the  organization  for  any  of  the  trivial 
reasons   which   now   influence   them. 

The  committee  has  gathered  data  from  many  sources,  both  in  this  country 
and  abroad,  together  with  propositions  and  communications  from  various  mem- 
bers, arid,  after  carefully  considering  the  same,  has  evolved  the  following  plan 
and  the  necessary  amendments  and  additions  to  the  laws  to  govern  same. 

It  is  apparent  to  your  committee  that  an  old  age  pension,  no  matter  how 
carefully  wrought,  or  painstakingly  considered,  is  sure  to  be  an  experiment,  yet 
we  submit  this  plan  for  your  earnest  consideration,  confident  that  experience 
will  point  the  way  to  needed  changes,  until  it  will  finally  rest  on  a  satisfactory 
working  basis. 

To   summarize,   the   plan   embraces   the   following: 

Age  of  eligible   applicants — 60  years. 

Continuous  membership  in  the  International  Typographical  Union — twenty 
years. 

Number  of  eligible  applicants  in   the  jurisdiction    (estimated) — 500. 

Amount   of   weekly   pension — $4. 

Source  of  revenue  for  fund — one-half  of  1  per  cent  weekly  assessment  on 
earnings   of  membership    (estimated) — $168,000. 

Amount   disbursed   yearly    (estimated) — $104,000. 

Balance    for   sinking   fund,    administering   and   incidental   expenses — $64,000. 

Qualifications  of  applicants  are  based  on  twenty  years'  continuous  member- 
ship for  members  60  years  of  age,  who  earn  less  than  $4  per  week,  in  any  one 
week,  and  who  have  no  other  income  or  means  of  support.         , 

The  report  of  the  committee  was  adopted  and  referred 
to  the  committee  on  laws.  The  laws  committee  presented 
to  the  convention  the  constitutional  amendments  necessary 
to  make  the  old  age  pension  system  effective  and  the 
referendum  enacted  these  laws  by  a  large  majority.  The 
amended  laws  will  be  found  in  the  synopsis  of  this  con- 
vention under  the  heading  "Constitutional  Amendments." 

TRADE     AND     TECHNICAL      SCHOOLS 

The  attention  of  the  Colorado  Springs  convention  was 
directed  to  trade  and  technical  schools  in  the  annual 
report  of  the  president.  It  was  apparent  that  the  demand 
for  these  schools  had  increased  during  the  year  following 

908 


Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907 

that  convention.  Unquestionably  the  attention  of  the 
public  was  being  centered  on  the  proposition  to  teach 
trades  in  much  the  same  way  that  common  school  educa- 
tion is  secured,  and  it  was  believed  that  the  trade  unions 
would  be  compelled  to  give  attention  to  this  new  move- 
ment which,  it  was  admitted,  if  properly  directed,  would 
be  of  great  benefit  to  all  crafts,  but  if  ignored  and 
frowned  upon  could  be  made  an  instrument  for  the 
disruption  of  conditions  that  the  trade  unions  had  estab- 
lished after  years  of  effort  and  the  tearing  down  of  the 
wage  scales  that  had  been  so  patiently  built  up.  If  the  boy 
or  the  young  man  could  master  a  trade  in  a  two-  or  three- 
year  course  in  a  trade  school,  was  it  reasonable  to  suppose 
that  this  boy  or  young  man  would  consent  to  serve  an 
apprenticeship  of  four  or  five  years  in  a  mill  or  factory? 
This  was  a  question  asked  by  the  president  in  his  report, 
which  also  said  that  when  the  wage  earners  considered 
the  trade  school  idea  it  should  be  done  with  minds  free 
from  prejudice,  lack  of  selfish  interests  and  from  a  purely 
judicial  standpoint.  The  concluding  paragraph  on  this 
subject  is  taken  from  the  president's  report,  as  follows : 

The  trade  school  is  here.  Is  it  not  better  to  encourage  it.  and  if  the  time 
is  not  at  hand  when  this  is  possible,  at  least  not  combat  the  trade  school  idea. 
but  make  effort  to  influence  its  course  of  instruction  so  that  its  graduates  will 
be  competent  and  skilled  mechanics,  and  not,  as  is  the  case  with  many  of  these 
alleged  schools  today,  turned  forth  with  only  a  knowledge  of  the  theory  of 
the  trade,  fo  work  an  incalculable  injury  to  the  skilled  artisans  who  depend  on 
their  avocations  for  their  daily  bread?  In  our  craft  trade  schools  are  being 
gradually  established,  and  this  is  especially  true,  of  course,  of  schools  that 
offer  facilities  for  securing  knowledge  of  the  operation  of  the  various  makes 
of  typesetting  machines.  It  is  urged  that  at  least  some  attention  be  given  to 
the  idea  sought  to  be  conveyed  in  this  portion  of  your  president's  annual  report. 

The  Hot  Springs  convention,  evidently  impressed  with 
the  idea  of  supplementary  trade  education,  authorized  the 
creation  of  a  commission  to  deal  with  the  subject.  Fol- 
lowing the  authorization  given  by  the  convention,  a 
conference  was  held  in  Chicago  on  Monday  and  Tuesday, 
December  9  and    10,    1907,  between  James  M.   Lynch, 

909 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

J.  W.  Hays,  and  J.  W.  Bramwood,  representing  the 
executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  and  A.  H.  McQuilkin,  of  Chicago;  W.  B.  Prescott, 
of  Baltimore,  and  Frank  M.  Walker,  of  Houston,  consti- 
tuting the  commission.  Supplementary  education  for 
apprentices  and  journeymen  was  thoroughly  discussed 
and  plans  approved  for  the  furtherance  of  this  work. 
Inasmuch  as  this  history  contains  a  special  chapter  on  the 
subject  of  supplementary  trade  education  by  former 
President  Prescott,  further  space  will  not  be  devoted  to 
the  subject,  but  the  reader  is  respectfully  referred  to  Mr. 
Prescott's  monograph. 

AFTER     THE      CONVENTION 

In  the  interim  between  the  Hot  Springs  and  Boston 
conventions,  under  date  of  April  15,  1908,  a  circular  was 
issued  to  subordinate  unions,  requesting  a  referendum 
vote  on  the  repeal  of  section  109  of  the  general  laws,  as 
follows :  "The  competent  sub  oldest  in  continuous  service 
is  entitled  to  the  first  vacancy."  The  vote  on  this  question 
was  taken  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  section  3, 
article  xvii,  constitution,  which  provided  for  the  submis- 
sion of  any  proposition  or  amendment  to  the  membership 
when  fifty  subordinate  unions  had  petitioned  the  executive 
council  to  that  effect.  The  request  had  come  .from  New 
York  Typographical  Union  No.  6,  and  the  requisite 
number  of  endorsements  had  been  received  for  submission 
of  the  proposition.  In  order  to  facilitate  matters,  the  vote 
on  the  repeal  of  this  section  was  taken  at  the  same  time 
as  the  vote  for  International  officers,  May  20,  1908.  The 
membership  refused  to  repeal  the  section,  the  vote  being 
14,643  in  favor;  17,136  against. 

Officers,  1908-ipop  —  Officers  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  for  the  two-year  period  beginning 
November  1,  1908,  were  elected  May  20,  1908,  as  follows : 

910 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

President,  James  M.  Lynch,  Syracuse;  first  vice-president, 
John  W.  Hays,  Minneapolis;  second  vice-president,  Hugo 
Miller,  Indianapolis;  third  vice-president,  Daniel  L.  Cor- 
coran, New  York;  secretary-treasurer,  J.  W.  Bramwood, 
Denver.  Delegates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor — 
James  M.  Lynch  (president),  Syracuse;  Frank  Morrison, 
Chicago;  Max  S.  Hayes,  Cleveland;  T.  W.  McCullough, 
Omaha;  Hugh  Stevenson,  Toronto.  Trustees  Union 
Printers  Home — James  M.  Lynch,  Syracuse;  J.  W. 
Bramwood,  Denver;  Thomas  McCaffery,  Colorado 
Springs;  L.  C.  Shepard,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.;  W.  J. 
White,  San  Francisco;  Anna  C.  Wilson,  Washington; 
Thomas  F.  Crowley,  New  York;  T.  D.  Fennessy,  Los 
Angeles.    Agent — George  P.  Nichols,  Baltimore. 

Convention    at    Boston 

[1008]  —  The  fifty-fourth  annual  session  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  convened  in  Daniel  Sharp 
Ford  Hall,  Boston,  Mass.,  on  Monday,  August  10,  1908. 
Delegates  to  the  number  of  270  were  in  attendance  and  a 
large  part  of  the  1,500  ex-delegates  and  visitors  were  in 
the  galleries  when  Norman  E.  McPhail,  president  of 
Boston  Typographical  Union  and  chairman  of  the  local 
arrangements  committee,  called  the  convention  to  order. 
Rev.  Daniel  W.  Waldron,  chaplain  of  the  Massachusetts 
house  of  representatives,  delivered  the  opening  prayer. 
Mayor  Hibbard  made  an  address  of  welcome  on  behalf 
of  the  city  of  Boston,  and  Governor  Guild,  who  was  un- 
able to  be  present  on  account  of  illness,  was  represented  by 
William  M.  Olin,  secretary  of  state,  who  spoke  on  behalf 
of  the  commonwealth.  Hon.  John  N.  Cole,  speaker  of  the 
Massachusetts  Mouse  of  representatives,  and  publisher  of 
a  union  newspaper,  in  a  pleasing  address,  extended  a 
welcome  to  the  delegates  and  visitors.  John  H.  Fahcy, 
publisher  of  t lie  Boston  Traveler,  welcomed  the  delegates 

911 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  visitors  on  behalf  of  the  local  publishers'  association. 
Chairman  McPhail  then  briefly  recited  the  relations  of 
each  of  the  speakers  to  the  printing  trade,  and  handed  the 
gavel  to  President  Lynch,  who,  after  responding  to  the 
addresses  of  welcome,  declared  the  convention  ready  for 
business. 

Presentation  to  International  Eight-Hour  Committee  — 
At  this  point,  James  Tole,  president  of  New  York  Typo- 
graphical Union  No.  6,  was  granted  the  privilege  of  the 
floor,  and  as  chairman  of  the  presentation  committee  ap- 
pointed at  the  direction  of  the  Hot  Springs  convention, 
called  attention  to  the  action  of  that  body,  which  was  as 
follows : 

In  recommending  the  discharge  of  the  International  eight-hour  committee 
something  more  fitting  than  a  mere  vote  of  thanks  is  due  to  the  officers  who, 
in  season  and  out  of  season,  early  and  late,  constantly  and  unflinchingly  have 
labored  for  the  success  of  the  great  eight-hour  cause.  Resolutions  of  thanks 
are  at  the  best  but  a  passing  expression  of  opinion.  It  is  not  proper  for  this 
convention  in  a  monetary  sense  to  in  any  way  express  its  approval  of  the 
work  of  the  International  committee,  but  we  do  believe  that  a  memento  or  token 
of  appreciation,  in  substantial  and  lasting  form,  and  a  perpetual  reminder  of 
the  gratitude  of  the  entire  membership  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
should  be  devised  and  presented  to  each  member  of  the  International  com- 
mittee. To  this  end  a  committee  of  two  members  of  the  committee  on  eight- 
hour  day,  one  of  whom  shall  be  the  chairman,  shall  be  charged  with  the  task 
of  devising  a  suitable  tribute  to  be  presented  to  each  member  of  the  Interna- 
tional committee,  this  tribute  to  be  coupled  with  suitable  resolutions,  to  be 
drawn  up  by  the  committee,  framed  and  presented  to  each  member  of  the  In- 
ternational committee,  and  that  the  cost  of  this  token  and  the  framed  resolu- 
tions be  borne  by   the   International   Typographical   Union. 

Mr.  Tole  then  introduced  Charles  M.  Maxwell,  secre- 
tary-treasurer of  No.  6,  who,  in  an  appropriate  speech, 
presented  President  Lynch  with  a  handsofne  loving  cup, 
and  Secretary  Bramwood,  First  Vice-President  Hays  and 
Second  Vice-President  Miller  with  handsome  gold 
watches  and  chains  and  diamond  studded  charms.  The 
loving  cup  bore  the  following  inscription  : 

Presented  to  James  M.  Lynch,  president  International  Typographical  Union, 
by  the  members  of  the  organization,  as  a  slight  token  of  their  appreciation  of 
his  resourcefulness,  steadfastness  and  fidelity  as  chairman  of  the  eight-hour 
committee  during  that  memorable  contest  which  was  unique  in  the  history  of 
trade  unionism. 

Boston,  August   10,  1908. 

912 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

The  watches  bore  this  inscription,  the  only  change  be- 
ing in  the  name  of  the  officer: 

Presented  to  John  W.  Bramwood,  secretary-treasurer  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  by  the  members  of  the  organization,  in  appreciation  of  the 
services  rendered  by  him  as  a  member  of  the  eight-hour  committee. 

Boston,  August  10,   1908. 

Each  of  the  recipients  spoke  feelingly  in  expressing 
thanks  to  the  membership  of  the  International  Union  for 
the  appreciation  shown  the  executive  officers  as  evidenced 
by  the  tokens  presented. 

officers'    reports 

President's  Address  —  The  report  of  President  Lynch, 
as  usual  with  the  annual  presentations  made  by  that  offi- 
cial, was  written  in  an  optimistic  vein.  The  union  had  met 
with  reverses,  but  they  had  been  or  would  be  remedied; 
there  were  obstacles  to  overcome,  and  they  would  be 
conquered;  there  were  new  victories  to  be  achieved,  and 
this  would  be  accomplished;  there  were  abuses  to  be 
corrected  and  the  remedy  would  be  applied.  In  presenting 
for  the  eighth  time  his  annual  report,  the  president  said 
it  was  with  considerable  pleasure  that  he  was  able  to 
again  say  that  the  year  covered  by  the  document  had 
been  one  of  continued  progress  and  continued  up-build- 
ing. As  the  membership  was  aware,  the  organization  \\i- 
passing  through  another  panic  period,  the  intensity  of 
which  varied  in  different  localities,  but  the  general  burden 
of  which  rested  heavily  on  all.  Labor  organizations  usu- 
ally counted  themselves  fortunate,  if,  during  these  periods 
of  industrial  depression,  they  could  hold  their  own,  and 
in  many  trades  even  this  result  was  not  achieved.  The 
typographical  union  could  regard  itself  as  peculiarly 
fortunate  when  it  was  remembered  that  the  organization 
had  not  only  held  what  had  been  gained,  but  had  actually 
advanced.  The  weaker  points  had  been  strengthened  and 
the  strong  unions  more  firmly  entrenched.    A  spirit  of 

9«3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

confidence  and  reliance  pervaded  the  members  and  they 
had  cause  to  believe  that  there  was  no  obstacle  which 
could  present  itself  that  the  International  Typographical 
Union  could  not  successfully  overcome.  It  had  taken  part 
in  all  great  economic  movements;  it  had  supported  every 
proposition  that  impressed  it  as  for  the  betterment  of  the 
trades.  Subordinate  unions  in  various  localities  had 
manifested  an  interest  in  local  affairs  and  had  made  them- 
selves leaders  of  the  labor  movement  in  many  sections.  In 
brief,  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  its 
subordinate  bodies  were  awake  to  the  responsibilities  and 
interests  of  the  moment  and  the  possibilities  of  the  future, 
and  were  fulfilling  their  part  in  the  measures  that  made 
for  the  onward  march  of  the  trade  union  movement.  Con- 
tinuing, the  president  said : 

As  to  the  shorter  workday  situation,  that  is  now  in  such  condition  as  to 
require  only  brief  mention  in  this  report.  The  eight-hour  assessment  was  dis- 
continued on  March  i,  1908.  In  the  larger  cities,  where  contracts  previously 
prevented  the  inauguration  of  the  eight-hour  day,  we  have,  on  the  expiration 
of  these  agreements,  been  unusually  successful  in  our  efforts  to  secure  the 
shorter  day.  Toronto  and  Montreal,  Kansas  City  and  Milwaukee  are  safely 
in  the  eight-hour  column.  The  victory  is  of  such  importance  and  so  complete 
as  to  justify  a  jubilation  over  the  success  that  was  achieved.  In  Nashville  the 
nine-hour  contract  will  expire  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  and  immediate  steps 
will  be  taken  to  secure  the  eight-hour  day. 

Since  our  last  convention  was  held  the  pressmen  and  bookbinders  have  also 
gained  the  eight-hour  day.  The  pressmen  negotiated  unsuccessfully  with  what 
remained  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  for  the  shorter  workday,  and 
then  proceeded  to  carry  out  the  mandate  of  the  1907  convention  and  a 
number  of  strikes  resulted.  The  United  Typothetae  attempted  to  secure  an 
injunction  against  the  International  officers  of  the  pressmen,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  a  temporary  restraining  order,  which  later,  on  the  motion 
to  make  it  permanent,  was  vacated.  The  pressmen  have  been  so  successful  that 
the  eight-hour  day  may  now  be  said  to  prevail  in  that  trade.  The  bookbinders, 
owing  to  lack  of  finances,  were  not  as  fortunate  as  the  pressmen  in  the  gen- 
eral jurisdiction,  but  were  successful,  so  I  am  informed  by  their  officers,  in 
so  great  a  degree  that  they  consider  the  eight-hour  day  an  established  fact.  In 
the  other  trades,  the  stereotypers  and  photo  engravers  have  the  standard  work- 
day. So  that  now  we  can  say  that  in  the  printing  trade  the  eight-hour  day 
prevails.  The  goal  has  been  reached,  and  the  passage  of  time  will  only  more 
firmly  cement  and  make  permanent  the  shorter  workday.  While  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  bore  the  brunt  of  the  battle,  yet  I  believe  that  no 
member  regrets  that  fact.  We  are  the  giant  organization  of  the  printing  trades, 
and  naturally  the  giant's  share  of  the  work  falls  to  us.  If  we  do  that  work 
well,   we   do   not   need   to   count   the  cost. 

Our  Hot  Springs  convention  directed  the  executive  council  to  give  all  pos- 

914 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

sible  moral  aid  to  the  pressmen  and  bookbinders  in  their  struggle  for  the 
eight-hour  day,  and  further  provided:  "If  the  International  Brotherhood  of 
Bookbinders  or  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union 
should  desire  financial  assistance  from  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
the  executive  council  is  hereby  empowered  to  take  such  action  as  the  council 
may  deem  wise  and  necessary  in  view  of  the  conditions  which  may  then  exist." 
In  pursuance  of  the  action  quoted,  the  executive  council  loaned  $15,000  to  the 
International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders.  The  International  Printing  Press- 
men and  Assistants'  Union  did  not  ask  us  for  financial  assistance. 

IF    THE    PANIC    SHOULD    CONTINUE 

The  permanent  effect  of  the  present  industrial  and  financial  depression  on 
scales  of  prices  is  problematical,  but  there  is  no  question  about  its  present 
effect.  While  seeking  to  instil  confidence  in  the  public  mind,  the  newspaper 
employers  of  the  country  are  themselves  much  alarmed  and  especially  affected 
by  the  financial  stringency.  The  volume  of  advertising  has,  without  question, 
shrunk  tremendously.  The  position  of  the  publishers  was  strikingly  set  forth 
at  the  meeting  of  the  National  Board  of  Arbitration  in  December,  and  every 
attendant  at  that  meeting  was  impressed  by  the  evident  sincerity  of  the  pub- 
lishers in  explaining  the  effect  on  them  of  the  financial  adversity.  We  can 
not  ignore  this  sudden  development  in  financial  circles,  but  we  can  minimize 
its  effect  on  the  business  to  which  we  all  look  for  a  livelihood.  We  must  be 
prepared  to  meet  it,  and  we  should  study  the  situation,  in  order  that  its  effect 
on  our  wages  may  be  nullified.  We  are  not  in  any  way  responsible  for  the  so- 
called  panic,  and  we  can  at  least  maintain  that  our  wages  shall  not  be  reduced 
with  the  panic  as  an  excuse.  We  may  not  be  able  to  increase  wages  for  the 
time  being,  but  we  can  exert  every  effort  to  the  end  that  present  conditions 
may  be  maintained.  It  may  be  of  value  to  reproduce  herewith  a  portion  of 
the  report  of  your  president  to  the  Hot  Springs  convention.  When  this  report 
was  submitted  the  wave  of  prosperity  had  just  begun  to  subside,  and  its  retreat 
was  then  almost  imperceptible.  The  suggestions  contained  in  the  following 
quotation  arc  especially  important  at  this  time,  and,  it  is  believed,  may  be 
acted  upon  with  benefit  by  many  of  our  local  unions:  "Whether  justified 
or  not,  there  appears  to  be  a  feeling  of  uneasiness  permeating  the  business 
world  as  to  the  continuance  of  the  prosperous  times  that  have  been  uniform 
for  the  past  ten  years.  It  may  be  that  unpropitious  and  almost  unprecedented 
weather  is  underneath  this  uneasiness,  and  it  may  also  eventuate  that  there  is 
no  good  ground  for  this  feeling  of  what  may  be  termed  lack  of  complete  con- 
fidence. It  is  reasonable  to  suppose — and  this  supposition  may  be  shared  by 
the  most  extreme  optimist — that  we  will  not  have  always  with  us  the  pros- 
perity referred  to,  and  if  there  is  a  business  slump,  and  a  great  decline  in 
present  prices,  then  we  can  not  expect  to  continue  the  upward  trend  of  wages 
that  has  been  so  noticeable  in  recent  years,  and  eapccislly  during  the  past  year. 
Nothing  may  be  lost,  and  conditions  may  be  made  reasonably  permanent  by 
local  unions,  if  they  will  work  for  long-term  contracts  in  connection  with  new 
scales.  A  contract  for  a  three-year  term,  or  even  a  five  year  irrm,  may  be 
of  the  utmost  value  in  the  immediate  future.  If  a  Inuiness  slump  does  occur, 
then  under  these  contracts  we  will  have  conditions  nailed  down,  and  we  can 
only  be  affected  through  a  reduction  in  the  composing  room  force,  which  would 
tske  place  irrespective  of  the  scale.  The  suggestion  contained  in  this  para- 
graph should  have  the  careful  consideration  of  local  unions  and  especial! 
scale  committee*.  The  condition  of  business  baa  very  much  to  do  with  the 
Kale  of  prices." 

TMS    WOSK   Or   TNC    VIA! 

The   work   of   the   past   year   has  been   mainly   slong  the   lines  of  effort   at 
reclamation    of    those   offices   thst    were    lost,    temporarily    at    least,    during   the 

915 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

eight-hour  campaign.  In  this,  as  the  files  of  the  Typographical  Journal  will 
testify,  we  are  meeting  with  results.  An  office  secured  here,  and  another  office 
secured  in  another  locality,  and  this  continued  week  after  week,  represents  a 
yearly  total  justifying  all  of  the  expense  and  work  involved.  The  membership 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  at  the  present  time  is  perhaps  the 
best  indication  of  results  secured,  and  proof  that  the  work  has  been  effective. 
The  membership  today  is  but  a  trifle  less  than  at  the  time  the  eight-hour  diffi- 
culty occurred,  when  it  was  about  47,000.  Today  the  membership  is  about 
46,000.  The  reclamation  work  referred  to  will  be  continued  during  the  com- 
ing year.  It  has  been  the  desire  of  the  executive  council  to  eliminate  all  ex- 
pense following  the  recent  unpleasantness,  with  the  exception  of  that  involved 
in  the  effort  to  bring  back  into  the  fold  the  offices  that  have  strayed  away. 
Before  the  convention  opens  we  will  have  nearly  reached  that  desirable  posi- 
tion. This  means  the  elimination  from  strike  rolls  and  benefit  rolls  of  all  the 
members  affected  by  the  eight-hour  difficulty  who  at  this  time  are  beneficiaries 
from  the  International  funds.  No  organization  involved  in  difficulty  with  em- 
ployers carried  its  members  on  strike  and  benefit  rolls  as  long  as  has  the  In- 
ternational Typographical  Union  in  the  eight-hour  difficulty.  What  had  been 
a  right  and  of  Justice  should  have  been  done,  bid  fair  to  become  an  abuse.  Of 
course,  in  our  strike,  a  number  of  the  older  members,  abiding  loyally  by  their 
obligation  to  the  union,  were  involved,  and  it  will  be  impossible  for  these 
members  in  many  instances  to  again  secure  employment.  The  pension  fund  was 
designed  largely  for  the  protection  of  these  members,  and  beginning  August 
i  they  will  enjoy  the  benefits  01  that  fund.  As  to  the  other  and  younger  mem- 
bers, the  time  has  arrived  when  they  must  care  for  themselves,  and  the  date 
chosen  by  the  executive  council  for  this  renewed  assertion  of  self-reliance  is 
one  when  the  least  degree  of  hardship  will  occur.  The  industrial  depression 
has  to  an  extent  affected  the  printing  trade,  but  would  have  affected  it  to  that 
extent  whether  we  had  gone  through  a  strike  or  not,  and  therefore  can  not 
be  used  now  as  an  argument  for  the  continuance  of  benefits  or  special  as- 
sistance to  those  who  have  so  long  been  sustained  by  International  funds.  The 
outlook  is  a  bright  one.  That  we  will  secure  all  of  the  offices  that  were  lost, 
and  many  that  we  never  before  controlled,  is  the  belief  of  your  president. 
A  good  share  of  our  efforts,  as  much  of  our  money  as  possibly  can  be  appro- 
priated, and  our  very  best  talent,  should  be  expended  in  the  direction  of 
strengthening  the  International  Typographical  Union  at  every  point,  securing 
all  of  the  important  offices  that  are  without  the  fold,  and  the  bringing  of  the 
membership  to  the  highest  possible  degree  of  organization.  We  can  never 
bring  about  a  100  per  cent  union.  Thousands  and  thousands  of  printers  are 
employed  in  towns  and  hamlets  who  have  no  opportunity  or  occasion  to  join 
a  union.  It  may  be  that  the  extension  of  our  benefit  features  will  secure  a 
percentage  of  these  isolated  artisans,  but  we  can  never  hope  to  secure  all  of 
them.  We  can,  however,  organize  every  town  where  there  are  seven  or  more 
printers,  and  that  we  propose  to   do. 

AS    TO    AN    ENLARGED    COUNCIL 

For  some  years  there  has  been  persistent  agitation  for  an  enlarged  execu- 
tive council,  the  method  of  securing  this  larger  council  taking  varying  chan- 
nels. This  effort  to  increase  the  number  of  members  making  up  the  executive 
council  has  been  renewed  and  will  undoubtedly  come  before  the  Boston  con- 
vention. If  an  enlarged  executive  council  will  be  of  greater  service  to  and 
make  for  greater  strength  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  then  it 
goes  without  question  that  the  council  should  be  enlarged.  On  the  other  hand, 
if  an  enlarged  council  simply  means  increased  expenses  and  a  division  of  re- 
sponsibility, then  a  change  from  the  present  method  should  not  be  endorsed. 
During    the    eight-hour    strike,    covering    more    than    two    years,    the    executive 

9l6 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

council  met  every  day  that  the  president  was  at  headquarters.  Each  morning 
there  was  a  large  amount  of  business  to  transact,  and  it  was  this  prompt  at- 
tention to  business,  this  centralization  of  authority,  that  contributed  much  to 
the  winning  of  the  eight-hour  strike.  Maintaining  a  council  of  five  or  seven 
members  at  Indianapolis  during  the  period  covered  by  the  eight-hour  contest 
would  have  meant  a  large  outlay  of  money,  but  if  such  a  council  could  accom- 
plish greater  results  than  were  evident,  then  the  money  expenditure  would 
have  been  justified.  If  the  council  is  to  be  enlarged  it  should,  in  the  opinion 
of  your  president,  be  made  up  of  seven  members,  the  changes  to  consist  of 
making  the  first  vice-president  a  member  of  the  executive  council;  the  council 
then  to  consist  of  the  president,  first  vice-president,  second  vice-president,  third 
vice-president,  fourth  vice-president,  fifth  vice-president,  and  the  secretary- 
treasurer.  All  of  the  members  of  this  council  should  be  practical  printers  and 
typographical  union  members.  When  business  of  interest  to  the  allied  trades 
who  are  members  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  organized  into 
trade  district  unions  is  to  come  before  the  executive  council,  then  the  vice- 
president  for  that  particular  trade  should  act  as  a  member  of  the  council. 

Amendments  along  the  foregoing  lines  will  be  submitted  to  the  convention 
for  its  consideration  and  action. 

When  the  proposition  to  increase  the  number  of  members  making  up  the 
executive  council  was  before  the  Hot  Springs  convention  last  year,  your  presi- 
dent, speaking  of  the  proposed  amendment  to  law,  said  that,  "so  far  as  the 
members  of  the  present  council  were  concerned,  they  were  not  opposed  to  an 
increase  in  the  number  of  members  making  up  the  council.  As  an  officer  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union,  the  president  said  that  he  would  wel- 
come an  increase  in  the  membership  of  the  council,  as  that  would  simply  mean 
a  further  division  of  responsibility,  but  as  a  member  of  the  union  he  was 
strongly  opposed  to  an  enlarged  council.  He  believed  in  centralization  of  au- 
thority, because  then  there  was  greater  ease  in  holding  the  officers  having 
authority  responsible  for  their  acts.  He  was  against  an  enlargement  of  the 
executive  council  on  sectional  lines,  as  proposed  in  the  New  Orleans  proposi- 
tions. The  endorsement  of  sectionalism  would  mean  that  there  would  event- 
ually spring  up  a  northwest  typographical  union,  a  southwest  typographical 
union,  a  southeast  typographical  union,  a  northeast  typographical  union  and 
Canadian  typographical  union.  President  Lynch  believed  that  the  interesta  of 
the  members  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  were  identical,  irre- 
spective of  where  they  were  located.  And  he  sincerely  trusted  that  the  mem- 
bership or  the  conventions  would  never  endorse  a  sectional  division  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union.  He  made  the  foregoing  explanation  on 
behalf  of  the  executive  council,  so  that  the  position  of  the  member*  of  the 
council  might  be  known  to  all." 

In  setting  forth  the  failure  of  organized  labor  to  secure 
legislation  from  congress  the  president  reproduced  the 
reports  of  the  union's  representatives  at  the  labor  confer- 
ence that  was  held  in  Washington  in  March,  1908,  and 
attached  thereto  "Labor's  Protest  to  Congress"  and  an 
"Address  to  Workers,"  which  was  promulgated  at  that 
time. 

Old  Age  Pensions  —  The  Hot  Springs  convention  for- 
mulated an  old  age  pension  plan  which  was  later  ratified 

917 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

by  the  referendum.  This  plan  provided  for  an  assessment 
of  one-half  of  I  per  cent  on  earnings,  to  become  effective 
on  the  discontinuance  of  the  eight-hour  assessment,  the 
pensions  to  be  paid  five  months  after  the  discontinuance 
of  the  eight-hour  assessment.  The  eight-hour  assessment 
was  eliminated  on  March  I,  1908,  and  the  pension  assess- 
ment made  effective  on  the  same  day.  Regarding  the 
pension  plan,  the  president  said : 

It  is  impossible,  through  lack  of  actual  test,  to  give  information  as  to  the 
working  of  the  pension  plan.  It  must  be  in  actual  operation  for  at  least  one 
year  before  reliable  data  as  to  its  application  will  be  at  hand.  But  the  law 
itself  has  been  under  observation  and  criticism,  and  certain  amendments  sug- 
gest themselves.  The  revenue  is  raised  under  an  assessment  of  one-half  of 
1  per  cent,  while  all  other  International  revenue  is  secured  under  a  monthly 
per  capita  tax,  a  flat  rate.  While  it  is  believed  that  the  assessment  method  is 
the  most  equable  plan,  yet  the  fact  that  the  great  majority  of  local  unions 
collect  dues  at  a  flat  monthly  rate  and  that  the  International  per  capita  is  on 
the  same  basis,  makes  the  assessment  method  for  the  pension  fund  cumbersome 
and  confusing.  It  should  be  abolished,  and  a  flat  rate,  say  75  cents  per  month, 
substituted.  The  rate  suggested  will,  it  is  believed,  cover  all  International 
expenditure,  and  if  the  suggestion  is  adopted,  it  should  be  made  as  the  In- 
ternational per  capita  tax,  the  revenue  to  be  applied  to  all  purposes  now  cov- 
ered in  article  ix,  constitution. 

Considerable  objection  has  been  made  to  what  are  termed  the  "pauper 
features"  of  the  pension  plan,  and  this  objection  is  well  based  as  far  as  the  law 
is  concerned.  The  executive  council,  however,  has  adopted  a  broad  and 
liberal  policy  in  considering  pension  applications.  But  the  law  should  be 
amended.  The  words  "and  who  has  no  other  adequate  means  of  support,"  in 
section  6,  article  vi,  by-laws,  should  be  stricken  out.  With  this  amendment, 
any  member  who  has  reached  the  age  of  60  years,  and  who  has  been  in  con- 
tinuous good  standing  for  a  period  of  twenty  years,  and  who  finds  it  impossible 
to  secure  sustaining  employment  at  his  trade,  will  be  entitled  to  the  pension. 
Section  13,  article  vi,  should  be  stricken  out.  It  has  served  its  purpose. 
I  take  this  occasion  to  utter  a  word  of  caution  to  the  delegates  who  will 
make  up  the  Boston  convention  against  any  amendment  that  will  increase  the 
expenses  incident  to  the  pension  plan  other  than  as  outlined  in  this  section  of 
the  report.  As  far  as  your  president  is  aware,  no  other  great  labor  organization 
has  put  into  effect  a  pension  plan  from  an  international  standpoint.  We  must, 
for  the  protection  of  our  older  members,  and  for  the  honor  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  make  this  pension  plan  proposition  a  success.  One 
year  from  now,  after  payments  have  been  made  and  the  bulk  of  the  applica- 
tions are  practically  all  in,  we  will  be  in  a  better  position  to  judge  what  further 
amendments  may  be  necessary  and  what  additional  expense  the  revenue  to  the 
fund  can  stand.  To  overload  the  proposition  at  the  present  time  with  liberality 
and  sentiment  may  mean  its  failure,  and  that  is  an  eventuality  that  I  am  sure 
every  delegate  and  member  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  desires 
to  avoid. 

VALUE    OF    CONTINUOUS    MEMBERSHIP 

In   the   past   it  has  been   the   policy   of  many  members   of  the   International 
Typographical  Union   going  into  other  lines  of  industry  to   take  out  honorable 

9l8 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

withdrawal  cards,  or  sever  entirely  their  connection  with  the  typographical 
union.  Now  that  the  pension  law  is  operative,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that 
the  International  Typographical  Union  will  shortly  begin  to  pay  pensions  to 
members  eligible  under  the  law,  it  is  well  that  a  word  of  warning  should  be 
given  at  this  time  to  the  entire  membership  of  the  organization.  Members  who 
sever  their  connection  with  the  International  Typographical  Union,  either 
through  dropping  out  or  by  the  taking  of  withdrawal  cards,  by  that  action  and 
at  that  moment  terminate  their  continuous  membership,  and  in  order  to  be 
eligible  to  the  pension  fund  twenty  years'  continuous  membership  from  the 
date  of  reaffiliation  will  be  necessary.  Many  members  in  good  health,  and 
able  to  earn  a  livelihood  at  the  trade,  are,  as  is  human,  prone  to  be  careless 
as  to  the  pension  fund,  basing  their  attitude  on  the  insecure  foundation  of 
never  needing  the  assistance  that  the  pension  will  give.  Notwithstanding  this, 
there  is  not  a  member  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  today  who 
may  not  at  some  future  period  be  placed  in  the  direst  financial  need,  unable 
to  work,  or  unable  to  obtain  it  because  of  age  or  infirmity,  and,  needing  the 
pension,  then  find  that  he  is  ineligible  on  account  of  lapse  in  membership 
through  suspension  for  non-payment  of  dues  and  assessments,  the  taking  out 
of  an  honorary  withdrawal  card,  or  leaving  the  local  union.  This  applies  also 
to  those  members  who  go  into  other  lines  of  industrial  activity.  The  time 
may  arrive  when  they  will  find  it  necessary  to  return  to  the  compositor's  art 
for  a  livelihood,  and  will  reach  a  condition  in  which  the  pension,  small  as  it 
may  be  considered  by  those  in  the  full  possession  of  strength  and  the  ability 
to  work,  will  be  a  real  blessing  enjoyed  as  a  right  and  not  as  a  privilege. 
The  point  is:  Maintain  your  membership  in  good  standing  in  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  no  matter  where  you  are  or  what  vocation  in  life  you 
may  be  following. 

Other  benefit   features,  particularly  the  insurance  plan,   may  make   continu- 
ous membership  even   more  valuable  at  some   future  time. 

Typographic!,  —  Second  Vice-President  Hugo  Miller 
reported  a  very  quiet  year  in  Typographia  circles.  How- 
ever, the  German-American  branch  was  successful  in 
securing  a  wage  increase  in  several  cities,  notably  in  St. 
Paul,  Philadelphia,  Columbus  (Ohio),  Rochester,  Buf- 
falo, St.  Louis  and  Chicago.  During  the  year  one  lockout 
occurred  in  the  jurisdiction,  a  book  and  job  plant  in 
Newark,  N.  J.,  and  the  fight  was  still  on  when  the  report 
was  filed.  Consolidations  in  Pittsburgh  and  Philadelphia, 
throwing  some  of  the  German  members  out  of  work,  were 
also  unfortunate  affairs.  Mr.  Miller,  nevertheless, 
ported  the  Typographia  in  good  condition  financially,  it 
having  increased  its  old  age  pension  from  $4  to  $6  per 
week. 

Secretary -Treasurer's  Report  —  The  rc|>ort  of  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer Bramwood  began  with  a  summary  of  the 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  organization  for  the  fiscal 
year.  The  different  funds  were  given  in  full  and  a  table 
showing  the  assessments  paid  by  the  different  unions  to 
the  old  age  pension  fund  was  printed  in  the  report.  The 
total  receipts  for  the  year  were  $1,071,816.21;  expendi- 
tures, $833,799.96;  leaving  a  balance  of  $238,016.25. 

Home  Fund  —  The  increased  per  capita  tax  ordered  by 
the  Colorado  Springs  convention  of  1906  did  not  take 
effect  until  March  1,  1908,  and  the  executive  council  had 
found  it  necessary  to  transfer  $20,880.80  to  the  Home 
fund  during  the  fiscal  year,  this  sum  having  been  trans- 
ferred from  the  defense  fund.  The  report  of  the  Home 
trustees  showed  the  total  expense  of  maintaining  the 
Home  for  the  year  to  have  been  $79,080.45. 

Burial  Fund  —  There  was  a  decrease  of  twenty -three 
in  the  number  of  burial  claims  filed  during  the  year,  the 
total  being  538.  The  receipts  for  the  fund  during  the 
year  were  $39,366.40  and  the  expenditures  $38,650.  The 
death  rate  for  the  year  was  1.23  per  cent  of  the  average 
membership,  or  a  little  more  than  12  per  1,000. 

Membership  —  Under  the  caption  "Our  Membership," 
the  secretary-treasurer  said : 

The  per  capita  tax  payments  show  an  average  paying  membership  of  about 
43,000  for  the  first  nine  months  of  the  year,  and  approximately  45,000  for  the 
last  three  months  covered  by  this  report.  For  the  year,  the  average  member- 
ship, as  indicated  by  the  per  capita  tax  payments,  was  43,740,  an  increase  of 
1.383  over  the  average  membership  for  1907.  This  increase  in  membership 
and  the  addition  of  forty-two  unions  to  the  list  of  locals  is  encouraging.  The 
success  of  the  International  Union  in  its  eight-hour  movement  has  been  given 
the  widest  publicity,  and,  as  a  result,  locals  that  were  lost  during  the  progress 
of  the  fray  are  seeking  reinstatement,  and  towns  that  have  not  heretofore 
supported  locals  want  charters.  All  seem  anxious  to  obtain  the  eight-hour  day. 
These  incidents  make  it  only  fair  to  presume  that  greater  additions  to  the 
membership  and  list  of  unions  can  safely  be  expected. 

During  the  year  the  charters  of  twelve  unions  were 
surrendered  or  suspended,  with  a  total  membership  of 
101.  During  the  same  period  fifty-four  unions  were 
chartered  or  reinstated,  with  a  membership  of  594,  leav- 
ing a  net  increase  from  this  source  of  forty-two  unions. 

920 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

On  June  1,  1908,  there  were  618  local  unions,  divided 
thus:  English,  typographical,  575;  German-American, 
22  ;  mailers,  18;  newspaper  writers,  3. 

Cost  of  Eight-Hour  Struggle  —  From  the  reports  of 
1906,  1907,  1908,  the  following  figures  have  been  taken. 
The  grand  total  represents  the  cost  of  the  eight-hour 
fight  to  May  31,  1908: 

Summary  of  Expenditures  for  thr  Trrer  Years 
1906. 

Expenditures  from  International  defense  fund $815,291   80 

Ten   per   cent   assessment   retained   and    expended   by 

local    unions    651,791   73 

One-half  of  one  per  cent  assessment  retained  and  ex- 
pended  by   local   unions 96,645  57 

$1,563.7*9  «o 

1907. 

Expenditures   from    International    defense   fund $1,468,841    5s 

Ten   per   cent   assessment    retained   and   expended   by 

local    unions    500,487  49 

i.969.3»9  01 

1908. 

Expenditures  from  International  defense  fund 630,911  53 

Grand    total    $4,163,970  64 

The  foregoing  includes  $13,358  sent  to  California  lo- 
cals in  their  hour  of  need  in  1906,  and  $14,900  forwarded 
to  Los  Angeles  for  use  in  the  Times  fight  during  the  three 
years  indicated.  This  summary  does  not  include  local 
funds  or  moneys  derived  from  local  assessments  that  were 
expended  in  the  eight-hour  fight. 

CONSTITUTIONAL     AMENDMENTS 

Five  propositions  were  submitted  to  the  referendum 
by  the  Boston  convention,  all  of  which  met  with  approval. 
The  first  proposition  was  to  repeal  section  2,  article  i, 
constitution,  which  was  objectionable,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  five  unions  of  the  printing  trade  had  reached  an 
agreement  under  which  each  had  complete  autonomy. 
The  second  proposition  was  an  addition  to  section  2,  of 
article  ii,  constitution,  being  a  proviso  relative  to  "convcn- 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tion  laws."  The  third  amendment  arranged  for  a  consoli- 
dation of  the  various  funds  of  the  organization,  providing 
that  but  three  funds  should  be  maintained — the  general 
fund,  old  age  pension  fund  and  Home  fund.  The  fourth 
proposition  changed  the  manner  of  handling  appeal  cases 
by  requiring  that  local  unions  should  appeal  direct  to  the 
executive  council  and  thence  to  the  convention.  The  fifth 
and  last  proposition  was  a  minor  matter  intended  to 
regulate  the  time  that  amended  laws  should  go  into  effect. 
The  five  propositions,  with  the  vote  on  each,  follow : 

First  proposition — Amend  article  i,  constitution,  by  striking  out  section  2 
of  that  article.     The  section  eliminated  reads  as  follows: 

Sec.  2.  The  right  is  reserved  to  re-establish  jurisdiction  over  any  branch 
of  the  kindred  trades  whose  affairs  are  conducted  in  such  manner  as  to  menace 
the   welfare   of  the   International   Typographical   Union. 

Result  of  vote — For,  16,822;  against,  1,983;  majority 
for,  14,839- 

Second  proposition — Add  sub-section  to  section  2,  article  ii,  constitution, 
to  read  as  follows: 

(d)  The  convention  laws,  which  shall  contain  all  laws,  rules  of  order, 
committees,   etc.,   relative  to  the  convention   and   its  deliberations. 

Result  of  vote — For,  17,261;  against,  1,333;  majority 
for,  15,928. 

Third   proposition — Amend   article   ix,   constitution,   to   read   as   follows: 

ARTICLE    IX REVENUE   AND    FUNDS 

Section  i.  The  revenue  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  shall  be 
derived  as  follows:  From  dues,  which  shall  be  40  cents  per  month  per  mem- 
ber, and  an  additional  one-half  of  1  per  cent  assessment  on  earnings  of 'mem- 
bers for  old  age  pension  fund;  from  charters  for  subordinate  unions,  $5  per 
charter;  from  necessary  supplies,  at  prices  to  be  fixed  by  law.  International 
dues  for  each  month  shall  be  collected  by  subordinate  unions,  and  shall  be 
transmitted  to  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
before  the  20th  of  the  succeeding  month.  Unions  failing  to  comply  with  this 
provision  shall  be  considered  delinquent  and  debarred  from  benefits;  provided, 
that  unions  located  so  far  from  headquarters  as  to  make  it  impossible  for 
their  dues  to  reach  there  within  the  prescribed  time  shall  not  be  considered 
delinquent  if  their  remittances  bear  postmark  date  prior  to  the  15th  of  the 
succeeding  month. 

Sec.  2.  In  addition  to  the  monthly  dues  provided  in  this  article  every 
member  (except  members  of  the  Typographia  and  those  domiciled  at  the  Union 
Printers  Home)  shall  pay  the  sum  of  5  cents  monthly  as  a  subscription  to 
the  Typographical  Journal,  the  same  to  be  collected  with  the  monthly  dues 
and  transmitted  to  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Union,  to  be 
placed  to  the   credit  of  the   general   fund. 

Sec.  3.     The  dues  of  the  International  Union  shall  be  apportioned  to  the 

922 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

several  funds  as  follows:  15  cents  to  the  Union  Printers  Home  fund,  one- 
half  of  1  per  cent  on  earnings  of  members  to  the*old  age  pension  fund;  the 
balance  to  the  general  fund. 

Sec.  4.  The  general  fund  shall  be  used  to  defray  all  expenses  of  the  In- 
ternational Typographical  Union  except  disbursements  from  the  pension  fund 
and  the  Home  fund. 

Sec.  5.  On  the  death  of  each  member  in  good  standing  a  death  benefit  to 
the  amount  of  $75  shall  be  paid  to  the  proper  parties. 

Sec.  6.  All  moneys  to  the  credit  of  the  Union  Printers  Home  fund  shall 
be  transferred  to  the  treasurer  of  the  Union  Printers   Home  corporation. 

Sec.  7.  The  old  age  pension  fund  shall  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  main- 
taining and  disbursing  pensions  to  aged  and  superannuated  members. 

Sec.  8.  The  executive  council  shall  have  the  power  and  authority  to  trans- 
fer money  of  this  union  from  one  fund  to  another  whenever  deemed  necessary 
to  maintain  the  integrity  of  this  organization. 

Result  of  vote — For,  16,676;  against,  2,225;  majority 
for,  14,451- 

Fourth  proposition — Amend  section   i,  article  xi,  constitution,   to   read: 

ARTICLE   XI APPEALS. 

Section  i.  All  appeals  from  the  decision  of  a  subordinate  union  shall 
be  submitted  in  written  or  printed  form  only,  to  the  executive  council  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  (seven  complete  copies  of  all  papers  to  be 
supplied),  and  decisions  rendered  by  that  body,  except  in  cases  where  allied 
crafts  are  organized  as  trade  district  unions.  Should  either  party  feci  aggrieved 
at  the  decision  of  the  executive  council  he  shall  have  the  right  of  appeal,  in 
printed  form  only,  to  the  succeeding  convention  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical   Union,    which   judgment   shall   be   final. 

Sec.  2.  Appellant  and  respondent  shall  furnish  copies  of  papers  in  complete 
form,  on  each  other,  and  shall  be  entitled  to  submit  replies  to  these  original 
articles.     In  appeals  to  the  convention,  the  same  procedure  shall  be  followed. 

Result  of  vote — For,  17,254;  against,  1,603;  majority 
for,  15,651. 

Fifth  proposition — Amend  section  5,  article  xvii,  constitution,  by  adding 
the  words  "the  by-laws  and"  in  the  first   line. 

Sec.  5.  The  by-laws  and  general  laws  adopted  by  the  convention  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  shall  go  into  effect  at  the  same  time  as 
laws   and   amendments   submitted   to   the    membership   by   the   same   convention 

Result  of  vote — For,  17,661  ;  against,  1,036;  majority 
for,  16,625. 

'///«•  Priority  Law — Perhaps  the  most  interesting  <li<- 
cussion  that  took  place  upon  the  floor  of  the  Boston  con- 
\«  ntion  occurred  when  the  laws  committee  submitted  its 
report  upon  several  propositions  dealing  with  section  109, 
general  laws  (the  priority  law).  Several  propositions, 
respectively,  Nos.  89,  83,  84,  90,  132,  189  and  191.  all 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

dealing  with  the  subject  of  priority,  were  reported  unfa- 
vorably by  the  laws  committee,  with  the  exception  of 
proposition  No.  89  by  the  New  York  delegation,  which 
the  laws  committee  reported  favorably.  It  was  as  follows : 
"Amend  general  laws  by  striking  out  section  109  and 
substitute  the  following:  'Section  109.  Subordinate 
unions  may  decree  that  the  competent  substitute  oldest  in 
continuous  service  is  entitled  to  the  first  vacancy.'  " 

Delegate  Lawton  (Portland,  Ore.)  offered  the  follow- 
ing substitute:  "Amend  proposition  No.  89  to  read  as 
follows:  'Section  109.  Subordinate  unions  may  decree 
that  persons  considered  capable  as  substitutes  by  foremen 
shall  be  given  preference  in  the  order  of  their  priority  in 
the  filling  of  vacancies  in  the  regular  force  and  in  giving 
out  extra  work.'  " 

Delegate  Kleinhoffer,  of  the  committee  on  laws,  said 
that  the  propositions  under  discussion  had  been  carefully 
considered  and  the  report  submitted  was  in  response  to  a 
demand  for  local  autonomy  on  this  and  other  subjects. 
The  majority  of  the  committee  believed  such  matters  as 
this  should  be  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  membership. 

Delegates  Cahill  (New  York),  Nolan  (Boston),  Koes- 
ter  (Denver),  Lovy  (New  York),  Rosenson  (New 
York),  Calvert  (Fort  Smith),  Wenzel  (New  York), 
DeVoe  (Boston),  Sherouse  (Tampa),  Rice  (Seattle), 
Ottarson  (New  Haven),  Waterman  (Washington),  Car- 
roll (Providence),  Miller  (Toledo),  Miller  (Wheeling), 
Davis  (Denver)  and  Crane  (St.  Louis)  discussed  the 
propositions. 

The  substitute  of  Delegate  Lawton  (Portland,  Ore.) 
was  lost. 

The  favorable  report  of  the  committee  on  proposition 
No.  89  was  non-concurred  in  by  a  vote  of  125  to  63. 
There  being  no  objection,  the  New  York  proposition  (No. 
89)  was  declared  defeated  by  the  same  vote. 

924 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

All  of  the  remaining  propositions  referring  to  priority 
were  also  defeated.  Thus  the  convention  refused  to  en- 
dorse the  proposition  of  local  option  in  the  enforcement 
of  the  priority  law. 

By-Laws,  General  Laws,  etc.  —  In  addition  to  the  con- 
stitutional amendments,  several  important  changes  were 
made  in  the  by-laws  and  general  laws  of  the  organization. 
By  an  amendment  to  the  by-laws,  all  convention  commit- 
tees were  increased  from  five  members  to  seven  members. 
Another  amendment  provided  that  the  laws  committee 
shall  meet  in  the  city  where  the  International  Union  is  to 
convene  at  least  five  days  (instead  of  three  days)  before 
the  beginning  of  the  session.  A  law  governing  the  crea- 
tion of  a  committee  on  appeals  was  passed  at  the  Boston 
convention.  Under  the  provisions  of  the  law,  the  presi- 
dent may  appoint  the  appeals  committee,  or,  if  the  dele- 
gates so  desire,  the  committee  may  be  elected. 

Section  6,  article  vi,  by-laws,  a  part  of  the  old  age 
pension  law,  was  amended  by  striking  out  "and  who  has 
no  other  adequate  means  of  support."  Though  this  pro- 
viso had  been  inserted  in  the  law  at  the  Hot  Springs 
convention  as  a  precautionary  measure,  under  the  opera- 
tion of  the  law  it  was  found  that  this  restriction  could 
wisely  be  removed. 

The  general  law  which  denied  subordinate  unions  the 
right  to  erase  the  names  of  charter  members  from  their 
charters  and  substitute  others  in  their  places  was  ampli- 
fied to  provide  that  this  restriction  should  not  operate  to 
prevent  a  union  attaching  to  its  charter,  on  a  separate 
sheet,  a  sketch  of  the  delinquency  or  degeneracy  of  any 
person  whose  name  appeared  thereon  as  a  charter 
member. 

Among  the  resolutions  passed  by  the  convention  was 
one  requiring  that  a  label  agent  be  appointed  by  the 
president,  to  work  under  the  direction  of  the  executive 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

council  and  carry  out  its  instructions,  compensation  of  the 
agent  to  be  fixed  by  the  executive  council.  That  the  of- 
ficers, delegates  and  visitors  to  the  twenty-eighth  annual 
convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  be 
invited  to  be  the  guests  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  at  the  Union  Printers  Home  in  Colorado 
Springs  for  one  day  during  the  federation's  convention  at 
Denver,  and  that  such  sum  of  money  as  was  necessary  be 
appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  above 
invitation. 

NEW      AGREEMENT      WITH      STEREOTYPERS 

For  the  greater  portion  of  the  time  during  which  the 
eight-hour  difficulty  was  on,  the  International  Stereo- 
typers  and  Electrotypers'  Union,  under  agreement  with 
the  International  Typographical  Union,  paid  50  cents  per 
week  per  member  into  the  joint  defense  fund.  Early  in 
the  year  1907  the  stereotypers  claimed  it  was  impossible 
for  them  to  continue  to  pay  the  assessment  at  the  rate  of 
50  cents  per  week  and  requested  a  reduction  to  25  cents 
per  week,  which  request  the  representatives  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  did  not  feel  they  were 
justified  in  acceding  to.  The  stereotypers  then  declined  to 
pay  further,  and  thus  matters  stood  for  several  months. 
Later  negotiations  were  had  with  the  view  of  determining 
the  relations  that  were  to  exist  between  the  two  organi- 
zations and  they  resulted  in  the  agreement  which  follows : 

Agreement  Between  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  the 
International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union 

It  is  agreed  that  the  contract  heretofore  existing  between  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers' 
Union,  and  for  certain  reasons  ineffective  for  a  number  of  months,  is  hereby 
terminated,    and   that   this    action    is   mutually    satisfactory. 

It  is  agreed  by  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union  that  any  indebtedness  by  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Electro- 
typers' Union  to  the  International  Typographical  Union  at  the  date  of  signing 
this  agreement  is  hereby  canceled.  The  executive  council  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  believes  that  it  is  fully  justified  in  taking  this  action, 
as  a  recognition  of  the  earnest  and  aggressive  support  given  the  International 

926 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

Typographical    Union    by    the     International     Stereotypers    and    Electrotypers' 
Union   during   the   eight-hour   conflict. 

It  is  agreed  that  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union 
will  be  bound  by  the  arbitration  agreements,  covering  stereotype  or  electrotype 
departments,  already  executed  and  in  existence  between  tbe  American  News- 
paper Publishers'  Association  and  the  International  Typographical  Union,  which 
will  expire  on  May  i,  1912,  and  all  subsequent  agreements,  covering  stereotype 
or  electrotype  departments,  that  may  be  executed  up  to  the  date  of  an  agree- 
ment that  may  be  negotiated  between  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Elec- 
trotypers' Union  and  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  under 
which  an  arbitration  agreement  will  be  made  between  the  International  Stereo- 
typers and  Electrotypers'  Union  and  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  As- 
sociation, and  arbitration  contracts  covering  stereotype  or  electrotype  depart- 
ments negotiated  directly  between  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Asso- 
ciation and  the   International   Stereotypers  and   Electrotypers'   Union. 

It  is  agreed  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  Interna- 
tional Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union  will  in  the  future,  as  in  the 
past,  work  for  the  furthering  of  the  interests  of  both  organizations,  and  for 
the   success   of   the   trade   union   movement. 

Dated  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  June  24,   1908.  James  M    Lyhch 

J.   W.   Rkamwood, 
Hugo   Miller, 
Jakes  J.  Fuel, 
J.    Fsemoxt    Fret, 
Aug.  D.  Rohaiik, 
M.  J.   Shea, 
George  W.  Williams. 

AMERICAN      FEDERATION      OF      LABOR 

The  American  Federation  of  Labor  met  in  annual 
convention  in  1907,  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  November  11-23, 
inclusive.  A  summary  of  the  business  transacted  at  this 
convention  is  contained  in  the  annual  reports  of  officers 
submitted  to  the  Boston  session  of  the  International 
Union.  The  document  is  comprehensive  and  complete, 
and  contains  many  interesting  features  not  generally 
included  in  reports  of  this  character.  The  child  labor 
question,  eight-hour  workday,  boycotts,  relations  with 
manufacturers,  and  the  Los  Angeles  situation  were  among 
the  subjects  treated  in  the  report.  Regarding  the  Los 
Angeles  situation,  the  action  of  the  federation  is  sum- 
marized as  follows : 

The  committee  on  resolution!  reported  as  follows  on  the  resolutions  rela- 
tive to  the  situation  In  I.o»  Angeles,  In  whirh  the  International  Typographical 
Union  was  and  is  vitally  intere«te.|  "Your  committee  conrur«  in  the  spirit 
and  intent  of  this  resolution,  and  recommends  that  one  special  assessment  of  i 

927 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

cent  per  capita  be  levied  to  combat  the  work  of  the  manufacturers'  association 
in  Los  Angeles  and  other  places  where  similar  conditions  exist.  Your  com- 
mittee further  recommends  that  all  national  and  international  organizations 
directly  interested  in  this  situation  send  one  or  more  organizers,  as  per  the 
advice  of  the  executive  council  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  to  suc- 
cessfully prosecute  the  work  necessary  to  ultimately  organize  the  workers  of 
Los  Angeles  and  other  places  where  like  conditions  exist."  The  report  of  the 
committee  was  more  satisfactory  than  the  original  resolution,  in  its  financial 
aspect,  as  it  provided  for  an  arbitrary  instead  of  a  voluntary  assessment.  The 
American  Federation  of  Labor  very  quickly  arranged  for  the  prosecution  of 
the  work  in  Los  Angeles,  under  the  direction  of  Arthur  A.  Hay,  acting  as  a 
special  organizer  for  the  American  Federation  of  Labor.  Another  organizer, 
under  the  terms  of  the  committee's  report,  took  the  place  of  Mr.  Hay  as  the 
direct  representative  of  the  International  Typographical  Union.  The  move- 
ment against  the  unfair  Los  Angeles  Times  has  gone  forward,  with  added  im- 
petus and  strength. 

LOS     ANGELES     TIMES      AND     PHILADELPHIA 
INQUIRER 

The  report  of  the  committee  on  Los  Angeles  Times  and 
Philadelphia  Inquirer  contests  was  to  the  effect  that  the 
committee  had  carefully  considered  all  propositions  and 
correspondence  submitted  in  connection  with  these  con- 
tests. It  referred  to  the  fact  that  at  the  Hot  Springs 
convention  a  resolution  was  adopted  to  the  effect  that  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  be  induced  to  enter  the 
Los  Angeles  field  and  endeavor  to  unionize  that  city.  The 
federation  had  responded  to  the  request  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union  and  had  levied  an  assessment  of  one  cent  on 
each  of  its  affiliated  members.  The  result  of  the  action  of 
the  federation  had  been  the  keeping  of  from  five  to  ten 
organizers  of  the  various  international  unions  in  Los 
Angeles  for  the  last  six  months  of  the  year.  During  that 
short  time  much  good  had  been  done  in  strengthening 
existing  unions  and  organizing  new  ones.  Organizer 
Arthur  A.  Hay,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  work  in  Los 
Angeles  for  the  American  Federation,  maintained  that  it 
was  absolutely  necessary  to  build  up  the  general  labor 
movement  in  that  city  before  effective  work  could  be  done 
toward  unionizing  the  Times.  On  December  I,  1907,  Mr. 
Hay  resigned  as  organizer  for  the  International  Union 
and  was  succeeded  by  T.  D.  Fennessy,  of  Los  Angeles. 

928 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

In  May,  1908,  Mr.  Fennessy  resigned  and  was  succeeded 
by  W.  A.  McLernon.  The  committee  offered  a  recom- 
mendation that  the  contests  with  the  Los  Angeles  Times 
and  Philadelphia  Inquirer  be  continued  and  that  the 
executive  council  be  authorized  to  expend  such  money  in 
the  conduct  of  these  movements  as  in  its  judgment  was 
deemed  necessary,  and  the  convention  concurred  in  the 
recommendation. 

DISTINGUISHED     VISITORS 

At  the  afternoon  session  of  the  fourth  day  of  the 
convention  President  Lynch  announced  the  presence  of 
Charles  H.  Taylor,  jr.,  a  member  of  the  special  standing 
committee  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Asso- 
ciation. Mr.  Taylor  briefly  addressed  the  convention  and 
read  a  paper  by  H.  N.  Kellogg,  special  representative  of 
the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  who 
was  prevented  by  illness  from  addressing  the  delegates. 
The  president  then  introduced  John  Mitchell,  second  vice- 
president  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  and 
former  chief  executive  of  the  United  Mine  Workers.  Mr. 
Mitchell  spoke  as  follows  : 

In  coming  here,  I  have  no  constituency.  My  object  it  none  other  than 
that  I  might  have  the  opportunity  to  listen  to  the  delegates  and  of  learning 
more  about  your  organization. 

It  would  be  presumption  on  my  part  to  try  to  preach  trade  unioni»m  to 
such  an  organization  as  this  which  has  been  established  over  fifty  year*.  Your 
organization  was  born  and  reared  at  a  time  and  in  an  atmosphere  when  it 
was  not  fashionable  to  be  a  inrmlxT  of  such  an  organization.  Men  were  not 
proud  to  proclaim  that  they  were  a  member  of  a  trade  union  fifty  year*  ago, 
and  it  is  not  fulsome  praise  on  my  part  to  say  that  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  has  made  it  more  than  any  other  organization  of  its  kind 
respectable,  if  not  fashionable,  to  now  be  a  member  of  a  trade  union  orgj 

don. 

For  nt'iir  1I1. in  ten  years  it  was  my  proud  privilege  t>>  ditcvt  the  affairs  of 
Hi.-  I ' .  1 1 1  <■ .  1  Mine  Workers'  pj  nJntricaV  l>tinng  that  tune  we  had  many  tights, 
fights  that  shocked  the  conscience  of  the  American  public.  Hut  in  all  that 
1 1  in.-  I  nrui  1  .MiMiitrd  to  the  railing  of  a  strike  until  every  other  honorable 
tin. hi*  of  obtaining  peace  was  exhausted.  If  I  have  the  power  I  should  not 
dtprivt  any  one  of  tlirm  of  .mv  mtpoa  of  defense,  or  one  weapon  of  offeaaa. 
Il»-  organization's  best  0MtbO0a\  botwr,  vtfa  not  always  used.  The  policies 
of  this  organization  may  best  promote  the  membership,  than  by  the  policies  of 

ntly  organi/cd  trade  iinn-iiv  mtri national  and  national.  I  would  call  no 
strike    until   both    the   employe*  and  employers   had   exhausted  every   method   of 

94 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

conciliation  and  arbitration.  It  is  now  my  purpose  to  devote  the  few  years 
of  my  life  remaining  to  the  promotion  of  industrial  peace.  At  the  present 
time,  you,  especially  those  working  in  the  newspaper  offices  of  the  country, 
are  working  under  the  best  trade  agreement  possible.  I  don't  know  whether 
the  interests  of  capital  and  labor  are  identical,  but  capital  and  labor  have  many 
mutual  interests,  and  they  should  tend  to  the  industrial  prosperity  of  the  coun- 
try. It  has  been  my  experience  to  secure  the  best  division  of  profits  possible, 
and  I  believe  that  capital  and  labor  should  meet  in  conference  as  man  to  man 
of  equal  strength  deciding  as  to  what  our  individual  rights  and  privileges 
should   be. 

Let  me  say  this,  gentlemen,  it  is  my  earnest  belief  that  a  union  man  is 
and  always  shall  be  a  better  workman  than  a  non-union  man.  Unionism 
should  be  the  synonym  of  efficiency  and  good  workmanship,  and  so  it  follows 
that  a  union  employer  is  a  better  man  than  a  non-union  employer.  There  al- 
ways should  be  co-operation  as  far  as  possible,  and  when  it  comes  to  a  ques- 
tion of  division  of  profits  more  can  be  gained  by  a  peaceable  agreement.  In 
the  ten  years  that  I  directed  the  affairs  of  the  miners,  their  wages  were  in- 
creased over  ioo  per  cent  and  the  number  of  working  hours  was  reduced  25 
to  30  per  cent,  but  I  would  not  deprive  the  right  of  man  to  fight.  It  is  the 
right  of  man  to  a  closed  shop,  and  the  right  of  man  to  strike  makes  them  all 
reasonable. 

I  am  glad  to  be  here  with  you  gentlemen  today,  and  I  congratulate  the 
International  Typographical  Union  on  the  steady  progress  it  has  made.  Labor 
unions  will  come  to  be  a  still  greater  factor  in  the  industrial  face  of  the  world 
in  the  future,  and  after  this  I  shall  strive  in  my  new  work. 

You,  as  union  printers,  will  work  out  the  destiny  of  the  printing  trade. 
You  will  make  for  better  conditions  and  relations  in  the  great  printing  industry 
of  the  country.  Q 

AFTER      THE      CONVENTION 

At  a  meeting  of  the  New  York  branch  of  the  Printers' 
League  of  America,  held  on  October  6,  1908,  the  report 
of  President  Charles  Francis  was  submitted  and  ordered 
published.  In  view  of  the  friendly  position  occupied  by 
the  Printers'  League,  in  contrast  with  the  policies  pursued 
by  many  organizations  of  employers  that  had  preceded  its 
formation,  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Francis,  relative  to  rela- 
tions with  unions,  are  herewith  reproduced : 

We  are  nearing  the  close  of  the  second  year  of  our  existence  along  the 
lines  laid  out  by  the  Printers'  League,  and  during  these  two  years  our  mem- 
bership in  New  York  city  has  become  a  representative  one,  and  in  all  prob- 
ability the  most  powerful  in  point  of  the  number  of  employers  that  has  ever 
existed  in   this  vicinity. 

We  began  on  the  principle  that  other  organizations  had  been  a  failure  in 
their  negotiations  with  the  unions  and  had  really  caused  disruption  and  un- 
told expense,  which  had  to  be  borne  by  the  customer  and  employer,  and  re- 
flected its  baneful  effects  on  the  unions.  Our  basis  of  organization  was  wide 
open  as  to  its  membership;  no  one  was  barred  from  becoming  a  member  who 
lived  up  to  the  requirements  shown  forth  in  our  "plan  and  scope"  and  after- 
ward  in   our  constitution   and  by-laws. 

At   the   very   outset   we   found   the   unions   prepared   to   meet   us   with    open 

930 


Convention  at  Boston,  1908 

arms  as  soon  as  they  could  really  be  made  to  believe  that  we  came  to  them  as 
friends  and  co-laborers,  to  work  together  in  an  unbiased  manner  to  obtain,  so 
far  as  possible,  a  fair  remuneration  for  our  mutual  labors. 

It  goes  without  saying  that  the  methods  of  the  typothetx,  which  has  in 
its  recent  convention  declared  for  "war"  all  the  time,  are  not  in  consonance 
with  the  trend  of  the  times.  The  unions  are  here  to  stay  and  number  among 
their  members  probably  90  per  cent  of  the  high-class  workmen.  These  workmen 
are  beginning  to  learn  that  they  are  to  all  intents  and  purposes  our  partners  in 
business,  and  can  help  themselves  by  helping  us;  this  work  is,  however,  edu- 
cational and  will  take  time   for  its  fulfilment. 

Our  accomplishments  thus  far  are  the  peaceful  settlement  of  all  questions 
arising  between  the  employers  and  employes,  the  latter  constituting  the  three 
principal  unions  with  whom  we  have  to  deal. 

THE     REDEMPTION      OF      PITTSBURGH 

From  the  Typographical  Journal,  February,  1909: 

On  January  8,  1909,  an  agreement  was  entered  into  between  the  Pittsburgh 
Publishers'  Association,  composed  of  five  hitherto  non-union  newspapers,  and 
Typographical  Union  No.  7,  by  which  the  entire  composing  room  forces  of  the 
Gazette-Times  and  Post,  morning  papers,  and  the  Chronicle-Telegraph,  Press  and 
Sun,  evening  papers,  with  the  exception  of  three  foremen  who  are  exempted 
from  union  membership'  while  they  hold  their  present  positions,  will  hereafter 
comprise  only  members  of  the  typographical  union.  The  agreement,  which  was 
negotiated  and  signed  by  President  Lynch,  on  behalf  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  and  by  President  Men  and  Secretary  Lafferty,  of  Typograph- 
ical Union  No.  7,  was  ratified  by  a  unanimous  vote  at  a  meeting  of  the  union 
held  the  following  Sunday. 

The  memorable  strike  occurred  in  Pittsburgh  in  December,  1899,  and  at- 
tempts have  been  made  by  various  union  representatives  during  the  past  eight 
years  to  effect  a  settlement,  which  were  finally  crowned  with  success.  The 
Dispatch  was  the  only  paper  saved  to  the  union  at  the  time  of  the  strike,  but 
alKiut  two  years  ago  the  Evening  Leader  was  unionized,  and  since  that  event 
the  efforts  to  square  the  remaining  papers  have  been  especially  strenuous. 

For  eight  years  the  executive  council  has  worked  toward  the  end  that  has 
just  been  attained  in  Pittsburgh.  All  of  the  council's  plans  have  been  made 
effective  through  the  agency  of  President  Lynch  and  the  executive  officers  of 
No.  7.  While  full  meed  of  praise  should  be  accorded  President  Men.  Secre- 
tary Lafferty  and  their  co-workers  for  the  magnificent  result  attained,  yet 
former  Presidents  Dabney,  Bradley  and  Leighley  should  also  be  rcmembcrrd. 
These  were  the  officials  who  worked  with  the  executive  council  when  the  pros- 
pects were  discouraging  and  obstacles  and  disappointments  the  mo«i  |sj 
dence.  As  a  famous  admiral  said  in  an  equally  famous  message,  "There  to 
glory  enough   for   all." 

National   I.nbor  Tribune,   of   Pittsburgh,   in  its  account  of  the   meeting 
of   No.   7,   at   which   the   proposed   agreement   was   unanimously   ratified,  says: 

'  I  lir  mining  Sunday  was  held  in  the  Wabash  building,  and  long  before 
the  hour  for  the  starting  almost  r\ciy  ntrmlx-r  of  No.  7  was  in  the  hall. 
probably  three   hundred,  waiting   fur    President    Mtn   t"  call  time. 

"Afln  time  was  called  President  lynch  wan  o»kr,l  |0  take  the  chair,  which 
bt  did,  .in.l  th.  way  he  <li«i>ati  hr.l  l..i«mr»«  was  a  wonder.  The  scale  agreed 
upon  was  read  and  t.ikrn  up  atriatba  an.)  daMOtoad. 

"Wlirii  tin-  last  MCtfon  wai  read  an. I   P  ch  made  a  short  speech, 

and  the  question  was  called  for,  and  President  Lynch  said  that  all  in  favor 
of  adoption  say  'Ayr.'  Utrre  was  such  a  response  that  it  almost  lifted  the  roof 
ol   the  Wabash  building,  and  all  opposed  'No,'  there  was  a  silence  as  intense 

931 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

as  the  grave;  and  when  he  decided  that  it  was  carried  unanimously,  hats  were 
thrown  into  the  air,  men  hugged  one  another  and  a  general  good  feeling  pre- 
vailed." 

The  contract  is  not  all  that  President  Merz,  Secretary  Lafferty  and  Presi- 
dent Lynch  made  effort  for,  but  in  the  greater  part  of  its  provisions  it  is 
satisfactory,  and  at  its  expiration  can  be  made  more  so.  The  great  object 
was  accomplished.  Pittsburgh  is  a  union  city  in  the  newspaper  field,  and 
undivided  effort  can  now  be  given  the  job  interests — and  will.  That  the  mem- 
bers of  No.  7  appreciated  the  importance  of  securing  an  agreement  with  the 
so-called  open  office  newspaper  establishments,  and  that  the  contract  was  satis- 
factory in  its  essential  features,  is  best  evidenced  by  the  unanimous  vote  for 
the  ratification  of  the  instrument.  One  of  the  most  aggravating  situations  that 
has  confronted  the  International  Typographical  Union  has  been  eliminated, 
and  five  newspapers  have  been  added  to  the  union  fold. 

The  following  communication,  which  was  forwarded  to  the  Journal  by 
Secretary  Lafferty,  of  Typographical  Union  No.  7,  speaks  for  itself: 

"Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  January  21,  1909. 
Mr.   Thomas  E.   Griffin,  Foreman   Composing  Room. 

Dear  Sir:  The  Dispatch  has  accepted  the  contract  between  Typographical 
Union  No.  7  and  the  Pittsburgh  Publishers'  Association,  which  includes  the 
Gazette-Times,  Pittsburgh  Post,  Pittsburgh  Press,  Pittsburgh  Chronicle-Tele- 
graph and  the  Pittsburgh  Sun,  of  date  January  8,  1909,  for  the  term  of  five 
years.  Under  this  scale  the  rate  per  hour  is  fixed  at  60  cents,  seven  or  eight 
hours  constituting  a  day's  work. 

In  accepting  this  contract  the  Dispatch  Publishing  Company  desires  to  ex- 
press its  thanks  to  Typographical  Union  No.  7  and  the  members  thereof  asso- 
ciated with  the  Dispatch  for  their  loyalty  and  friendly  interest  in  its  welfare 
during  the  many  years  the  Dispatch  was  the  only  union  newspaper  in  Pitts- 
burgh and  prior  thereto.  In  recognition  thereof  the  Dispatch  Publishing  Com- 
pany hereby  notifies  the  members  of  Typographical  Union  No.  7  that,  until 
further  notice,  the  rate  of  61  cents  per  hour,  paid  under  scale  of  April  2, 
1903,  will  be  continued. 

Hoping   that   the   existing    friendly    relations   between   the   Dispatch   and    its 

employes    shall    continue    on   uninterruptedly,    and    with    kindest    greetings,    we 

are,  very  truly  yours,  _,        _,  „  „ 

The  Dispatch  Publishing  Company, 

(C.  R.  Sutpin,  Business  Manager.) 

RESIGNATION     OF     SECRETARY-TREASURER 
BRA  M  WOOD 

Under  date  of  February  I,  1909,  the  executive  council 
issued  a  circular  to  secretaries  of  all  subordinate  unions, 
as  follows : 

Office    of    the    Executive    Council,    International    Typographical    Union,    635-650 

Newton    Claypool    Building. 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,   February   1,    1909. 
To  the  Membership  of  the  International  Typographical    Union. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:     The  following  documents  are  self-explanatory: 

"Indianapolis,   Ind.,   February   1,   1909. 
"James  M.   Lynch,  President  International  Typographical   Union,   Indianapolis, 
Ind. 
"Dear  Mr.   Lynch:     I   desire  to  present  herewith  my  resignation  as  secre- 

932 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

tary-treasurer  of  the  International  Typographical  Union.  My  health  has  been 
such  for  the  past  six  months  that  I  consider  continuing  in  the  office  as  an 
obstacle  to  my  recovery. 

"In  presenting  this  resignation  I  desire  to  say  that  I  sever  my  official 
connection  with  the  International  Typographical  Union  with  considerable  re- 
gret, and  only  because  health  necessities  demand  that  procedure. 

"Yours  fraternally,  ...    „,    _  „ 

J.  W.  Bramwood. 

"Indianapolis,  Ind.,   February   i,   1909. 
"John  W.  Hays,  First  Vice-President  International  Typographical  Union. 

"Dear  Sir:  You  are  hereby  appointed  secretary-treasurer  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  vice  J.  W.  Bramwood,  resigned.  This  appoint- 
ment effective  from  this  date.  Fraternally, 

"James  M.  Lynch, 
"Hugo  Milleb. 
"Executive  Council  International  Typographical  Union." 

"Indianapolis,  Ind.,  February  1,  1909. 
"To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  Subordinate  Unions. 

"Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Make  all  International  Typographical  Union 
drafts,  chicks,  money  orders,  etc.,  payable  to  John  W.  Hays,  secretary-treas- 
urer. ..T  M      T 

James  M.  Lynch, 
"Hi  go  Miller, 
"John  W.  Hays, 
"Executive  Council  International   Typographical   Union." 

Following  the  resignation  of  Secretary  Bramwood  and 
the  appointment  of  First  Vice-President  Hays  to  fill  the 
vacancy,  the  executive  council  appointed  George  A. 
Tracy,  of  San  Francisco,  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  as  first 
vice-president. 

Convention   at   St.    Joseph 

[1009] — When  the  fifty-fifth  convention  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  opened  its  first  session  at 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  Monday,  August  9,  1909,  the  delegates 
were  called  to  order  by  Ben  F.  Hill,  chairman  of  the  local 
arrangements  committee.  After  an  invocation  by  Rc\ 
end  Father  Brady,  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church,  Mayor 
Clayton  was  introduced  and  instantly  made  friends  with 
his  audience  with  his  oratory,  inimitable  stories  and 
cordial  words  of  welcome.    The  mayor  quently 

applauded  during  his  address.  In  dosing  he  said: 
"When  the  local  union  conccivi  d  tin  idea  of  bringing  this 
big  convention  to  St.  Joseph,  their  committee  held  its  first 

*33 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

meeting  at  my  home.  They  came  to  my  den  for  inspira- 
tion, and  they  received  it.  I  wish  I  had  a  voice  in  this 
convention,  so  I  could  offer  a  resolution  to  name  St. 
Joseph  as  the  permanent  meeting  place  of  this  organiza- 
tion. In  the  name  of  the  citizens  of  St.  Joseph,  I  bid  each 
and  every  one  of  you  welcome  to  our  city,  to  our  homes 
and  to  our  hospitality." 

The  next  speaker  was  Louis  T.  Golding,  publisher  of 
the  St.  Joseph  News-Press.  After  a  kindly  greeting,  he 
devoted  a  part  of  his  address  to  pointing  out  the  many 
commendable  features  of  the  International  Union  and 
spoke  of  the  friendly  relations  which  had  long  existed 
between  himself  as  a  publisher  and  the  organization.  Mr. 
Golding  was  followed  by  George  C.  Crowther  in  an  elo- 
quent address.  Mr.  Crowther  became  a  member  of 
Leavenworth  Union  No.  45  in  1866,  and  was  later 
prominent  in  the  councils  of  St.  Louis  Union  No.  8.  G.  H. 
Larke,  publisher  of  the  St.  Joseph  Gazette,  was  the  next 
speaker,  and  in  a  particularly  pleasing  manner  invited 
those  present  to  make  themselves  at  home  while  in  the 
city.  President  Burnham,  of  St.  Joseph  Union,  convinced 
the  gathering  that  every  member  of  the  local  organiza- 
tion, as  well  as  the  citizens,  intended  to  do  their  utmost 
to  make  the  stay  of  the  visitors  as  pleasant  as  possible. 

President  Lynch  replied  to  the  several  addresses  of 
welcome  and  expressed  appreciation  both  for  himself  and 
the  assembled  guests.  He  then  declared  the  fifty-fifth 
session  of  the  International  Union  open  for  business. 

After  Secretary-Treasurer  Hays  had  read  the  list  of 
delegates,  the  chair  announced  the  appointment  of  the 
convention  officers  and  the  various  committees. 

BRIEF  REVIEW  OF  OFFICER  s'     REPORTS 

President's  Report  —  The  optimism  that  the  year  be- 
fore characterized  the  report  of  the  president  was  again 

934 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

evident  in  the  address  of  that  official  presented  to  the 
convention.  The  president  said  : 

In  submitting  herewith  my  annual  report,  it  is  with  pleasure  and  gratifi- 
cation that  I  point  to  the  record  of  the  fiscal  year  just  closed.  We  have  in- 
deed progressed,  and  the  International  Typographical  Union  is  stronger  at 
every  point  than  it  was  one  year  ago.  Our  policies  are  gradually  claiming  the 
attention  and  receiving  the  commendation  of  all  who  are  interested  in  the 
trade  union  movement,  and  even  the  hostile  employers  are  reluctantly  com- 
pelled to  admit  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  is  rapidly  becoming 
a  model   organization. 

During  the  year  our  members  have  been  quite  generally  employed,  owing 
to  the  steady  increase  in  patronage  of  union  offices,  although  the  contrary 
has  been  true  as  to  the  non-union  offices.  In  the  main  I  attribute  this  pros- 
perity of  the  union  office  and  permanency  of  employment  for  our  member- 
ship to  the  aggressiveness  of  the  label  campaign,  so  persistently  conducted  from 
International  headquarters,  and  so  loyally  assisted  and  furthered  by  local 
unions,    acting   through    their    local   label    committees. 

The  pension  assessment  shows  that  our  membership  has  earned  during 
the  fiscal  year  about  $40,500,000,  and  this  is  indisputable  proof  of  the  quite 
general  employment  of  the  union  printers  and  the  permanency  of  that  em- 
ployment. 

Our  pension  venture  has  worked  out  better  than  the  most  optimistic  pension 
supporter  had  hoped   for. 

Our  technical  education  proposition  is  rapidly  ingratiating  itself  in  the 
esteem  and  support  of  the  membership. 

The  Union  Printers  Home  at  Colorado  Springs  is  in  good  condition,  and. 
nside  from  its  value  as  a  refuge  for  our  aged  and  incapacitated  members  and 
those  suffering  from  disease,  its  advertising  value  for  the  organization  can 
not  be  exaggerated. 

Our  organization  work  goes  on  with  gratifying  results.  In  this  respect 
we   go  neither  too   fast   nor  too   slow. 

Sanitary  conditions  in  composing  rooms  have  steadily  improved. 

We  obtained  a  high  place  in  the  general  campaign  against  the  great  white 
plague. 

U'c  have  been  associated  with  all  movements  having  for  their  object  a 
betterment   of  the   condition   of   the   toilers  of   the   country. 

The  label  campaign  has  been  auspiciously  inaugurated,  and  contains  prom- 
ise of  much  greater  results  as  it  is  gradually  developed  and  its  possibilities 
unfold. 

At  the  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  in  November  ot 
last  year  the  International  Typographical  Union  was  one  of  the  few  organiza- 
tions showing   a   gain    in    membership,    notwithstanding    the    panic  conditions. 

The  average  membership   for  the   year   is  44.0.11. 

We  paid  per  capita  tax  to  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  for  Um 
month  of  March  on  48,146  member*;  Apr tl.  4s.bj6  members;  May,  46.066  menv 
bers.  The  total  membership  taken  from  the  cjnar irr l>-  reports  on  April  3 
was  47.174- 

(lur  im.mrrs  are  in  a  good  con. In... n.  and  we  hope  during  the  cowing  year 
to  make  a  gain  in  this  respect,  as  we  do  not  anticipate  that  the  rails  from 
local  unions  will  be  near  as  heavy  as  they  have  been  for  the  past  two  or  thrc« 
years. 

All  in  all.  we  can  congratulate  ourselves  on  ikt  history  of  to*  Ascot  year 
ju»t  time. I,  and  ran  look  forward  to  atiothn  >r«i  with  the  hoot  and  COO» 
M  will  attend  all  our  kgitiaMta  efforts. 

935 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

As  set  forth,  the  pension  assessment  shows  that  our  membership  has 
earned  during  the  fiscal  year  ended  with  May  31,  about  forty  million  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  or  nearly  nine  hundred  dollars  average  for  every 
member  of  the  organization.  When  the  members  on  the  pension  roll  and  those 
domiciled  in  the  Union  Printers  Home  are  taken  from  the  average  member- 
ship, and  further  deductions  are  made  for  those  members  who  continue  their 
active  association  with  the  union  but  who  are  not  employed  at  the  trade,  and 
the  basis  of  calculation  is  thus  reduced  to  the  members  who  are  actively  work- 
ing at  the  trade  for  a  livelihood,  it  is  believed  that  the  average  wage  will  be 
considerably  more  than  nine  hundred  dollars  per  year,  and  that  it  will  closely 
approach  one  thousand  dollars  per  year.  The  total  amount  earned,  as  shown 
by  the  pension  assessment,  proves  that  our  membership  has  been  quite  gen- 
erally employed  during  a  year  which  has  been  severe  on  artisans  in  other 
industries.  The  wide  control  of  the  union  in  the  more  important  composing 
rooms,  the  fact  that  the  union  membership  embraces  the  most  skilled  artisans, 
and  the  additional  condition  that  industrial  peace  has  prevailed  throughout  the 
International  jurisdiction,  are  some  of  the  subdivisions  of  the  story  told  by 
the  immense  sum  earned  by  the  union  printers  of  the  country.  It  may  be 
that  in  some  cases  wages  have  not  been  advanced  to  as  great  a  degree  as  the 
members  affected  believed  was  justified,  but  throughout  the  jurisdiction  the 
figures  will  show  that  the  general  advance  in  wages  and  betterment  of  con- 
ditions have  been  most  satisfactory.  It  is  submitted  that  a  condition  such  as 
is  set  forth  by  the  earning  power  of  the  membership  is  one  that  must  be  con- 
served, and,  if  industrial  peace  brings  such  large  returns  both  in  a  financial 
way  and  through  steady  employment  to  our  members,  then  it  should  bo  cur 
aim  to   perpetuate  industrial   peace   in  every   honorable  way. 

I  am  opposed  to  strikes.  I  have  always  opposed  the  strike,  and  I  have 
sought  a  settlement  in  every  instance  where  trouble  did  occur  through  every 
channel  that  offered,  before  the  strike  was  resorted  to.  But  I  am  not  one  of 
those  who  would  abandon  the  strike  as  the  last  weapon  in  the  hands  of  or- 
ganized labor.  Where  the  employers,  through  their  associations,  are  fair; 
where  they  indicate  a  desire  to  enter  into  agreements  under  which  industrial 
disputes  can  be  adjusted  in  a  manner  that  gives  both  the  employer  and  em- 
ploye equal  opportunities  in  the  settlement,  then  I  am  for  that  policy  of  con- 
ciliation, arbitration,  or  adjustment.  On  the  other  hand,  where  associations 
of  employers  evince  the  disposition  and  manifest  the  tactics  that  were  so  con- 
spicuously indicated  by  the  typothetae  when  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  its  great- 
est power,  when  all  overtures  toward  peace  were  rejected,  then  I  am  for  bat- 
tle, and  a  battle  to  a  successful  end  forj  the  union,  despite  the  sacrifices  that 
may  be   called   for   and  the   treasure   that   may   be   expended. 

Without  question,  our  agreement  with  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association,  under  which  industrial  peace  in  the  great  newspaper  composing 
rooms  of  the  country  has  been  the  rule  for  the  past)  eight  years,  has  contrib- 
uted materially  to  the  earning  power  of  our  members  employed  in  the  news- 
paper branch.  The  general  peace  that  has  characterized  employment  in  the 
book  and  job  industry  since  the  great  eight-hour  strike  has  also  contributed  to 
the    financial    prosperity    of    that    portion    of    the    membership. 

In  brief,  under  our  policy  of  conciliation  and  harmony,  we  have  estab- 
lished a  very  favorable  condition,  and  one  that  should  be  fostered  and  con- 
served  through    fairness   and    diplomatic   negotiation. 

Mortuary  Benefits  —  On  the  very  important  question 
of  increased  mortuary  benefits,  the  president  expressed 
himself  at  some  length  on  the  theory  that  if  the  organiza- 


936 


■ 


J.   W.   MAYS.   Minncapom* 

Sccrctmry-Trraiurrr    lm<  .n.,t.,.n»l  Typographical  Union 

l-'rliruary   i.   1009-10— 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

tion  was  strong  enough,  and  if  its  past  career  and  future 
prospects  were  reassuring  enough  to  guarantee  an  insur- 
ance or  mortuary  benefit  in  a  reasonable  amount,  then  it 
was  asserted  that  such  mortuary  benefit  or  insurance 
benefit,  or  whatever  term  might  be  applied  to  it,  would 
knit  together  the  membership  and  make  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  a  much  stronger  organi- 
zation. 

Old  Age  Pensions  —  The  president  was  opposed  to  any 
amendment  of  the  pension  law  that  would  increase  the 
liabilities  of  the  International  for  the  payment  of  pen- 
sions. Speaking  of  the  balance  shown  in  the  pension  fund, 
it  was  pointed  out  that  the  liabilities  against  the  fund  had 
not  been  as  large  as  it  was  thought  they  would  be,  and  the 
collections  for  the  fund  had  exceeded  the  original  esti- 
mates. As  a  result  there  was  a  very  comfortable  balance 
in  the  pension  fund.  This  balance  had  caused  much 
discussion  and  a  reduction  in  the  pension  assessment  had 
been  advocated,  also  an  increase  in  the  amount  of  pension 
per  week  per  member  had  been  suggested.  The  president 
was  opposed  to  both  propositions.  To  justify  this  position, 
he  said : 

The  liabilities  against  the  pension  fund  are  continually  increasing,  and 
will  continue  to  increase.  While  the  balance  in  the  pension  fund  appears 
to  be  large,  that  impression  is  more  apparent  than  real.  In  any  event,  the 
pension  policy  should  be  guaranteed  by  a  fairly  large  balance  in  the  pension 
fund.  A  modification  of  the  twenty-year  continuous  membership  rule  has  been 
urged,  but  to  my  mind  that  would  weaken  one  of  the  b«»t  features  of  the 
pension  policy,  the  value  that  it  gives  to  continuous  membership  in  the  In 
ternational  Typographical  Union.  Some  of  our  members  Ix-ln-vr  that  the  re- 
quired number  of  years  of  membership  should  be  accumulative,  that  is,  that 
twenty  years'  membership  in  the  International  Typographical  Union,  even 
though  not  continuous,  should  tie  suttmrnt  log  thr  endorsement  of  a  pension 
spplication.  This  modification  would  of  necessity  apply  to  tbc  past,  ami  it 
is  submitted  that  as  a  matter  of  fact  the  International  Typographical  Union 
is  under  no  obligation  to  pay  a  pension  to  members  who  have  been  Men  for 
five  years,  ten  years,  fifteen  years  or  twenty  years,  who  have  reached  the 
age  of  sixty  years.  These  members  have  not  contributed  in  as  great  tttgnw 
to    die   rstal.lisliinrnt    of   thr    fund    for    pension    purposes.      From   many   points  of 

.  it  is  good  policy  to  pay  pensions  to  our  older  members,  but,  it  is  sub- 
nntli  .1.  it  is  no  hardship  on  tlir.r  older  mrmtirrs,  no  violation  of  any  obli- 
gation  that   is  due   tl'rm,  when   the   twenty  year   continuous  membership   feature 

937 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

is  insisted  upon.  Those  who  are  becoming  members  today,  those  who  have 
been  members  for  five,  ten  or  fifteen  y,ears,  will  see  to  it  that  their  member- 
ship is  continuous,  and  when  they  become  eligible  for  a  pension  they  will 
have  contributed  something  toward  the  maintenance  of  the  pension  policy. 
To  limit  the  continuous  membership  to  five  or  ten  or  fifteen  years,  to  make 
the  membership  accumulative  instead  of  continuous,  will  be  to  open  the  pen- 
sion fund  to  other  inroads  of  a  like  nature,  and  will  speedily  dissipate  the 
balance  that  now  appears  so  large  and  yet  that  can  be  most  expeditiously  dis- 
tributed if  the  utmost  care  and  vigilance  are  not  exercised  in  the  preservation 
of  the  main   features  of  the  law  as  it  stands   today. 

An  increase  in  the  amount  of  the  pension  paid  per  member  would  be  an- 
other imprudent  step,  imprudent  not  only  for  the  organization  itself,  but  to- 
ward the  individual  member.  It  was  never  intended  that  a  pension  should 
be  so  large  as  to  guarantee  a  good  livelihood  to  any  recipient,  and  certainly 
it  should  not  be  so  augmented  as  to  discourage  thrift  and  industry  in  the 
working  years  of  the  individual.  As  I  understood  it,  the  pension  is  intended 
to  furnish  to  a  member  sixty  years  or  more  of  age  and  incapacitated  for  work 
at  the  trade  an  amount  which  will  at  least  suffice  for  his  actual  support.  This 
is  exactly  what  the  present  pension  law  does.  To  increase  the  amount  will 
be  to  establish  paternalism  in  its  worst  sense,  to  undermine  that  self-reliance 
and  determination  to  succeed  that  should  characterize  every  worker  at  our 
trade,  to  pauperize  instead  of  fairly  assist  those  of  our  members  who  may 
later  find  it  necessary,  when  reaching  the  age  specified,  to  turn  to  the  pension 
fund   for  help  and  succor. 

Supplemental  Trade  Education  —  On  the  subject  of 
supplemental  trade  education,  the  president  had  this 
to  say : 

Our  movement  for  the  better  education  of  journeymen  and  apprentices  in 
our  trade  has  been  quite  successful.  The  report  of  the  commission  having 
this  subject  in  charge  goes  into  detail.  Movements  of  this  character  are  neces- 
sarily of  slow  growth.  That  the  journeyman  or  apprentice  can  be  taught  the 
art  of  good  printing  through  a  correspondence  course  at  first  does  not  appeal 
to  the  average  man  or  boy.  Gradually  we  are  overcoming  this  prejudice,  and 
our  commission  has  demonstrated  that  its  correspondence  course  meets  all  of 
the  requirements.  There  should  be  a  much  larger  number  of  students  than  we 
have,  but  notwithstanding  we  are  doing  very  well,  indeed,  and  it  is  hoped 
that  as  the  membership  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  gets  a  better 
idea  of  the  object  the  commission  has  in  mind  and  as  our  graduated  students 
demonstrate  their  greater  efficiency  in  following  their  trade,  that  the  increased 
knowledge  and  ocular  demonstration  will  prove  a  much  more  potent  lesson  than 
the  circulars  sent  out  by  the  commission.  The  secretary  of  the  commission  has 
addressed  several  local  unions  and  with  good  results.  There  is  another  feature 
to  this  work  that  should  be  touched  upon.  Our  technical  education  proposi- 
tion has  attracted  attention  from  the  press,  daily,  weekly  and  monthly  publica- 
tions frequently  mentioning  the  course  in  laudatory  terms.  Its  advertising 
value  must  be  taken  into  consideration,  and  without  question  this  venture  has 
aided  in  raising  the  International  Typographical  Union  ,to  a  high  place  in  the 
estimation  of  the  general  public.  The  attention  of  tjfe  delegates  and  of  the 
entire  membership  is  invited  to  the  report  of  the  corrfmission  covering  its  work 
for   the  fiscal  year. 

The  Label  Campaign  —  The  label  campaign,  under  the 
supervision  of  the  International  president,  was  fully  ex- 

938 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

plained.  It  was  asserted  that  the  work  as  conducted  from 
headquarters  had  very  forcibly  demonstrated  the  wisdom 
of  a  systematic  and  persistent  agitation  for  the  use  of  the 
union  label.    Continuing,  the  president  said: 

Not  only  have  our  efforts  against  the  non-union  printing  of  theatrical  at- 
tractions been  rewarded,  but  we  have  been  successful  beyond  expectation  in 
the  campaign  against  the  non-union  printed  matter  of  individuals  and  con- 
cerns. The  results  of  the  label  campaign  have  been  stupendous  and  will  never 
fully  be  realized.  Managers  of  summer  amusement  parks  have  signified  their 
intentions,  when  interviewed  by  label  committees,  of  having  future  orders  for 
printing  placed  with  union  concerns.  Theater  managers,  at  the  suggestion  and 
request  of  committees,  have  placed  their  programs  in  offices  having  the  use 
of  the  union  label.  Retail  grocers'  associations  and  ministerial  unions  hare 
taken  up  the  question  of  having  the  jnion  label  appear  on  all  their  printed 
matter.  Baseball  associations  have  passed  resolutions  making  the  use  of  the 
union  label  compulsory  on  the  part  of  the  different  clubs  affiliated.  Insurance 
companies  have  realized  that  it  is  easier  to  talk  protection  when  their  print- 
ing bears  the  union  label.  Much  work  has  been  accomplished  during  the  past 
year,  but  much  remains  to  be  done.  The  label  campaign  is  yet  in  its  infancy, 
and  when  developed  will  prove  of  incalculable  worth  in  diverting  orders  for 
printing  to  union  offices,  thus  giving  employment  to  our  members  when  non- 
union  printers  are  looking  in  vain   for   work. 

The  assistance  of  the  members  in  the  label  campaign 
was  much  to  be  desired,  and  the  president  emphasized  this 
in  the  following  language: 

If  each  member  could  be  interested  in  the  label  campaign,  and  could  be 
induced  to  contribute  individually  toward  making  it  a  success,  the  volume  of 
effort  would  be  replete  with  results.  As  we  can,  we  are  trying  to  interest 
more  and  more  members.  This  must  be  proceeded  with  carefully  and  slowly, 
as  is  true  of  all  union  ventures,  on  the  theory  that  it  is  better  to  gradually 
absorb  the  attention  and  interest  of  the  individual  rather  than  overburden 
him  with  union  requests  and  thus  paralyze  or  render  apathetic  his  union  in 
terest.  What  is  most  desired  is  that  our  members  will  call  to  our  attention 
printed  matter  of  general  circulation  that  is  produced  in  non-union  offices. 
Many  publications  containing  the  names  and  addresses  of  firms  engaged  in 
some  particular  line  of  industry  and  using  large  amounts  of  printed  matter 
are  issued,  and  if  copies  of  these  publications  were  sent  to  us  they  would  be 
of  great  aid  in  the  label  campaign.  This  is  al«o  true  of  many  other  panv 
pblfftt,  Imllris,  booklets,  etc.,  and  a  moment'*  UsOBfkl  >n  the  part  of  the 
member  when  thcic  ptintrd  volumes  come  to  his  attention  will  Oiow  whether 
tlir  label  campaign  could  be  advanced  by  sending  copies  t<>  headquarter*  II 
in  doubt.  Mini  thr  rc.jiics  to  US  and  WC  will  detcimme  Every  fie.e  «•(  printed 
matter  diverted  fnun  |  m>n  ummi  to  a  union  office  means  additional  rmplny- 
men!  f..r  nniim  mm  at  fair  wages,  under  fail  hour*,  ami  kg  lhi»  end  «u:elr  We 
can  all  exert  ourselves. 

The  endorsement  of  the  label  by  the  Farmers'  Co- 
operative Union  and  the  organization  of  a  label  depart- 
ment by  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  were  set  forth. 

939 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Organizing  Work  —  Speaking  of  the  work  of  organi- 
zation and  referring  particularly  to  the  official  duties  of 
organizers,  it  was  pointed  out  that  the  term  "organizer" 
was  considerable  of  a  misnomer. 

The  organizer  does  very  little  organizing.  Ninety-nine  per  cent  of  his  work 
embraces  the  negotiation  of  new  scales,  or  the  effort  to  reclaim  non-union 
offices.  It  might  be  much  better,  and  certainly  much  less  misleading,  if  the 
term  "organizer"  were  changed  to  "representative,"  or  some  other  equally 
appropriate  designation.  Typographical  unions  to  a  large  extent  are  organized 
by  card  men  working  in  unorganized  localities,  or,  when  the  time  is  ripe, 
through  that  desire  that  springs  up  in  the  human  breast  for  closer  association 
through  organization  in  the  effort  to  better  trade  conditions.  At  times  the 
services  of  an  organizer  are  necessary  in  order  to  give  force  and  direction  to 
this  new-born  desire,  and  when  opportunity  occurs  of  this  character  the  organ- 
izer is  promptly  furnished.  It  remains  true,  nevertheless,  that  this  work  is 
only  a  small  part  of  that  allotted  to  the  organizer,  and  that  his  main  duties 
consist  in  the  negotiation  of  new  scales,  the  smoothing  out  of  threatened  diffi- 
culties and  the  straightening  up  of  non-union  offices.  The  delegates  are  re- 
quested to  read  the   reports  made  by  these  painstaking  and  loyal   officials. 

It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  International  president  to  retain  the  experi- 
enced organizers,  believing  that  in  this  line  of  activity,  as  is  true  with  almost 
every  other  avenue  of  human  effort,  experience  educates  the  organizers,  that 
the  International  Typographical  Union  pays  for  this  education,  and  that  it  is  a 
part  of  a  business  proposition  to  retain  the  skilled  and  highly  trained  organizers 
just  so  long  as  their  services  give  satisfaction.  In  this  connection  it  may  be 
well  to  repeat  the  observation  that  was  made  in  the  report  to  the  fiftieth  ses- 
sion, held  at  St.  Louis  in  August,  1904:  "It  has  been  my  aim  to  retain  in  the 
service  of  our  International  experienced  representatives.  No  removals  have 
been  made.  In  the  development  of  modern  industrialism  the  work  of  the  peace- 
maker is  of  supreme  importance.  Experience  fits  him  for  his  task,  and  the  more 
experience  the  better  is  the  organizer  qualified  to  grapple  with  the  varied  and 
trying  problems  that  are  presented  to  him  for  solution."  I  can  do  no  better 
than  to  add  here  a  part  of  my  report  of  last  year  referring  to  the  work  of  the 
organizers:  "In  this  field  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  are  saved  each 
year  by  the  organizers.  These  officials  are  rarely  sent  into  a  jurisdiction  until 
all  local  effort  at  adjustment  of  disputes  fails,  and  in  twenty-four  cases  out 
of  twenty-five  their  presence  is  most  earnestly  requested — -yes,  demanded — by 
the  local  union.  Let  it  also  be  said  to  the  credit  of  the  organizers  that  in 
nine  cases  out  of  ten  they  succeed  in  making  settlements  that  are  satisfactory 
to  the  local  unions." 

Finances — Under  the  caption  "Finances,"  the  presi- 
dent said  that  the  union  was  in  good  shape  and  that  the 
amount  of  money  in  the  treasury  was  far  in  excess  of  that 
usually  on  hand  during  normal  times.   He  then  continued  : 

When  the  executive  council  terminated  the  eight-hour  assessment  it  was 
estimated  that  the  amount  in  the  treasury  would  permit  the  council  to  carry 
the  contests  then  on  hand  and  to  finance  campaigns  for  the  reclamation  of 
unfair  offices,  until  the  local  unions  were  in  a  position  to  assume  these  finali- 
cial  burdens.      The   condition   of  the   treasury  today   fully  justifies   the   position 

940 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

of  the  executive  council  at  the  time  of  the  elimination  of  the  assessment.  We 
have  been  enabled  to  assist  local  unions  in  a  monetary  way,  gradually  reducing 
the  amount  of  this  special  assistance  until,  in  the  opinion  of  the  council,  and. 
in  many  instances,  in  the  opinion  of  the  local  unions  affected,  these  locals 
were  able  to  proceed  without  further  aid.  Of  course,  many  of  the  non-union 
offices  have  been  reclaimed,  as  the  official  magazine  has  shown  from  month  to 
month,  and  the  general  condition  is  gratifying  and  reassuring.  There  is  an- 
other phase  of  the  financial  proposition,  however,  that  should  have  careful 
attention  at  this  time.  During  the  pendency  of  the  eight-hour  assessment, 
local  unions  with  eight-hour  difficulties  exhausted  their  local  treasuries  and 
then  were  compelled  to  depend  entirely  on  the  International  for  such  money 
as  was  needed  to  finance  local  contests.  It  was  impossible  for  these  unions  in 
the  great  majority  of  cases  to  raise  money  by  assessment  for  the  reason  that 
the  International  assessment  was  so  high  that  the  burden  was  all  the  member- 
ship could  stand,  and  for  the  further  reason  that  the  usual  local  due*  were 
inadequate  to  the  emergency.  In  every  instance,  where  found  necessary,  the 
executive  council  responded  when  called  upon,  and  there  was  no  diminution 
in  the  intensity  of  the  conduct  of  any  local  contest,  so  far  as  the  financial 
features  of  these  contests  were  concerned.  But  this  very  policy  has  brought 
about  a  condition  under  which  local  unions,  or  many  of  them,  still  depend 
to  a  great  extent  upon  the  International  treasury  and  have  in  many  instances 
failed  to  make  adequate  provision  for  sufficient  money  with  which  to  properly 
conduct  local  business.  In  some  places  local  dues  were  reduced,  or  altogether 
abolished,  during  the  eight-hour  assessment,  and  while,  of  course,  where  abol- 
ished, these  dues  have  been  restored,  yet  in  some  cases  where  dues  were 
reduced  they  have  not  been  again  placed  at  a  figure  necessary  for  local  pur- 
poses. The  very  fact  that  there  has  been  during  the  past  two  years  between 
one  and  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  the  International  treasury  seems  to 
have  been  sufficient  warrant  on  the  part  of  some  of  our  local  unions  to  shoulder 
their   financial   responsibilities   on  the   International   organization. 

POSITION    OF    THE    EXECUTIVE    COUNCIL 

In  many  applications  the  council  has  refused  to  assume  these  financial  bur- 
dens, on  the  ground  that  the  local  unions  should  provide  for  them,  but  the 
demand  has  been  persistent  and  repeated  on  the  part  of  the  unions,  and  in 
most  all  the  cases  the  council  has  been  compelled  to  yield  in  the  end,  in  order 
that  local  dissatisfaction  and  discouragement  might  not  ensue.  In  instances 
where  the  council  has  refused  special  appropriations,  the  local  officers  have 
then  placed  the  refusal  before  the  local  union  and  have  pointed  to  the  Inter- 
national treasury  as  the  only  and  chief  argument  against  the  council's  position. 
It  may  be  that  a  centralized  treasury  would  be  a  good  thing  for  our  Inter- 
national organization.  However,  that  is  a  point  that  in  not  up  for  discussion 
at  this  time.  If  the  executive  council,  acting  for  the  International  Typographi- 
cal Union,  is  expected  in  thr  future  to  awimr  financial  responsibilities,  such 
as  outlined  In  this  section  of  the  report,  then  the  membership  nnut  provide  a 
fund  ailrquatc  for  the  increased  demands  that  will  be  made  upon  it.  At  the 
present  time  local  unions  are  entitled,  in  ca»c  of  dirtn-utty,  to  the  regular  strike 
benefits,  and  that  is  all.  Thr  other  money*  that  come  to  the  International 
headquarters  arc  intended  for  organisation  woik.  pobJkitJ  OMftfAlgH,  mimte 
nance  of  headquarters,  publication  of  the  Journal  and  such  other  feature*  a* 
may  be  deemed  necessary  to  keep  our  organisation  well  in  the  forefront  of 
thr  progrggg  that  is  being  made  by  like  combinations  on  the  tudu>tiial  field. 
It  will  bt  a  .li-titu  t  menace  and  calamity  if  the  amount  in  the  International 
treasury  is  primmed  to  drop  very  much  below  one  hundred  thousand  dollar*. 
Indeed,   it    would   l.r   the   l»-iirr   part  of   wisdom  If  provision  ahoald  bt 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

for  automatically  replenishing  the  treasury  when  it  falls  below  the  one-hundred- 
thousand-dollar  mark.  With  sinews  of  war  in  the  war  chest,  hostile  employers 
will  hesitate  before  they  risk  a  contest  with  our  International  Union.  But, 
it  is  submitted  that  the  sinews  of  war  can  not  remain  in  the  war  chest  if 
local  unions  are  encouraged  or  warranted  in  shouldering  their  chief  financial 
burdens,  aside  from  the  ordinary  running  expenditures,  on  the  treasury  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union.  A  pronouncement  made  by  the  conven- 
tion would  be  of  aid,  and  it  will  be  for  the  benefit  of  local  unions  if  their 
position  toward  the  International  treasury  is  distinctly  and  emphatically  out- 
lined at  this  time,  so  that  the  council  may  know  just  what  it  is  expected  to 
do  and  to  what  local  unions  are  by  right  entitled.  It  is  not  meant  by  this 
recommendation  that  the  hands  of  the  council  shall  be  tied  in  any  way  from  a 
financial  standpoint.  It  will  be  much  better  to  leave  the  executive  council  free 
to  act  and  to  make  appropriations  whenever  an  emergency  may  arise.  But  an 
intimation  to  our  local  unions  that  they  themselves  must  prepare  for  emergen- 
cies before  they  can  expect  their  sister  unions  to  come  to  their  rescue  will  be 
of  value.  We  have  had  instances  of  local  unions  clamoring  for  permission  to 
strike  when  we  knew  from  their  financial  statements  that  their  treasuries  were 
empty  and  no  preparation  had  been  made.  It  is  better  that  this  condition  be 
uncovered  at  this  time,  so  that  a  word  to  the  membership  may  be  sufficient 
to  again  impress  upon  them  that  eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  the  retention 
of  those  betterments  and  that  progress  which  during  the  past  five  years  have 
been  secured  at  such  a  great  outlay  of  money  and  such  a  tremendous  amount 
of  personal  sacrifice. 

Typographia —  Second  Vice-President  Hugo  Miller 
reported  that  business  in  the  German  printing  trade  of 
the  country  continued  stagnant,  another  daily  news- 
paper, the  Volksfreund,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  being 
compelled  to  suspend  during  the  year.  The  Typographia 
was  collecting  I  per  cent  on  the  earnings  of  its  members 
for  the  old  age  pension,  adding  $2  per  week  to  the 
International  pension  of  $4.  During  the  year  the  New 
York  wage  scale  was  renewed  for  a  period  of  two  years. 
At  Detroit  the  hand  men  received  an  increase  of  25  cents 
a  day.  At  Winnipeg  the  machine  scale  was  advanced 
from  $20  to  $22  per  week. 

Mailers  —  Charles  N.  Smith,  president  of  the  Mailers' 
Trade  District  Union  and  third  vice-president  of  the 
International  Union,  reported  on  conditions  as  he  had 
found  them  in  the  mailers'  branch  since  assuming  office 
on  November  I,  1908.  Controversies  existed  in  the  Bos- 
ton Mailers'  Union  and  some  strikes  which  occurred  in 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  New  York  Mailers'   Union  were 

942 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

covered  in  the  report.  Several  new  mailers'  unions  were 
organized  during  the  few  months  Mr.  Smith  had  been  in 
office  and  prospects  for  better  conditions  in  the  trade  were 
declared  to  be  bright  by  Vice-President  Smith. 

Secretary-Treasurer's  Report  —  In  accordance  with  the 
usual  custom  in  previous  reports,  Secretary-Treasurer 
Hays  began  with  a  summary  of  the  receipts  and  expendi- 
tures for  the  fiscal  year.  The  total  receipts  were  $716,- 
790.20  and  the  total  expenditures,  $458,061.73. 

Home  Fund  —  The  amounts  credited  to  the  Home 
fund  by  the  International  secretary-treasurer  in  the 
twelve  months  ended  May  31,  1909,  totaled  $86,518.31. 
All  Home  expenditures  are  made  under  the  direction  of 
the  board  of  trustees,  and  the  report  of  the  board  for  the 
fiscal  year  contained  a  statement  of  the  financial  transac- 
tions connected  with  the  institution  and  showed  the  total 
expense  of  maintaining  the  Home  for  the  year  to  have 
been  $72,598.94. 

Burial  Fund  —  Of  the  burial  fund,  the  secretary-treas- 
urer said  that  a  less  number  of  burial  benefits  were  paid 
during  the  fiscal  year  than  in  any  similar  period  since 
1903.  Claims  filed  and  paid  aggregated  509,  or  29  less 
than  in  the  year  immediately  preceding.  The  decrease  in 
the  number  of  deaths  during  the  first  five  years  alter 
1903,  with  an  increasing  membership,  seemed  to  indicate 
that  efforts  for  improved  working  conditions  and  the 
eight-hour  day  were  bringing  results,  at  least  it  was 
assumed  that  sanitary  workrooms  and  shorter  hours 
were  promoting  health  and  longevity  among  numl 
I  he  509  benefits  paid  amounted  to  T  ^s.  1 75,  or  about  85 
cents  per  member.  The  death  rati  for  the  year  was  1  1  ; 
l»«-r  1  rut  <>t"  the  average  membership,  or  a  little  more  than 
1  1  per  1,000.  The  average  death  rate  lincc  the  establish- 
ment of  the  fund  had  been  1.27)3  per  cent — 12  per  1,000. 

943 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Membership  —  Speaking  of  "Membership,"  the  secre- 
tary showed  that  the  per  capita  tax  payments  were  made 
on  an  average  paying  membership  of  44,921  for  the 
twelve  months  ended  May  31,  1909.  This  was  an  increase 
of  1,181  over  the  year  1908,  and  2,564  over  1907.  The 
average  per  capita  tax  collected  was  only  fifty-nine  short 
of  the  year  1906,  in  which  the  eight-hour  fight  began,  and 
was  1,812  less  than  in  1905,  in  which  the  average  was 
the  highest  in  the  history  of  the  organization.  On  the 
basis  of  the  last  three  months  of  the  fiscal  year  1908- 1909 
the  showing  was  more  favorable.  The  March  collections 
on  per  capita  tax  represented  48,246  members;  April, 
45>636,  and  May,  46,966,  making  the  average  paying 
membership  for  the  quarter  ended  May  31,  1909,  46,949, 
or  greater  by  215  than  the  average  membership  for  any 
fiscal  year  in  the  history  of  the  International  Union. 

During  the  year  the  charters  of  twelve  unions  were 
surrendered,  suspended  or  revoked,  with  a  total  member- 
ship of  eighty-four.  During  the  same  period  forty-six 
unions  were  chartered,  with  a  membership  of  570,  leaving 
a  net  increase  from  this  source  of  thirty-four  unions  and 
486  members. 

On  June  1,  1909,  there  were  652  local  unions,  divided 
thus :  English,  typographical,  605  ;  German-American, 
22  ;  mailers,  22  ;  newspaper  writers,  3. 

The  Pension  Roll  —  A  table  was  printed  showing  the 
unions  having  members  on  the  pension  list,  the  number  of 
members  on  the  pension  roll  from  each  local,  the  amount 
paid  to  them  and  the  total  membership  of  each  union. 
The  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  pension  fund  for  the 
year  were  as  follows  : 

RECEIPTS 

June     1,  1908 — Balance  in   fund $26,377   18 

May  31,  1909 — One-half  of  1  per  cent  assessment 201,468  69 

May  31,  1909 — Interest   1,415  65 

May  31,  1909 — Pensions   returned    56  00 

Total   $.-29,317   52 

944 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

EXPENDITURES 

Paid  to  pensioners $67,580  00 

Clerical    work 1 ,501  25 

Books   and    printing    455   35 

Expressage    13  75 

Total    $69,550  35 

Balance  in  fund  May  31,   1 909 %  1 59,767  17 

REPORT   OF  EXECUTIVE   COUNCIL 

Until  the  year  1908- 1909,  the  work  of  the  executive 
council  had  been  covered  in  the  president's  report.  Be- 
ginning with  this  fiscal  year,  however,  the  work  of  the 
council  is  covered  in  a  separate  document.  The  following 
is  quoted : 

The  executive  council  this  year  initiates  its  convention  reports.  This  report 
will  not  by  any  means  cover  all  of  the  business  transacted  by  the  executive 
council  during  the  fiscal  year,  but  will  deal  only  with  a  few  of  the  most  impor- 
tant features,  comprising  those  which  the  executive  council  believes  to  be 
deserving  of  special  mention,  most  of  which  cover  subjects  that  will  receive 
considerable  attention  from  the  delegates  to  the  St.  Joseph  convention. 

The  proposed  insurance  or  increased  burial  benefit  features  of  our  organ- 
ization have  been  receiving  a  great  deal  of  attention,  not  only  from  the 
executive  council,  but  also  from  a  large  number  of  our  members  in  various 
sections  of  the  country,  and  the  executive  council  in  this  report  undertakes  to 
show  to  the  delegates  and  members  what  the  expense  of  certain  features,  if 
adopted,  will  be.  With  the  figures  submitted  by  the  executive  council  the 
delegates  and  members  can  readily  figure  out  what  would  be  the  cost  of  any 
amount  of  insurance  or  burial  benefit  the  International  might  desire  to  pay. 

The  old  age  pension  that  is  being  paid  by  the  International  Typographical 
Union  has  received  so  much  favorable  comment,  both  inside  and  outside  the 
organization,  that  the  council  believes  it  worthy  of  special  mention  in  this  re- 
port and  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  should  take  advantage  of 
all  the  advertising  that  can  accrue  to  it  from  publicity  in  connection  with  this 
feature. 

Another  thing  which  the  executive  council  has  taken  up  that  has  never 
been  discussed  before  by  delegates  in  convention  assembled  is  the  increasing 
value  of  membership  in  our  organization.  Every  benefit  feature  added  to  our 
system  makes  membership  in  thr  International  Typographical  Union  more  valu- 
able, and  the  executive  council  believes  that  new  members  being  admitted  to 
the  union,  or  suspended  members  who  arc  reinstated  to  their  former  affiliation 
to  the  organization,  should  pay  therefor  a  price  more  nearly  commensurate 
with  these  ticnrfit*  than  has  been  the  custom  in  the  past,  ami.  therefore,  makes 
recommendations  along  these   lines. 

ving  that  the  work  of  organisation  In  Cuba,  Porto  Rico  and  Mexico. 
at  ret-oimiirnilr<l  by  ihe  Boston  r.>uvrntioii,  will  result  in  nothing  but  dtsaatl*- 
faction  to  a  large  majority  of  our  mrmt>rrs,  and  an  expense  to  the  Interna- 
tional far  beyond  what  the  tx-iict'it  prooibm  lo  he.  the  executive  council  baa  la* 
corporatcd  in  its  report  not  only  n»  own  ideas  on  what  the  Si.  Joseph 
lion  should  do,  but  has  OOpM  extensively  from  communication*  received  fr 
people  who  have  had  cm  ill  the  organisations  that   have  he. 

in  these  sections.     This   for   the  rnliithtrumrnt  of  the  delegate*  gad  member*. 

943 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

As  directed  by  the  Boston  convention,  the  executive  council  has  taken  up 
the  question  of  the  printing  of  return  cards  on  envelops  by  the  United  States 
government,  and,  in  this  report,  sets  forth  what  the  postoffice  department  has 
to  say  upon  this  subject,  and  also  copies  from  the  report  of  the  Third  Assistant 
Postmaster  General  recommendations  that  have  been  made  to  congress  along 
the  lines  which  we  desire  should  be  followed,  although  these  recommendations 
do  not  go  so  far  as  we  wish.  It  is  hoped,  however,  that  in  the  near  future  con- 
gress will  take  some  action  that  will  eliminate  entirely  the  printing  of  return 
cards  for  business  firms  or  private  parties  who  order  stamped  envelops  direct 
from  the  government. 

CONSTITUTIONAL      AMENDMENTS 

Four  constitutional  amendments  were  submitted  to  the 
referendum  by  the  St.  Joseph  convention. 

The  first  proposition  submitted  was  to  amend  section  I, 
article  i,  constitution,  by  striking  out  the  word  "type- 
founders." It  eliminated  from  the  constitution  and  laws 
all  mention  of  typefounders  and  its  purpose  was  to  relin- 
quish jurisdiction  over  that  craft.  The  majority  in  favor 
of  this  action  was  16,114. 

The  second  proposition  amended  section  2,  article  i, 
constitution,. requiring  that  the  number  of  printers  neces- 
sary to  obtain  a  charter  be  increased  from  seven  to  ten. 
The  referendum  approved  of  this  increase  by  a  majority 
of  3,878. 

The  third  proposition  was  to  amend  section  I,  article 
viii,  of  the  constitution  (salaries)  by  increasing  the  salary 
of  the  mailers'  vice-president  from  $50  to  $100  per 
annum.   This  was  approved  by  a  majority  of  9,655. 

The  fourth  proposition  amended  the  laws  regulating 
appeals,  reducing  the  required  number  of  copies  to  be 
furnished  the  executive  council  from  seven  to  three.  This 
was  approved  by  a  majority  of  16,307. 

By-Laws,  Etc.  —  The  by-laws  and  general  laws  were 
amended  to  conform  to  the  constitutional  changes. 

Several  minor  amendments  were  made  to  the  by-laws 
and  general  laws,  the  most  important  of  which  was  a  law 
providing  for  individual  membership  records.  Previous 
to  this  time,  no  attempt  had  ever  been  made  to  systemat- 

946 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

ically  record  the  organization's  membership.  Under  the 
law  passed  at  the  St.  Joseph  convention  it  was  provided 
that  there  should  be  established  and  maintained  in  the 
office  of  the  secretary-treasurer  a  complete  record  of  all 
journeymen  active  members  of  the  International  Union, 
this  record  to  contain  the  age  of  each  member,  date  of 
initiation,  where  initiated,  date  and  cause  of  suspension 
or  expulsion,  date  of  reinstatement  or  reinitiation,  to- 
gether with  the  date  of  death  and  such  other  matter  as 
might  be  deemed  necessary  by  the  executive  council  to 
determine  the  continuous  membership  of  any  member  of 
the  organization. 

INCREASED     MORTUARY     BENEFITS 

The  subject  of  insurance  on  a  flat  basis,  and  proposi- 
tions to  increase  burial  benefits  to  an  amount  sufficient  to 
secure  to  the  heirs  of  members  of  the  organization  at  least 
temporary  protection,  had  been  before  several  conven- 
tions previous  to  the  gathering  at  St.  Joseph.  At  the 
Boston  convention  the  year  previous  four  separate  propo- 
sitions had  been  offered  by  various  delegates.  On  recom- 
mendation by  the  committee  on  laws,  the  convention 
referred  all  of  these  propositions  to  the  executive  council 
with  the  intention  that  the  whole  subject  matter  be  inves- 
tigated. In  making  its  report  to  the  St.  Joseph  convention, 
the  executive  council  said  that  the  investigation  of  life 
insurance,  or  the  payment  of  an  increased  mortuary 
benefit,  convinced  the  council  that  insurance  for  the 
membership  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
was  feasible  and  that  the  main  question  was  the  expense 
connected  with  such  a  venture.  The  investigation  made 
by  the  council  had  also  convinced  its  members  that  any 
sum  paid  to  the  membership  as  an  insurance  feature 
should  be  in  the  nature  of  a  death  or  burial  benefit,  an 
amplification  of  the  existing  law   providing   for  but 

M7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

benefits.  By  following  this  plan  the  union  would  be  free 
from  complication  with  the  insurance  laws  of  the  various 
states  and  there  would  be  greater  economy  in  the  admin- 
istration of  such  a  fund.  It  was  not  unlikely  that,  if  the 
union  took  up  the  matter  of  straight  life  insurance,  issuing 
policies  as  is  done  by  the  insurance  companies,  the  courts 
would  hold  that  the  plan  would  come  within  the  laws 
enacted  in  the  various  states  for  the  protection  of  the 
people  against  wildcat  insurance  schemes. 

There  were  many  points  to  be  considered,  not  the  least 
of  which  was  the  fact  that  many  members  carried  insur- 
ance to  the  extent  of  their  financial  ability.  That 
insurance  provided  by  the  International  Typographical 
Union  would  be,  for  a  time  at  least,  something  of  a 
burden  to  those  members.  In  the  opinion  of  the  executive 
council  any  insurance  or  mortuary  benefit  plan  that 
provided  for  a  sum  larger  than  the  amount  being  paid  at 
that  time  must  be  arbitrary ;  that  is,  insurance  should  be 
paid  for  by  each  member  of  the  International  Union.  The 
council  submitted  a  table  specially  prepared  to  show  the 
cost  per  member  of  a  $1,000  benefit.  This  was  presented 
more  for  information  than  with  the  intention  of  recom- 
mending a  $1,000  plan.    In  closing,  the  council  said : 

TO  TEST   THE   MEMBERSHIP 

In  the  opinion  of  the  council  there  should  be  a  flat  burial  benefit  of  $1,000 
per  member  or  a  graded  benefit  ranging  from  $200  per  member  to  $600  per 
member,  according  to  length  of  membership.  In  the  opinion  of  the  council  death 
benefits  should  not  be  made  payable  on  the  death  of  a  member  unless  said  mem- 
ber has  been  affiliated  with  the  organization  for  at  least  six  months. 

If  a  graduated  burial  benefit  of  $200  to  $600  were  put  into  effect  and  the 
claims  of  our  present  members  considered  from  the  date  of  its  adoption,  allow- 
ing these  benefits  to  new  members  six  months  after  initiation,  the  same  could 
be  carried  at  the  rate  of  $7.20  per  year,  or  60  cents  per  month.  Under  this 
plan  all  who  were  members  at  the  time  of  its  inauguration  would  be  entitled  to 
the  full  benefit  of  $600.  New  members  of  six  months'  to  three  years'  member- 
ship, benefits  $200.  Three  to  five  years'  membership,  $400.  After  five  years' 
membership,  benefits  $600. 

Articles  appearing  in  the  official  magazine  during  the  fiscal  year  show  that 
there  is  a  wide  diversity  of  opinion  on  the  part  of  the  members  who  have  thus 
far  expressed  themselves  as  to  the  wisdom  and  necessity  for  an  insurance  pro- 
vision or  for  a  mortuary  provision  greater  in  amount  than  that  now  provided. 
Comparatively,   the   discussion   has   been   confined   to   a   few   members,   and   the 

948 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

position  of  the  great  bulk  of  the  membership  is  not  known.  A  benefit  provid- 
ing for  $1,000  at  death,  or  a  mortuary  benefit  of  from  $200  to  (600  represents 
a  most  important  undertaking,  and  it  will  be  better  to  delay  the  enactment  of 
it  until  we  are  sure  of  our  ground.  It  may  be  well,  therefore,  to  obtain  the 
sentiment  of  the  membership  as  to  the  insurance  or  mortuary  benefit,  and  this 
can  be  easily  accomplished  on  the  ballot  on  which  the  laws  enacted  by  the  con- 
vention will  be  submitted  to  the  referendum  vote.  The  questions  might  take 
the  following  form: 

Are  you  in  favor  of  a  mortuary  benefit  of  $1,000  per  member  payable  in 
case  of  death  occurring  six  months  after  affiliation  with  the  organization  at  an 
approximate  cost  of  $12  per  year? 

Are  you  in  favor  of  a  mortuary  benefit  ranging  from  $200  to  $600  graded 
according  to  length  of  membership  from  six  months  to  five  years,  the  cost  to 
be  approximately  $7.20  per  year? 

Are  you  opposed  to  an  insurance  or  mortuary  benefit  greater  than  that  now 
paid? 

The  answers  to  the  first  two  questions  could  be  taken  together  as  indicating 
a  desire  for  some  insurance  scheme  or  mortuary  benefit,  and  if  the  vote  on 
these  two  questions  exceeded  the  vote  on  the  third  question  the  first  two  ques- 
tions could  again  be  submitted  at  the  biennial  election  of  officers,  which  occurs 
next  May,  and  the  membership  could  then  decide  between  the  flat  benefit  of 
$1,000  and  the  graded  benefit  of  from  $200  to  $600.  Then  the  executive  council 
could  submit  the  necessary  laws  to  the  1910  convention  and  these  laws  would 
in  turn  be  submitted  to  the  referendum  for  consideration  and  ratification  or 
rejection.  Thus  the  entire  insurance  idea  or  increased  mortuary-benefit  scheme 
would  receive  thorough  discussion  on  the  part  of  the  membership,  would  be 
before  the  referendum  three  times  and  the  final  verdict  could  be  taken  as  repre- 
sentative of  the  educated  thought  of  the  membership  on  the  proposition  as 
submitted. 

It  will  be  noted  from  the  above  that  in  figuring  the  cost  of  insurance  on  the 
propositions  mentioned  the  cost  given  is  just  about  the  actual  amount  that 
would  be  paid  out  in  benefits  were  either  of  them  adopted.  It  is,  of  course, 
realized  that  there  will  be  additional  cost  attached  to  the  execution  of  the  laws 
providing  for  the  payment  of  the  increased  benefits  in  the  way  of  preparing 
and  keeping  at  headquarters  a  full  list  of  our  membership,  which  will  be  nec- 
essary for  the  perfect  security  of  the  organization.  There  would  also  be  some 
extra  expense  attached  for  clerical  work,  office  rent,  etc.  For  this  reason  the 
executive  council  has  not  taken  into  consideration  the  $75  burial  benefit  now 
being  paid  and  believes  that  under  the  new  plan  a  portion  of  this  amount  should 
be  set  aside  to  pay  the  additional  expenses  and  provide  a  reserve  fund  to  guar- 
antce  our  membership  against  additional  cost,  should  there  be  an  abnormal 
number  of  deaths  in  any  year  from  pestilence,  accident,  or  other  cautes.  In 
other  words,  5  cents  per  month  per  mcmlier  of  the  amount  now  paid  as  per 
capita  tax  should  go  into  a  reserve  or  guaranty  and  administration  fund. 

Prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  delegates  at  St.  Joseph, 
President  Lynch  appointed  a  committee  to  consider  vari- 
ous plans  to  increase  the  mortuary  benefit.  This  commit- 
ter met  at  St.  Joseph  three  days  before  the  convention 
opened  and  during  the  week  of  the  convention  submitted 
a  plan  that  was  approved  by  the  delegates  and  it  was 
ordered  that  a  special  referendum  vote  be  taken  on  the 

MO 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

proposition  on  February  io,  1910.  This  was  defeated  by 
a  majority  of  907  on  a  total  vote  of  33,643.  The  plan 
submitted,  involving  several  amendments  to  the  constitu- 
tion and  by-laws,  shown  by  italics,  was  as  follows : 

Amend  section  i,  article  ix,  constitution,  to  read  as  follows: 

ARTICLE    IX REVENUE    AND    FUNDS 

Section  i.  The  revenue  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  shall  be 
derived  as  follows:  From  dues,  which  shall  be  35  cents  per  month  per  member; 
an  additional  one-half  of  1  per  cent  assessment  on  earnings  of  members  for  old 
age  pension  fund,  and  an  additional  one-half  of  I  per  cent  assessment  on  earn- 
ings of  members  for  the  mortuary  benefit  fund;  from  charters  for  subordinate 
unions,  $5  per  charter;  from  necessary  supplies  at  prices  to  be  fixed  by  law. 
International  dues  for  each  month  shall  be  collected  by  subordinate  unions,  and 
shall  be  transmitted  to  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  before  the  20th  of  the  succeeding  month.  Unions  failing  to  comply 
with  this  provision  shall  be  considered  delinquent  and  debarred  from  benefits; 
provided,  that  unions  located  so  far  from  headquarters  as  to  make  it  impossible 
for  their  dues  to  reach  there  within  the  prescribed  time  shall  not  be  considered 
delinquent  if  their  remittances  bear  postmark  date  prior  to  the  15th  of  the 
succeeding  month. 

Amend  section  3,  article  ix,  constitution,  to  read  as  follows: 

Sec.  3.  The  dues  of  the  International  Union  shall  be  apportioned  to  the 
several  funds  as  follows;  Fifteen  cents  to  the  Union  Printers  Home  fund, 
one-half  of  1  per  cent  on  earnings  of  members  to  the  old  age  pension  fund; 
one-half  of  I  per  cent  on  earnings  of  members  to  the  mortuary  fund;  the  balance 
to  the  general  fund. 

Amend  section  4,  article  ix,  constitution,  to  read  as  follows: 

Sec.  4.  The  general  fund  shall  be  used  to  defray  all  expenses  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  except  disbursements  from  the  pension  fund,  the 
mortuary  fund  and   the  Home   fund. 

Amend  sections  6,  7  and  8  as  to  numbers. 

Amend  sections  14  and  15,  article  v,  by-laws,  to  read  as  follows: 

MORTUARY    BENEFITS 

Sec.  14.  On  the  death  of  a  member  in  good  standing  in  a  subordinate 
union,  the  president  and  secretary  thereof  shall  immediately  notify  the  secretary- 
treasurer  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  on  a  form  provided  for  that 
purpose,  accompanying  such  notification  with  the  last  working  card  or  certificate 
of  membership  of  the  deceased  member.  The  secretary-treasurer  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  as  soon  as  practicable  after  such  notification, 
shall  transmit  to  the  president  and  secretary  of  such  subordinate  union  the 
amount  of  mortuary  benefit  to  which  the  beneficiary  of  the  deceased  member  is 
entitled. 

Sec.  is-  No  mortuary  benefit  claim  shall  be  allowed  unless  the  deceased 
was  possessed  of  a  current  working  card  or  certificate  of  membership  within 
date  at  the  time  of  death,  nor  shall  a  mortuary  benefit  claim  be  allowed  if,  at 
the  time  of  death,  the  union  of  which  deceased  was  a  member  was  in  arrears 
for  per  capita  tax  to  the  International  Typographical   Union. 

Sec.  16.  In  case  of  the  decease  of  a  member  holding  a  certificate  of  mem- 
bership, the  president  and  secretary  of  the  nearest  union  shall  act  in  the 
premises. 

Add  new  sections  as  follows: 

Sec.   17.    In  the  event  that  no  beneficiary  is  named  as  the  person  to  whom 

950 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

the  mortuary  benefit  shall  be  paid,  or  if  such  beneficiary  resides  at  a  point 
where  he  or  she  can  not  take  charge  of  the  funeral,  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  shall  defray  the  expenses  of  the  funeral  out  of  the  sum  to 
which  the  heirs  of  the  deceased  member  shall  be  entitled;  and  if  no  claim  shall 
be  presented  to  the  International  Typographical  Union  within  six  months,  any 
remainder  shall  revert  to  the  mortuary  benefit  fund  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union. 

Sec.  18.  The  collection  of  the  one-half  of  i  per  cent  assessment  for  the 
mortuary  benefit  fund  shall  begin  on  the  ist  of  March,  1910. 

Sec.  19.  The  payment  of  the  death  claims  under  this  law  shall  begin  on 
the  1  st  day  of  June,  1910,  and  the  classification  of  members  for  the  purpose  of 
this  fund  shall  be  made  according  to  their  length  of  membership  on  the  ist  of 
January,  1910. 

Sec.  20.  Any  person  who  joins  the  International  Typographical  Union 
after  the  age  of  50  years  shall  not  be  entitled  to  any  greater  mortuary  benefit 
than  $75. 

Amend  remaining  sections  as  to  numbers. 

Amend  section  5,  by-laws,  to  read  as  follows: 

Sec.  5.  On  the  death  of  each  member  in  good  standing  a  death  benefit 
shall  be  paid  to  the  designated  beneficiary  in  amount  as  follows: 

For  a  membership  of  one  year  or  less,  $75. 

For  a  continuous  membership  of  over  one  year  and  not  more  than  five 
years,  $125. 

For  a  continuous  membership  of  over  five  years  and  not  more  than  ten 
years,  $175. 

For  a  continuous  membership  of  over  ten  years  and  not  more  than  fifteen 
years,  $275. 

For  a  continuous  membership  of  over  fifteen  years,  $400. 

Add  new  section  as  follows: 

Sec.  6.  The  mortuary  benefit  fund  shall  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
bursing mortuary  benefits  to  the  designated  beneficiaries  of  deceased  members. 

LOS     ANGELES     TIMES      AND      PH  ILADKII'll  I   \ 
INQUIRER 

A  proposition  submitted  by  Delegate  Rowe,  of  Los 
Angeles,  suggesting  that  the  conduct  of  the  fight  against 
the  Los  Angeles  Times  be  delegated  to  the  local  union 
and  that  the  executive  council  be  instructed  to  render 
financial  assistance  created  intense  interest  on  the  part  of 
the  delegates.  The  committee  to  which  the  proposition 
was  referred  reported  it  back  with  an  unfavorable  recotn- 
nu-ndation.  The  following  is  an  excerpt  from  the  com- 
mittee's report : 

We  assembled  at  Parlor  "It."  Hon- 1  MrtropoU,  at  I  o'clock  Tuesday.  August 
to,  wiili  iivr  nirinbcrs  of  the  committee  present  I  Measles  W«*kWy  (Ksmh 
City),  Callan  (Philadelphia!,  lukrr  CMoWfcs).  W.lliamsoo  (Vtcksburg).  Grogs 
(Al.ilmr).     Thin   iiiri-liuK  » '••ntimird   until   thr   f. •Mowing  morning   ol  1  o'clock. 

Proposition  ijj.  by  Delegate  Kowe,  of  Loo  Angeles,  and  Proposition  m«, 
by  Los  Angeles  Union.  »nr  tgjaag  up.  Am.>n(  those  present  beside  tko  coca* 
mittee  were   Delegate   Rowe   (Loo  Angeles).   Delegate   White   (San   Francisco). 

95 1 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Messrs.  Arthur  A.  Hay,  Organizer  McLernon  and  T.  D.  Fennessy.  Matters 
bearing  on  the  Los  Angeles  situation  were  presented  in  detail  and  were  of 
voluminous  proportions. 

The  following  Wednesday  at  2  p.  m.  your  committee  again  met  with  all 
members  present,  including  Delegates  Bloom  (Richmond)  and  Steep  (Toronto). 
There  were  also  present  Messrs.  Hay,  McLernon,  White  and  Delegate  Rowe,  of 
Los  Angeles.  Additional  information  was  given  your  committee,  after  which 
the  committee  went  into  executive  session  to  consider  formally  all  of  the 
matters  placed  before  it. 

In  considering  the  Los  Angeles  situation  carefully  we  find  great  lack  of 
harmony  to  exist  in  that  union;  that  factional  feeling  and  bitterness  appear  to 
prevail  to  such  a  degree  as  to  hamper  the  work  of  organization  in  Los  Angeles. 
We  also  find  that  there  has  been  a  considerable  increase  in  the  membership  of 
the  union,  and  that  there  has  been  a  corresponding  increase  in  the  amount  of 
dues  collected  up  to  and  including  the  past  month  of  July. 

We  find  that  in  round  numbers  there  has  been  $156,000  expended  during 
the  past  six  years  in  Los  Angeles,  and  that  this  has  been  used  in  paying  strike 
benefits  and  organization  work  in  the  book  and  job  branch,  and  in  the  conduct 
of  the  fight  against  the  Los  Angeles  Times,  and  no  showing  has  been  made  that 
the  above  amount  has  been  spent  otherwise  than  economically,  judiciously  and 
to  the  best  interests  of  the  local  union,  and  to  the  International  Union  as  a 
whole. 

We  recommend  to  this  convention  that  the  past  aggressive  policy  of  the 
executive  council  in  the  work  at  Los  Angeles  be  continued,  and  that  the  execu- 
tive council  be  instructed  to  extend  every  financial  aid  in  its  power  to  pursue 
the  policy  mentioned  above,  and  that  in  pursuing  this  policy  the  executive 
council  shall  have  such  supervision  over  the  expenditure  of  moneys  as  in  its 
judgment  seems  proper. 

The  results  attained  in  the  Los  Angeles  field  by  Arthur  A  Hay,  who  has 
held  the  position  of  organizer  under  direction  both  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor  and  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  also  the  work  of  the 
present  organizer,  Mr.  McLernon,  appear  to  be  all  that  could  reasonably  be 
expected  under  the  conditions  and  circumstances. 

And  in  conclusion,  so  far  as  your  committee  can  see,  everything  has  been 
done  and  is  being  done  by  the  executive  council  to  better  the  conditions  in  Los 
Angeles,  and  we  here  quote  from  President  Lynch's  report  to  the  Boston  con- 
vention, and  which  we  believe  is  more  applicable  to  the  present  conditions: 

"There  is  no  cause  for  discouragement  because  of  lack  of  complete  success 
in  our  crusade  against  the  Times.  It  was  non-union  for  years,  and  it  may  take 
years  to  reclaim  it.  It  is  the  most  bitter,  malignant  and  tireless  enemy  of  or- 
ganized labor  with  which  we  have  to  contend.  It  is  indeed  unfortunate  that  we 
have  not  more  unanimity  of  action  on  the  part  of  organized  labor  in  Los  Angeles, 
and  especially  among  our  own  members,  in  our  crusade  against  the  Times.  But 
in  all  these  movements  we  experience  this  regrettable  development,  and  we 
have  to  meet  it  as  best  we  can.  Some  members  of  organized  labor  are  prone 
to  initiate  a  fight  today,  and  look  for  a  victory  tomorrow.  The  more  experi- 
enced, however,  realize  that  nowadays  a  fight  is  a  fight,  and  that  the  victory 
is  with  contestants  whose  cause  is  right,  whose  purse  is  the  longest,  and  whose 
staying  qualities  are  not  capable  of  impairment." 

The  progress  made  in  the  general  situation  at  Philadelphia  is  satisfactory, 
and  while  results  in  the  Inquirer  contest  have  not  been  of  that  degree  of  suc- 
cess which  was  anticipated  at  the  beginning  of  the  past  fiscal  year,  yet  on  the 
whole  your  committee  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  conditions  are  satisfactory.  We 
therefore  recommend  that  the  executive  council  continue  to  render  such  financial 
assistance  as  it  finds  necessary. 

>.  The  chairman  of  the  Los  Angeles  Times  committee  said 
952 


Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909 

that  he  voiced  the  unanimous  sentiment  of  the  committee 
when  he  asked  that  the  convention  go  into  the  matter 
thoroughly.  After  a  prolonged  debate,  in  which  Messrs. 
Hay  and  Fennessy,  of  Los  Angeles,  were  permitted  to 
participate,  President  Lynch  took  the  floor  and  gave  an 
extended  history  of  the  fight  against  the  Times.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  president's  remarks,  the  report  of  the 
committee  was  concurred  in  by  a  vote  of  186  ayes,  8  noes. 

ADDRESS      OF      COMMISSIONER      KELLOGG 

H.  N.  Kellogg,  representative  of  the  American  News- 
paper Publishers'  Association,  was  in  attendance  at  the 
convention,  and  was  invited  to  address  the  delegates.  He 
said: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Peace  and  good  wilt  still  prevail  between  the 
International  Typographical  Union  and  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association.  This  is  principally  due  to  our  arbitration  agreement.  There  have 
been  many  cases  considered  by  the  National  Arbitration  Board  during  the  past 
year,  and  in  some  cities  local  feeling  has  at  times  become  acute,  but,  thanks  to 
our  agreement  and  the  respect  paid  to  it  by  all  parties  concerned,  the  questions 
in  dispute  have  finally  been  adjusted  without  any  breaches  and  with  practically 
no  interruption  of  work  or  business.  The  National  Arbitration  Board  at  some 
of  its  sessions  has  found  the  problems  presented  so  difficult  of  solution  that  its 
members  have  sometimes  felt  that  agreements  were  impossible.  Fortunately, 
however,  in  almost  every  case  the  knots  have  been  untied  and  the  snarls  re- 
moved. I  believe  I  am  warranted  in  stating  that  the  decisions  reached  have  in 
almost  every  case  been  satisfactory  to  the  local  parties  interested. 

You  are,  of  course,  aware  of  the  campaign  which  has  been  conducted  by  the 
American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  for  the  removal  of  the  tariff  on 
white  paper,  pulp,  etc.  Both  your  International  officers  and  your  subordinate 
unions  have  many  times  responded  to  requests  for  assistance,  and  your  co- 
operation has,  we  believe,  lent  considerable  strength  to  the  movement,  and  been 
an  important  factor  in  the  fight.  The  tariff  bill  has  now  become  the  law,  and, 
though  under  it  we  do  not  obtain  all  that  we  asked  for,  we  secure  a  substantial 
reduction  in  the  duties.  While  the  final  result  is  far  from  being  entirely  satis- 
factory, we  heartily  appreciate  the  action  of  your  organisation  and  your  officers, 
and  wish  to  express  our  sincere  thanks  for  what  you  and  they  have  don*. 

In  closing,  I  desire  to  also  express  our  appreciation  of  the  fairness  and 
courtesy  of  your  president  and  the  other  members  of  your  executive  council. 
Wc  are  convince!  tliry  have  mrt  the  various  questions  presented  la  a  Spirit  of 
fairness.     We  can  not  ask  more. 

I  thank  you  for  your  kind  attention  and  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of  awe* 
ing  y ■■11  many  times  in  the  future. 

AFTER      THE      CONVENII-n 

Officers,  igio-iyii  —  Under  the  provision  of  the  law 
requiring  referendum  elections,  on   May    18,   1910,  the 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

following  officers  were  elected  for  the  two-year  term 
beginning  November  I,  1910:  President,  James  M. 
Lynch,  Syracuse;  first  vice-president,  George  A.  Tracy, 
San  Francisco;  second  vice-president,  Hugo  Miller,  Indi- 
anapolis; third  vice-president,  Charles  N.  Smith,  New 
York;  secretary-treasurer,  J.  W.  Hays,  Minneapolis. 
Delegates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor — James  M. 
Lynch,  Syracuse  (president)  ;  Frank  Morrison,  Chicago; 
Max  S.  Hayes,  Cleveland;  T.  W.  McCullough,  Omaha; 
Hugh  Stevenson,  Toronto.  Trustees  Union  Printers 
Home — James  M.  Lynch,  Syracuse;  J.  W.  Hays,  Minne- 
apolis; Thomas  McCaffery,  Colorado  Springs;  L.  C. 
Shepard,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. ;  Anna  C.  Wilson,  Wash- 
ington; Michael  Powell,  Ottawa;  Walter  McKee,  New 
York.   Agent,  George  P.  Nichols,  Baltimore. 

Convention    at    Minneapolis 

[1910] — The  fifty-sixth  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  Monday, 
August  8,  1910,  in  Dreamland  pavilion,  Minneapolis, 
Minn.,  by  President  Henderson  of  the  local  union.  Rev. 
M.  M.  Adams,  an  honorary  member  of  Boston  Typo- 
graphical Union,  invoked  the  divine  blessing.  Ralph 
Wheelock,  private  secretary  to  the  governor  of  Minnesota, 
welcomed  the  delegates  on  behalf  of  the  state.  Alderman 
Williams,  a  union  printer,  acting  for  the  absent  mayor, 
extended  greetings  on  behalf  of  the  city  of  Minneapolis, 
and  Wallace  G.  Nye,  representing  the  Commercial  Club, 
also  extended  greetings  on  behalf  of  that  organization. 
Mayor  Clayton,  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  who  made  many 
friends  during  the  sessions  of  the  International  Union  at 
the  previous  convention,  journeyed  to  Minneapolis  and 
was  on  hand  at  the  opening  session,  making  the  hit  of  the 
occasion  with  an  address  in  his  inimitable  style.  President 
Henderson  welcomed  the  delegates  and  visitors  on  behalf 

954 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

of  the  local  union,  President  Lynch  respfonding  for  the 
strangers  present. 

Secretary  Hays  read  his  report,  showing  that  251  cre- 
dentials had  been  deposited  by  delegates.  The  president 
announced  the  names  of  temporary  convention  officers  and 
appointed  the  various  committees. 

Ross  S.  Reynolds  invited  every  one  in  attendance  at  the 

convention  to  be  the  guests  of  St.  Paul  Union  on  Tuesday, 

August  9th. 

officers'    reports 

In  opening  his  annual  address  to  the  convention, 
President  Lynch  observed  that  another  wonderful  year  in 
the  history  of  the  International  Union  had  been  con- 
cluded. The  success  that  had  attended  efforts  to  improve 
conditions  in  the  trade  since  the  inauguration  of  the 
eight-hour  workday  had  been  pronounced.  The  member- 
ship had  increased  and  was  then  beyond  the  50,000  mark. 
The  number  of  subordinate  unions  had  also  increased; 
industrial  peace  had  quite  generally  prevailed;  the 
finances  of  the  organization  were  in  good  condition. 
Maintaining  a  policy  of  conservative  action,  dealing  justly 
with  those  with  whom  the  union  was  associated  in  a 
business  capacity,  resorting  to  radicalism  only  when  that 
was  necessary  in  order  to  achieve  a  just  end,  the  union 
would  continue  to  grow  in  strength,  influence  and  power 
in  the  industrial  world  and  would  gradually  improve 
conditions  under  which  the  individual  member  turned  his 
livelihood. 

Referring  to  the  referendum,  the  president  said  that 
in  1898  the  membership  had  enjoyed  its  first  referendum 
election  and  that  the  union  had  gone  through  membership 
selection  of  the  International  officers  every  two  years 
since  the  date  mentioned.  The  president  deprecated  the 
actions  of  •some  individual  members  in  conducting  cam- 
paigns of  vilification  and  falsehood  and  admonished  the 

MS 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

delegates  that«the  future  standing  and  welfare  of  the 
organization  demanded  that  campaigns  should  be  con- 
ducted on  a  higher  plane. 

Organizing  Work  —  The  policy  pursued  for  several 
years  in  connection  with  organizing  work  was  reviewed. 
Industrial  peace  had  been  maintained  with  the  exception 
of  a  very  few  instances;  wages  had  been  increased  and 
hours  reduced.  These  results  had  been  brought  about 
largely  through  the  diplomacy  and  experience  of  organ- 
izers employed  in  the  settlement  of  difficulties.  It  was 
argued  that  a  trade  union,  like  any  other  business  institu- 
tion, could  not  stand  still — it  must  go  forward  or  back- 
ward, and,  if  it  is  to  go  forward,  then  it  must  have  trained 
agents  to  sell  the  goods  which  it  has  to  offer — the  labor 
of  its  members.  It  was  pointed  out  that  the  work  of  an 
organizer  could  not  be  limited  to  the  formation  of  new 
unions.  In  the  past  years  this  phase  of  the  organizer's 
work  had  become  a  small  part  of  his  activities,  his  services 
as  an  organizer  being  frequently  demanded  for  occasions 
like  these : 

First.  A  union  presents  a  new  scale.  The  proprietors  refuse  to  sign  the 
same.  Local  officers  are  unable  to  bring  about  a  settlement  and  a  strike  in- 
volving the  membership  of  the  union  is  imminent.  Then  the  president  of  the 
International  is  asked  to  "send  an  organizer  immediately."  He  does  so;  the 
scale  negotiations  are  brought  to  a  successful  conclusion  and  a  strike  that  might 
have  cost  thousands  of  dollars  is  averted. 

Second.  The  foreman  of  an  office  discharges  a  member.  A  chapel  meeting 
is  called  and  the  member  ordered  reinstated.  The  foreman  refuses  to  re- 
instate and  again  there  is  trouble  in  the  air.  Another  hurry-up  call  for  an 
organizer,    with   a   satisfactory   adjustment   as   the   result   of   his   visit. 

Third.  Members  of  union  lose  interest  in  its  affairs  and  become  apathetic 
to  conditions,  with  the  result  that  many  fall  in  arrears  and  are  slated  for 
suspension.  Efforts  on  the  part  of  the  union's  officers  fail  to  bring  the  de- 
sired revival  of  unionism.  An  organizer  is  sent.  He  puts  the  union  on 
its  feet,  gets  the  delinquents  to  pay  up,  starts  a  label  campaign  and  comes 
away    leaving   behind    a    virile    local. 

Fourth.  For  months,  perhaps,  a  local  union  has  been  at  work  endeavoring 
to  add  to  its  membership  the  men  employed  in  a  non-union  office,  has  them  all 
"lined  up,"  feels  the  office  can  be  gained,  but  can  not  get  an  audience  with 
the  proprietor  and  asks  for  an  outsider — an  organizer — to  close  the  deal.-  The 
organizer  drops  into  town  unheralded.  The  proprietor  has  no  prejudices 
against  the  International  Typographical  Union  representative^  who  gets  a 
hearing   and    in    many   cases   closes   a   contract. 

956 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

Fifth.  Organizers  act  as  the  representatives  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  in  arbitration  proceedings.  They  look  up  illegal  users  of  the 
label  and  force  its  surrender.  In  many  jurisdictions  they  take  up  the  viola- 
tion of  union  rules  and  regulations,  and  as  a  result  many  proprietors  are  made 
to  sec  the  error  of  their  way.  In  short,  the  organizer  is  one  of  the  men  "be- 
hind the  guns."  He  is  under  the  direction  of  the  executive  council,  and  is 
shifted  hither  and  thither  as  occasion  requires. 

The  foregoing  are  not  imaginary  cases.  They  occur  every  day  and 
every  week.  The  missions  referred  to  the  organizer  and  the  results  he  ac- 
complishes do  not  appear  in  his  statements  of  expenses,  but  show  at  the 
end  of  the  year  when  the  figures  indicating  the  progress  of  the  organization 
are  compiled   and   published. 

Increased  Mortuary  Benefits  —  The  defeat  of  the  mor- 
tuary benefit  proposition  by  the  referendum,  following 
the  St.  Joseph  convention,  apparently  had  not  dis- 
couraged or  dismayed  the  advocates  of  benefit  features 
in  connection  with  trade  unions.  President  Lynch  was 
especially  optimistic  in  his  view  of  the  ultimate  result  of 
proposed  legislation  on  the  particular  question  of  in- 
creased mortuary  benefits.  Referring  to  the  subject  in  his 
address,  the  president  said  that  one  of  the  most  astonishing 
results  of  trade  union  agitation  was  its  effect  on  the  trusts 
and  corporations  who  employ  thousands  of  wage  earners 
and  who  strain  every  nerve  in  order  to  prevent  the  union- 
izing of  their  industries.  They  know  that  with  trade 
union  conditions  they  will  be  compelled  to  pay  vastly 
greater  sums  in  the  way  of  wages,  while  the  employes 
will  secure  betterments  in  the  number  of  working  hours, 
sanitary  conditions,  treatment,  rules,  etc.  Continuing  on 
this  subject,  the  president  said: 

It  i»  the  old  story  of  the  exploitation  of  the  individual  toiler,  who,  be- 
cause of  his  isolation,  is  unable  to  defend  himself  against  the  greedy  and 
rapacious  master.  And  when  that  matter  takes  the  form  of  associated  cap- 
ital as  represented  in  the  giant  trusts  and  corporations  the  Individual  pro* 
duccr  is  nearly  helpless.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  gospel  of  trad*  unlnnlni 
spreads,  and  in  order  to  offset  its  allurements  and  tie  the  wage  earner  mora 
securely  to  the  juggernaut  that  crushes  out  hi*  individual  initiative  and 
ambition,  capital  as  an  employer  is  now  offering  pension  system*,  welfare  de- 
veli.|iiin ms  .iik|  .Ir.ith  !..  ii.iii  ir.iinte*.  ,  These  *> called  provisions  for  the 
l.rurhi  ,.|  1  'inpiiiyes  are  really  intended,  ai  has  been  outlined,  to  malt*  of  the 
wage  earner  a  dependent  cog  in  the  machinery  o4  hi*  employer.  IWnetta 
are  always  predicated  on  length  of  service.  The  impression  sought  to  be 
created  in  the  employe'*  nun. I  |g  that  if  he  should  for  any  re—O 
nr.  11..11    with   his  employment,   or    !*-   .Ii««  barge. I.   he   would   to**  lb* 


*>>: 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

intangible    something    which    he    hopes   to    achieve    if    he    lives   long   enough    or 
works   long  enough    for   the   employer   who   offers   the    inducements. 

If  these  benefit  features  are  considered  so  valuable  by  capitalist  employers, 
why  should  they  not  be  equally  valuable  to  the  trade  union,  which  makes 
conditions  for  the  wage  earner  endurable?  Hours  and  wages  should  not  be 
the  ultimate  trade  union  goal.  There  is  nothing  that  any  society,  fraternal 
or  otherwise,  can  do  for  its  member  that  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  or  any  other  strong  international  union,  can  not  do  for  its  member. 
The  mortuary  proposition  submitted  to  referendum  vote  by  the  St.  Joseph 
convention  was  defeated  by  a  narrow  margin.  There  were  cast  for  the. 
proposition  16,368  votes,  and  against  the  proposition  17,275  votes;  a  majority 
against  of  907  votes.  The"  large  number  of  votes  cast  for  and  against  the 
plan  indicates  the  interest  that  was  taken  in  the  proposition.  Its  defeat 
was  due  to  a  lack  of  understanding  of  its  provisions,  and  to  objection  to  some 
of  its  minor  features  which,  if  the  principle  had  been  endorsed,  could  easily 
have  been  adjusted  afterward.  There  is  also  a  class  of  -members  holding 
insurance  policies  or  membership  in  fraternal  organizations  paying  death 
benefits  that  voted  against  the  mortuary  proposition  in  the  belief  that  they 
were  carrying  all  of  the  insurance  they  could  finance,  and  regarding  the  pro- 
posed benefit  from  a  purely  selfish  standpoint.  Any  such  benefit  is  a  selfish 
proposition,  but  should  be  considered  in  the  light  of  an  intelligent  selfishness. 
The  member  who  holds  insurance  in  companies  or  fraternal  societies  is  also 
interested  in  the  strength  and  development  of  the  typographical  union.  The 
money  with  which  he  pays  the  premiums  on  his  insurance,  or  the  dues  to  his 
fraternal  organization,  comes  to  him  because  of  the  wage  scale  that  has 
been  established  by  the  International  Typographical  Union.  Without  the 
union  his  wages  would  be  much  lower  than  they  are  now.  The  scale  he 
receives  is  in  much  greater  excess  of  what  he  would  receive  without  the 
union  than  the  combined  cost  of  his  present  insurance  and  the  cost  of  the 
mortuary  benefit  that  was  so  narrowly  defeated  by  the  referendum.  Every 
member  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  is  vitally  interested  in 
making  the  union  strong;  in  knitting  together  its  units;  in  providing  benefits 
at  a  lower  cost  than  they  can  be  obtained  elsewhere;  in  inculcating  in  the 
member's  mind  the  belief  that  the  union  is  his  strongest  protection  and  refuge. 

Relations  With  Allied  Trades  —  Referring  to  the  rela- 
tions of  the  International  Union  with  the  other  crafts 
connected  with  the  printing  industry,  and  composing  the 
Joint  Conference  Board,  President  Lynch  submitted  a 
comprehensive  document  covering  the  agreements  existing 
between  the  printing  trades  unions  from  the  time  of  the 
first  working  compact  of  any  character  that  had  been 
tried.  To  such  readers  of  this  history  as  may  be  interested 
in  the  position  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
toward  the  other  printing  trade  unions  a  careful  reading 
of  the  following  report  submitted  to  the  Minneapolis 
convention  is  suggested : 

The  executive   council   covers  in   its   report  the  meetings   of  the  Joint   Con- 
958 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

ference  Board  held  since  the  adjournment  of  the  St.  Joseph  convention.  Thus 
far  the  joint  agreement  has  worked  well.  Differences  have  occurred,  some 
of  them  of  intensity  and  bitterness,  but  the  Joint  Conference  Board  still 
continues  under  the  agreement,  and  if  it  is  not  disrupted  will  make  for  the 
strengthening  of  each  of  the  five  international  unions  that  compose  it.  Your 
representatives  in  the  Joint  Conference  Board,  while  reluctant  to  exercise 
their  full  voting  strength,  have,  nevertheless,  done  so  on  several  occasions 
during  the  past  year  in  order  to  protect,  not  only  the  interests  of  the  or- 
ganization they  represented,  but  what  they  believed  to  be  the  best  interests 
of  the  printing  trades  industry.  It  is  but  natural  that  the  unions  of  less 
numerical  strength  should  desire  to  exercise  greater  control  and  power  in 
the  Joint  Conference  Board  than  they  now  possess,  but  when  it  is  considered 
that  the  membership  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  outnumbers 
the  combined  membership  of  our  allies  by  many  thousands,  it  is  apparent 
that  we  are  justified  in  exercising  our  right  of  final  word  in  the  policies  that 
shall  prevail,  even  though  friction  and  ill  feeling  may  develop  because 
of  that  determination.  It  is  to  our  interest  that  each  of  our  allies  shall  be- 
come strong,  but  that  strength  must  not  be  had  solely  at  our  expense  and  to 
our  undoing. 

Thus  far  nearly  all  the  questions  arising  between  the  five  international 
unions  have  been  adjusted  in  the  Joint  Conference  Board.  At  the  Toronto 
convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  however,  the  delegates  rep- 
resenting the  International  Photo  Engravers  Union  brought  up  a  question  of 
jurisdiction,  which  was  referred  to  the  grievance  committee  and  by  that  com- 
mittee to  the  executive  council  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  which 
later  found  in  favor  of  our  contention.  This  incident  related  to  the  use  of 
Rouse  blocks,  the  mounting  of  the  shells  on  these  blocks.  It  was  held  by 
the  executive  council  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  that  this  work 
could  be  performed  in  the  composing  room.  The  claim  of  the  photo  en- 
gravers was  that  it  must  go  to  the  photo  engraving  department  in  the  first 
instance,  or  that  the  photo  engravers  of  right  must  do  the  work  if  done  in 
the  composing  rooms.  My  proposition  was  that  all  work  in  the  composing 
rooms  connected  with  the  issuance  of  the  newspaper  is  our  work.  That  was 
the  position  I  maintained  at  the  Toronto  convention  of  the  American  Federa- 
tion of  Labor,  the  position  that  I  maintained  before  the  executive  council 
of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  and  the  position  I  maintain  at  the 
present  time  and  that  I  believe  should  be  insisted  upon  and  emphasized  by 
the  Minneapolis  convention.  There  can  be  but  one  jurisdiction  in  com- 
posing rooms,  and  one  union  operating  the  composing  rooms,  and  that  juris- 
diction belongs  to  and  the  union  is  the  International  Typographical  Union  of 
North   America. 

LABEL     OWNERSHIP — VOTING     rOWER 

Some  of  our  allies  have  agitated  joint  ownership  of  the  allied  label,  and 
equal  voting  power  in  the  Joint  Conference  Board.  This  is  further  explained 
in  the  report  of  the  executive  council.  The  questions  have  caused  some  bit- 
ss.  My  address  before  the  Columbus  convention  of  the  International 
Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  sets  forth  the  history  of  our 
various  coalitions,  and  my  position  on  the  subject  in  dispute.     I  said: 

AT    THE    raiSSMKN't    CONVENTION 

"It  affords  me   great   pleasure   to  have   this  opportunity   to  appear   before 
your    convention    and    to    extend    to    the    International    Printing    Pr 
Assistants'  Union  and  its  duly  accredited  legislative  body  the 
well    wishes   of    the    International   Typographical    Union. 

"At    to    the    relations    between    your    International    organisation    and 

999 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

great  trade  union  that  I  represent,  these  have  been  uniformly  satisfactory  and 
amicable  with  the  possible  exception  of  the  disposition  of  certain  matters  be- 
fore recent  meetings  of  the  Joint  Conference  Board,  as  provided  for  in  the 
existing  agreement  between  the  five  international  unions  of  the  printing  trade. 
As  this  subject  has  been  given  prominence  by  your  president  in  recent  addresses 
before  conventions  of  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  and  the 
International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union,  perhaps  I  may  better  de- 
vote myself  at  once  to  a  discussion  of  this  phase  of  our  relationship,  as  I  am 
sure  that  it  is  this  phase  that  at  the  present  time  is  of  the  greatest  interest  to 
this  convention. 

"In  what  I  may  say,  no  offense  is  intended,  and  I  trust  that  none  will  be 
taken,  for  it  is  my  sole  object  to  secure  a  continuance  of  the  Joint  Conference 
Board  in  some  mutually  acceptable  form,  as  I  believe  that  the  history  of  the 
board  proves  the  statement  that  under  this  form  of  agreement  we  have  made 
our  greatest  progress  and  achieved  our  greatest  success  in  the  adjustment  and 
settlement  of  questions  that  formerly  caused  wide  difference  of  opinion  and 
intense  hostilty. 

"Prior  to  the  abrogation  of  the  Tripartite  Agreement,  the  questions  that  are 
agitating  the  five  international  unions  today  were  given  much  attention  by  the 
three  international  unions  then  in  existence.  The  Tripartite  Agreement  in- 
cluded the  International  Typographical  Union,  the  International  Printing  Press- 
men and  Assistants'  Union  and  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders. 
In  order  that  some  understanding  might  be  arrived  at,  the  convention  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  held  in  Syracuse  in  1898  suggested  a  con- 
ference between  representatives  of  the  three  organizations,  and  this  conference 
was  held  on  January  10,  in  1899,  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh.  It  appears  from 
the  minutes  of  this  conference  that  a  thorough  discussion  of  the  subject  was 
had,  but  no  definite  conclusion  was  arrived  at. 

THE    BALTIMORE    CONFERENCE 

"In  March,  1901,  another  conference  was  held  in  Baltimore,  Md.  At  that 
gathering  rules  for  the  government  of  local  allied  trades  councils  were  adopted 
and  regulations  under  which  the  allied  label  might  be  issued  were  agreed  to. 
This  meeting  was  attended  by  representatives  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union,  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  and 
the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders.  The  agreement  reached  was 
never  made  effective.  It  was  intended  mainly  for  the  government  of  local 
allied  councils,  and  its  only  international  feature  was  in  the  provision  for  a 
joint  board  of  appeals.  It  was  set  forth  that  'all  rules  enacted  by  the  joint 
board  of  appeals  for  the  government  of  allied  trades  councils  shall  be  adopted 
by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  board,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  executive 
councils  of  the  high  contracting  parties  to  the  agreement.'  Thus  it  preserved 
in  its  fullest  sense  the  complete  autonomy  of  the  three  international  unions, 
and  placed  it  within  the  power  of  the  executive  body  of  each  of  these  unions 
to  pass  upon  and  ratify  or  nullify  the  proceedings  of  the  joint  board  of  ap- 
peals.    But  as  has  been   pointed  out,   this  agreement  was  never  made  effective. 

"The  Tripartite  Agreement  was  a  prolific  mother  of  trouble  in  local  allied 
councils;  it  was  a  creator  of  strife  and  dissension,  and  dissatisfaction  with  it 
became  so  intense  that  our  1901  convention  held  in  Birmingham  in  that  year 
directed  its  abrogation,  and  this  action  was  approved  by  our  referendum.  After 
this  the  relations  between  the  three  international  unions  remained  in  a  more 
or  less  chaotic  and  unsatisfactory  condition,  and  resulted  in  friction  between 
two  of  the  international  unions  at  the  Scranton  convention  of  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor  held  in  1901  and  at  the  New  Orleans  convention  held  the 
following  year.     At  the  New  Orleans  convention,   however,   at  a  conference  of 

960 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

representatives    of    the    three    international    unions,    it    was   decided    to    bold    a 
further  conference  in  Indianapolis,  under  the  following  agreement: 

"proposed  outline  of  action  for  an  agreement  between  the  international 
typographical  union,  the  international  printing  pressmen  and  assist- 
ants' union,  and  the  international  brotherhood  of  bookbinders. 

"In  the  matter  of  distribution  of  the  allied  printing  trades  label,  the  In- 
ternational Typographical  Union  to  hold  and  issue  the  labels,  under  a  new 
agreement  that  may  be  made.  There  shall  be  a  method  of  agreement  under 
the   following   plan: 

"That  locally  the  constitution  of  the  allied  printing  trades  councils  shall  be 
upon  the  membership  basis,  and  in  the  granting  of  the  label  the  consent  of 
each  affiliated  body  shall  be  obtained. 

"Should  there  be  a  deadlock  on  any  point,  not  specifically  covered  in  tbe 
articles  of  agreement,  that  the  matter  shall  be  referred  to  a  national  council 
composed  of  representatives  of  tbe  bodies  to  the  agreement,  the  composition  of 
which  shall  be 

"Two   members   from   the   International   Typographical    Union, 
"One   member    from    the    International    Printing   Pressmen   and    Assistants' 
Union,   and 

"One  member   from   the  International   Brotherhood  of   Bookbinders. 
"In  the  event  of  failure  of  this  council  to  agree,  that  they  select  the  fifth 
member,  the  decision  of  this  council,  so  constituted,   to  be  final. 

"The  rules  adopted  at  the  Baltimore  conference  to  be  the  basic  method  of 
agreement  subject  to  such  changes  as  may  be  made  at  a  conference  of  repre- 
sentatives of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  the  International  Printing 
Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union,  and  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Book- 
binders, to  be  held  in  Indianapolis  at  such  a  date  as  may  be  selected  later. 

"It  is  further  understood  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  construed  as 
binding  the  Indianapolis  conferees  or  the  international  organizations  to  the 
adoption  of  any  method  or   rule  herein  outlined. 

"James  M.  Lynch, 
"William  M.  Garrett, 
"Martin    P.    Wiggins, 
"Theodore  F.  Galoskowsky, 
"James  J.  Freel, 
"L.  P.  Stbaube, 
"Ed.  W.  Palmer. 
"R.   Glockling." 

THE    INDIANAPOLIS    MEETING 

"The  conference  was  held  at  Indianapolis  in  January,  190J,  with  repre- 
sentatives of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  the  International  Print 
ing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union,  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Book- 
binders and  the  International  Stcirotypcra  and  Kleclrolypcrs*  Union  in 
attendance.  At  that  time  the  agreement  at  present  in  force,  minus  the  si— ad 
mints  and  modifications  that  have  mice  I  <-en  made  thereto,  was  formulated, 
and  was  signed  and  accepted  )>y  the  presidents  of  the  four  organUaitona,  to  be- 
come effective  on  its  ratification  as  a  whole,  by  the  proper  authorities  of  the 
organizations  signatory  thereto.  It  was  so  ratified  ami  tuharqurnlly  went  into 
effect. 

"This  agreement  provided  for  a  joint  board  of  appeals,  conaaating  of  three 
representatives  b«  the  International  Typographical  Union,  one  represent- 
ative from  the  lninn.iti<>n.l|  l'nnim*  1'irumrn  and  Aaaiatanta'  Union.  OBt 
■  •pirscntativc    from    the    International    Brotherhood    of    ItooltbhHkw    and    one 


./.« 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

representative  from  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union. 
It   was   stipulated   that 

"  'In  the  event  of  the  representative  of  any  of  the  parties  to  this  agree- 
ment voting  with  the  International  Typographical  Union  on  an  appeal,  and  the 
International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  and  the  International 
Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  being  jointly  dissatisfied  with  the  verdict,  the 
two  last  named  organizations  shall  have  the  right  to  call  for  a  seventh  dis- 
interested party,  who  shall  be  unanimously  agreed  upon  to  act  as  arbitrator, 
whose   decision    shall   be   final.' 

"At  a  subsequent  session  this  provision  was,  by  unanimous  vote,  elim- 
inated. 

"The  question  of  the  photo  engravers  becoming  a  party  to  the  agreement 
was  briefly  discussed;  the  following  was  adopted  as  defining  the  position  of 
the   joint  board   of   appeals   on   this   subject: 

"  'Resolved,  That  when  a  charter  is  granted  by  the  American  Federation 
of  Labor  to  the  National  or  International  Union  of  Photo  Engravers,  the  lat- 
ter organization  shall,  upon  application,  be  made  a  party  to  the  agreement  and 
be  entitled  to  representation  on  the  joint  board  of  appeals.  On  such  admis- 
sion, section  i  of  the  agreement  shall  be  changed  by -inserting  the  word  "four" 
in  lieu  of  "three"  where  reference  is  made  to  the  number  of  representatives 
from  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  the  name  of  the  new  organi- 
zation  shall   be   added   thereto   and    allotted   one    representative.' 

"All  of  the  requirements  of  the  resolution  above  mentioned  were  met  by 
the  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union  in  August,  1904,  and  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  thereafter  entitled  to  four  votes,  its  present 
allotment. 

"At  the  meeting  of  the  joint  board  of  appeals  held  in  Indianapolis  on 
January  13,  1905,  it  was  unanimously  decided  that  the  name  should  be  changed 
to  the  'Joint  Conference  Board,'  and  at  this  meeting  the  provision  relative  to 
the  course  of  procedure  that  might  be  had  in  case  one  of  the  organizations 
voted  with  the  International  Typographical  Union  was  eliminated,  and  each 
of  the  five  organizations  then  a  party  to  the  joint  agreement  was  placed  in 
an  equal  position  as  to  the  effect  its  vote  might  have  in  determining  any 
question   before   the    board. 

POWERS    OF    THE    JOINT    BOARD 

"Under  the  agreement,  the  international  unions  party  thereto  surrendered 
some  of  their  powers,  or  delegated  some  of  their  powers,  to  the  Joint  Con- 
ference Board.  The  Joint  Conference  Board  was  made  supreme  in  regard 
to  those  matters  over  which  jurisdiction  was  conceded  to  it  by  the  interna- 
tional unions.  Numerous  meetings  of  the  Joint  Conference  Board  were  held, 
and  harmony  prevailed  until  the  meeting  held  in  Toronto  on  November  3,  4 
and  s,  1909,  when  the  San  Francisco  allied  council  case  came  before  the 
joint  board  for  consideration  and  decision.  Then  occurred  radical  disagree- 
ment, and  for  one  of  the  few  times  in  the  history  of  the  board,  when  an  im- 
portant question  was  up,  the  International  Typographical  Union  felt  com- 
pelled to  use  its  voting  strength  to)  protect  the  interests  of  one  of  its  local 
unions.  In  this  position  it  was  joined  by  the  representative  of  the  Interna- 
tional Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers*  Union,  and  a  majority  of  the  board 
enacted  a  decision  which  was  not  at  that  time  and  it  is  presumed  has  not  been 
since  acceptable  to  the  minority.  At  the  following  meeting,  and  the  last 
that  has  been  held  thus  far,  convening  in  Cincinnati  on  March  7,  8  and  9, 
1 910,  the  estrangement  occurring  at  the  Toronto  session  was  emphasized,  and 
evidently   caused  considerable   resentment  on   the   part   of  the   minority. 

"It  had  previously  been  proposed  that  the  agreement  should  be  amended 
so   as    to   bring  about   joint   ownership    of   the   label.      The   International   Typo- 

962 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

graphical  Union,  seeing  very  little  difference  between  joint  ownership  and 
joint  control,  raised  no  objection  to  the  proposed  amendment,  and  the  propo- 
sition was  referred  to  an  Indianapolis  attorney,  who  at  the  Cincinnati  meet- 
ing submitted  his  decision,  which  was  later  given  further  consideration  by 
the  attorney  selected  by  the  joint  board  in  conference  with  attorneys  repre- 
senting   the    affiliated    international    unions. 

"The  Tripartite  Agreement  was  not  satisfactory  nor  successful.  The 
Pittsburgh  conference  failed  to  agree  on  anything  that  was  of  material  value. 
The  Baltimore  conference  evolved  a  proposition  which  was  not  made  effective, 
and  the  Tripartite  Agreement  was  subsequently  abrogated  by  the  International 
Typographical    Union. 

"The  agreement  now  in  effect  was  formulated  in  Indianapolis  in  January, 
1903,  and  up  to  the  meeting  of  the  Joint  Conference  Board  held  in  Toronto, 
which  has  been  alluded  to  here,  was  a  most  successful  combination.  Joint 
ownership  of  the  label  has  not  been  combatted  by  the  organization  I  have 
the  honor  to  represent,  but  I  understand  now  that  the  agreement  submitted 
by  the  Indianapolis  attorney  selected  by  the  board  is  not  satisfactory  to  some 
of  our  allies,  inasmuch  as  it  does  not  provide  for  equal  representation  and 
voting   strength. 

THE   RULE   OP   THE   MAJORITY 

"The  International  Typographical  Union  has  a  membership  of  more  than 
50,000,  nearly  20,000  more  than  the  combined  membership  of  our  allies.  We 
feel  that  in  any  agreement  that  is  arrived  at,  our  greater  interests  should  be 
given  consideration,  and  that  we  should  be  accorded  at  least  equal  voting 
strength  until  the  combined  membership  of  the  allies  exceeds  our  member- 
ship. We  have  never  used  our  voting  power  except  when  we  believed  it  abso- 
lutely necessary  in  order  not  only  to  protect  our  interests,  but  to  protect  the 
interests  of  all  of  the  unions  making  up  the  Joint  Conference  Board;  for  if 
local  allied  councils  will  not  give  adherence  to  their  own  laws  and  to  the  laws 
formulated  by  the  Joint  Conference  Board,  then  I  submit  that  it  is  imperatively 
necessary  for  the  well-being  of  each  of  the  international  unions  and  the  future 
of  the  Joint  Conference  Board  itself,  that  the  recalcitrant,  refractory  local 
allied  council  should  be  made  to  respect  the  statutes  that  have  been  enacted 
for   its   government. 

"A  comparison  of  membership  on  the  basis  of  per  capita  tax  paid  to  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor  for  its  fiscal  year,  ended  October  31,  1900. 
shows  that  the  International  Typographical  Union  paid  tax  on  an  average 
membership  for  the  year  of  45,500;  the  International  Printing  Pressmen 
and  Assistants'  Union  on  an  average  membership  of  17,800;  the  International 
Stcreotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union,  on  an  average  membership  of  3.500: 
the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders,  on  an  average  membership  of 
7,100,  and  the  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union,  on  an  average  member- 
ship of  3.200,  showing  that  at  that  time  we  had  an  excess  in  membership  over 
the  combined  membership  of  our  allies  of  nearly  14,000.  But  it  may  be 
nrgued  that  while  our  membership  is  larger,  yet  this  membership  is  not  all 
employed  in  jurisdictions  where  the  allied  label  is  used.  This  may  be  answered 
by  the  statement  that  the  local  jurisdiction  in  which  the  typographical  anion 
is  the  only  union  of  the  printing  trade  today  may  have  a  anion  of  another 
punting  craft  tomorrow,  and  an  allied  council  the  Dealt  day,  so  that  all  of  the 
laws  governing  the  allied  council  jurisdictions  of  today  are  liable  to  apply 
tomorrow  in  jurisdictions  where  the  allied  label  is  not  now  in  evidence.     1 

.  admitting  that  all  of  our  members  are  not  employed  in  allied  jurisdic- 
tion*, Irt  cm  mike  further  comparison.  I  am  submitting  herewith  a  table 
showintt  tlit-  mrtnl>er*hip  of  each  of  our  unions  in  allied  trade*  council  juris- 

Actions,     H     trnottr.l     by     our     International     «r.rrtatv  Measurer     for     the     focal 


963 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

year  ending  April  30,  1909,  and  the  membership  in  good  standing  of  the  same 
unions  paying  us  per  capita  tax  for  the  month  of  May,  1910.  [The  table  is 
omitted. — Ed.] 

WHAT    THE    FIGURES    SHOW 

"The  foregoing  shows  that  on  April  30,  1909,  we  had  a  greater  member- 
ship working  in  jurisdictions  in  which  the  allied  label  is  used  than  the  com- 
bined membership  of  our  allies  on  the  31st  day  of  October  following.  We 
have  today,  as  the  statement  shows  and  I  believe  the  figures  will  prove,  a 
greater  membership  working  in  allied  label  jurisdictions  than  the  combined 
membership  of  our  allies..  And  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  some  ot  the 
locals  holding  charters  from  our  allied  international  unions  are  not  located  in 
jurisdictions  in  which  the  allied  label  is  used.  On  any  basis  from  which  the 
subject  can  be  considered,  we  are  entirely  justified  in  asking  at  least  equal 
representation    on    the    Joint    Conference    Board. 

"The  Joint  Conference  Board  was  organized  mainly  for  the  adjustment 
of  difficulties  between  the  international  unions,  often  serious  in  their  nature, 
for  example,  the  present  threatened  dispute,  and  of  local  differences  that 
formerly  annoyed  and  sometimes  disrupted  local  allied  councils,  and  for  the 
enactment  of  laws  general  in  their  nature  for  the  government  of  local  coun- 
cils and  in  the  issuance  of  the  label.  That  the  joint  board  has  been  a  suc- 
cess in  this  connection  can  not  be  disputed.  I  believe  that  all  disputes  aris- 
ing between  the  five  international  unions  of  the  printing  trade  should  be 
adjusted  within  the  Joint  Conference  Board,  and  I  am  strongly  of  the  opinion 
that  the  exercise  of  patience  on  the  part  of  all  of  the  international  unions 
making  up  the  Joint  Conference  Board  will  yet  result  in  mutually  acceptable, 
amicable   relations. 

FEDERATION  PRINTING  TRADES  SECTION 

"It  has  been  suggested  that  if  the  International  Typographical  Union 
does  not  accede  to  the  demand  for  equal  voting  power  in  the  Joint  Conference 
Board,  application  will  be  made  thereafter  by  certain  international  unions  to 
the  American  Federation  of  Labor  for  the  formation  of  a  printing  trades  de- 
partment of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor.  Even  if  such  a  department 
is  organized,  I  am  still  of  the  opinion  that  the  International  Typographical 
Union  will  be  in  a  position  to  secure  fair  treatment  and  fair  representation; 
that  it  will  be  able  to  protect  its  interests.  But  I  am  opposed  to  the  forma- 
tion of  a  printing  trades  department  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  for 
many  important  reasons.  I  am  opposed  to  making  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  or  any  of  the  allied  international  unions  subordinate  to  the 
American  Federation  of  Labor.  Under  the  rules  of  the  latter  organization 
governing  departments,  the  organization  of  a  printing  trades  department  would 
practically  place  the  five  international  unions  in  a  subordinate  position,  for  the 
reason  that  the  business  of  the  department  would  have  to  be  reported  to  the 
executive  council  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor  and  could  be  reviewed 
by  that  council  or  by  the  federation  convention.  We  have  been  in  existence 
for  more  than  sixty  years,  we  have  for  all  this  time  maintained  complete 
autonomy,   and   we   do  not  propose   to   now  surrender  that  proud   distinction. 

CONSIDER    THE    CONSEQUENCES 

"I  have  tried  to  set  foith  the  history  of  the  various  agreements,  and  the 
status  of  the  present  agreement,  and  the  disputes  that  have  arisen  under  it. 
I  sincerely  trust  that  before  any  action  is  taken  that  will  jeopardize  the  joint 
agreement,  the  results  that  may  follow  shall  have  careful  consideration  and 
due  weight.  We  do  not  want  warfare  with  our  allies.  We  believe  that  bet- 
ter results  will  be  forthcoming  if  we  have  joint  effort  along  trade  union  lines. 
We  know  that  in  any  differences  that  may  arise  the  burden  will  eventually  fall 


•964 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

on  the  member — not  on  the  officers  who  may  be  responsible  for  the  contention. 
Nevertheless,  if  we  are  forced  into  the  position  where  we  must  defend  our 
interests,  where  we  must  meet  opposition,  strife  and  friction,  we  will  do  the 
best  we  can  to  preserve  our  strength  and  stability. 

"It  has  occurred  to  me  that  if  the  headquarters  of  our  international  onions 
were  located  in  the  same  city,  there  would  be  more  frequent  opportunity  for 
conference,  and  that  contentions  which  eventually  loom  large,  with  prompt 
treatment   might   never   get   beyond   the   initial   conference   stage. 

"I  can  not  predict  what  action  our  Minneapolis  convention,  which  will  be 
held  in  August  this  year,  will  take.  The  convention  will  consider  the  pro- 
posed agreement  that  has  been  designed  to  supplant  the  present  joint  agree- 
ment, and  will  instruct  its  officers  as  to  the  course  which  tbey  shall  pursue. 

"I  don't  propose,  as  has  been  done,  to  anticipate  the  action  of  our  con- 
vention. All  of  the  facts  will  be  submitted  to  that  convention,  and  its  judg- 
ment will  only  be  arrived  at  after  full  consideration  of  all  of  the  elements  that 
go  to  make  up  our  present  differences." 

Health  Campaign  —  A  campaign  for  better  sanitary 
conditions  in  composing  rooms  had  been  aggressively 
waged  during  the  year.  Thousands  of  tuberculosis 
pamphlets  had  been  distributed  both  to  the  general  public 
and  to  the  membership.  It  had  brought  good  results. 
Many  old  composing  rooms  had  been  remodeled  and  bet- 
ter sanitary  conditions  established,  while  many  new 
composing  rooms  had  been  constructed  with  modern 
ventilating  and  sanitary  appliances.  The  president  as- 
serted that  the  union  could  prolong  the  average  life  of  its 
members  materially  if  working  conditions  were  made  as 
they  should  be. 

Typographia —  Second  Vice-President  Hugo  Miller 
submitted  an  extensive  report  covering  the  operations  of 
the  Typographia  during  the  year.  He  said  that  a  goodly 
number  of  subordinate  unions  had  fallen  in  line  with  the 
onward  march  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
for  higher  wages,  shorter  hours  and  better  conditions.  At 
Milwaukee  the  book  and  job  scale  had  been  raised  and  a 
three-year  contract  signed.  At  Columbus,  Ohio,  the 
Typographia  had  secured  an  increase  in  its  scale  for  day 
work,  although  one  Cicrman  daily  had  suspended  publica- 
tion. Rochester  Typographia  hail  made  a  demand  for  an 
increase  of  $2  a  week,  but  had  compromised  on  a  $1  raise. 

9*5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

At  New  York  city  the  newspaper  scale  was  raised  $i  a 
week,  and  after  this  had  been  accomplished  the  book  and 
job  offices  also  raised  the  scale  in  the  same  proportion. 
Davenport,  Iowa,  had  obtained  an  increase  over  the  old 
scale.  A  strike  had  occurred  at  Buffalo  on  the  German 
daily  papers  to  enforce  a  demand  for  increased  wages, 
and  the  union  had  been  successful.  St.  Paul  Typographia 
and  Indianapolis  Typographia  had  each  presented  re- 
vised scales,  including  increases,  which  had  been  compro- 
mised satisfactorily.  Typographia  No.  8,  of  Newark,  also 
secured  an  increase.  St.  Louis  Typographia  had  raised 
its  book  and  job  scale  to  the  figure  obtained  by  the  Eng- 
lish union.  In  Chicago,  the  Abendpost  had  raised  its 
scale  $2  a  week.  Work  in  the  German  branch  was  much 
better  than  during  the  previous  year  and  most  of  the 
members  had  steady  employment. 

Mailers  —  Third  Vice-President  Charles  N.  Smith,  for 
the  mailers,  submitted  the  most  comprehensive  and  satis- 
factory report  concerning  the  welfare  of  that  craft  ever 
presented  to  a  convention  up  to  that  time.  The  document 
was  a  complete  review  of  the  operations  of  the  various 
mailers'  unions  during  the  year.  In  concluding  his  report 
Vice-President  Smith  said :  "There  are  a  few  unsightly 
spots  in  my  report,  but  on  the  whole  I  was  treated  fairly 
well  by  all  those  with  whom  I  came  in  contact,  although 
none  treated  the  mailers'  affairs  in  such  fair  and  square 
manner  as  did  the  executive  council  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  and  I  take  this  means  to  publicly 
thank  the  members  of  the  council  for  their  amicable 
attitude." 

Secretary-Treasurer's  Report  —  At  the  outset  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer Hays  submitted  a  table  of  receipts  and 
expenditures  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  May  31,  19 10, 
showing  a  total  of  $518,419.98  as  being  received  from  all 
sources,  with  expenditures  of  $417,998.76.    The  balance 

966 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

on  hand  on  the  date  above  mentioned  was  $359,149.69,  of 
which  $81,553  was  in  the  general  fund,  and  $277,596.69 
in  the  old  age  pension  fund.  The  special  assistance  and 
benefit  expenditures  for  the  year  were  $28,728.43.  The 
expenses  of  the  commission  on  supplemental  trade  edu- 
cation, copyright  law  representative,  eight-hour  pres- 
entation committee,  label  advertising,  meetings  of  the 
National  Arbitration  Board,  Joint  Conference  Board, 
tuberculosis  campaign,  etc.,  were  shown  to  have  been 
$14,306.84,  and  the  money  paid  to  organizers  and  officers 
engaged  in  organization  work  was  $35,010.96.  The 
general  expenditures  of  the  organization  outside  of  those 
credited  to  the  executive  council  or  defense,  the  Home 
and  old  age  pension  funds,  reached  a  total  of  $60,145.05. 
The  15  cents  per  month  paid  by  each  member  toward  the 
support  of  the  Home  amounted  during  the  year  to 
$86,051.90. 

Mortuary  Benefits — Burial  benefit  and  mortuary 
tables  were  given  indicating  that  574  benefits  were  paid 
during  the  year,  the  largest  number,  with  one  exception, 
since  the  death  benefit  was  established.  The  death  rate 
for  the  year  was  1.19  per  cent  of  the  average  membership, 
or  a  little  more  than  11  per  1,000.  The  average  death 
rate  since  the  establishment  of  the  benefit  was  1.30  per 
cent — 13  per  1,000.  The  average  age  of  members 
who  passed  away  during  the  year  was  46.7  years.  The 
secretary-treasurer  advocated  a  graduated  burial  benefit 
by  the  collection  of  an  additional  25  cents  per  month  per 
member,  the  amounts  paid  to  be  as  follows):  $50  for  a 
membership  of  one  year  or  less;  $100  for  a  membership 
of  over  one  year  and  not  more  than  two  years;  $150  for 
a  membership  of  over  two  years  and  not  more  than  three 
years ;  $200  for  a  membership  of  over  three  years  and  not 
more  than  five  years;  $250  for  a  membership  of  over  five 
years. 

*7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

It  was  asserted  that  this  plan  could  be  adopted  without 
fear  of  failure;  in  fact,  it  was  thought  that  a  benefit  of 
$250  on  the  death  of  a  member  in  good  standing,  regard- 
less of  the  length  of  his  membership,  could  be  paid  with 
this  assessment. 

The  relation  of  the  benefits  paid  to  the  receipts  for  the 
year  was  most  interesting.  This  sum,  which  was  paid  to 
the  local  unions  as  strike  benefits,  special  assistance,  death 
benefits,  old  age  pensions,  Home  fund,  etc.,  amounted  to 
$267,712.89,  or  51.6  per  cent  of  the  total  money  paid  into 
the  treasury. 

Membership  —  Under  the  heading  "Our  Membership," 
Secretary-Treasurer  Hays  said,  in  part : 

The  receipts  for  per  capita  tax  show  an  average  paying  membership  ot 
47,848  for  the  twelve  months  ended  May  31,  191  o.  This  is  an  increase  of 
2,927  over  the  year  1909  and  4,108  over  1908.  Never  before  in  a  like  period — 
twelve  months — has  the  International  Union  collected  per  capita  tax  on  such  a 
large  average  number  of  members. 

Even  a  better  showing  is  made  in  the  last  five  months  of  the  fiscal  year, 
during  which  we  have  been  working  under  the  register  system  of  members. 
The  January  collections  of  per  capita  tax  represented  50,281  members;  Febru- 
ary, 46,776;  March,  53,553;  April,  50,146;  May,  52,212;  an  average  of  50,593 
for  the  five  months.  At  the  close  of  business  on  May  31,  1910,  register  num- 
bers were  held  by  52,165  members,  of  which  49,976  were  affiliated  with  local 
unions,  the  remainder  being  in  unorganized  towns  and  in  possession  of  travel- 
ing cards. 

The  growth  in  the  number  of  new  unions  organized 
during  the  year  was  indicated  by  the  following  figures : 

Subordinate  unions  June   1,   1909 653 

Chartered   during   the   year   ended    May   31,    1910 52 

Total     705 

Suspended    and    surrendered 21 

Number   of   local   unions   May   31,    1910 684 

Increase   in    number   of   unions 31 

These   subordinate   bodies  were   thus  divided  among   the   several   crafts: 

Typographical     unions — English 631 

Typographical     unions — German-American 22 

Mailers'     unions 28 

Newspaper    writers'    unions 3 

Total     684 

Bonding  Local  Officers  —  It  was  asserted  by  the  secre- 
tary-treasurer   that    although    the    law    relating    to    the 

968 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

bonding  of  local  officers  had  been  in  operation  only  since 
the  1st  of  January,  1910,  its  good  effects  were  apparent. 
Some  of  the  smaller  unions  objected  to  the  requirements 
on  account  of  the  trivial  amount  of  money  in  their  treas- 
uries, and  it  was  suggested  that  this  might  be  overcome 
by  the  International  establishing  a  bonding  department. 
On  this  subject,  the  secretary-treasurer  said: 

It  has  been  suggested  on  several  occasions  that  the  International  Union 
arrange  for  what  is  commonly  called  a  "blanket  bond"  covering  all  local 
officers.  This  was  the  original  plan  of  the  executive  council,  which  wa*  de- 
feated and  the  present  law  adopted.  However,  it  is  not  too  late  to  change 
to  that  system  if  deemed  advisable  to  do  so.  The  present  law  is  working 
satisfactorily  and  there  is  no  great  need  of  a  change.  The  law  should  be  a 
little  more   stringent   and  provide   a  penalty   for   non-compliance   therewith. 

Receipts  and  Benefits  —  A  series  of  tables  were  pre- 
sented, occupying  sixteen  full  pages  of  the  report,  show- 
ing the  payments  of  each  subordinate  union  to  the 
general,  old  age  pension  and  Home  funds,  the  burial 
benefits  and  old  age  pensions  drawn  by  each  union  and  the 
money  received  by  them  for  strike  benefits  and  special 
assistance.  On  the  subject  of  strikes,  it  was  shown  by  the 
secretary-treasurer  that  but  fifteen  small  disturbances 
occurred  during  the  year. 

Old  Age  Pension  Fund  —  A  large  section  of  the  report 
of  the  secretary-treasurer  was  devoted  to  the  old  age 
pension  fund.  A  summary  of  the  receipts  and  expendi- 
tures for  the  year  follows : 

uuitia 

June  1,    1909 — Balance   in    fund $159.7*7   «7 

May  31,    1910 — One-half  of    1    per  cent  assessment 1.18.014  7* 

May  |I|    1910—  Interest    5.1308* 

May  31,   1910—  Pensions  returned yj  $0 

Total    

IXriNDIII  «l« 

Paid     to     pensioners $106,740  OO 

il     work '.47 J  65 

Hooks    and    printing I  jj  7$ 

Installation  and  maintenance  of   register  system 6,ojo  u 

Total     im.J07   \t 

Iialancc   in   fund   May  31,   1910 J         t«6  60 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

During  the  twelve  months  covered  by  the  above  table  the  average  mem- 
bership of  the  International  Typographical  Union  upon  which  per  capita 
tax  was  collected  was  47,848.  The  receipts  from  the  pension  assessment  aver- 
aged $19,001.22 — 39.7  cents  per  member  per  month,  or  $4.76  per  member  per 
year.  These  figures  mean  that  the  total  earnings  of  the  membership  during 
the  year  aggregated  $45,602,944 — $953  per  member,  based  on  the  average  pay- 
ing membership  for  the  year.  This  is  a  much  better  showing  than  was  made 
last  year,  when  the  earnings  averaged  $897  per  member  on  a  membership  of 
44,921.  I  said  last  year  "no  other  American  trade  union  can  show  an  equal 
average  earning  capacity."  The  figures  of  this  year  demonstrate  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  to  be  superior,  as  regards  the  average  wages  of 
its  members,  to  all  other  organized  trades,  no  matter  where  located,  with  an 
equal   membership. 

Since  the  establishment  of  the  pension  fund  and  up  to  May  31,  1910,  796 
applications  for  the  pension  had  been  filed;  647  in  the  first  and  149  in  the 
last  fiscal  year.  Of  this  number  52  petitions  were  disapproved,  4  were  with- 
drawn, 2  removed  from  the  list  and  action  upon  15  was  pending.  Deaths  to 
the  number  of  81  occurred  among  the  pensioners,  leaving  642  pensioners  on 
the  roll  on   May  31. 

An  analysis  of  the  ages  of  the  pension  applicants  develops  the  notable  fact 
that  the  average  age  of  the  796  applicants  is  66.4  years.  Of  the  total  number, 
523  are  between  60  and  70  years;  241  are  septuagenarians;  30  are  octoge- 
narians; one  is  a  nonagenarian,  and  one  withdrawn  was  less  than  60  years  of 
age. 

Of  the  future  of  the  old  age  pension  fund,  the  secre- 
tary-treasurer said: 

The  pension  law  has  now  been  in  operation  twenty-six  months,  during 
which  time  pensions  have  been  paid  for  ninety-two  weeks — forty  weeks  in 
the  fiscal  year  of  1909  and  fifity-two  in  that  of  1910.  In  the  past  twelve 
months  there  was  a  net  increase  of  100  in  the  number  of  members  on  the 
pension  roll.  Notwithstanding  this  marked  increase  in  the  number  of  pen- 
sioners, the  receipts  of  the  fund  were  far  in  excess  of  the  demands  thereon. 
Should  the  number  of  pensioners  increase  at  the  rate  of  joo  per  year,  we  will 
have  practically  1,000  pensioners  in  three  years.  The  revenue  of  the  fund  will 
support  that  number  without  touching  the  reserve  if  the  collections  on  the 
assessment  are  as  large  in  succeeding  years  as  in  the  past.  Since  the  assess- 
ment is  on  percentage  basis,  the  revenue  of  the  fund  may  be  seriously  decreased 
by  dulness  of  business,  a  panic  or  other  unforeseen  conditions.  We  can  de- 
pend upon  the  number  of  pensioners  increasing  year  by  year.  This  is  proven 
by  the  experience  of  foreign  trade  unions  operating  a  benefit  of  this  character. 
How  rapid  the  increase  will  be  one  can  not  predict  with  certainty,  but  it  is 
believed   the  increase  will   be   about  like   that  of  the   past  year. 

In  the  face  of  these  facts — a  rapidly  growing  pension  list  and  an  uncertain 
revenue — great  care  must  be  taken  in  handling  the  pension  law.  No  doubt 
amendments  having  in  view  a  broader  distribution  of  the  pension  will  come 
before  the  next  convention.  The  effect  of  these  amendments,  if  offered  and 
adopted,  can  not  be  estimated,  and  we  should  consider  well  any  proposition 
which  has  for  its  purpose  a  large  increase  in  the  number  of  pensioners.  The 
list   has   grown    rapidly — it   will    continue    to    do    so. 

Among  the  principal  complaints  against  the  pension  law  is  the  percentage 
assessment.  It  is  contended  by  many  members  that  all  should  pay  an  equal 
amount  to  the  fund,  since  all  are  entitled  to  the  same  benefits  therefrom. 
This  argument  has  some  strength.  As  between  the  two  alternatives — broaden 
the   pension  law  or  make  the  assessment  a  flat   rate  of  35   cents  per  month — I 

970 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

should  advise  the  latter  course,  because  we  can  estimate  with  some  degree 
of  accuracy  the  result,  and  there  is  no  way  by  which  it  can  be  determined 
whether  or  not  the  present  assessment  would  be  sufficient  should  the  pension 
law  be  extended.  The  old  age  pension  is  our  greatest  benefit.  Let  us  guard  it 
carefully  and  make  no  mistakes  which  may  impair  the  stability  of  the  fund 
or   render   it  burdensome   upon  the   membership. 

The  secretary-treasurer  concluded  his  report  with 
comments  on  the  official  magazine,  the  register  system, 
the  manufacture  and  distribution  of  labels  and  presented  a 
table  showing  the  number  of  members  of  each  subordinate 
union  and  the  amount  of  money  in  the  treasuries  of  the 
local  organizations. 

The  Executive  Council  —  The  report  of  the  executive 
council  opened  with  a  document  drawn  up  by  competent 
attorneys,  intended  for  governing  the  joint  ownership  of 
the  allied  printing  trades  label,  which  subject  had  been 
gone  into  at  great  length  during  the  year  by  the  Joint 
Conference  Board.  The  council  asked  for  instructions 
from  the  convention  as  to  how  far  it  should  go  on  the 
question  of  joint  ownership  of  the  label  or  the  change  of 
representation  and  voting  strength  in  the  Joint  Confer- 
ence Board. 

The  minutes  of  the  several  sessions  of  the  National 
Board  of  Arbitration  held  during  the  year  were  included 
in  the  council's  report,  together  with  amendments  to  the 
agreement  and  a  list  of  all  newspapers  parties  to  the 
compact. 

During  the  year  the  council  was  compelled  to  take  a 
stand  on  the  question  of  relief  of  sick  members  which  had 
not  altogether  satisfied  some  subordinate  unions.  A  nega- 
tive decision  was  made  when  assistance  was  asked  for 
certain  members  who  were  eligible  neither  to  the  old  age 
pension  nor  t<>  admittance  t<>  the  Home. 

Many  requests  for  financing  label  campaigns  instituted 
by  subordinate  unions  had  been  received  during  the  year. 
The  council  had  refused  these  requests,  giving  as  its 
reason  that  the  International  I'liion,  not  hiving  provided 

971 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

funds  for  such  purposes,  the  council  could  not  finance  the 
propositions. 

Referring  to  the  mortuary  benefit  proposition,  the 
council  said  that  it  was  strongly  of  the  opinion  that  a 
majority  of  the  members  desired  an  increased  death  or 
funeral  benefit.  The  question  was  one  of  deep  interest  to 
all,  and  while  the  council  did  not  desire  to  go  on  record 
as  making  any  special  recommendation,  it  was  urged  upon 
the  delegates  and  the  membership  that  the  entire  subject 
be  studied  so  that  it  might  be  worked  out  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  best  interests  of  the  membership  of  the  Inter- 
national Union. 

Other  features  of  the  council's  report  included  a  review 
of  the  old  age  pension  system,  the  United  Hatters'  strike, 
matters  regarding  Los  Angeles,  enhanced  value  of  union 
membership,  the  success  of  the  campaign  to  defeat  in- 
creased rates  on  second-class  mail,  the  Journal  as  second- 
class  mail  matter  and  printing  corner  cards  on  envelopes 
by  the  government. 

Reports  from  twenty-six  organizers  furnished  interest- 
ing reading  for  the  delegates  and  membership  at  large. 
A  glance  at  these  reports  shows  that  the  work  of  the 
organizers  was  of  great  benefit  and  proved  the  necessity 
of  at  all  times  keeping  competent  men  on  guard  to  protect 
the  interests  of  the  International  Union. 

The  report  of  the  trustees  of  the  Union  Printers  Home 
contained  the  minutes  of  the  annual  meeting  and  also  that 
of  the  Home  corporation,  as  well  as  the  report  of  the 
secretary-treasurer  and  the  superintendent.  The  Home 
secretary-treasurer  showed  that  the  receipts  for  the  fiscal 
year  were  $122,923.42,  and  the  expenditures  $103,366.88, 
leaving  a  balance  on  hand  of  $19,556.54.  In  this  was 
included  payment  for  the  construction  of  an  addition  to 
the  main  building.  The  admission  committee  considered 
1 19  petitions  during  the  year,  ninety-one  of  which  were 

972 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

approved,  twenty-five  disapproved,  one  withdrawn  and 
two  applicants  died  while  their  petitions  were  pending. 
Petitions  disapproved  on  advice  of  the  Home  physician 
numbered  twenty,  and  five  were  ineligible  for  admission. 
The  report  of  the  superintendent  covered  all  financial 
transactions  during  the  year,  improvements  to  buildings 
and  grounds,  mortality  statement,  tubercular  patients, 
names  of  members  in  the  Home,  report  of  Home  physi- 
cian and  a  list  of  members  admitted  during  the  year.  The 
average  number  of  residents  at  the  institution  during  the 
year  was  129,  and  the  average  cost  per  week  per  resident 
was  $7.66. 

INCREASED   MORTUARY   BENEFITS   AGAIN 
DEFEATED 

Notwithstanding  the  urgent  recommendations  of  the 
president  and  the  executive  council,  the  Minneapolis 
convention  failed  to  adopt  a  plan  for  increasing  burial 
benefits  satisfactory  to  the  membership  at  large.  In  lieu 
of  several  propositions  looking  toward  an  increase  or  a 
change  in  the  law  relating  thereto  the  convention  adopted 
the  following,  which  was  submitted  to  a  referendum  vote 
of  the  membership : 

For  a  membership  of  one  year  or  less,  $50. 
For  a  continuous  membership  of  over  one  year  and  not  more 
than  two  years,  $100. 

For  a  continuous  membership  of  two  years  and  not  more 

than  three  years,  $150. 

For  a  continuous  membership  of  over  three  years  and  not 
more  th;in  rive  Years,  $JOO. 

For  ■  (ontinuoiis  membership  "i  over  five  ve.irs.  $2$Q. 

It  was  proposed  to  provide  tin-  funds  for  the  payment 
of  the  graduated  burial  benefit  by  collecting  25  cents  per 
member  per  month.  The  subject  was  fully  discussed  in 
tin-   report   <>l    t  | .n \  -t  1  e.isurcr  and  the  plan  was 

thought  to  be  entirely  feasible,  the  only  question  to  be 

973 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

determined  by  each  member  was  whether  or  not  he  de- 
sired to  pay  $3  per  year  for  a  burial  benefit  of  $250. 

There  were  several  propositions  before  the  convention 
having  for  their  object  the  collection  of  a  stipulated 
amount  for  the  pension  fund  in  lieu  of  the  percentage 
system  originally  adopted.  In  the  belief  that  dues  should 
be  collected  either  entirely  on  a  percentage  or  on  a  flat 
basis,  the  convention  amended  the  law  so  as  to  provide 
for  the  collection  of  $1  per  member  per  month,  divided 
as  follows  :  Per  capita  tax,  35  cents;  Journal  subscription, 
5  cents;  for  the  pension  fund,  35  cents;  for  the  burial 
fund,  25  cents. 

This  amendment  and  the  proposed  graduated  burial 
benefit  plan  was  submitted  to  the  referendum  as  one 
proposition,  as  the  adoption  of  one  was  contingent  upon 
the  adoption  of  the  other.  Probably  the  weak  point  in  the 
proposition  and  the  factor  that  contributed  largely  to  its 
defeat  was  the  plan  embodied  of  collecting  all  dues  on  a 
flat  basis.  It  was  argued  that. this  would  have  a  tendency 
to  increase  the  dues  in  the  smaller  unions  having  excep- 
tionally low  scales.  In  the  larger  towns,  where  scales 
were  higher,  the  dues  would  be  decreased.  Whether  this 
was  the  real  cause  of  defeat,  of  course,  can  not  be  posi- 
tively asserted,  but  in  the  vote  of  more  than  30,000  a 
majority  of  203  was  cast  against  the  proposition. 

OTHER      LEGISLATION 

Aside  from  the  proposed  constitutional  amendment 
increasing  the  mortuary  benefits,  two  other  propositions 
were  submitted  to  the  referendum,  the  first  providing  an 
increase  in  salary  for  the  president  and  secretary-treas- 
urer from  $2,000  to  $3,000  each  per  year.  This  proposi- 
tion was  submitted  by  the  laws  committee  and  adopted  by 
the  convention  in  lieu  of  twelve  propositions  offered  by 
delegates  dealing  with  the  same  subject.   The  referendum 

974 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

majority  against  the  proposition  was  7,353.  The  only 
amendment  that  received  the  approval  of  the  referendum 
was  a  proviso  added  to  section  7,  article  vii,  stipulating 
that  it  should  be  the  duty  of  the  Home  agent  to  attend  at 
least  one  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  during  his  term 
of  office. 

Amendments  to  the  by-laws  included  a  proposition  that 
all  members  voting  for  International  officers  in  the 
biennial  elections  must  personally  cast  their  ballots;  that 
all  appeals  to  the  convention  shall  be  in  printed  form, 
and  shall  contain  in  full  all  of  the  papers  and  evidence  on 
which  the  decision  of  the  executive  council  was  based, 
together  with  said  decision,  and  appellant  shall  furnish  a 
sufficient  number  of  copies  of  his  appeal  to  supply  each 
delegate  in  attendance  at  the  convention  with  one  copy 
thereof.  The  general  laws  were  amended  permitting  the 
executive  council,  to  extend  the  jurisdiction  of  subordinate 
unions,  with  a  proviso  that  the  petitioning  union  makes 
satisfactory  showing  of  its  ability  to  properly  supervise 
the  additional  territory  and  enforce  its  scale  and  rules  in 
the  offices  operating  therein.  The  law  requiring  fiduciary 
officers  of  local  unions  to  be  bonded  was  amended  by 
adopting  a  penalty  clause  for  failing  to  comply  with  its 
provisions.  The  general  law  providing  for  registration 
of  members  by  the  International  secretary-treasurer  was 
amended  so  as  to  require  each  member  to  furnish,  on  a 
blank  provided  for  his  use,  the  date  of  his  birth,  the  date 
of  initiation,  and  such  other  statistics  as  are  necessary  to 
show  clearly  the  length  of  his  continuous  membership.  It 
was  also  recommended  to  local  unions  not  to  admit 
applicants  under  twenty  years  of  age  to  full  membership 
in  the  union.  Another  amendment  to  the  general  laws 
provided  that  local  unions  shall  furnish  tllC  l'\  pn^tapieal 
Journal  to  registered  apprentices  within  their  jurisdietion 
and  to  graduated  apprentices,  when   initiated,  a  typo- 

975 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

graphical  button.  The  law  stipulating  that  the  label  shall 
not  be  granted  to  a  union  the  scale  of  which  was  below 
$12  a  week  of  not  more  than  forty-eight  hours,  was 
amended,  increasing  the  amount  to  $14. 

Old  Age  Pension  Law  Amended  —  Perhaps  the  most 
important  legislation  of  the  convention  was  the  modifica- 
tion of  section  6,  article  v,  by-laws,  which  governs  the 
conditions  under  which  pensions  may  be  granted.  There 
were  many  amendments  submitted  to  the  convention 
seeking  a  change  in  the  old  age  pension  law.  The  com- 
mittee on  laws  submitted  a  substitute  for  all  of  these 
propositions,  which  was  adopted.  This  proposition  was 
substantially  as  follows :  Any  member  of  twenty  years' 
continuous  membership,  at  whatever  age,  who  is  totally 
disabled  and  who  is  denied  admission  to  the  Home,  after 
applying,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  the  pension.  Also 
any  member  who  has  reached  the  age  of«70  years  and  who 
has  been  in  continuous  good  standing  for  a  period  of  ten 
years  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  the  pension. 

JOINT      OWNERSHIP      ALLIED      LABEL 

For  some  time  prior  to  the  Minneapolis  convention 
dissatisfaction  had  been  expressed  by  representatives  and 
members  of  several  unions  affiliated  with  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  in  the  Joint  Conference 
Board  because  of  the  ownership  of  the  allied  printing 
trades  council  union  label  by  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union.  It  was  finally  agreed  by  the  representa- 
tives of  the  International  Typographical  Union  on  the 
board  that  if  a  workable  and  safe  plan  of  joint  ownership 
could  be  evolved  they  would  submit  it  to  the  convention 
for  consideration  and  action.  Accordingly  an  attorney 
was  selected  by  the  Joint  Conference  Board  for  the 
purpose  of  determining  whether  such  a  plan  would  be 
feasible  and,  if  so,  he  to  draft  the  necessary  agreement. 

976 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

This  attorney  consulted  with  the  attorneys  of  the  dif- 
ferent international  unions  interested  and  they  collect- 
ively determined  that  joint  ownership  could  be  brought 
about  only  in  one  way,  and  accordingly  a  document  was 
drawn  up  on  the  lines  suggested  by  these  attorneys.  The 
proposed  new  agreement  was  submitted  to  the  Minneapo- 
lis convention  and  referred  to  the  committee  on  allied 
trades  relations.  During  the  convention  week  representa- 
tives of  several  of  the  allied  trades  unions  appeared  before 
the  delegates  and  discussed  the  proposed  new  agreement. 
Martin  M.  Hugg,  attorney  for  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  also  addressed  the  delegates,  explaining 
the  manner  in  which  the  attorneys  reached  their  conclu- 
sion, and  stated  positively  that  the  plan  presented  would 
solve  the  question.  It  appeared,  however,  from  a  review 
of  the  remarks  made  by  some  of  the  representatives  of  the 
allied  trades  that  joint  ownership  of  the  label  was  not  the 
only  purpose  of  the  agitation  for  a  new  agreement.  The 
question  of  voting  strength  on  the  board  was  also  a  matter 
of  concern  to  several  of  the  allied  trades  unions.  The  posi- 
tion taken  by  President  Lynch,  however,  that  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  by  reason  of  its  large 
membership,  could  not  be  expected  to  place  itself  in  a 
position  whereby,  by  reason  of  a  combination  of  voting 
strength  on  the  part  of  the  smaller  unions,  the  interests 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  would  be 
jeopardized,  was  stoutly  maintained' by  the  convention. 
The  new  agreement  abolishing  the  Joint  Con 
Board  and  creating  an  International  Allied  Printing 
Trades  Association,  as  recommended  by  the  attorneys, 
was  adopted  by  the  convention,  together  with  an  iir 
ductory  resolution  offered  by  the  committee,  as  folio 

ReSOltHd.   By  tin-  iihiiiIhts  of  the   I  ntrrn.ittoiul    typOgraph 
ical  Union  in  convention  nssnnMnl : 

1  ii<  r.    ' riwit  it  is  tin-  Intention  rod  desire  to  become  mem 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

bers  of  the  International  Allied  Printing  Trades  Association 
and  that  they  do  hereby  adopt  the  constitution  of  said  associa- 
tion hereto  attached  and  made  a  part  hereof,  and  agree  to 
abide  by  all  the  laws  and  regulations  embodied  in  said  consti- 
tution or  which  may  be  hereafter  duly  enacted. 

Second.  That  they  do  hereby  choose  and  appoint  the  presi- 
dent, the  first  and  second  vice-presidents  and  secretary-treasurer 
as  members  of  the  board  of  governors  of  said  International 
Allied  Printing  Trades  Association. 

Third.  That  the  executive  council  be  and  it  is  hereby  au- 
thorized and  empowered  to  take  all  necessary  action  'to  sur- 
render to  and  vest  in  said  International  Allied  Printing  Trades 
Association  all  rights  in  and  to  the  present  allied  printing 
trades  label,  and  to  take  all  necessary  and  proper  steps  to 
effectuate  and  carry  out  the  letter  and  spirit  of  this  resolution. 

Following  the  adjournment  of  the  Minneapolis  conven- 
tion and  before  the  proposed  new  agreement  was  submit- 
ted to  the  referendum,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Joint  Confer- 
ence Board  held  at  Baltimore,  December  io,  n,  12,  1910, 
the  proposition  was  amended  by  inserting  the  following 
paragraph,  the  phraseology  of  the  document  also  being 
changed  wherever  necessary  to  make  the  instrument  con- 
form to  the  terms  of  the  amendment : 

All  questions  coming  before  the  board  of  governors  shall  be 
decided  by  unanimous  vote,  except  as  provided  in  sections  4 
and  5  of  this  article.  In  the  event  of  failure  of  the  board  of 
governors  to  agree  unanimously  upon  any  proposition  or  propo- 
sitions submitted  to  it,  then  any  one  or  more  of  the  members  of 
said  board  may  demand  that  such  proposition  or  propositions 
be  submitted  to  a  disinterested  person  for  decision,  and  such 
disinterested  person  shall  be  selected  by  the  unanimous  vote  of 
the  board  of  governors,  but  if  said  board  shall  fail  to  agree 
upon  such  disinterested  person,  then  such  person  shall  be  se- 
lected by  the  president  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor, 
and  the  decision  of  such  person  so  selected  shall  be  final  and 
binding  upon  the  board  of  governors.  Notice  of  the  demand 
to  submit  any  such  proposition  or  propositions  for  decision  to  a 
disinterested  person,  as  aforesaid,  must  be  given  during  the 
session  in  which  such  proposition  or  propositions  arise,  and  the 
settlement  of  such  proposition  or  propositions  shall  proceed  to 

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Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

determination  as  speedily  as  circumstances  permit,  not  to  exceed 
thirty  days  from  the  time  said  notice  shall  be  given,  unless  the 
time  shall  be  extended  by  the  board  of  governors. 

Following  the  meeting  of  the  Joint  Conference  Board 
at  Baltimore,  the  amended  agreement  was  submitted  to 
the  various  affiliated  unions  for  action.  The  Typograph- 
ical Union,  by  a  referendum  vote,  on  February  15,  191 1, 
endorsed  the  agreement  by  a  majority  of  6,814. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Joint  Conference  Board  in  In- 
dianapolis, March  6-7,  191 1,  all  of  the  interested  unions 
reported  having  endorsed  the  agreement,  the  business 
of  the  Joint  Conference  Board  was  concluded  and  the 
International  Allied  Printing  Trades  Association  was 
formed.    The  agreement,  as  finally  adopted,  follows : 

Article  I  (Name — Object — Jurisdiction) 

Section  I.  This  body  shall  be  known  as  the  International  Allied  Printing 
Trades   Association. 

Sec.  a.  The  objects  of  this  association  are  to  designate  the  products  of 
the  labor  of  the  members  thereof  by  adopting  and  registering  a  label  or  trade- 
mark designating  such  products. 

Sec  3.  To  that  end  the  association  shall  by  its  board  of  governors  adopt 
a  label,  to  be  known  as  "allied  printing  trades  label,"  which  label  shall  be  used 
to  distinguish  the  product  of  the  labor  of  the  members  of  the  association ;  and 
the  association  shall  exercise  jurisdiction  throughout  the  United  State*  of 
America  and  Canada  in  regard  to  said  label,  and  over  subordinate  local  organ- 
izations which  shall  be  established  and  maintained  in  accordance  with  the  pro- 
visions of  these   laws. 

Article  II  (Membership) 

Section  i.  All  members  in  good  standing  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union,  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union,  the 
International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypcrs'  Union,  the  International  Brother- 
hood of  Bookbinders  and  the  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union  shall  be 
members  of  this  association.  But  before  the  members  of  any  of  the  said 
unions  shall  become  members  of  this  association,  they  shall  by  appropriate 
action  taken  by  them  at  a  convention,  or  on  referendum  vote  or  otherwise  la 
manner  approved  by  the  respective  unionr,  duly  declare  their  intention  and 
desire  to  become  such  members  and  agree  to  abide  by  all  lawa  and  regulations 
now  or  hereafter  adopted  for  the  government  of  this  association,  and  shall 
at  the  same  time  provide  who  shall  constitute  their  representatives  on  the 
board  of  governors  hereinafter  provided  for  in  article  iii.  And  any  member 
ceasing  to  be  a  member  in  good  standing  in  ona  of  said  unions  shall  thereby 
cease  to  be  a  member  of  this  association.' 

Article  III   (Board  of  Governor.) 

Section    i.      The   affairs   of   this  association   shall   be  conducted  and   gov- 

I    by   a   board   to  be   known   as   the   "Board  of   Governor*."     Said  board 

shall  also  be   trusters  of,  and  hold  title  to,  any  label  adopted  by  the  aaaocia- 

«)7<> 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tion  and  all  other  property  of  the  association;  and  they  shall  cause  to  be 
registered  such  label  in  all  states,  territories  and  District  of  Columbia,  in 
the  United  States',  and  Dominion  and  Provinces  of  Canada,  where  registra- 
tion is  or  may  be  hereafter  authorized  by  law. 

Sec.  2.  The  board  of  governors  shall  consist  of  eight  members.  For 
the  purpose  of  selecting  those  members,  the  membership  of  this  association 
shall   be   divided   into   five   groups,    as   follows: 

One  group  consisting  of  those  members  who  are  also  members  of  the  In- 
ternational Typographical  Union,  who  shall  select  four  members  of  said 
board;  one  group  consisting  of  those  members  who  are  also  members  of  the 
International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union,  who  shall  select  one 
member  of  said  board;  one  group  consisting  of  those  members  who  are  also 
members  of  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union,  who 
shall  select  one  member  of  said  board;  one  group  consisting  of  those  mem- 
bers who  are  also  members  of  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders, 
who  shall  select  one  member  of  said  board;  and  one  group  consisting  of  those 
members  who  are  also  members  of  the  International  Photo  Engravers'  Union, 
who   shall   select  one  member   of  said  board. 

The  selection  of  said  members  of  said  board  of  governors  shall  be  in  the 
manner  and  by  the  mode  adopted  by  the  several  groups  of  members  above 
specified   respectively. 

Sec.  3.  The  members  of  said  board  shall  hold  office  until  their  successors  are 
duly  chosen.  Should  any  member  of  said  board  cease  to  be  such  member,  his 
successor  shall  be  chosen  or  designated  by  the  group  who  had  selected  such  mem- 
ber in  such  manner  as  such  group  may  determine.  No  member  of  said  board 
shall  continue  in  office  after  he  has  ceased  to  be  a  member  of  this  association. 

Sec.  4.  The  officers  of  the  board  of  governors  shall  be  a  president,  vice- 
president  and  secretary-treasurer  and  such  other  officers  as  the  board  may 
determine,  who  shall  be  elected  by  a  majority  vote.  But  no  two  executive 
officers   shall   be    members    of    the    same   trade    union. 

Sec.  5.  Regular  meetings  of  the  board  of  governors  shall  be  held  on  the 
first  Monday  in  November,  March  and  July  of  each  year  at  the  place  decided 
upon  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  board  of  governors,  written  notice  of  which 
shall  be  mailed  to  each  member  of  the  board  by  the  secretary-treasurer  thereof. 
At  the  regular  meeting  in  March,  the  officers  of  said  board  shall  be  nom- 
inated, elected  and  installed  for  the  ensuing  year.  If  any  vacancy  occurs 
during  the   ensuing  year   it   shall  be  filled   from   members  of  the  board. 

On  written  demand  of  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  board,  the 
president  shall  call  a  meeting  at  a  convenient  time  and  place  designated  by 
the  president  and  after  written  notice  is  mailed  to  each   member  of  the  board. 

In  the  event  of  any  member  of  the  board  being  unable  to  attend  any 
meeting  he  may  delegate  his  power  and  authority  to  a  proxy,  who,  however, 
shall  be  a  member  of  the  same  trade  union  of  which  the  member  giving  the 
proxy  is  a  member.  Upon  the  filing  of  properly  presented  credentials  to  the 
board  of  governors,  said  proxy  shall  be  accorded  all  rights  and  privileges  due 
to  the  member  for  whom  he   is  proxy. 

When  any  group  shall  have  more  than  one  representative  on  the  board 
of  governors,  then  in  the  absence  of  any  member  or  members  thereof  selected 
by  said  group,  the  other  member  or  members  of  the  board  selected  by  such 
group  may  cast  the  full  vote  to  which  said  group  shall  be  entitled  without  hav- 
ing any   proxy   to   do   so. 

Between  meetings  the  secretary-treasurer  may  submit  any  questions  call- 
ing for  prompt  action  to  the  consideration  of  the  members  of  the  board  of 
governors  by  mail,  and  the  members  shall  vote  by  mail.  Their  votes  shall  be 
canvassed  and  announced  by  the  secretary-treasurer  and  given  the  same  effect 
as  though  cast  at  a  meeting,  and  all  such  proceedings  shall  be  reported  by 
the   secretary-treasurer  at  the   next   regular  meeting  of  the  board. 

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Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

All  questions  coming  before  the  board  of  governors  shall  be  decided  by 
unanimous  vote,  except  as  provided  in  sections  4  and  5  of  this  article.  In 
the  event  of  failure  of  the  board  of  governors  to  agree  unanimously  upon  any 
proposition  or  propositions  submitted  to  it,  then  any  one  or  more  of  the  mem- 
bers of  said  board  may  demand  that  such  proposition  or  propositins  be  sub- 
mitted to  a  disinterested  person  for  decision,  and  such  disinterested  person 
shall  be  selected  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  board  of  governors,  but  if  said 
board  shall  fail  to  agree  upon  such  disinterested  person,  then  such  person 
shall  be  selected  by  the  president  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  and 
the  decision  of  such  person  so  selected  shall  be  final  and  binding  upon  the 
board  of  governors.  Notice  of  the  demand  to  submit  any  such  proposition 
or  propositions  for  decision  to  a  disinterested  person,  as  aforesaid,  must  be 
given  during  the  session  in  which  such  proposition  or  propositions  arise,  and 
the  settlement  of  such  proposition  or  propositions  shall  proceed  to  determina- 
tion as  speedily  as  circumstances  permit,  not  to  exceed  thirty  days  from  the 
time  said  notice  shall  be  given,  unless  the  time  shall  be  extended  by  the  board 
of  governors. 

Sec.  6.  The  board  of  governors  may  adopt  such  rules  of  procedure  in  the 
hearing  of  appeals  and  in  the  conduct  of  such  other  business  as  may  properly 
come  before  it  as  do  not  conflict  with  any  of  the  general  laws  of  the  asso- 
ciation. 

Article  IV   (Local  Allied  Printing  Trades  Councils) 

Section  i.  In  localities  where  there  are  subordinate  unions  chartered  by 
two  or  more  of  the  unions  mentioned  in  article  ii  hereof,  a  local  allied  print- 
ing trades  council  shall  be  formed,  the  jurisdiction  of  which  shall  be  de- 
termined by  said  board  of  governors.  Within  such  jurisdiction  no  member  of 
the  International  Allied  Printing  Trades  Association  shall  use  any  trade  label 
other  than  that  issued  by  said  International  Allied  Printing  Trades  Associa- 
tion through  the  local  allied  printing  trades  council,  and  all  unions  whose 
members  are  members  of  the  International  Allied  Printing  Trades  Association 
shall   withdraw   from   said   jurisdiction   their   union   label. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  composed  of  members  chosen  by  and  from  those  who 
are  members  of  said  subordinate  unions,  three  being  appointed  or  elected  from 
each  union  in  the  manner  and  by  the  mode  adopted  by  the  members  of  the 
union.  The  selection  of  the  three  members  from  the  membership  of  each  of 
said  unions  shall  be  certified  to  said  local  allied  printing  trades  council,  and 
the-  three  members  of  each  class  shall  continue  to  be  members  of  said  local 
council  for  a  term  of  one  year  and  until  their  successors  are  duly  chosen  and 
certified  by  the  members  of  that  class.  No  one  shall  be  at  the  same  time  a 
member   of  more  than   one  local   allied   printing   trades  council. 

Sec.  3.  Each  member  present  at  any  meeting  of  a  local  allied  punting 
trades  council  shall  lie  entitled  to  one  vote.  Hut  a  roll  call  may  he  demanded 
by  any  member  on  a  question  involving  the  raising  of  revrntir  or  the  election 
of  officers,  and  on  said  roll  call  each  member  shall  be  entitled  to  additional 
votes,  as  follows:  For  fifty  (jo)  meinlw-n  of  the  local  union  to  which  he  be« 
longs,  one  vote;  for  each  additional  fifty  (so)  members  or  major  fraction 
ih.  11.. 1  1 1  |i  to  three  hundred  (300)  mrmbrri.  one  vote;  for  the  nest  two 
hundred  (joo)  members  or  major  fraction  thereof,  one  vote;  for  each  addi- 
11. .nil  live  hun.lir.l  (500)  members  or  major  fraction  thereof,  one  eowj  the 
mm  nil,,  iship  to  be  computed  in  accordance  with  the  last  per  capita  tas  paid 
oh   local   union. 

1.     Local  allied   punting  trades  councils  shall  elect  as  oAcers  a 
dent,    vn  •  ■  pie«i.l.  ot    and   arrrrlarv  Ireavmrr    and    »iu  h  other 

■  il    1n.1v    .Irinniine.      And    said    local    councils    may 
and     rules    for    their    government    a«    air    not    m    i.iilli.t    «nh    the    purpose    and 

provisions   of   the    general    law«   of    the    International    Allied    Printing    Trades 


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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Association   or   in   conflict   with   the   rules   and   laws   of   the   board   of   governors 
of   said   International    Allied   Printing   Trades   Association. 

Sec.  5.  The  funds  of  each  local  allied  printing  trades  council  shall  be 
under  its  control,   and  shall   be  on  a   per  capita   basis. 

Article  V   (Appeals) 

Section  i.  Appeals  may  be  made  to  the  board  of  governors  from  the 
decision  or  action  of  any  local  allied  printing  trades  council.  In  such  case 
the  applicant  must  within  ten  days  from  said  decision  or  action  file  notice  of 
his  intention  to  appeal  with  the  president,  vice-president  or  secretary-treasurer 
of  the  local  allied  printing  trades  council;  and  within  thirty  days  from  said 
decision  or  action  the  appellant  shall  forward  to  the  secretary-treasurer  of 
the  board  of  governors  ten  typewritten  copies  of  the  appeal  papers,  serving 
one  copy  on  the  president,  vice-president  or  secretary-treasurer  of  said  local 
allied  printing  trades  council.  After  such  service  said  local  allied  printing 
trades  council  shall  have  thirty  days  in  which  to  file  with  the  secretary- 
treasurer  of  said  board  of  governors  ten  typewritten  copies  of  its  answer. 
And  no  such  appeal  shall  be  considered  by  the  board  of  governors  unless  it 
shall  be  approved  by  the  local  union  of  which  the  appellant  is  a  member; 
such  approval  being  evidenced  by  the  certificate  of  the  president  and  secre- 
tary of  that  union;  which  said  certificate  shall  accompany  the  appeal  papers 
at  the  time  they  are  forwarded  to  the  secretary-treasurer  of  the  board  of 
governors. 

Sec.  2.  When  the  papers  are  complete  in  each  case  the  secretary-treasurer 
of  said  board  of  governors  shall  forward  one  copy  of  the  papers  to  each  mem- 
ber of  said  board  of  governors.  Thereupon  each  member  shall  consider  the 
case  thus  presented  to  him  and  within  thirty  days  after  the  receipt  of  the 
documents  each  of  said  members  shall  file  an  opinion  in  the  case  with  the 
secretary-treasurer  of  the  said  board  of  governors,  and  within  thirty  days 
after  the  opinions  of  the  members  have  been  received  by  the  said  secretary- 
treasurer  and  submitted  to  the  several  members  of  said  board  for  final  action 
the  members  of  said  board  must  register  their  votes  on  the  appeal. 

Article  VI    (Use  of  the  Union   Label) 

Section  i.  The  International  Allied  Printing  Trades  Association,  by  its 
board  of  governors,  shall  procure,  own  and  control  the  allied  printing  trades 
label. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  by  action  of  its  board  of  governors  and  in  accordance 
with  and  subject  to  the  provisions  of  these  laws,  loan  the  same  to  local  allied 
printing  trades  councils  as  agents  of  said  International  Allied  Printing  Trades 
Association  upon  receipt  of  a  sum  of  money  from  the  local  council,  not  ex- 
ceeding ten  (10)  per  cent  above  the  cost  of  production  and  distribution  of 
said  labels. 

Sec.  3.  No  allied  printing  trades  council  shall  issue  any  label  not  pro- 
cured from  said  International  Allied  Printing  Trades  Association,  nor  dupli- 
cate nor  allow  the  duplication  of  said  labels  except  in  the  case  of  stereotyped 
or  electrotyped  forms,  in  which  case  the  label  appearing  in  the  plate  or  plates 
shall  be  destroyed  immediately  on  completion  of  the  work  on  which  it  is  used. 

Sec.  4.  No  other  body  than  the  local  allied  printing  trades  council  shall 
be  allowed  to  grant  the  use  of  the  allied  printing  trades  label  in  any  juris- 
diction; provided,  however,  that  the  board  of  governors  of  said  International 
Allied  Printing  Trades  Association  may  order  the  issuance  or  withdrawal  of 
the  label  or  issue  said  label  direct  where  in  its  judgment  said  action  is  neces- 
sary. 

Sec.  5.  All  labels  must  be  procured  by  local  councils  from  the  secretary- 
treasurer    of    the    International    Allied    Printing    Trades    Association.      Any    in- 

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Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

fraction    of   this   rule    shall   be    deemed    sufficient   cause    for   the    dissolution    of 
the  local   council   so  offending. 

Sec.  6.  All  labels  shall  be  issued  or  withdrawn  by  unanimous  consent 
of  local  councils.  Should  any  cause  or  grievance  arise  because  of  the  issu- 
ance or  withdrawal  of  the  label  by  any  local  council  the  matter  mutt  be  pre- 
sented to  said  board  of  governors,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  board  to 
consider  or  reconsider  and  determine  the  matter,  giving  to  the  parties  in  in- 
terest such  opportunity  to  be  heard  as  the  president  of  the  said  board  of 
governors  may  deem  needful. 

Article  VII  (Finances) 

Section  i.  The  necessary  funds  for  the  establishment,  maintenance  and 
carrying  on  of  this  association  and  its  work  shall  be  under  the  control  of  the 
board  of  governors,  and  the  same  shall  be  furnished  by  the  several  groups  in 
the    proportions   following: 

One-half  by  the_  members  of  this  association  who  are  also  members  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union;  one-eighth  by  the  members  of  this 
association  who  are  also  members  of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and 
Assistants'  Union;  one-eighth  by  the  members  of  this  association  who  are  also 
members  of  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Elect rotypcrs'  Union;  one-eighth 
by  the  members  of  this  association  who  are  also  members  of  the  International 
Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders;  and  one-eighth  by  the  members  of  this  associa- 
tion  who  are  also  members  of  the  International   Photo   Engravers'   Union. 

When  the  board  of  governors  shall  determine  that  any  funds  are  neces- 
sary, the  secretary-treasurer  of  this  association  shall  notify  the  proper  officer 
of  each  union  mentioned  in  article  ii,  of  the  proportionate  amount  due  from 
the  members  of  such  union,  who  are  also  members  of  this  association,  and 
such  notice  shall  be  notice  to  each  member  of  this  association  who  is  also 
a   member  of  such   union. 

Sec  a.  All  funds  of  the  association  shall  be  deposited  in  bank  subject 
to   withdrawal   according  to   regulations  adopted   by   the   board. 

Sec.  3.  The  members  of  the  board  of  governors  shall  not  be  paid  out 
of  the  funds  of  this  association  for  their  services  or  for  their  expenses  in- 
curred  while   acting   as   such   members   of   the   board   of   governors. 

Sec.  4.  Should  any  group  withdraw  from  this  association,  then  such  group 
shall  forfeit  all  rights  and  interest  in  and  to  any  and  all  labels  registered  by 
this  association  and  in  and  to  all   property  and  effects  of  this  association. 

Article  VIII  (Amendments) 

Section  i.  Amendments  to  these  laws  may  be  made  from  time  to  time 
as  follows:  The  proposed  amendment  shall  be  submitted  to  the  secretary  or 
the  secretary-treasurer  of  each  of  the  international  unions  mentioned  in  article 
ii  hereof,  to  be  submitted  by  him  to  a  general  convention  of  (he  union  or  to 
the  members  of  the  union  through  their  local  unions.  If  the  convention  or 
a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  international  union  acting  thereon  shall 
assent  to  the  proposed  amendment,  such  assent  shall  be  binding  upon  all  the 
members  belonging  to  that  union  and  shall  operate  as  the  assent  of  all  be- 
longing to  that  union  to  the  proposed  amendment.  If  the  members  belonging 
to  all  said  international  unions  shall  thus  signify  thnr  assent  lo  the  proposed 
amendment  it  shall  l>e  considered  as  adopted  and  shall  thenceforth  operate  as 
a  law  of  this  association. 

ADDRESS  B I   1  MARIES  FRANCIS 

Mr.  Charles  Francis,  president  of  tin-  Printers'  League 
of  America,  was  a  visitor  to  the  Minneapolis  convention 


9*3 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  was  invited  to  address  the  delegates.  In  view  of  the 
amicable  relations  existing  between  the  Printers'  League 
of  America  and  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
the  remarks  of  Mr.  Francis  at  Minneapolis  are  herewith 
reproduced : 

I  desire  to  thank  you  and  your  president  for  the  invitation  to  address 
you  on  this  occasion,  and  to  offer  for  myself  and  on  behalf  of  my  organiza- 
tion, the  Printers'  League  of  America,  a  very  hearty  greeting  and  a  wish  that 
your  successful  work  may  be  continued  for  many  years  to  come,  and  that, 
as  I  suggested  in  my  talk  in  Boston,  we  may  dwell  together  in  unity,  both 
organizations  working  for  peace  and  prosperity  which  is  our  mutual  aim. 

When  I  last  spoke  to  you  I  made  the  assertion  that  the  unity  of  interests 
made  it  necessary  that  we  should  work  together  as  friends.  That  in  previous 
years  we  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  we  were  natural  enemies  and  that 
from  costly  experience  on  both  sides  it  would  be  well  for  us  to  consider 
a  course  that  would  enable  us  to  avoid  both  the  bad  feeling  and  the  blunders 
of  the  past  and  come  into  the  only  natural  and  feasible  condition  of  working 
hand  in  hand  for  general  prosperity,  and  it  is  in  this  vein  that  I  am  bring- 
ing to  you  a  suggestion  that  we  enter  into  this  fraternal  relation  by  means 
of  a  national  contract  that  we  hope  can  be  made  on  a  basis  of  "justice  to  all" 
and  thereby  avoid  the  expensive  and  destructive  strike  and  lockout  system,  and 
by  means  of  which  we  can  conserve  the  business  interests  of  the  country  and 
advance  our  mutual  welfare  at  the   same  time. 

As  a  matter  of  review,  I  desire  to  say  that  for  nearly  four  years  now  we 
have   had   a   local  contract  with   Big   Six   in   New   York. 

That  the  formation  of  the  league  and  the  sending  of  its  principles  broad- 
cast throughout  the  land  has  made  it  possible  and  has  caused  the  making  of 
a  very  large  number  of  local  contracts,  many  of  which  have  been  endorsed 
by   your   International   officers. 

Last  year  the  Printers'  League  of  America  formed  a  national  organization, 
which,  though  feeble,  is  probably  as  strong  as  your  national  body  was  at  the 
same  age,  and  we  hope  will  grow  and  assume  in  a  few  years  as  great  a 
strength  as   that   of  your  great   organization. 

The  league  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  cementing  the  ties  that  should 
bind  us  to  each  other,  and  in  presenting  the  contract  for  your  consideration 
and  adoption  we  are  not  asking  any  favor  at  your  hands,  but  are  endeavor- 
ing to  put  forward  a  scheme  that  will  more  nearly  conserve  the  general  inter- 
ests  of   the   contractual    parties. 

If  any  of  you  should  think  that  we  offer  a  perfect  haven  of  refuge  or 
remedy  for  all  complaints,  it  would  be  well  to  disabuse  your  mind  of  any 
such  idea.  What  we  believe  is  that  this  manner  of  action  is  so  much  in 
advance  of  the  past  and  has  been  tried  out  locally  to  such  good  purpose,  that 
it  is  time  that  we  should  get  together  nationally  in  the  same  manner. 

You  have  now  for  some  years  tested  the  newspaper  publishers'  associa- 
tion contract  and  know  its  efficacy  and  its  defects,  and  I  fully  believe  you 
do  not  want  to   go  back   to   the   old   system. 

A  few  years  since  you  were  suing  to  be  heard  on  behalf  of  the  eight-hour 
day  and  were  repulsed  in  a  very  arbitrary  manner.  The  eight-hour  day  was 
bound  to  come  and  it  has  come,  but  how  infinitely  more  successful  and  less 
costly  would  it  have  been  had  you  had  such  a  contract  as  is  presented  for 
your   consideration   at   this   convention. 

Gentlemen,  it  is  time  that  we  shook  hands  on  a  compact  that  our  inter- 
ests are  mutual.  Any  laws  that  you  enact  that  arc  detrimental  to  the  em- 
ployer are  bound  to   react  upon  your  organization.     You  have   one  side   of  the 

984 


Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910 

question  before  you  all  the  time,  why  not  take  a  glimpse  at  the  other  side 
and   consult   as   to   the   necessities   of   the   business? 

We  offer  you  the  hand  of  brotherly  love,  and  it  is  not  a  "mailed  fist" 
either. 

It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  say  anything  in  regard  to  the  contract,  except 
that  we  submitted  a  preliminary  draft  of  this  to  the  president  when  in  New 
York,  and  we  have  endeavored  to  meet  the  suggestions  put  forward  by  him 
in   the  paper  herewith   submitted. 

Perhaps  I  may  be  excused  for  some  personal  allusions  in  closing,  but  I 
desire  to  say  that  I  have  been  a  union  member  since  1866  and  an  employer 
and  employe  since  I  was  eighteen  years  old,  and  I  am  quixotic  enough  to 
believe  that  the  time  has  come  when  we  can  lay  down  the  sword  and  take  up 
the  plowshare  together.  Just  a  few  days  since  I  was  reminded  of  my  career 
as  a  union  member  by  a  letter  which  contained  a  working  card  signed  by  my- 
self as  financial  secretary  of  Little  Rock  Typographical  Union  in  1877,  given 
to  one  J.  E.  P.  Dorsey,  now  deceased.  Shortly  after  this  card  was  issued  I 
walked  out  in  that  city  against  a  reduction  of  20  per  cent  in  wages,  and  we, 
the  union  boys,  were  beaten  out.  On  two  other  occasions  I  walked  out,  once 
•  in  Louisville  and  once  in  Chicago.  I  have  put  in  fifteen  years  as  employe 
and  twenty-three  years  as  employer,  and  I  believe  I  can  truthfully  say  that 
during  the  years  I  have  been  an  employer  I  have  made  a  host  of  friends 
among  my  employes,  many  of  whom  now  hold  stock  in  the  firm  I  represent; 
and  with  this  experience  and  knowing  the  necessity  of  having  satisfied  and 
friendly  employes,  and  also  knowing  how  much  it  would  be  to  your  ad- 
vantage to  join  the  ranks  looking  to  the  friendly  solution  of  the  problems 
which  are  bound  to  arise,  I  urge  upon  you  for  your  own  interests  to  put  this 
movement  in  effect  by  authorizing  your  officers  to  sign  an  agreement  of  which 
the  basis  is  before  you  today,  believing  as  I  do  that  it  will  be  the  dawn  of 
a   new   era   of    friendship   between   employer  and   employe. 

LOS     ANGELES     TIMES     AND     PHILADELPHIA 
INQUIRER 

Referring  to  the  Los  Angeles  Times,  the  president,  in 
his  report,  said  that  some  unpleasant  developments  had 
occurred  in  Los  Angeles  during  the  year,  but  that  on  the 
whole  the  union  had  made  material  progress.  The  con- 
dition of  the  union  in  Los  Angeles  and  in  southern  Cali- 
fornia was  ample  justification  for  the  money  that  had 
been  expended  in  that  section.  Without  this  expenditure, 
the  desire  of  the  unscrupulous  enemy  for  the  overthrow 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  might  have 
l>rin  achieved  in  part,  and  an  important  section  of  the 
general  jurisdiction  not  only  lost  to  the  union  hut  stand- 
ing as  a  menace  to  continued  progress  qJ  the  union  as 
well  .is  .111  encouragement  to  union-hating  persons  whose 

animosity  and  antipathy  were  manifested  whenever  an 
a\ enuc  was  open  to  them 

*9 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

In  Philadelphia  the  movement  had  been  for  the  or- 
ganization of  the  city  rather  than  solely  against  the 
Inquirer.  In  this  connection  the  executive  council  sub- 
mitted to  the  convention  committee  data  explaining  con- 
ditions in  Philadelphia  and  the  results  attending  the  work 
performed  and  the  money  expended. 

In  submitting  its  report  to  the  convention,  the  commit- 
.  tee  on  the  Los  Angeles  Times  and  Philadelphia  Inquirer 
contests  said  that  it  had  carefully  gone  over  the  data 
referred  to  it,  had  listened  to  the  statements  of  the  dele- 
gates from  Los  Angeles  and  had  reviewed  the  papers  in 
the  possession  of  Secretary-Treasurer  Hays  showing  that 
Los  Angeles  was  on  record  as  being  thoroughly  satisfied 
with  the  work  of  Organizer  McLernon  during  the  year. 
The  committee  also  said  it  believed  that  everything  pos- 
sible had  been  done  for  the  interests  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  the  local  union  in  Los  Angeles. 
The  local  union  had  petitioned  the  executive  council  to 
continue  in  charge  of  the  work  in  its  jurisdiction  and  the 
committee  recommended  that  the  conduct  of  the  Los  An- 
geles Times  fight  by  the  executive  council  be  approved 
and  that  the  council  be  authorized  to  follow  the  course 
it  believed  best  calculated  to  advance  the  interests  of  all 
in  Los  Angeles.  The  committee  also  reported  having 
carefully  considered  the  data  referred  to  it  concerning 
the  Philadelphia  Inquirer  and  general  conditions  in  that 
city.  It  was  apparent  that  a  strong  union  sentiment  was 
being  crystallized  among  the  non-union  printers  of  that 
city  and  it  was  therefore  recommended  that  continued 
financial  assistance  be  paid  to  Philadelphia  Typograph- 
ical Union,  at  the  discretion  of  the  executive  council,  and 
that  an  International  organizer  be  appointed  to  cover  the 
smaller  cities  in  the  southeastern  district  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  recommendations  of  the  committee  were  concurred  in 
by  the  convention. 

First  Convention  on  Pacific  Coast  —  After  a  spirited 

986 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

contest  between  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  and  San  Francisco, 
Cal.,  the  latter  city  was  chosen  as  the  meeting  place  for 
the  convention  of  191 1,  this  being  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  the  organization  that  the  Pacific  coast  was  rec- 
ognized in  selecting  a  convention  city. 

AFTER       THE       CONVENTION 

During  the  interim  between  the  Minneapolis  conven- 
tion and  the  next  session  of  the  International  Union  at 
San  Francisco,  an  amendment  to  the  general  laws  was 
submitted  by  Salt  Lake  Typographical  Union  No.  115. 
This  amendment  was  offered  as  a  substitute  for  section 
94,  general  laws,  as  follows : 

Section  94.  No  machine  operator  shall  be  allowed  to  accept  a  bonus  based 
on  setting  so  many  thousand  over  a  prescribed  amount  where  such  bonus  is 
voluntary  on  the  part  of  the  employer  and  is  not  provided  for  in  the  scale  of 
prices. 

The  following  was  the  proposed  substitute: 

Section  94.  No  member  shall  be  allowed  to  accept  a  bonus  based  on  the 
setting  of  so  many  thousand  ems  and  no  local  union  shall  sign  or  allow  its 
members  to  work  under  a  scale  of  prices  based  on  the  piece  system  or  providing 
for  a  bonus  based  on  quantity  of  type  produced.  (This  section  not  to  apply  to 
contracts  in  force  at  time  of  adoption.) 

The  proposition  as  offered  by  Salt  Lake  Typographical 
Union  received  the  required  number  of  endorsements 
from  other  subordinate  unions,  and  the  executive  coun- 
cil, in  compliance  with  the  law  governing  the  submission 
of  propositions  to  the  referendum,  named  the  third  Wed- 
nesday in  May,  191 1,  as  the  date  on  which  the  vote  should 
be  taken.  The  proposition  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of 
22,879  ayes,  11,017  noes,  and,  in  accordance  with  the 
constitution,  the  executive  council  ordered  that  the 
amended  law  become  effective  on  August  4,  191 1. 

Convention   at   San    Francisco 

[1911] — The  fifty-seventh  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  by  Chair- 
man Bonnington  of  the  local  convention  committee  in 
Eagle's  Hall,  Monday,  August  14,  191 1.    Rev.  William 

•*7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Nat  Friend  invoked  the  divine  blessing.  P.  H.  McCarthy, 
mayor  of  San  Francisco,  welcomed  the  convention  and 
assured  the  delegates  and  visitors  of  the  hospitality  of  the 
community.  He  said  the  people  of  San  Francisco  were 
delighted  to  have  the  convention  in  their  midst.  Mayor 
McCarthy  told  the  delegates  he  would  do  all  in  his  power 
to  make  their  stay  enjoyable.  John  A.  Kelly,  president  of 
the  San  Francisco  labor  council,  welcomed  the  delegates 
and  visitors  on  behalf  of  that  body.  Representing  the  San 
Francisco  Publishers'  Association,  President  C.  W.  Hor- 
nick  addressed  the  convention,  in  part,  as  follows : 

Mr.  Chairman  :  It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  I  appear  before  you  to 
welcome  you  to  San  Francisco  on  behalf  of  the  San  Francisco  Newspaper 
Publishers'  Association.  My  pleasure  is  made  more  keen  by  the  fact  that,  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  of 
which  organization  I  am  one  of  the  directors,  your  president,  Mr.  Lynch,  is  a 
welcome  guest;  we  receive  him  gladly  and  listen  with  interest  to  what  he  has 
to  say.  It  has  been  my  pleasure  to  occupy  the  same  platform  with  him  at  some 
of  those  meetings. 

I  have  intimately  known  the  International  Typographical  Union  for  over 
twenty-five  years,  and  I  recognize  you  as  one  of  the  best  organizations,  if  not 
the  very  best  union,  in  the  world,  for  I  know  you  to  be  big,  brainy  and  con- 
servative. San  Francisco  owes  much  to  the  local  Typographical  Union  No.  21 
for  the  part  it  played  in  the  rehabilitation  of  this  city  after  our  fire  in  1906  and 
it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  pay  tribute  to  its  efforts.  Through  the  assistance  of 
the  union  printers  we  kept  the  newspapers  going  without  missing  an  issue;  and 
this  was  necessary,  because  the  papers  were  the  only  means  our  authorities 
had  to  reach  the  people  and  allay  their  restlessness;  and  the  very  first  thing 
required  in  the  commercial  rehabilitation  of  the  city,  after  locations  had  been 
secured,  was  a  liberal  use  of  printers'  ink,  and  there  the  work  of  your  mem- 
bers in  job  offices  came  into  play. 

Those  were  strenuous  days.  All  imaginary  dividing  lines  were  obliterated, 
all  rules  were  suspended,  and  all  local  and  International  laws  were  forgotten 
for  the  time  being.  Your  members  and  ourselves  worked  side  by  side  in  those 
strenuous  days.  For  the  first  few  days  we  were  hungry  because  we  had  little 
or  no  food;  thirsty  because  we  were  short  of  water;  and  tired  because  our 
nights  were  sleepless.  But  every  man  of  the  typographical  union  worked  like 
a  demon;  men  whom  we  had  not  before  known  became  George,  Dick,  Tom, 
Fred  and  Harry  to  us,  and  have  remained  so  ever  since;  if  they  have  any 
other  given  names,  we  have  never  yet  realized  it.  I  could  tell  you  incidents 
that  occurred  in  those  days  at  which  you  would  laugh  immoderately,  and  in- 
deed they  do  seem  funny  now;  but  in  those  terrible  days  we  could  see  nothing 
humorous  about  them — indeed  they  were  to  us  then  only  grim  tragedy. 

It  pleases  me  to  have  this  opportunity  to  thank  the  members  of  the  typo- 
graphical union  for  the  noble  part  they  bore  in  the  early  rehabilitation  of 
our  city. 

Following  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Hornick,  Andrew  Fur- 
useth,  of  the  International  Seamen's  Union ;  Charles  A. 

988 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

Murdock,  representing  the  Franklin  Printing  Trades  As- 
sociation of  San  Francisco;  Walter  Macarthur,  editor  of 
the  Coast  Seamen's  Journal;  A.  B.  Duncan,  representing 
Mayor  Clayton  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  and  Benjamin  Schon- 
hoff,  president  of  San  Francisco  Typographical  Union, 
addressed  the  delegates  with  words  of  welcome  and  fe- 
licitation. President  Lynch  was  then  introduced  and 
presented  with  a  gavel,  made  of  California  redwood,  as 
a  memento  of  the  first  convention  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  held  on  the  Pacific  coast.  Mr. 
Lynch  briefly  responded  to  the  addresses  of  welcome  and 
announced  the  first  order  of  business  would  be  the  report 
of  Secretary-Treasurer  Hays,  who  read  the  list  of  dele- 
gates— 228  in  all — when  the  chair  appointed  the  conven- 
tion officers  and  members  of  the  various  committees. 

SUMMARY      OF      OFFICERS'       REPORTS 

President  Lynch  in  submitting  his  annual  report  began 
by  saying  that  he  proposed  to  treat  all  of  the  subjects 
touched  upon  with  frankness  and  sufficient  exhaustiveness 
to  make  his  meaning  perfectly  clear.  As  to  the  subjects 
of  which  the  report  treated,  it  was  the  president's  belief 
that  they  were  important  and  this  belief  was  founded  on 
long  association  with  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  as  a  member  and  as  its  chief  executive.  The 
president  said  that  his  idea  of  a  great  trade  union  was 
best  illustrated  by  comparison  with  a  modern  dread- 
nought battleship.  The  union  should  be  powerful  enough 
to  command  aspect;  to  compel  attention  in  order  that 
war  might  not  be  forced  upon  it;  to  cause  the  interests 
that  might  needlessly  oppose  it  to  pause  ami  consider  well 
the  cost.  In  accordance  with  its  strength  would  the  em- 
ployers respect  the  organization  and  in  proportion  to  its 
recognized  effectiveness  would  results  be  achieved. 

For  the  fiscal  year  ended  May  \\.  10,10,  the  member- 
ship of  the   International  Typographical   Union  earned 

989 


History  "of  The  Typographical  Union 

$45,602,944,  or  an  average  of  $953  per  member,  based 
on  the  average  paying  membership  for  the  year;  for  the 
fiscal  year  ended  May  31,  191 1,  the  membership  earned 
$49,770,668,  an  average  per  member  of  $973.  The 
average  membership  for  the  fiscal  year  1909- 19 10  was 
47,848,  while  the  average  membership  for  the  fiscal  year 
1910-1911  was  51,095.  These  figures '  represented  in- 
creased earnings  by  members  of  the  union  of  more  than 
$4,000,000,  and  an  increase  in  the  average  membership 
of  3,247.  Concluding  his  remarks  on  this  subject,  the 
president  said : 

What  do  these  figures  mean?  Is  our  peace  policy  in  part  responsible  for 
the  magnificent  showing  that  we  make?  Is  any  other  trade  union,  pursuing 
different  methods,  making  greater  or  even  equal  progress?  The  real  test  is  in 
the  figures  submitted — and  dollars  and  cents  and  membership  figures  talk. 
I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  the  only  aim  of  the  trade  union  is  bound  up  in 
hours  and  wages,  but  I  do  mean  to  say  that  a  union's  real  basic  effectiveness 
is  shown  by  the  hours  and  wage  test,  for  if  the  union  can  not  thus  affect  the 
conditions  under  which  its  members  work,  it  is  powerless  to  be  of  much  benefit 
in  other  directions.  That  we  have  been  able  to  extend  our  activities  aside 
from  the  bettering  of  the  purely  working  conditions  is  evidenced  by  the  reports 
that  are  submitted  this  year  for  the  consideration  of  the  convention  and  the 
membership. 

Referring  to  the  increased  membership  of  the  or- 
ganization, it  was  shown  that  in  1901  the  International 
Union  had  34,948  members;  in  1902,  38,364  (this  num- 
ber included  the  stereotypers  and  electrotypers).  In 
1903,  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  stereotypers,  the  mem- 
bership was  42,436,  and  in  1904  it  was  46,165,  the  latter 
figure  including  the  photo  engravers.  In  1905  the  mem- 
bership reached  the  highest  point  previous  to  the  eight- 
hour  strike,  with  46,734  adherents,  although  the  photo 
engravers  had  then  been  separated  from  the  parent  body. 
In  September,  1905,  the  eight-hour  conflict  was  initiated 
and  at  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  of  1906  the  membership 
had  declined  to  44,980,  at  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  1907 
to  42,357.  With  the  termination  of  the  fiscal  year  1908 
the  membership  showed  an  increase  to  43,740,  and  for 
1909  another  increase  to  44,921,  and  for  1910  a  still  fur- 

990 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

ther  increase  to  47,848,  and  in  191 1  the  membership  had 
reached  51,095.  The  increases  refer  to  the  average  num- 
ber of  members  in  good  standing  for  the  particular  fiscal 
period  mentioned. 

The  contest  for  the  eight-hour  day  was  to  a  very  great 
extent  waged  in  the  territory  along  and  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi river,  and  it  was  in  this  territory  that  the  great- 
est loss  of  membership  occurred.  It  was  asserted  by  the 
president  that  in  all  warfare,  industrial  as  well  as  between 
nations  or  peoples,  the  reconstruction  period  is  as  difficult 
of  successful  accomplishment  as  is  the  attainment  of  vic- 
tory in  the  actual  conflict.  This  was  true  in  the  case  of 
the  eight-hour  struggle,  and  the  expenditures  from  the 
International  fund  were  necessary  for  a  long  time  after 
the  eight-hour  day  had  become  an  established  fact.  As 
to  gain  in  membership,  it  showed  its  greatest  percentage 
in  the  territory  where  the  battle  for  the  shorter  workday 
had  waged  the  fiercest.  It  was  true,  also,  that  there  had 
been  gains  in  the  west  and  northwest,  and  especially  in  the 
Canadian  northwest.  Hundreds  of  union  printers  had 
left  the  eastern  section  of  the  country  and  located  in  the 
comparatively  new  and  growing  sections  of  the  continent 
referred  to.  With  a  constancy  that  was  reassuring,  many 
important  offices  lost  during  the  eight-hour  battle  had 
gradually  returned  to  the  fold.  Hundreds  of  applica- 
tions for  membership  had  been  received  from  unorganized 
localities,  especially  from  the  smaller  towns  and  hamlets. 
This  was  attributed  to  the  generous  advertising  campaign 
that  had  been  carried  on. 

Summary  of  Office  Work —  In  order  that  the  member- 
ship might  appreciate  the  volume  of  work  performed  at 
headquarters,  the  president  Mimmat  i/ed  the  office  Ihimih-ns 
for  the  years  1904  to  1910,  as  follows: 

During  the  patt  year  (1910)  there  wu  iMued  from  the  president'*  depart- 
ninit   64,31a   official  communication*,    jj.781    circular*  and    17.640  pacha***  of 

991 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

label  stickers  and  printed  matter,  the  latter  consisting  of  organizing  pamphlets, 
booklets  containing  lists  of  union  and  non-union  periodicals  and  magazines, 
health  campaign  pamphlets,  etc.  This  brief  statement  gives  only  a  bare  outline 
of  the  work  performed,  as  it  is  impossible  by  printed  word  to  adequately  set 
forth  the  volume  of  business  handled  daily  at  the  headquarters'  offices.  Mem- 
bers who  have  had  opportunity  to  visit  headquarters  have  invariably  expressed 
their  surprise  at  the  magnitude  of  the  business.  The  immense  amount  of  re- 
search, care  and  labor  involved  in  the  task  must  be  left  to  the  imagination. 
For  the  purpose  of  comparison,   statistics  for  previous  years   follow: 

During  the  previous  year  there  was  issued  from  the  president's  department 
49,845  official  communications,  18,472  circulars  and  5,285  packages  of  label 
stickers   and   printed   matter. 

During  the  year  ended  May  31,  1909,  there  was  issued  from  the  presi- 
dent's department  37,896  official  communications,  24,437  circulars  and  3,799 
packages  of  label  stickers  and  printed  matter  relating  to  label  advertising  and 
organization    work. 

During  the  year  ended  May  31,  1908,  there  was  issued  ^From  the  presi- 
dent's department  30,049  official  typewritten  letters,  25,118  circulars  and 
25,054  miscellaneous  packages  containing  blotters,  label  stickers  and  other 
printed  matter. 

During  the  year  ended  May  31,  1907,  there  was  issued  from  the  presi- 
dent's department  38,454  official  typewritten  letters,  41,303  circulars  and  26,419 
miscellaneous  packages  containing  blotters,  label  stickers  and  other  printed 
matter.  Five  million  five  hundred  thousand  label  stickers  were  distributed 
among  the  locals  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  other  trade 
unions  in  the  United  States  and  Canada.  Two  million  five  hundred  thousand 
blotters  were  placed  with  local  typographical  unions,  and  their  circulation  aided 
materially   at   that   time   in    making   our   label   campaign    effective. 

During  the  year  ended  May  31,  1906,  there  was  issued  from  the  president's 
department  27,357  official  typewritten  letters,  282,571  circulars  and  2,953  mis- 
cellaneous packages  containing  organizing  printed  matter,  etc.,  and  928  contracts 
were   approved   and   underwritten   during   that   year. 

During  the  year  ended  May  31,  1905,  there  was  issued  from  the  president's 
department  23,010  official  typewritten  letters.  Ninety-six  thousand  eight-hour 
circulars    were    distributed    throughout    the,  jurisdiction. 

During  the  year  ended  May  31,  1904,  there  was  issued  from  the  president's 
department  11,174  official  communications.  This  was  exclusive  of  eight-hour 
circulars   and   circular   letters. 

Betterments  —  Aside  from  matters  adjusted  by  the 
National  Board  of  Arbitration,  betterments  were  reported 
in  171  separate  jurisdictions  during  the  year.  Several 
notable  adjustments  which  had  been  held  up  for  a  long 
period  of  time  were  those  of  the  Butterick  Publishing 
Company,  the  DeVinne  Publishing  Company,  New  York, 
and  the  Wine  and  Spirit  Bulletin,  of  Louisville. 

General  Conditions  —  The  president  asserted  his  belief 
that  if  there  was  ever  an  industrial  war  worth  while,  it 
was  the  union's  successful  struggle   for  the   eight-hour 

992 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

day.  He  compared  the  solidarity  of  the  printers  in  this 
country  with  the  more  or  less  divided  ranks  in  Great 
Britain,  where  the  shorter  workday  movement  had  proved 
only  partially  successful. 

The  "representatives"  of  the  International  Union,  for- 
merly termed  "organizers,"  had  been  unusually  active 
during  the  fiscal  year.  In  conjunction  with  the  executive 
council,  representatives  were  put  into  the  jurisdictions  of 
several  local  unions  for  organization  purposes.  These 
unions  were  in  agreement  with  the  executive  council,  by 
contract,  under  which  the  council  had  full  and  complete 
charge  of  the  organization  work. 

A  history  of  the  movement  to  increase  postage  rates 
on  second-class  matter  was  included  in  the  report,  as  was 
also  the  relations  between  the  church  and  organized  labor, 
which  had  furnished  a  fruitful  topic  for  discussion  for  a 
long  time. 

The  president  pointed  out  that  the  label  campaign  had 
been  the  most  aggressive  during  the  year  of  any  since 
the  inception  of  this  phase  of  work  in  the  organization 
and  asserted  that  it  had  been  most  productive.  A  new 
codification  of  laws  was  urged  and  there  was  a  compre- 
hensive discussion  of  the  priority  question  and  of  the 
Salt  Lake  amendment  (so  called)  forbidding  piece  and 
bonus  scales. 

The  Los  Angeles  situation  was  fully  covered,  including 
organization  work  in  the  book  and  job  trades  and  the 
contest  against  the  unfair  Times. 

Union  Printers  Home —  Of  the  Union  Piintefl  H<>nu\ 
the  president  said,  in  part: 

Reference  to  the  report  of  the  board  of  trustee*  of  tht  Union  P- 
Ilotnr  will  in.ikr  .  l,..r  the  nature  of  the  iinpiotrmcnta  that  have  been  made 
to  the  Institution  •luring  the  fucal  year.  The  partial  completion  of  the  library 
...Mm.. 1,  l>v  tin-  notion  <>(  thr  two  additional  •torie*.  not  including  tnt  in- 
terior finish,  runa  over  the  fiscal  year  and  well  into  July.  The  boiler  bona* 
waa  conaiderably   enlarged,   two   new   boilera   Installed,   and   commodious,   aani 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tary  and  pleasant  quarters  provided  for  the  male  employes  in  the  second  story 
of  the  heating  plant  and  laundry  building,  and  other  and  necessary  improve- 
ments made  in  this  connection.  The  library  annex  has  been  completed,  with 
the  exception  of  finishing  the  interior  of  the  upper  stories.  The  total  amount 
expended  for  the  improvements  mentioned  has  been  about  $25,000.  A  beau- 
tiful and  adequate  institution  has  been  further  improved,  and  in  every  way 
an  effort  has  been  made  to  comply  with  the  intention  of  the  membership  in 
establishing  the  Union  Printers  Home  so  that  it  shall  be  a  haven  of  rest  and 
cure  for  our  aged  members  and  those  afflicted  with  disease.  A  barren  hillside 
has  been  converted  into  a  garden  spot,  than  which  there  is  none  more  beau- 
tiful in  this  country.  Exaggerated  as  this  statement  may  appear,  I  feel  that 
the  delegates  and  visitors  who  on  their  westward  trip  may  have  opportunity 
to  inspect  the  institution  will  fully  endorse  the  sentiment  expressed,  and,  in- 
deed, reach  the  conclusion  that  the  assertion  is  an  underestimation  rather  than 
an  exaggeration. 

Typographia  —  Second  Vice-President  Hugo  Miller 
submitted  a  report  concerning  the  affairs  of  his  organiza- 
tion'during  the  fiscal  year,  it  being  the  thirty-eighth  year 
of  the  Typographia's  existence.  The  state  of  trade  among 
German  printers  had  been  very  quiet,  but  nevertheless 
quite  satisfactory.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  small 
plants,  every  German  printing  office  in  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  Typographia  was  conducted  under  union  condi- 
tions. While  decreased  emigration  from  the  old  country 
prevented  an  expansion  of  business,  the  union  was  satis- 
fied to  maintain  conditions  gained  in  the  past  and  to  im- 
prove wage  scales  wherever  possible.  The  treasury  of 
the  Typographia,  as  usual,  was  in  splendid  condition, 
containing  more  than  $16  per  capita  in  the  general  fund. 
This,  of  course,  did  not  take  into  account  moneys  in  local 
treasuries  which  were  under  the  absolute  control  of  the 
subordinate  unions.  No  strikes  had  occurred  during  the 
year,  but  increases  in  scales  had  been  secured  in  eight 
jurisdictions.  On  May  I,  191 1,  twenty-five  years  had 
passed  since  the  German-American  Typographia  had  suc- 
cessfully inaugurated  the  eight-hour  day  and  the  event 
had  been  quite  generally  celebrated,  but  the  union  had 
not  been  entirely  satisfied  with  the  inauguration  and  con- 
tinuance of  the  eight-hour  workday,  and  a  majority  of 
the  locals  had  reduced  the  working  time  to  five  days  per 

994 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

week.  This  system,  although  at  first  opposed  by  the  pub- 
lishers, had  become  well  established  and  worked  satis- 
factorily. 

Mailers  —  Third  Vice-President  Charles  N.  Smith,  for 
the  mailers,  reported  some  progress  during  the  year.  Two 
mailers'  unions  had  been  chartered,  several  scales  in- 
creased and  other  matters  of  interest  to  the  mailers  were 
referred  to  which  had  occupied  the  time  of  the  vice-pre-i- 
dent,  including  the  questions  of  single  wrapping  and 
automatic  mailing  machines. 

Secretary-Treasurer's  Report  —  The  annual  report  of 
Secretary-Treasurer  Hays  presented  a  table  of  the  re- 
ceipts and  expenditures  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  May  31, 
191 1,  showing  that  the  sum  of  $561,177.87  was  received, 
with  a  total  outlay  of  $422,112.71,  the  balance  on  hand 
being  $93,393. 70  in  the  general  fund  and  $404,821.15 
in  the  old  age  pension  fund.  The  increase  in  the  general 
fund  over  the  preceding  year  was  $11,840.79,  and  the 
increase  in  the  old  age  pension  fund  was  $127,224.46. 
The  expenses  of  the  organization  were  incurred  in  various 
ways,  as  follows :  Special  assistance  to  local  unions  and 
strike  benefits,  $20,830.48;  expenses  of  supplemental  edu- 
cation commission,  copyright  law  representative,  label  ad- 
vertising, arbitration  board,  Allied  Printing  Trades  As- 
sociation and  American  Federation  of  Labor  union  label 
trades  department  per  capita  tax,  tuberculosis  campaign, 
etc.,  $13,204.63;  expenMf  <>i  representatives,  $31,616.07. 
The  bulk  of  the  money  expended  for  Special  assistance 
and  strike  benefits  was  on  account  of  contests  in  cities 
where  the  anti-unionists  were  making  the  strongest  op- 
position  to  the  establishment  <>t  fail  working  conditions 
and  increased  wage  scales 

Compared  with   previous  years,  the  general 
of    the    organization    showed    a    decrease.       This    was 
accounted  for  from  the  fact  that  the  executive  council 

995 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

had  insisted  upon  local  unions  financing  their  organiza- 
tion work  when  able  to  do  so,  at  the  same  time  endeavor- 
ing to  obtain  the  greatest  possible  results  from  the  least 
expenditure. 

Other  expenses  incurred  aside  from  those  already  noted 
and  those  credited  to  the  Home  and  old  age  pension 
funds  reached  a  total  of  $54,745.94.  In  these  items  will 
be  found  per  capita  tax  and  assessments  to  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor  and  to  the  Canadian  Trades  and 
Labor  Congress,  clerk  hire,  office  and  convention  ex- 
penses, officers'  salaries,  the  printing  of  official  reports, 
book  of  laws,  convention  proceedings,  etc.  According  to 
law,  the  secretary-treasurer  must  transfer  each  month 
one-third  of  the  per  capita  tax  collected  to  the  Union 
Printers  Home  fund.  During  the  fiscal  year  this  sum 
reached  a  total  of  $92,365.95. 

The  death  record  for  the  year  showed  that  639  burial 
benefits  were  paid,  aggregating  $47,920,  or  about  94  cents 
per  member,  based  upon  the  average  paying  member- 
ship. The  average  death  rate  for  the  year  was  a  little 
more  than  12  per  1,000,  which  about  equaled  the  average 
for  each  year  since  the  burial  benefit  had  been  in  vogue. 
A  table  was  included  in  the  report  which  gave  a  summary 
of  the  benefits  paid  in  each  year  and  the  age  at  which 
death  occurred.  Speaking  of  the  attempts  which  had 
been  made  to  increase  the  burial  benefit,  the  secretary- 
treasurer  said : 

Though  the  membership  has  defeated  two  propositions  providing  for  a 
graduated  burial  benefit,  I  am  still  of  the  opinion  we  should  have  such  a 
benefit,  and  believe  it  would  strengthen  the  organization.  This  belief  is  based 
upon  the  comments  of  the  officers  of  local  unions  who  are  directly  in  touch  with 
the  membership  and  in  constant  communication  with  headquarters.  In  again  men- 
tioning this  subject,  it  may  appear  that  your  secretary-treasurer  is  too  insistent, 
but  it  is  not  my  desire  to  so  appear.  We  should  keep  apace  with  other  organiza- 
tions in  this  respect  and  build  now  for  the  future  stability  of  our  own  union. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  a  portion  of  the  revenue  of  the  pension  fund 
be  diverted  to  the  payment  of  a  graduated  burial  benefit.  This  suggestion 
does   not   appear   wise.     A   mixing  of  the  old  age   pensions   and   burial   benefits 

996 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

is  not  advisable,  in  my  opinion.     However,  the  subject  of  an  increased  mortu- 
ary benefit  is  worthy  of  the  most  careful  consideration. 

An  interesting  table  was  included  in  the  secretary's 
report  which  gave  a  summary  of  the  receipts  and  expendi- 
tures of  the  organization  during  the  fiscal  years  from 
1 89 1  to  191 1,  inclusive.  The  balance  on  May  1,  1890, 
was  $21,581.62.  Following  that  date,  up  to  and  including 
May  31,  191 1,  there  had  been  paid  into  the  treasury  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union  the  enormous 
sum  of  $7,289,225.22,  and  $6,791,010.37  had  been  paid 
out,  leaving  a  balance  on  hand  of  $498,214.85. 

The  relation  of  the  benefits  paid  to  the  receipts  for  the 
year  was  most  interesting.  In  this  report  it  was  shown 
that  there  was  expended  for  beneficial  features  the 
following: 

Burial    benefits    $47,920  00 

Strike  benefits  and  special  assistance 30,830  48 

Old   age    pensions 133,672  00 

Union    Printers    Home 02. 365  95 

Total    $283,788  43 

These  benefits  represented  almost  50.6  per  cent  of  the 
total  money  paid  into  the  treasury. 

Tuberculosis  Campaign  —  Of  the  work  the  organiza- 
tion was  doing  in  the  movement  to  curtail  the  inroads  of 
the  great  white  plague,  the  secretary-treasurer  said: 

Subordinate  unions  have  been  participants  in  the  general  tuberculosis  cam- 
paign, and  have  distributed  quantities  of  printed  matter  bearing  on  this  great 
subject.  The  tuberculosis  exhibit  provided  by  the  International  Union  baa 
been  traveling  almost  continually.  It  ha*  served  to  advertise  the  locals  using 
it,  as  well  as  the  parent  organization,  in  that  the  attention  of  the  public  haa 
been  directed  to  our  progressivenesa  and  desire  lo  aid  in  any  work  Undine  to 
uplift  or  benefit  the  individual  or  t •omiiiunity.  Stnrnpticon  slide*  containing 
views  of  the  Home  have  been  extensively  used.  I.ncal  committee*  have  been  busy 
looking  after  the  sanitary  COodlUoil  >>•  'hop*.  This  feature  of  local  work 
ha*  not  had  thr  attention  it  should  receive,  and  this  opportunity  la  taken  to 
urge  upon  all  unions  greater  activity   in   this   matter. 

Membrrshif*  —  That  the  International  I'nion  had  made 
gratifying  progress  during  the  year  was  shown  clearly 
by  statist i,s  regarding  increased  membership  submitted 

597 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

in  the  report  of  the  secretary-treasurer.  For  the  twelve 
months  ended  May  31,  191 1,  the  receipts  and  per  capita 
tax  showed  an  average  paying  membership  of  51,095  for 
the  twelve  months.  This  was  an  increase  of  3,247  over 
the  previous  year  and  6,174  over  1909.  At  the  close  of 
business  on  May  31,  191 1,  register  numbers  were  held  by 
56,185  members,  of  which  53,080  were  affiliated  with 
local  unions,  the  remainder  being  in  unorganized  towns 
or  out  of  the  business  and  in  possession  of  traveling  cards. 
It  thus  appears  that  the  International,  although  it  had  re- 
linquished control  over  the  stereotypers  and  electrotypers 
and  the  photo  engravers,  had  doubled  its  membership  in 
fourteen  years. 

During  the  year  twenty-six  new  unions  were  chartered, 
eleven  disbanded,  and  three  were  suspended  by  the  execu- 
tive council.  The  subordinate  bodies  were  thus  divided 
among  several  crafts:  English,  typographical,  641; 
German-American,  22;  mailers,  28;  newswriters,  4; 
typefounders,  1  ;  a  total  of  696. 

Pension  Fund  —  Perhaps  the  most  important  question 
regarding  the  finances  of  the  organization  was  involved 
in  administering  the  pension  fund.  On  May  31,  191 1, 
there  were  808  members  on  the  pension  roll.  The 
average  age  of  pension  applicants  was  66.7  years  and  the 
membership  of  the  unions  having  pensioners  on  their 
rolls  comprised  over  two-thirds  of  the  membership  of  the 
International.  A  table  was  given  showing  the  amount 
paid  to  each  pensioner  and  the  total  pensions  received  by 
the  unions  throughout  the  year.  Notwithstanding  a 
marked  increase  in  the  number  of  pensioners — 166  in  the 
fiscal  year — the  revenue  of  the  fund  was  almost  twice  as 
great  as  the  expenditures  therefrom,  and  this  despite  the 
extension  of  pension  expenditures  through  modifications 
in  the  law  made  by  the  Minneapolis  convention.     The 

998 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

status  of  the  fund  at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  was  given 

as  follows : 

RECEIPTS 

June    1,   19 10 — Balance  in  fund $277,596  60 

May  31,   191 1 — One-half   of   1    per  cent  assessment 248,853  34 

May  31,   191 1 — Interest     6,257  65 

May  31,   191 1 — Pensions  returned    156  00 

Total $532,863  68 

EXPENDITURES 

Paid   to   pensioners $122,672  00 

Clerical   work    1,605  00 

Books  and  printing 324  66 

Maintenance   of   register   system 3.440  87 

Total     128,042.  53 

Balance  in  fund  May  31,   191 1 $404,821   15 

Executive  Council  —  The  larger  portion  of  the  report 
of  the  executive  council  was  taken  up  with  the  work  of 
the  National  Board  of  Arbitration  and  the  Joint  Confer- 
ence Board  of  the  Allied  Printing  Trades,  more  recently 
termed  the  International  Allied  Printing  Trades  Associa- 
tion. This  latter  organization  owned  the  allied  label 
under  the  terms  of  the  terms  of  the  agreement  perfected 
by  the  Joint  Conference  Board  and  adopted  by  the  refer- 
endum following  the  Minneapolis  convention. 

A  complete  history  with  all  the  correspondence  included 
was  given  of  what  had  become  well  known  as  the  illegal 
strike  at  Chicago;  also  the  council's  action  on  the  illegal 
strike  of  pressmen  on  the  Denver  newspapers  was  sit 
forth  at  length. 

The  council  asserted  that  it  was  still  strongly  in  favor 
of  an  increased  mortuary  benefit  and  believed  that  a 
majority  of  the  membership  was  desirous  of  sin  h  an 
increase.  It  declared  its  belief  that  the  plan  adopted  by 
the  St.  Joseph  convention  was  the  best  that  had  been  sub- 
mitted, and  urged  tin-  San  I'ranCltCO  Convention  t<>  recon- 
sider it  with  a  view  to  once  more  getting  m\  expression 
from  the  members  on  its  advisability 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Arbitration  matters  consumed  the  most  space  in  the 
council's  report.  The  existing  agreement,  together  with 
a  list  of  newspapers  party  thereto,  and  the  board's 
deliberations,  with  the  verdicts  arrived  at,  were  printed 
in  full. 

CONSTITUTIONAL      AMENDMENTS 

Six  constitutional  amendments  were  adopted  by  the 
San  Francisco  convention  and  submitted  to  the  refer- 
endum for  approval  or  rejection  in  the  regular  manner. 
Included  in  these  six  amendments  was  one  proposing 
increased  mortuary  benefits,  graduated  according  to 
length  of  membership,  from  $75  to  $400.  This  was 
endorsed  by  a  substantial  majority.  All  of  the  proposi- 
tions were  carried.  Following  is  a  summary  of  the 
amendments : 

First  Proposition — Amend  section  2,  article  ii,  constitution,  by  adding  after 
paragraph    (d)    the   following: 

(e)  Laws  instituting  and  relating  to  a  system  of  benefits  and  laws  pro- 
viding for  the  care  of  invalid  and  aged  and  infirm  members  in  good  standing. 

.  This  amendment  provided  that  the  laws  of  the  Inter- 
national Union  relative  to  beneficial  features  be  grouped. 
For,  27,112;  against,  3,318;  majority  for,  23,794. 

Second  Proposition — Amend  section  8,  article  vi,  constitution,  by  chang- 
ing the  last  sentence  to  read: 

Representatives  shall  assist  in  the  organization  of  new  unions,  under  di- 
rection and  control  of  the  president,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be 
assigned  them  by  the  president  or  the  executive  council. 

The  foregoing  more  clearly  defined  the  duties  of  Inter- 
national representatives.  For,  27,786;  against,  2,822; 
majority  for,  24,964. 

Third  Proposition — Amend  section  i,  article  viii,  constitution,  by  striking 
out  "$100"  in  the  eighth  line  and  substituting  "$200"  instead;  making  this 
clause    read:     "Mailer    vice-president,    $200    per    annum." 

This  amendment  increased  the  salary  of  the  mailers' 
(or  third)  vice-president  from  $100  to  $200  per  annum. 
For,  20,532;  against,   10,210;  majority  for,   10,322. 

Fourth  Proposition — Amend  section   3,   article  vii,   constitution,  to  read: 
Sec.    3.      Whenever    one    hundred    subordinate    unions    shall    petition    the 
executive    council    for    the    submission    of    any    proposition    or    amendment,    the 

IOOO 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

endorsements  of  such  petition  having  been  secured  within  three  months,  the 
■proposition  or  amendment  shall  be  submitted  to  the  membership  within  three 
months  of  the  receipt  of  the  required  number  of  petitions,  and  the  vote  taken 
and  canvassed  in  the  same  manner  as  amendments  and  propositions  referred 
to  the  membership  by  the  convention  of  the  Internationa]  Typographical  Union; 
provided,  the  executive  council  may  submit  to  referendum  vote  propositions 
which  require  immediate  action  without  petition  of  one  hundred  local  unions. 
All  such  propositions  and  amendments  shall  be  published  to  the  craft  a  rea- 
sonable time  before  the  vote  thereon. 

The  foregoing  raised  the  number  of  endorsing  unions 
necessary  to  submit  a  proposition  to  the  referendum  from 
fifty  to  one  hundred,  and  provided  that  the  question  upon 
which  a  vote  was  desired  must  receive  the  required  num- 
ber of  endorsements  within  three  months  from  date  of  its 
first  promulgation.  For,  16,305;  against,  13,935;  major- 
ity for,  2,370. 

Fifth  Proposition — Amend  sections  1-6,  article  ix,  constitution,  providing 
for  a  graduated  burial  benefit  and  the  levying  of  an  additional  one-half  of  i 
per  cent  assessment  for  the  payment  thereof,  the  benefit  to  be  as  follows: 
For  a  continuous  membership  of  one  year  or  less,  $75;  for  a  continuous  mem- 
bership of  two  years,  $125;  three  years,  $175;  four  years,  $275;  five  years. 
$400. 

For,  18,211;  against,  12,985;  majority  for,  5,226. 

Sixth  Proposition — Substitute  for  section  94,  general  laws  (Salt  Lake 
amendment,  Bo  called),  as  amended  by  referendum  vote  on  May  17,  1911,  the 
following: 

Sec.  94.  It  is  the  sense  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  that 
piece  scales  and  bonus  scales  in  connection  with  machine  typesetting  should 
be  abolished;  and  subordinate  unions,  where  these  practices  obtain,  are  di- 
rected to  bring  about  such  abolition  at  the  earliest  period  practicable. 

The  convention  had  power  to  amend  the  general  law  -. 
but  ordered  the  submission  of  this  proposition  to  tin 
referendum  because  it  was  a  substitute  for  a  law  adopted 
by  a  vote  of  the  membership.  Its  intention  was  to  bring 
about  the  abolition  of  piece  scales  gradually  and  thill 
avoid  friction  that  might  be  serious,  l"or,  24,904; 
against,  5,823;  majority  for,  19,081. 

Salaries  Increased —  In  addition  to  the  six  propositions 
summarized  above,  the  convention  also  ordered  submitted 
to  the  referendum  the  following  two  amendment*  to  the 
constitution,  the  vote  to  be  taken  on  May  15,  191a,  the 
date' of  the  biennial  election  of  International  officers.    In 

MUM 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

explanation  of  this  action  by  the  convention,  it  may  be 
said  that  several  previous  attempts  to  increase  the  salaries 
of  the  president  and  secretary-treasurer  had  been 
defeated  when  submitted  in  the  regular  manner,  and 
along  with  other  propositions.  It  was  thought  that  if 
the  proposition  to  increase  the  salaries  of  the  president 
and  secretary  could  be  placed  before  the  membership  at 
the  time  of  the  biennial  election  of  officers,  and  when  it 
was  not  known  who  the  incoming  officials  would  be,  the 
increase  to  start  with  the  beginning  of  a  new  term,  the 
amendment  would  be  considered  without  prejudice  for 
or  against  individuals  who  might  be  holding  office.  A 
special  committee  was  appointed  by  the  convention  to 
present  the  matter  of  increasing  the  officers'  salaries  to 
the  membership.    The  propositions  were  as  follows : 

Amend  section   i,   article  viii,   "Salaries,"  to   read: 

The  salary  of  the  president  *  *  *  in  full  (for  services  rendered  as 
president  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  as  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Union  Printers  Home,  inclusive)  shall  be  $3,500  per 
annum. 

Amend  section   1,   article  viii,   "Salaries,"   to   read: 

The  salary  of  the  secretary-treasurer  in  full  (for  services  rendered  as 
secretary-treasurer  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  as  secretary- 
treasurer  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Union  Printers  Home,  inclusive) 
shall   be   $3,500   per  annum. 

Both  amendments  were  carried  by  small  majorities. 

PENSION       LAW       AMENDED 

Various  amendments  to  the  old  age  pension  law  were 
submitted  to  the  San  Francisco  convention  and  referred 
to  the  committee  on  laws.  This  committee,  after  grouping 
the  several  propositions  for  consideration  by  the  delegates, 
offered  a  substitute  intended  to  cover  all  necessary  legis- 
lation regarding  the  amplification  or  modification  of  the 
pension  laws.  The  principal  changes  were  made  in  sec- 
tion 6,  article  -v,  of  the  by-laws,  which  was  made  to  fead 
as  follows : 

Sec.  6.  Any  member  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  who  has 
reached  the  age  of  60  years,   and  who  has  been  in  good  standing   for  a  period 

I002 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

of  twenty  years,  including  and  antedating  the  enactment  of  the  pension  law, 
or  any  member  who  has  reached  the  age  of  70  years,  and  who  has  been  in 
continuous  good  standing  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  and  who  finds  it  impos- 
sible to  secure  sustaining  employment,  or  any  member  having  a  continuous 
membership  of  twenty  years  who,  by  reason  of  his  affliction,  is  totally  in- 
capacitated for  work,  and  whose  application  for  admission  to  the  Union  Print- 
ers Home  has  been  rejected  by  the  trustees  thereof,  may  receive  the  sum  of 
$5  per  week,  subject  to  the  provisions  hereinafter  set  forth. 

Under  this  section  there  are  three  classes  of  members 
entitled  to  the  old  age  pension  : 

Such  members,  sixty  years  of  age,  who  have  been 
members  in  good  standing  for  a  period  of  twenty  years, 
including  and  antedating  the  enactment  of  the  pension 
law,  and  who  find  it  impossible  to  secure  sustaining 
employment  at  the  trade.  Applicants  under  this  provi- 
sion of  the  law  must  have  been  members  in  good  standing 
at  the  time  the  pension  law  became  effective  and  have 
maintained  active  membership  since  that  time. 

The  second  class  of  members  includes  those  who  have 
reached  the  age  of  70  years  and  who  have  been  in  con- 
tinuous good  standing  for  a  period  of  ten  years  and  who 
find  it  impossible  to  secure  sustaining  employment  at  the 
trade. 

The  third  class  includes  members  who  are  totally  inca- 
pacitated for  work  and  who  have  been  continuous  active 
members  for  twenty  years  and  whose  applications  for 
admission  to  the  Home  have  been  disapproved  because 
their  affliction  has  been  such  as  to  render  them  ineligible 
to  that  institution. 

The  important  change  in  the  law  was  that  referring 
to  the  first  class  of  members  mentioned.  Before  the  law 
was  enacted,  twenty  years'  continuous  active  membership 
was  necessary  to  render  a  member  60  years  of  age  eligible 
tO the  peniion.     Under  tin   in  u   law  an  act  mutilated  active 

membership  of  twenty  years  is  sufficient,  provided  tin- 
applicant  was  a  member  at  the  time  the  law  became  eft' 
ive,    January    1.  mil    has    since    maintained   acttVS 

membership. 

1003 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

The  amended  law  also  increased  the  pension  from  $4 
to  $5  per  week.  During  the  period  following  the  enact- 
ment of  the  old  age  pension  law  the  executive  council 
had  been  called  upon  from  time  to  time  to  make  interpre- 
tations regarding  the  application  of  various  provisions 
of  the  law.  These  decisions  were  presented  to  the  San 
Francisco  convention  and  referred  to  the  committee  on 
laws  for  analysis.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  committee's 
report  they  were  presented  to  the  convention.  All  of  the 
decisions  and  interpretations  were  approved  by  the 
delegates. 

INCREASED      MORTUARY      BENEFITS 

The  San  Francisco  convention,  having  adopted  a  prop- 
osition providing  for  increased  mortuary  benefits  with 
graduated  benefits  from  $75  minimum  to  $400  maximum, 
according  to  length  of  membership  in  the  organization, 
and  the  referendum  having  approved  the  law,  it  became 
necessary  for  the  executive  council  to  issue  instructions  to 
the  membership  regarding  its  enforcement.  In  order 
that  the  membership  at  large  and  the  officers  of  sub- 
ordinate unions  might  have  a  clear  understanding  of  the 
mortuary  benefit  law,  the  old  age  pension  law,  the  laws 
relative  to  the  payment  of  per  capita  tax  and  the  laws 
regulating  admission  to  the  Union  Printers  Home,  the 
council  issued  in  circular  form  the  following  document 
intended  to  cover  all  questions  that  might  arise  regarding 
these  features  of  the  organization : 

EXTRACT    FROM    ARTICLE    FIVE,    BY-LAWS    THE    INTERNATIONAL    TYPOGRAPHICAL    UNION 
—OLD    AGE    PENSION    FUND 

Sec.  6.  Any  member  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  who  has 
reached  the  age  of  60  years,  and  who  has  been  in  good  standing  for  a  period 
of  twenty  years,  including  and  antedating  the  enactment  of  the  pension  law, 
or  any  member  who  has  reached  the  age  of  70  years,  and  who  has  been  in 
continuous  good  standing  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  and  who  finds  it  impos- 
sible to  secure  sustaining  employment,  or  any  member  having  a  continuous 
membership  of  twenty  years  who,  by  reason  of  his  affliction,  is  totally  incapaci- 

IOO4 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

tated  for  work,  and  whose  application  for  admission  to  the  Union  Printers. 
Home  has  been  rejected  by  the  trustees  thereof,  may  receive  the  sum  of  five 
dollars  per  week,  subject  to  the  provisions  hereinafter  set  forth. 

Sec.  7.  Applications  for  pensions  shall  be  made  on  blank  forms  prepared 
and  furnished  from  International  headquarters.  Applicants  shall  set  forth 
all  the  facts  and  answer  fully  all  the  questions  contained  in  said  form,  which 
shall  be  certified  to  by  the  executive  officers  of  the  local  union  of  which  ap- 
plicant is  a  member.  Said  application  to  be  published  in  the  Typographical 
Journal,  and  should  no  objection  be  made  within  thirty  days  from  the  date 
of  said  publication  the  member  shall  then  be  placed  on  the  pension  roll. 
Should  objection  be  raised,  the  case  shall  be  investigated  by  the  executive 
council. 

Sec.  8.  Any  member  earning  $5  or  over  in  any  one  week  at  the  printing 
trade  shall  not  be  entitled  to  pension  for  that  week. 

Sec.  9.  Any  resident  member  of  the  Union  Printers  Home  at  Colorado 
Springs  who  is  expelled  from  said  Home  shall  not  be  eligible  to  the  old  age 
pension  until  after  one  year  shall  have  elapsed. 

Sec.  10.  Secretaries  of  subordinate  unions  shall  forward  weekly  to  the 
International  secretary-treasurer  a  true  and  correct  list  of  applicants  entitled 
to  pensions.  On  receipt  of  such  list  the  International  secretary-treasurer  shall 
transmit  the  amount  due  to  the  local  secretary  for  distribution. 

Sec.  11.  Any  beneficiary  who  has  knowingly  testified  falsely  concerning 
his  or  her  qualifications  as  a  worthy  applicant  for  said  pension  shall  be  de- 
barred from  receiving  pension  for  such  time  as  the  executive  council  may 
deem  fit. 

Sec.  12.  The  executive  council  shall  have  the  power  at  all  times  to  re- 
view any  pension  case,  and  if  in  their  opinion  circumstances  warrant  it,  the 
beneficiary   may   be   debarred    from    further   participation    in    the    pension    fund. 

Sec.  13.  In  order  to  meet  exigencies  that  may  arise,  the  executive  council 
is  authorized  and  empowered  to  make  such  changes  in  administering  the  old 
age  pension   fund  as  they  may  deem  wise  after  said  plan  has  been  established. 

Sec.  14.  Any  member  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  in  good 
standing  at  time  of  enlisting  in  the  regular  or  volunteer  army  or  navy  of  the 
United  States  during  the  Spanish-American  war  shall  be  considered  ••  hav- 
ing been   a  continuous  contributing  member  during  such   enlistment. 

DECISIONS       AND       INTERPRETATIONS       OF       EXECUTIVE       COUNCIL       GOVERNING       PAY- 
MENT  OP   THE   OLD   AGE   PENSION 

The  pension  applications  passed  upon  favorably  by  the  executive  council  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union  are  approved  subject  to  the  following 
conditions: 

First.  The  council  approves  all  pension  applications  on  the  understanding 
that  the  applicant,  eligible  in  all  other  particulars  and  requirements,  "finds 
it    impossible   to   secure   sustaining   employment." 

Second.  Where  members,  applicants  for  thr  psssjiea,  are  residents  of  in*titu 
tions  maintained  by  the  union,  statr.  BOUBty  M  ■MIlklpsjMty,  they  thai)  not  be 
eligible  for  the  pension  while  at  such  in«iiiuii..u«.  Thi«  ruling  does  not  ap- 
ply to  fraternal  homes  or  institution*  established  by  fraternal  societies  for  the 
benefit    of    their    members. 

Third.     Where    member*,    nn.lit.mu    f..r    the    pnm.m,   alto   draw   •    pension 

rroatbt  utl state  or  nmolcfetJhjr,  ..r  fr..m  employer*  or  other  source*,  and 

are  not  residents  of  publicly  RppOftod  Instltnlloni.  they  shall  be  eligible  for 
the  pension. 

Fourth.    An  Inmate  of  an   llsHTillHim   mainUmr.1  l.v  the   *tatc  wt 

1005 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

.ninety  clays  of  each  year  at  his  home  outside  the  institution  is  a  resident  of  said 
institution  until  he  completely  severs  his  connection  with  it,  and  is  not  entitled 
to  the  old  age  pension  during  the  ninety  days  he  is  on  his  furlough. 

Fifth.  Residents  of  the  Union  Printers  Home  shall  not  be  eligible  for  the 
pension   while   at   that   institution. 

Sixth.  Members  who  make  $5  per  week  or  more  at  the  printing  business 
shall  not  be  eligible  for  the  pension. 

Seventh.  Pensioners  must  at  all  times  be  in  possession  of  a  current  working 
card,  with  the  proper  International  due  stamp  attached,  showing  all  Interna- 
tional dues  and  assessments  to  have  been  paid. 

Eighth.  The  pension  is  to  be  paid  every  four  weeks,  checks  therefor  to  be 
payable  to  the  interested  member  and  transmitted  to  him  through  the  secretary 
of   his  union. 

Ninth.  Holders  of  traveling  cards  desiring  to  apply  for  the  pension  must 
deposit  their  cards  with  a  local  union,  and  file  their  petitions  through  it. 

Tenth.  All  members  who  are  receiving  the  old  age  pension  must  regularly 
pay  International  per  capita  tax,  amounting  to  45  cents  per  month,  and  in 
addition  thereto  30  cents  per  month  as  the  pension  assessment,  and  30  cents 
per  month  as  the  mortuary  fund  assessment,  the  total  monthly  payment  to  the 
International  Union  from  such  members  to  be  $1.05. 

Eleventh.  The  pension  law  as  it  now  stands  does  not  give  local  and  Inter- 
national officers  any  control  over  pensioners  as  regards  the  use  of  their  pensions. 
In  the  opinion  of  the  council  a  pensioner  is  at  liberty  to  spend  his  money  in 
any  way  he  sees  fit.  If  a  pensioner  is  not  totally  incapacitated  for  work  on 
account  of  his  age  and  incapacitates  himself  by  constant  debauchery  it  would 
then  become  the  duty  of  the  local  officers  to  make  a  specific  report  on  his 
case  and  ask  the  executive  council  for  a  ruling.  All  members  on  the  pension 
roll  who  are  able  to  work,  and  who  can  obtain  work,  are  expected  to  accept  it. 

decisions  of  the  executive  council  as  to  membership  of  applicants  for  the 
old  age  pension  and  admission  to  the  union  printers  home 

First.  Any  member  suspended  or  expelled  for  non-payment  of  dues  and  sub- 
sequently readmitted  as  a  new  member  on  the  payment  of  the  regular  initia- 
tion fee  of  the  local'  union  will  not  be  entitled  to  the  old  age  pension  until 
twenty  years  after  the  date  of  his  last  admission. 

Second.  A  member  who  stands  suspended  can  re-establish  continuous  mem- 
bership when  he  is  reinstated  by  paying  all  International  dues  and  assessments 
owed  at  the  time  of  his  suspension,  and  International  dues  and  assessments 
from  the  time  he  was  suspended  up  to  and  including  the  date  of  his  rein- 
statement, and  the  legal  reinstatement  fee,  provided  he  was  not  during  the 
time  of  his  suspension  or  expulsion  guilty  of  ratting  or  any  violation  of  union 
rules  and  regulations,  and  provided  further  that  reinstatement  is  not  sought 
for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  old  age  pension. 

Third.  The  council  holds  that  members  who  make  application  for  the  pen- 
sion under  the  accumulative  membership  law  must  have  established  continuous 
membership  prior  to  the  taking  effect  of  the  old  age  pension  law — January  1, 
1908 — in  order  to  entitle  such  applicants  to  the  pension.  In  other  words,  con- 
tinuous membership  can  not  now  be  established  by  the  payment  of  arrearages 
for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  a  right  to  the  beneficial  features  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union. 

Fourth.  All  residents  of  the  Home,  under  the  law,  must  be  active  members 
in  good  standing  and  during  the  time  they  stay  at  the  Home  should  be  considered 
as  continuous  active  members  of  the  organization.  The  law  exempts  members 
at  the  Home  from  payment  of  International  per  capita  tax  and  specifically 
states  that  they  shall  be  considered  as  members  in  good  standing.  A  member, 
therefore,    completing    his    twenty    years'   continuous    active    membership    at   the 

I006 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

Home  would  be  entitled  to  the  old  age  pension  should  he  leave  the  Home,  pro- 
vided he  can  meet  the  requirements  of  the  law  in  every  other  particular. 

Fifth.  Section  6,  article  v,  of  the  by-laws  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  provides  for  the  payment  of  the  old  age  pension  to  any  member  of  th« 
International  Typographical  Union  who  has  reached  the  age  of  60  years  and 
who  has  been  in  good  standing  for  a  period  of  twenty  years,  or  any  member 
who  has  reached  the  age  of  70  years  and  who  has  been  in  continuous  good 
standing  for  a  period  of  ten  years  and  who  finds  it  impossible  to  secure  sus- 
taining employment.  It  was  never  intended  by  the  law  that  a  member  could 
make  application  for  the  pension  immediately  upon  reaching  the  age  of  60  years 
and  with  a  view  to  receiving  the  pension  at  some  future  date,  or  at  widely  in- 
termittent periods.  The  pension  fund  was  provided  for  the  relief  of  mem- 
bers who  can  meet  its  requirements  relative  to  age  and  membership  and  who, 
through  the  infirmities  of  age  and  other  causes,  are  unable  to  obtain  sustain- 
ing employment.  A  member  who  is  out  of  employment  for  a  month  or  so 
and  who  has  had  regular  employment  prior  to  that  time,  is  still  able  to  work. 
and  with  good  prospects  of  again  securing  employment  within  a  reasonable 
period,  can  not  be  considered  as  coming  under  the  provisions  of  the  law  and 
can  not  make  application  for  the  old  age  pension,  go  upon  the  pension  roll 
and  draw  the  pension  whenever  he  happens  to  be  out  of  work.  To  place  a 
different  construction  on  the  law  would  make  it  an  out-of-work  benefit  rather 
than  an  old  age  pension.  Neither  is  the  pension  fund  intended  as  a  sick 
benefit.  It  was  adopted  for  the  relfcf  of  members  whose  opportunity  for  secur- 
ing sustaining  employment  has  vanished  or  is  at  that  point,  or  nearly  so,  to 
far  as  the  printing  business  is  concerned. 

DECISION    OF    THE    EXECUTIVE    COUNCIL    RELATIVE    TO    THE    PAYMENT    OF    PER    CAPITA 
TAX,   THE  OLD  ACE    PENSION    AND    MORTUARY    ASSESSMENTS 

Members  Not  Following  Printing  Trade  and  Proprietor  Members 

Active  members  whose  cards  are  deposited  with  a  local  union  and  who  are 
not  seeking  work  at  the  printing  business  or  who  are  following  other  pursuits 
must  pay  dues  and  assessments  monthly  as  follows:* 

First.    Local   dues  as  the  laws  of  the   local   union  provide. 

Second.    Forty-five  cents  per  month  as  International   per  capita  tax. 

Third.    Thirty  cents  per  month  as  the  old  age  pension  assessment. 

Fourth.    Thirty  cents  per  month  as  the  mortuary  assessment. 

The  above  applies  to  all  members  who  are  not  actively  seeking  work  at 
the   printing   business  or   who   are   following  other   pursuits. 

Proprietor  Members 

Members  who  are  running  printing  offices  must  pay  local  dues  as  the  laws 
of  the  union  to  which  they  belong  require.  In  addition  to  ttn»  thry  mutt  pay 
45  cents  per  month  per  capita  to  the  Intemation.il  Typographical  Union,  and 
the  pension  and  mortuary  assessments  at  the  rate  of  one-half  of  t  per  cent 
for  each  on  the  scale  of  the  local  union,  hut  in  no  case  can  they  nay  W-tt  than 
30  cents  per  month  on  each  aitettnu  nt. 

Members    Working  at  Printing    Trade 

A<tiM  mi  inltert  whotc  cards  are  deposited  with  ■  sMti  union  and  who  are 
necking  work  at  thr  punting  tiadr  mint  pay  duct  and  attettmrntt  monthly 
at   follows: 

First.     Local   duet  at  the   lawt  of  the   local   union  provide. 

Skcond.    Forty-five  cents  |kt   month   a«   lotrrntllonal  per  capita  tax. 

Third.    Our  hall  nt  on  total  twahtp  as  the  old  age  p-mtion  •»• 

MMntrnt. 

1007 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Fourth.  One-half  of  i  per  cent  on  total  earnings  as  the  mortuary  assess- 
ment. 

If  through  dulness  of  trade  a  member  of  this  class  is  idle  he  is  not  liable 
for  the  pension  and  mortuary  assessments  during  the  time  he  is  out  of  work, 
because   he  does   not  earn   anything   in   that  period. 

If  through  temporary  illness  (temporary  illness  being  construed  to  mean 
an  illness  of  not  more  than  one  month's  duration)  a  member  of  this  class  is 
idle  he  is  not  liable  for  the  pension  and  mortuary  assessments  during  that  time; 
but  if  such  illness  continues  beyond  one  month  then  he  must  pay  these  assess- 
ments on  the  scale  of  the  union  to  which  he  belongs. 

Where  a  member  works  a  day  or  more  in  the  mechanical  department  of  an 
office  and  the  remainder  of  his  time  in  another  department  or  at  an  outside 
pursuit,  he  shall  be  classed  as  working  at  the  trade  and  pay  dues  as  above  and 
the  assessments  for  full  time  upon  the  scale  of  the  union  for  the  class  of  me- 
chanical  work  performed. 

Members  at  Union  Printers  Home  or  on  Old  Age  Pension  Roll 

Active  members  whose  cards  are  deposited  with  a  local  union  and  who 
are  residents  of  the  Union  Printers  Home  are  by  law  exempted  from  the  pay- 
ment of  International  Typographical  Union  per  capita  tax  and  by  an  action 
of  the  executive  council,  subsequently  endorsed  by  convention  action,  they 
were  exempted  from  the  payment  of  the  old  age  pension  assessment  and  are 
not  eligible  for  the  pension  while  residing  at  the  Home.  In  the  past  the 
death  benefit  of  $75  has  been  paid  on  the  death  of  a  resident  of  the  Home 
when  the  expense  of  burial  was  not  paid  from  the  Home  funds.  In  all  in- 
stances where  burial  is  made  in  the  Home  plot  in  Evergreen  Cemetery,  Colo- 
rado Springs,  the  Home  fund  is  charged  with  the  burial  expenses,  and  the 
burial  benefit  is  not  paid.  In  the  future,  on  the  death  of  a  resident  of  the 
Home,  the  executive  council  will  continue  to  pay  a  death  benefit  of  $75,  pro- 
vided the  expenses  of  burial  are  not  paid  from  the  Home  funds;  this  $75 
burial  benefit  to  be  paid  from  the  general  funds  of  the  organization.  This 
action  is  based  on  the  exemption  of  residents  of  the  Home  from  the  payment 
of  the  mortuary  assessment.  If,  however,  any  resident  of  the  Home  arranges 
to  pay,  through  his  local  union  (or  the  union  to  which  he  belongs  pays  for 
him),  the  sum  of  30  cents  per  month  from  January  1,  1912,  as  the  mortuary 
assessment,  the  International  Typographical  Union  will  then  pay  the  mortuary 
benefit  on  the  basis  of  the  mortuary  benefit  law,  as  found  in  sections  15  to 
at,  article  v,  International  by-laws,  deducting  the  burial  expenses  when  in- 
terment is  made  in  the  Home  plot.  To  protect  a  member  at  the  Home  the 
union  with  which  he  is  affiliated  should  remit  local  dues  and  carry  him  on  its 
rolls  as  an  active   member. 

All  members  who  are  receiving  the  old  age  pension  must  regularly  pay  In- 
ternational per  capita  tax,  amounting  to  45  cents  per  month,  and  in  addition 
thereto  30  cents  per  month  as  the  pension  assessment,  and  30  cents  per  month 
as  the  mortuary  assessment,  the  total  monthly  payment  to  the  International 
Union   from  such  members  to  be  $1.05. 

Members   Holding    Traveling   Cards   and   in    Country    Towns   or   Not    Working 

at  Trade 

Members  holding  traveling  cards  and  located  in  unorganized  towns,  or  not 
working  at  the  trade,  must  renew  them  through  headquarters  as  International 
law  provides.  The  holders  of  traveling  cards  so  situated  must  pay  Interna- 
tional dues  and  assessments  as   follows: 

First.    Forty-five   cents  per   month   as   International   per   capita   tax. 

Second.  One-half  of  1  per  cent  on  the  total  earnings  as  the  old  age  pension 
assessment. 

1008 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

Third.    One-half  of  i  per  cent  on  total  earnings  as  the  mortuary  assessment. 

Fourth.  If  not  seeking  work  at  the  printing  trade,  following  other  pursuits 
or  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  the  card  holder  must  pay  60  cents  per 
month  as  the  pension  and  mortuary  assessments  in   addition  to  per  capita  tax. 

Fifth.  Any  member  holding  a  traveling  card  and  working  at  the  trade  in 
an  unorganized  town  and  failing  to  report  his  earnings  will  be  charged  60 
cents   per  month   as   the   pension    and   mortuary   assessments. 

Members  Depositing  or  Renewing   Traveling   Cards 

Whenever  a  member  who  is  following  the  trade  presents  a  traveling  card 
within  date  upon  which  dues  and  assessments  have  accumulated,  the  secretary 
receiving  the  card  shall  collect  per  capita  tax  at  the  rate  of  45  cents  per 
month,  and  the  old  age  pension  and  mortuary  assessments  at  the  rate  of  30 
cents  per  month  each.  If  the  card  has  expired  it  must  be  renewed  as  is  pro- 
vided in  Section  84,  International  Typographical  Union  general  laws  for   1912. 

Payment  of  Benefits 

The  amount  of  the  mortuary  benefit  paid  in  each  case  will  be  based  upon 
the  number  of  years  the  deceased  had  been  a  continuous  active  member  in 
good  standing  at  the  time  of  death  as  shown  by  the  records  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  and  the  death  claim  papers,  which  must  be  pre- 
pared as  provided  in  the  law.     Benefits  will  be  paid  as  follows: 

Seventy-five  dollars  on  the  death  of  a  member  in  good  standing  who  joins 
the  union  subsequent  to  January  1,  1912,  who  was  50  years  of  age  when 
initiated,  regardless  of  the  number  of  years  of  membership.  (Section  21  of 
the  mortuary  benefit  law.)  A  member  who  becomes  such  subsequent  to  Janu- 
ary 1,  191 2,  after  reaching  the  age  of  50  years,  by  depositing  an  honorable 
withdrawal   card,   comes  under  the   provisions  of   this  section. 

Seventy-five  dollars  on  the  death  of  a  member  in  good  standing  who  at 
the  time  of  demise  had  been  a  continuous  active  member  for  less  than  two 
years. 

One  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  on  the  death  of  a  member  in  good 
standing  who  at  the  time  of  demise  had  been  a  continuous  active  member  two 
yea,rs  and  less  than  three  years,  provided  the  deceased  member  was  not  50 
years   of   age   when    last   becoming   an   active   member. 

One  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  on  the  death  of  a  member  in  good 
standing  who  at  the  time  of  demise  had  been  a  continuous  member  for  three 
years  and  less  than  four  years,  provided  the  deceased  member  was  not  50 
years  of  age  when  last  becoming  an  active  member. 

Two  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  on  the  death  of  imrmlirr  in  good 
standing  who  at  the  time  of  demise  hail  l>cen  a  eontinuoiu  active  member  for 
four  years  and  less  than  five  years,  provided  the  deceased  member  was  not 
50  years  of  age  when  last  becoming  an  active  member. 

r.Mir  hundred  dollar*  on  the  death  of  a  member  in  good  standing  who 
at  the  time  of  demise  had  been  a  continuous  active  member  for  five  or  mora 
years,  provided  tlir  dtct—d  mrmbcr  wa*  not  50  years  of  age  when  last  he- 
■  "ining   an   active   tuctnlx-i. 

\   1    W      ARBITRATION        V  <  i  R  I    I    M  I    \    I 

Attention  of  the  (U-U^atis  to  tin-  San  I'rancisco  con- 
vention   was  tlinvtnl   t<>   tin-     lad     that     thr    arbitration 

agreement  with  the  American    Newspaper    Publish* 

Association   would  cxpirr  on   May  30,   191a.  and  that   it 

IOO9 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

would  be  necessary  for  the  convention  to  take  action 
regarding  renewal  of  the  agreement.  At  the  convention 
of  the  publishers'  association  held  in  New  York  in  April, 
191 1,  the  subject  of  the  renewal  of  the  arbitration  agree- 
ment with  the  union  was  up  for  consideration  and  the 
following  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
executive  council  of  the  International  Union :  Victor  F. 
Lawson,  Herman  Ridder,  Charles  W.  Knapp,  Don  C. 
Seitz,  S.  S.  Carvalho,  Bruce  Haldeman,  George  C.  Hitt, 
Charles  H.  Taylor,  jr.,  G.  J.  Palmer  and  H.  N.  Kellogg. 
The  executive  council  reported  that  it  had  held  several 
meetings  with  the  publishers'  committee  and  that  at  the 
last  meeting,  on  June  28,  191 1,  an  understanding  was 
reached  and  the  resultant  agreement  was  submitted  to  the 
convention  for  consideration,  it  being  incorporated  in  the 
supplemental  report  of  the  executive  council  to  the  con- 
vention. The  existing  arbitration  agreement  had  been 
amended  so  as  to  provide  for  a  local  board  of  arbitration 
of  four  members,  they  to  select  a  fifth  member.  The 
specific  changes  in  the  agreement  were  embraced  in 
sections  5,  7  and  12  of  the  code  of  procedure  and  are 
given  herewith : 

Sec.  5.  After  the  questions  to  be  arbitrated  have  been  determined,  a 
local  board  of  arbitration  must  be  formed,  composed  of  residents  of  the  local- 
ity in  which  the  controversy  arises,  two  members  thereof  to  be  named  by 
each  side,  one  such  representative  of  each  contending  party  to  be  free  from 
personal  connections  with  or  direct  interest  in  any  newspaper  or  any  labor 
union.  The  board  as  thus  constituted  shall  select  from  among  its  members 
a  secretary.  The  four  members  of  the  board  shall  then  choose  an  additional 
member,  who  shall  be  a  disinterested  party  and  who  shall  act  as  chairman  of 
the  board.  The  chairman  shall  preside,  put  motions,  etc.,  and  shall  be  en- 
titled to  vote  on  all  propositions  which  properly  come  before  the  board  in 
open  session.  He  shall  declare  a  motion  carried  only  when  at  least  three  of 
the  arbitrators  shall  have  voted  affirmatively  thereon.  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  hearing  the  chairman  shall  retire,  and  the  other  members  of  the  board 
shall  go  into  executive  session  and  immediately  take  up  a  consideration  of 
the  issues  involved.  If  a  tie  vote  occurs  on  any  proposition,  or  if  there  are 
any  differences,  questions  or  propositions,  which  do  not  receive  the  votes  of 
three  of  the  four  original  members  of  the  board,  the  chairman  shall  be  called 
in  and  shall  cast  the  deciding  votes  on  all  unsettled  questions  or  propositions. 
If  the  chairman  of  the  local  board  shall  not  have  been  selected  within  thirty 
(30)    days   after  the   questions  to  be   arbitrated  have  been   determined,   he   shall 

IOIO 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

be  named  by  the  chairman  of  the  special  standing  committee  of  the  American 
Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  and  the  president  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  or  their  proxies  upon  the  request  of  either  of  the  interested 
parties.  The  two  officials  named  or  their  proxies  may  visit  the  locality  if  they 
deem  it  necessary.  Any  expense  incurred  shall  be  defrayed  equally  by  the  par- 
ties to  the  controversy. 

Sec.  7.  The  party  making  the  original  demand  shall  have  the  right  to 
present  its  case  and  evidence  without  interruption,  excepting  that  when  oral  evi- 
dence is  introduced,  cross-examination  of  witnesses  shall  be  allowed.  The 
opposing  parties  shall  have  the  same  right  in  turn.  The  first  party  shall  then 
have  the  right  to  present  evidence  strictly  in  rebuttal,  and  the  opposing  party 
shall  be  allowed  to  present  counter  evidence  strictly  in  surrebuttal.  Where 
obection  is  made  by  either  party  to  the  admission  of  any  evidence  offered  by 
the  other  party,  the  board  by  vote  shall  decide  as  to  the  admissibility  of  the 
evidence  in  question. 

Sec.  12.  When  said  hearing  is  concluded  the  board  shall,  without  un- 
necessary delay,  and  as  set  forth  in  section  5,  of  this  code,  go  into  executive 
session,  from  which  all  persons  except  the  four  original  members  of  the  board 
shall  be  excluded,  for  the  determination  of  its  award.  In  its  deliberations  the 
transcript  of  the  stenographic  report  shall  be  accepted  as  the  best  evidence  ot 
what  occurred  at  the  hearings,  unless  it  can  be  shown  that  gross  errors  exist 
in  said  transcript.  Should  the  four  members  be  unable  to  decide  upon  the 
award,  the  chairman  shall  be  called  «in,  as  provided  in  section  5  of  this  code. 
The  award  of  the  board  must  be  formulated  and  signed  by  all  of  the  mem- 
bers thereof  at  a  regular  executive  session,  after  there  has  been  full  oppor- 
tunity for  consideration  and  discussion,  the  date  and  time  of  such  session 
having  previously  been  determined  at  a  full  meeting  of  the  local  board.  If 
any  member  of  the  local  board  dissents  from  the  award,  and  wishes  to  file 
a  dissenting  opinion,  he  shall  give  immediate  notice  to  that  effect,  and  shall, 
within  forty-eight  (48)  hours  after  the  award  has  been  decided  upon,  and  be- 
fore it  has  been  promulgated,  formulate  his  reasons  for  dissenting,  and  such 
opinion  must  be  signed  by  him  before  final  adjournment  at  a  regular  executive 
session  arranged  for  as  above  provided.  Such  dissenting  opinion,  when  thus 
signed,  must  be  attached  to  the  award. 

It  was  explained  to  the  convention  that  it  had  been  the 
aim  of  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Union 
and  the  special  standing  committee  of  the  publish- 
association  since  the  formulation  of  the  then  existing  con- 
tract to  so  arrange  it  that  decisions  by  local  arbitration 
boards  would  be  assured,  but  this  had  been  found  to  be 
impossible  under  even  numbered  local  boards.  Repeated 
requests  had  come  to  the  national  board  for  permission 
to  pass  up  local  arbitration  altogether  and  take  the  case 
direct  to  the  national  board.  These  requests  had  been 
generally  declined  and  local  arbitration  had  been  insisted 
upon  except  in  instances  of  disputes  arising  as  to  tin 
meaning  of  provisions  in  local  contracts.     As  a  result  of 

101  1 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  failure  of  even  numbered  local  boards  to  agree,  the 
national  board  of  arbitration  had  been  compelled  to  give  a 
great  deal  of  its  time  to  the  consideration  of  scale  cases 
coming  to  the  board  as  a  court  of  original  jurisdiction. 
This  had  come  to  be  such  an  abuse  that  it  was  determined 
to  terminate  it  by  the  amendments  referred  to  and  quoted 
above.  It  had  been  suspected  by  members  of  the  national 
board  that  local  decisions  were  possible  if  the  local  parties 
to  the  issue  cared  to  shoulder  the  responsibility  of  making 
decisions,  but  the  deadlock  made  possible  by  even  num- 
bered local  boards  presented  the  means  of  sending  the 
cases  to  the  national  board  and  placing  on  the  members  of 
that  body  the  responsibility  for  all  decisions,  then  when 
the  decisions  were  rendered  the  dissatisfaction  could  be 
shifted  to  the  national  board  of  arbitration.  Under  the 
proposed  new  agreement  local  decisions  would  be  assured 
and  the  responsibility  for  the  conduct  of  a  case  and  for 
success  or  failure  in  the  first  instance  would  rest  on  the 
local  parties  to  the  arbitration.  Cases  would  come  to  the 
national  board  under  the  new  agreement  only  on  appeal 
or  where  it  was  impossible  to  secure  local  arbitration. 

The  convention  committee  to  which  the  arbitration  con- 
tract was  referred  made  an  exhaustive  report  on  the 
subject,  which  is  quoted  herewith,  in  part: 

Your  committee  on  arbitration  has  given  careful  consideration  to  the  re- 
port of  the  officers  on  the  important  question  of  conciliation  and  arbitration, 
which  has  prevailed  for  a  period  long  enough  to  demonstrate  its  true  value 
as  a  medium  for  the  settlement  of  those  differences  which  so  frequently  occur 
in  scale  contentions  and  betterment  of  working  conditions,  and  unanimously 
endorse  the  prevailing  peace  policy  of  our  organization,  and  compliments  and 
commends  the  executive  council  on  the  excellent  showing  made  in  the  per- 
formance  of  this   duty. 

During  the  past  ten  years,  through  the  medium  of  arbitration,  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  has  made  such  wonderful  progress  and  con- 
ducted its  affairs  in  so  business-like  manner,  that  it  has  become  absolutely  un- 
necessary to  resort  to  the  often  expensive  and  ineffective  strike  to  effect  a 
settlement  of  differences  with  those  employers  with  whom  we  have  agree- 
ments. 

The  strikes  and  lockouts  of  the  pastr  created  hatred  in  the  hearts  of 
both  contestants  and  often  led  to  dire  disaster  and  want  in  the  home  of  the 
striker;  and  too  often  it  took  years  of  earnest  endeavor  to  harmonize  differ- 
ences that   in   the   beginning   were   of   a   trifling   and  trivial   nature.     The   strike 

1012 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

and  boycott  never  promoted  organization,  and  but  rarely  were  of  benefit  to 
either  of  the  parties  involved.  While  our  right  to  strike  can  never  be  taken 
from  us,  it  should  not  be  resorted  to  until  every  effort  has  been  exhausted  to 
effect  an  adjustment  of  the  differences  by  the  sane  and  peaceful  method  ot 
conciliation    and    arbitration. 

In  this  report  we  find  mention  of  the  adjustment  of  many  questions  by 
the  chairman  of  the  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  and  the  president  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union.  It  is  indeed  a  well-conceived  plan — an 
admirable  arbitration  agreement — that  puts  in  the  hands  of  our  officials  the 
power  to  effect  the  settlement  of  minor  differences  which  so  frequently,  in 
the   long  ago,    resulted   in   savage   contests    for   supremacy. 

The  reports  of  the  president  and  the  executive  council  are  so  complete, 
and  treat  the  subject  of  arbitration  in  all  its  phases  so  comprehensively,  we 
recommend  that  these  reports  be  placed  before  the  entire  membership  a*  soon 
after  the  adjournment  of  this  convention  as  is  practicable. 

It  is  assumed  that  the  delegates  to  this  convention  are  familiar  with  the 
present  arbitration  agreement,  and  we  deem  it  unnecessary  to  discuss  it  at 
length  in  this  report,  other  than  to  say  that  the  code  of  procedure  was  pre- 
pared to  cover  every  contingency  that  might  arise,  and  probably  had  these 
measures  been  more  carefully  considered  by  the  proper  officials  and  the  arbitra- 
tors selected  by  the  local  unions  interested,  and  the  provisions  of  the  code 
followed  with  that  intelligence  that  is  only  to  be  acquired  by  careful  prepara- 
tion, the  results  attained  would  have  been  more  far-reaching  and  beneficial 
to  all  concerned.  Many  so-called  successful  strikes  are  compromises,  and  those 
of  our  members  who  are  able  to  direct  a  strike  should  be  brave  enough  to 
stand   for  a  just  settlement  of  differences  by  arbitration  under  our  agreement. 

President  Lynch  in  his  report  makes  an  unanswerable  statement  when  he 
says  "that  the  International  Typographical  Union  has  prospered  and  pro- 
gressed during  the  period  of  its  agreement  with  the  American  Newspaper  Pub- 
lishers' Association."  It  is  more  than  probable  that,  had  it  not  been  for  this 
agreement,  the  eight-hour  strike  might  have  been  lost  to  us,  for  the  very  good 
reason  that  a  large  part  of  the  membership,  earning  fair  wages,  were  secure  in 
their  places  and  thereby  contributed  materially  to  the  successful  termination 
of  that  struggle,  and  thereafter  to  the  large  increase  in  the  finances  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  making  the  old  age  pension  a  success,  thus 
securing  to  our  old  members  a  fund  that  is  for  their  material  benefit  when  un- 
able to  obtain  sustaining  employment;  placing  the  Home  in  first-class  comb 
tion;  increasing  the  membership  at  an  astonishing  rate,  and  placing  our  In- 
ternational  and   local   unions  in   the   lead   of  all   others. 

We  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  great  number  of  subordinate  unions 
having  agreements  with  the  publishers  in  force  July  I,  1911,  which  should 
be  sufficient  proof  that  the  method  is  a  popular  and  successful  meant  of  ad- 
justing  those   difftflHMM  that  arc  sure  to  arise   from  time  to  time. 

The  decisions  of  the  arbitration  board  appearing  in  thr  report  cover  a 
period  ranging  from  thr  year  1907  to  the  present  timr.  Kvery  conceivable  dttv 
pott  thai  could  possibly  arise  has  ban  presented  (or  adjustment.  That  many 
Important  publications  have  continued  to  rui|.|.v  members  of  our  union  la  be- 
cause tin-  pubJUhtn  iK-lirvrd  that  each  mile  was  sure  10  Ik-  gitcn  a  square  deal. 
This  agreement  is  not  perfect  perhaps,  but  we  believe  it  it  the  m«»»t  intelligent 
and  best  method  yet  devised  for  the  settlement  of  working  conditions  and  scale 
controversies. 

beyond  reason  to  expect  every  member  of  either  urganUation  to  be 
satisfied  with  1  li<-  awards  made,  but  »r  art  ol  the  opinion  that  the  great  major- 
ity of  the  membership  of  the  [ateraattoetal  Typographies!  Union,  who  desire 
1  Ik-  nrK.imr.it i. hi  |q  prosper  and  grow  greater  and  stronger — those  who  wish  to 
live    in    petWe    with    their    neighbors    and    their    own    kindred— will    uphold    this 


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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

rational  method,  that  the  unions  may  continue  to  enjoy  that  progress  and  pros- 
perity that  has  prevailed  during  the  past  ten  years. 

Your  committee  has  thoroughly  considered  the  proposed  international  arbi- 
tration agreement  and  earnestly  recommends  that  the  convention  adopt  it. 
The  proposed  agreement  is  far  in  advance  of  any  method  ever  attempted  by 
any  labor  organization,  and  if  it  does  not  work  out,  we  have  been  assured 
other  measures  will  be  devised  to  bring  about  the   result  desired. 

One  point  the  committee  wishes  to  bring  out  clearly  is  that  the  acceptance 
of  this  agreement  is  wholly  optional  with  the  local  unions. 

Your  committee  believes  that  under  the  new  agreement  and  code  of  pro- 
cedure better  and  quicker  results  will  be  obtained,  and  that  appeals  to  the 
National  Board  will  be  lessened,  but,  when  taken,  decisions  can  be  rendered 
in  much  less  time  than  in  the  past,  because  under  its  administration  the  pro- 
ceedings of  local  boards  will  be  clearer  and  recite  the  conditions  as  they  actu- 
ally exist. 

During  consideration  of  the  committee's  report,  several 
amendments  to  the  agreement  were  offered  by  various 
delegates,  but,  after  discussion,  all  of  the  amendments 
were  defeated  and  the  document  as  presented  was  adopted 
as  a  whole. 

Commissioner  Kellogg 's  Address  —  Commissioner  H. 
N.  Kellogg,  of  the  publishers'  association,  was  a  visitor 
to  the  convention  and,  upon  invitation,  addressed  the 
delegates.  His  remarks,  bearing  partially  on  the  pro- 
posed new  arbitration  agreement,  were  as  follows : 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  In  accordance  with  the  usual  custom,  I  am  with 
you  today  to  extend  the  greetings  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Asso- 
ciation to  the  International  Typographical  Union;  to  express  the  interest  of  our 
association  in  this  meeting  and  the  hope  that  wise  and  conservative  action  will 
result. 

The  reports  of  your  officers  for  the  past  year  show  that  remarkable  progress 
has  been  made  during  that  period.  I  congratulate  you  upon  your  continued 
success. 

You  are,  of  course,  all  aware  through  the  supplemental  report  of  your  exec- 
utive council,  that  a  committee  was  appointed  at  our  convention  in  April  to 
consider  new  arbitration  agreements  with  the  various  international  unions,  to 
take  the  place  of  those  which  will  expire  on  May  1  next. 

In  accordance  with  that  action,  our  arbitration  committee  has  had  numerous 
conferences  with  your  executive  council.  A  tentative  agreement  has  been  con- 
cluded, subject  to  final  approval  by  you  and  by  our  committee,  which  was  ap- 
pointed with  power  to  act. 

The  terms  of  the  tentative  agreement  are  not  entirely  in  accord  with  our 
views  of  what  such  an  agreement  should  contain,  because  they  do  not  provide 
for  free  and  unrestricted  arbitration. 

It  seems  to  us,  that  having  accepted  the  principle  of  arbitration,  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  should  be  willing  to  accept  it  in  its  full  measure. 
I  trust  your  deliberations  on  this  subject  will  result  in  your  concluding  to  agree 
to  arbitration  without  restriction. 

You  are,  of  course,  aware  that  treaties  providing  arbitration  have  been  in 
effect  between  the  great  nations  of  the  world  for  a  number  of  years.     That  our 

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Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

government  and  that  of  Great  Britain  and  France  have  recently  adopted  the 
principle  of  arbitration  without  restriction.  Surely  you  should  not  hesitate  to 
follow  such  illustrious  example. 

During  the  past  year,  as  you  all  know,  the  campaign  of  the  American  News- 
paper Publishers'  Association  for  the  removal  of  the  tariff  from  white  paper, 
and  the  materials  which  enter  into  its  manufacture,  has  been  partially  suc- 
cessful. 

Our  association  has  been  carrying  on  this  campaign  for  four  years.  Several 
times  during  that  period  we  have  requested  co-operation  by  the  International 
Typographical  Union  in  this  movement  and  in  every  instance  your  officers  have 
given  us  their  assistance.     We  sincerely  appreciate  that  action. 

There  have  been  many  differences  between  the  members  of  our  association 
and  your  local  unions  during  the  past  year.  Nearly  all  of  these  differences  have 
been  finally  adjusted  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  arbitration  contract. 

I  desire  to  express  our  appreciation  of  the  promptness  and  courtesy  dis- 
played by  your  International  officers  in  dealing  with  the  various  problems  that 
have  been  presented  for  solution. 

I  trust  the  pleasant  and  harmonious  relations  between  the  American  News- 
paper Publishers'  Association  and  the  International  Typographical  Union  will 
continue  for  at  least  another  five-year  period. 

I  thank  you  for  your  kind  attention. 

ILLEGAL   STRIKE   AT   CHICAGO 

On  February  28,  191 1,  the  members  of  Chicago  Typo- 
graphical Union  No.  16  working  in  the  offices  of  the 
Chicago  Examiner  and  the  Chicago  American,  to  the 
number  of  about  200,  walked  out.  The  cause  of  the 
walkout  was  a  dispute  as  to  the  measurement  of  type 
set  on  the  machines  in  the  two  offices,  the  contention  of 
the  union  being  that  the  type  should  be  measured  13^ 
ems  wide,  while  the  office  sought  to  pay  the  men  on  the 
basis  of  13  ems.  The  columns  of  the  paper  were  12  ems 
and  ten  points  in  width. 

Previous  to  the  decision  of  the  National  Arbitration 
Board  in  the  Chicago  scale  case,  all  the  members  of  No. 
16  working  on  the  two  papers  with  which  the  controversy 
occurred  were  paid  on  a  flat  time  basis,  but  under  the 
provisions  of  a  contract  existing  previous  to  the  arbitra- 
tion decision  the  two  offices  had  been  placed  on  the  same 
scale  basis  paid  in  the  other  newspaper  offices  in  Chicago 
(cither  a  time  or  a  bonus  scale),  the  bonus  scale  being 
accepted. 

When  the  bonus  scale  was  put  into  effect  the  presi- 
dent of  No.   16  instructed  the  general  foremen  of  the 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

American  and  Examiner  offices  to  cast  the  measure  up 
on  the  basis  of  13^2  em  columns.  The  payment  for  the 
first  week's  work  under  the  bonus  scale  was  made  upon 
this  basis.  The  management  -of  the  offices  then  claimed 
that  the  measure  had  been  cast  on  this  basis  without  their 
knowledge,  and  instructed  the  foremen  to  recast  it  on  a 
13-em  basis.  Payment  on  a  13-em  basis  was  made  for 
one  week  and  at  the  close  of  the  second  week  a  demand 
was  made  for  payment  on  a  13^ -em  basis  for  the  two 
weeks.  A  dispute  having  arisen,  the  management  con- 
tended that  they  were  entitled  to  arbitration  as  a  means 
of  settlement,  but  the  officers  of  the  local  union  held  that 
while  they  might  be  entitled  to  arbitration  they  must  con- 
tinue the  condition  that  had  been  created  during  the  first 
week  by  order  of  the  president  of  the  union  until  the 
entire  matter  was  settled  through  the  arbitration  pro- 
ceedings. The  management  refused  to  accept  that  ruling, 
but  agreed  to  place  the  difference  in  money  in  the  hands 
of  the  president  of  the  union,  or  any  one  to  be  named  by 
the  officers  of  the  union,  until  the  question  could  be 
settled.  This  offer  was  rejected  and  on  February  28, 
191 1,  all  of  the  members  working  in  both  chapels  walked 
out. 

The  first  intimation  to  the  executive  council  that 
trouble  was  likely  to  occur  in  the  offices  of  the  American 
and  the  Examiner  was  in  a  telegram  addressed  to  Presi- 
dent Lynch  from  Commissioner  H.  N.  Kellogg,  of  the 
American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  and 
received  by  Mr.  Lynch  in  Philadelphia,  at  midnight  on 
February  27,  191 1.  Immediately  following  the  receipt 
of  Mr.  Kellogg's  telegram,  President  Lynch  wired  Presi- 
dent O'Brien  of  No.  16,  as  follows: 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,   12:30  a.   m.,   February  28,    191 1. 
George  R.  O'Brien,  President  Typographical  Union,  Postal  Telegraph  Building, 

Chicago,  III. 

Kellogg    wires    me    dispute    with    Hearst    papers    serious    and    trouble    liable. 
Of  course,   under   arbitration   agreement,    disputes   must   be   peaceably   adjusted, 

IOl6 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

work  continuing  in  the  interim  between  raising  of  question  and  its  settlement. 
Know  that  you  will  see  agreement  is  observed.  Wire  me  Tuesday,  Ebbitt 
House,  Washington  D.  C.  James  M.  Lywch. 

In  order  that  this  history  may  contain  the  story  of  the 
Chicago  walkout  exactly  as  the  incident  was  reported  to 
the  San  Francisco  convention,  the  report  of  the  executive 
council  on  the  subject  is  reproduced  herewith,  and  follow- 
ing the  council's  report  will  be  found  the  report  of  the 
convention  committee  and  the  action  of  the  convention 
itself  regarding  the  walkout. 

At  the  time  the  walkout  occurred  President  Lynch  was  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  on  official  business,  and  the  first  information  which  any  official  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union  received  that  a  walkout  had  occurred  was 
by  President  Lynch  through  a  bulletin  posted  on  a  bulletin  board  in  Washington. 

EXECUTIVE    COUNCIL    DISAVOWS    STRIKE 

President  Lynch  immediately  got  into  communication  with  Secretary-Treas- 
urer Hays,  and  the  executive  council,  in  accordance  with  the  provision*  of  the 
laws  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  disavowed  the  strike  as  illegal 
and  without  warrant  or  reason  and  ordered  the  men  to  return  to  work.  The 
publishers  of  the  Examiner  and  American  were  also  informed  of  this  decision 
by  President  Lynch,  in  accordance  with  our  contracts  and  laws. 

The  president  of  No.  16  refused  to  accept  this  order  over  the  telephone, 
and  also  stated  that  No.  16  did  not  desire  the  interference  of  the  executive 
council,  nor  would  the  men  be  ordered  to  return  to  work.  In  fact,  he  stated 
that  the  executive  council's  mandate  that  the  men  must  return  to  work  would 
be  ignored.  He  was  then  informed  that  the  question  in  controversy  must  be 
settled  under  the  laws  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  the  local 
contract  and  national  arbitration  agreement,  which  were  a  part  of  the  Chicago 
scale  of  prices-;  that  if  the  men  did  not  return  to  work  in  accordance  with  the 
orders  of  the  executive  council  the  council  would  order  that  type  for  the 
American  and  Examiner  be  set  by  our  members  in  other  chapels,  and  that  it 
would  use  every  effort  to  see  that  the  papers  on  which  the  Mrikc  occurred  were 
issued  with  the  the  least  possible  delay. 

The  council  having  been  informed  by  the  president  of  No.  16  that  ill  man- 
date  would  not  be  obeyed,  then  scut  telegrams  to  the  chairmen  of  the  Chicago 
Tribune,  Record-Herald,  Inter  Ocean,  Post,  Journal.  News,  American  and 
Examiner,  instructing  thrin  that  if  copy  was  presented  (or  thr  turn  in  the  .lif 
fcrent  chapels  to  set  for  the  American  and  Kxamiiin  that  thr  men  »nr  in 
structcd  to  set  it,  unless  our  DMtabtH  who  had  walked  out  of  the  Am<- 
and  Examiurr  returned  10  WOT*  ;ii  MM,  A  MpJ  of  thai  trlrgram  «u  aeni  to 
Presiilrut  O'Brien,  and  is  as  follows: 

M«».  ii    i.    tgtt. 

"Gkoruk  R.  o'limrs,  /».u/.„(    ry#*jr#MraJ  '  ohm  Ve.  io,  K**mt  *h-** 

/'i'.iIii/   Telegraph   HttiUmg.  Chicago,  III. 

•  •The  following  tOfagtMl  ha.  ju«l  been  »enl  lo  ihr  chairmen  of  chapel*  »n 
thr    tillur.    .if    |hr    Tiilmnr.  .1,1.     loir.     Oc«M,    faot.    Journal.     M 

Nun  it  i.  .in  gad  I  irfhw 

•■   If  ihr  DMMbwt  "I   No.  16  who  walkrd  out  of  the  oflkea  of  the  Chicago 

Am.  ml in  -i    da   HOI    irlutti   to   work   at   once  the   *«vcutive   coonci) 

of   Ihr    Inlrinnlional   Ty|M>gin|'hn  al    to.. .11   iinliiuli   >.'.'    |.>   ha«r    thr    metJKWt*   in 

IOI7 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

your  chapel  set  such  type  for  the  American  and  Examiner  as  you  may  be  fur- 
nished copy  for.  This  action  is  taken  in  accordance  with  sections  147  and  152 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  general  laws,   reading  as   follows: 

"  'Sec.  147.  Whenever  a  strike  occurs  without  the  sanction  of  the  executive 
council,  the  council  must  immediately  disavow  the  illegal  strike  and  notify 
all  subordinate  unions  to  that  effect.  Protection  shall  be  guaranteed  to  all 
members  who  remain  at,  accept  or  return  to  work  in  offices  affected  by  the  ille- 
gal strike,  as  specified  in  section  152.  Any  officer  or  member  of  a  union  who 
shall  suppress  or  conceal  from  his  union  or  the  executive  council  any  official 
information  concerning  a  strike,  or  a  proposed  strike,  shall  upon  conviction  by 
the  local  union  be  suspended  or  expelled. 

"  'Sec.  152.  To  affect  union  men  prejudicially  to  their  standing  in  the  union 
who  remain  at  work  in  an  office  where  any  number  of  the  union  men  in  such 
office  have  struck  work  on  what  they  deem  good  grounds  for  such  action,  the 
strike  must  have  been  authorized  in  accordance  with  sections  145,  146  and  148 
of  this  law.  Unless  so  authorized,  those  remaining  at  work  are  not  liable  to 
charges  of  violation  of  any  union  laws.' 

"By  order  of  the  executive  council,  J.  W.  Hays,  Secretary." 

The  above  mentioned  telegrams  to  President  O'Brien  and  the  chapel  chair- 
men of  Chicago  were  sent  from  International  headquarters  about  2:30  a.  m. 
of  March  1. 

SPECIAL    MEETING    OF    CHICAGO    UNION 

During  Tuesday,  March  1,  the  executive  council  received  information  that 
a  special  meeting  of  Typographical  Union  No.  16  would  be  held  at  5  p.  m., 
and  by  order  of  the  executive  council  the  following  telegram  was  sent  to  Pres- 
ident O'Brien: 

"Indianapolis,  Ind.,  March  1,  191 1. 

"George  R.  O'Brien,  Rooms  224-226  Postal  Telegraph  Building,  Chicago,  III. 
"The  International  executive  council,  giving  further  consideration  to  the 
Chicago  situation,  today  instructed  me  to  wire  you  reiterating  what  I  said  to 
you  over  the  telephone  early  this  morning,  that  the  council  demands  that  the 
members  of  No.  16  be  instructed  to  return  to  work  in  the  offices  of  the  Chicago 
American  and  the  Chicago  Examiner,  and  that  the  laws  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  be  fully  complied  with.  The  executive  council  also  de- 
sires that  all  of  the  messages  and  communications  referring  to  this  subject 
which  you  have  received  from  either  Lynch  or  myself  be   read  at  the  meeting 

of  No.   16  this  afternoon.  „,,.    .,„    ,., 

J.   W.   Hays. 

Replying   to    this    telegram,    the    following    was    received   at    Indianapolis   at 

4:53  p.  m.: 

"Chicago,  March  1,  191 1. 

"J.  W.  Hays,  Newton  Claypool  Building,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

"This  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  executive  committee  on  No.  16  previous 
to  the  receipt  of  your  latest  wire  ordering  employes  of  the  Examiner  and 
American  to  return  to  work:  'Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  position  of 
President  Lynch,  as  indicated  by  a  dispatch  to  the  publishers'  association,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  executive  council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union, 
in  regard  to  the  action  of  the  American  and  Examiner  chapels  in  quitting  em- 
ployment at  3  o'clock  p.  m.,  Tuesday,  February  28,  for  non-payment  of  wages, 
the  executive  committee  of  Chicago  Typographical  Union  No.  16  is  compelled  to 
recommend  to  this  union  that  the  order  of  the  executive  council,  directing 
members  of  the  American  and  Examiner  chapels  to  return  to  work,  pending 
an  adjustment  of  the  matter  in  dispute,  be  complied  with.' 

"G.  R.  O'Brien." 

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Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

The  result  of  the  special  meeting  of  No.  16  held  on  March  i  and  the 
subsequent  action  of  the  executive  council  regarding  the  strike  is  fully  set 
forth  in  the  following  letter,  which  was  addressed  to  President  O'Brien,  of 
No.   16,  and  copies  thereof  furnished  to  the  entire  membership  of  No.   16: 

LETTER    TO    PRESIDENT    OF    CHICACO    UNION 

"Indianapolis,  Ind.,  March   13,    191 1. 
"Mr.  G.  R.  O'Brien,  President  Typographical  Union  No.  16,  Chicago,  III. 

"Dear  Sir:  On  Wednesday,  March  I,  Chicago  Typographical  Union  No. 
16,  in   special  session,  adopted  resolutions  in  part  as   follows: 

"  'Resolved,  That  Chicago  Typographical  Union  No.  16,  having  obeyed  the 
mandate  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  council,  as  expressed  in 
the  telegrams  from  President  Lynch  and  Secretary  Hays,  hereby  requests  Presi- 
dent Lynch  and  the  executive  council  immediately  to  proceed  to  Chicago  and 
assume  control  of  the  questions  in  controversy  between  Chicago  Typographical 
Union  No.  16  and  Chicago  local  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association.'  " 

In  acknowledging  your  telegram  and  letter  transmitting  the  foregoing  to 
Secretary-Treasurer  J.   W.  Hays,  that  official  said: 

"Indianapolis,  Ind.,  March  3,  191 1. 
"George  R.  O'Brien,  President  No.  16,  280  La  Salle  Street,  Chicago. 

"Dear  Mr.  O'Brien:  I  have  your  telegram  and  letter  quoting  the  resolu- 
tions adopted  by  No.  16  asking  the  executive  council  to  come  to  Chicago  and 
assume  control  of  the  questions  in  controversy  between  No.  16  and  the  pub- 
lishers. There  is  to  be  a  meeting  of  the  Joint  Conference  Board  of  the  allied 
printing  trades  council  in  this  office  on  Monday  next.  As  soon  as  possible 
after  that  date  the  executive  council  will  arrange  to  go  to  Chicago.  At  that 
time  the  questions  contained  in  your  letter  can  be   taken  up. 

"Fraternally  yours, 

"J.   W.   Hay*." 
On  Thursday,  March  9,  Secretary  Hays  wired  you  thus: 

"Indianapolis,  Ind.,  March  9,   191 1. 
"George  R.  O'Brien,  Rooms  214-226  Postal  Telegraph  Building,  Chicago,  III. 
"Executive  council  will  be  at  Briggi  House  tomorrow  morning  at  10  o'clock. 

"J.   W.   Hays." 
On  the  morning  of  Friday,  March   10,  at  the  Briggs  House,  Chicago,  'be 
following  communication  was  received   from  you: 

"Chicago,  III.,  March  9,  1911. 
"J.  W.  Hays,  Secretary  Executive  Council,  Briggs  House,  Chicago. 

"Dear  Mr.  Hays:  Your  telegram  stating  that  the  'executive  council  will 
be  at  the  Briggs  House  tomorrow  morning  at  10  o'clock'  received.  It  may 
be  necessary  to  review  many  documents  in  this  controversy,  and  I  would  re- 
quest that  the  council  meet  at  Chicago  Typographical  Union  No.  16  headquar- 
ters, room  324,  380  La  Salle  street,  as  soon  as  convenient  after  10  a.  M.  Fri- 

*"'  March  ,0>  "Fraternally  yours. 

"G.   R.  O'Baittt,  PrtsidtnL" 

Shortly  after  10  o'clock  on  Friday  morning  the  executive  council  met  you, 
and  members  of  your  scale  committee,  and.  acting  through  President  Lynch  as 
spokesman,  discussed  in  all  of  its  phases  the  recent  dlAculty  with  the  Hearst 
Chicago  papers. 

You    were   asked   to   name   specifically   the   points   that   it    was   desired   the 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

executive  council  should  take  up  with  the  Chicago  Publishers'  Association,  and 
after  much  questioning  on  the  part  of  the  council  you  were  finally  pinned 
down  to  the  matters  that  you  have  previously  taken  up  with  the  Chicago  Pub- 
lishers' Association  or  that  the  association  had  taken  up  with  you  in  accord- 
ance with  the  method  outlined  in  the  contract  between  Chicago  Typographical 
Union  No.  16  and  the  Chicago  local  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association,  as  follows: 

"It  is  agreed  that  both  the  language  and  the  spirit  of  this  contract  be- 
tween the  Chicago  local  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association 
and  Chicago  Typographical  Union  No.  16  make  it  imperatively  obligatory  on 
both  parties,  whenever  any  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  rights  of  the  parties 
under  the  contract  shall  arise,  or  whenever  any  dispute  as  to  the  construction 
of  the  contract  or  any  of  its  amendments  takes  place,  at  once  to  appeal  to 
the  duly  constituted  authority  under  the  contract — namely:  the  joint  standing 
committee,  to  the  end  that  fruitless  controversy  shall  be  avoided  and  good 
feeling  and  harmonious  relations  be  maintained,  and  the  regular  and  orderly 
prosecution  of  the  business  in  which  the  parties  have  a  community  of  interest 
be  insured  beyond  the  possibility  of  interruption. 

"It  is  further  agreed  that  this  contract,  being  between  the  Chicago  local 
of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  and  Chicago  Typographical 
Union  No.  16,  and  underwritten  by  the  International  Typographical  Union,  all 
questions  in  controversy  primarily  concern  the  two  contracting  parties  alone, 
and  are  not  to  be  taken  up  for  or  against  any  individual  member  of  either 
one  of  them,  but  shall  be   referred  to  the  joint  standing  committee. 

"In  furtherance  of  harmonious  action,  to  fulfil  this  contract  in  letter  and 
spirit,  to  prevent  misunderstandings  and  to  make  plain  the  course  of  pro- 
cedure, it  is  agreed  that  a  new  ruling  by  either  party  under  the  contract  shall 
be  immediately  referred  by  its  president  to  the  president  of  the  other  party, 
and  if  they  agree  as  to  the  propriety  of  said  ruling  they  shall  at  once  formally 
notify  all  the  parties  to  the  contract  to  that  effect,  and  it  shall  be  of  binding 
force;  but  if  they  fail  to  agree  within  forty-eight  hours  as  to  such  ruling,  the 
question  in  dispute  shall  be  referred  immediately  by  either  party  through  the 
proper  authority,  as  provided  by  the  contract,  to  the  joint  standing  committee 
for  settlement,  as  provided  by  the  contract — and  pending  consideration  by  the 
presidents  as  aforesaid,  or  by  the  joint  standing  committee,  no  attempt  shall 
be  made  to  enforce  such  ruling,  and  such  appeal  having  been  made,  and  writ- 
ten notice  to  that  effect  having  been  served  by  the  party  making  the  appeal  to 
the  other  party,  the  latter  shall  await  the  decision  of  the  joint  standing  com- 
mittee. In  the  meantime  the  new  ruling  shall  not  be  in  force,  but  should  the 
joint  standing  committee  sustain  the  ruling,  its  operation  shall  be  as  of  date 
when  first  announced,  and  any  moneys  due  under  the  ruling  by  either  party 
to  the  other  shall  then  be  paid  without   further  delay." 

Having  pressed  you  to  this  point,  the  council  then  explained  to  you  that 
it  had  no  power  or  authority  to  assume  jurisdiction  over  the  real  questions  at 
issue,  as  the  local  contract  set  forth  a  specific  method  for  their  adjustment, 
and  formal  waiver  to  this  method  could  only  be  made  jointly  by  both  parties 
to   the   contract,    and   not   by   one   party   to    the   contract. 

You  then  again  attempted  to  raise  numerous  other  points  and  questions  that 
had  not  previously  been  taken  up  by  you  with  the  Chicago  Publishers'  Asso- 
ciation, and  the  executive  council  again  and  again  impressed  upon  you  that 
we  had  no  power  to  change  the  procedure  set  forth  in  the  local  contract. 

The  recent  illegal  strike  of  the  members  of  No.  16  employed  on  the  Hearst 
Chicago  papers,  a  strike  which  in  the  course  of  the  interview  you  informed 
us  you  fully  approved,  was  also  the  subject  of  discussion.  You  were  informed 
that  the  first  intimation  of  the  contemplated  trouble  given  to  any  member  of 
the  executive  council  was  contained  in  a  telegram  from   Mr.  H.   N.   Kellogg  to 

I020 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

President   Lynch,   at   Philadelphia,   at   midnight   on   Monday,    February   27,   and 
that  President  Lynch  immediately   wired  you  as   follows: 

"Philadelphia,  Pa.,  12:30  a.  u.,  February  28,  191 1. 
"George   R.   O'Brien,  President   Typographical   Union,  Postal  Telegraph  Build- 
ing,, Chicago,  III. 

"Kellogg  wires  me  dispute  with  Hearst  papers  serious  and  trouble  liable. 
Of  course,  under  arbitration  agreement,  disputes  must  be  peaceably  adjusted, 
work  continuing  in  the  interim  between  raising  of  question  and  its  settlement. 
Know  that  you  will  see  agreement  is  observed.  Wire  me  Tuesday,  Ebbitt 
House,   Washington,   D.   C. 

"James  M.   Lynch." 

We  have  official  knowledge,  given  us  by  a  Chicago  representative  of  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Company,  that  you  received  the  foregoing  telegram 
at  8:30  a.  11.  on  Tuesday,  February  28,  or  more  than  six  hours  before  the 
illegal  strike  occurred. 

You  were  also  informed  that  Mr.  Kellogg  met  President  Lynch  in  Phila- 
delphia on  Tuesday,  February  28,  and  that  President  Lynch  at  that  time  flouted 
the  idea  that  there  would  be  strike  trouble  in  Chicago,  and  again  expressed  to 
Mr.  Kellogg  his  firm  belief  that  you  would  not  permit  violation  of  the  arbitra- 
tion agreement  and  of  the  Chicago  contract.  That  President  Lynch  then  left 
Philadelphia  for  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  had  important  business,  and 
that  Mr.  Kellogg  also  went  to  Washington.  That  when  President  Lynch  arrived 
at  the  Ebbitt  House  in  Washington  he  found  an  answer  from  you  to  his  Phila- 
delphia message,  but  that  your  answer  contained  no  intimation  that  a  strike 
was  in  progress  or  in  contemplation.  You  were  also  informed  that  the  first 
intimation  or  knowledge  that  any  member  of  the  executive  council  received 
that  a  strike  had  actually  been  declared  in  the  composing  rooms  of  the  Chi- 
cago American  and  Chicago  Examiner  was  given  to  President  Lynch  by  a 
member  of  Columbia  Typographical  Union  No.  101,  who  called  President 
Lynch's  attention  to  an  item  covering  the  illegal  strike  appearing  in  a  bulletin 
posted  by  a  Washington  bulletin  company,  and  that  this  information  wa*  later 
confirmed  by  Mr.  II.  N.  Kellogg.  In  short,  that  it  was  five  hour*  after  the 
strike  occurred  l>efore  President  Lynch  accidentally  learned  of  it,  and  then 
received  the  official  confirmation  from  the  representative  of  the  American  New*- 
paper  Publishers'  Association,  and  yet  during  all  of  this  time  you  knew  the 
address  of  President  Lynch  and  also  the  addresses  of  the  other  members  of 
the  executive  council. 

It  was  also  set  forth  that  immediately  President  Lynch  had  knowledge  of 
the  illegal  strike,  he  sent  ynu  the  following  message,  at  an  almo«t  identical 
time,  over  both   the    Foetal   and   Western   Union   lines: 

1  Washington.  I>    1 '..   I Vbruary  18,  1911. 
■Cm.m..i    R.   o'IIrikn,  President   Typographical   Union.  Postal   Telegraph   Build- 
ing, Chicago,  III, 

"Just  learned  of  strike  <>n  HrnM  papers,  in  violation  of  arbitration  agree 
mrnt  and  COntraol  cWtgttflWIti  Mm  nnut  trtiitn  to  work  at  once  and  pro* 
taction   guaranteed   to   those    wli.>   i.Im-v    thi«   order. 

"Jams*  M.   Ltmcm." 

Tin-  council  bu  oflclol  knowledge  thai  i  the  fofogjofag  message 

from  the  (In.  .u  Irlrgrapn   CoeastBJ  al    10:1  j   r.    M.,  on 

Tuesday,   February  it,  and  1  i  the  mim  day  from  the  Chicago 

1  the  Western  Union. 

Von  were  also  Informed  ti>.«t  uaaaedlatelj  on  lagrafcag  ol  the  illegal  strike 

l.-nt     I  null     wurd    Secretary    I  1  .j.uirr     May.,    and    later     talked    with    that 

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History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

official  over  the  long  distance  telephone,  and  that  Secretary  Hays  in  turn  talked 
with  you  over  the  telephone  and  also  wired  you  in  support  of  the  effort  made 
by  the  executive  council  to  protect  the  contracts  that  had  been  violated  by 
the  illegal  strike. 

After  this  general  discussion  you  remarked  substantially  as  follows: 

"Well,  the  only  way  to  settle  this  matter  is  to  call  a  special  meeting  of 
No.   16." 

To  this  President  Lynch,  for  the  council,  immediately  replied  substantially 
as  follows: 

"That  is  perfectly  satisfactory  to  us.  We  have  nothing  to  conceal  and 
nothing  to  apologize  for.  Hold  the  special  meeting  next  Sunday.  Secure  the 
largest  available  hall  in  Chicago,  so  that  every  member  of  No.  16  may  have 
opportunity  to  attend.  Call  the  meeting  for  i  o'clock  so  that  there  may  be 
plenty  of  time   for   the  fullest  and   freest   discussion." 

You  then  began  arranging  for  the  hall.  We  were  finally  given  to  under- 
stand that  two  halls  were  obtainable,  one  of  them  the  Lyric  Theater.  You 
also  prepared  the  official  call  for  the  meeting,  and  about  \2  o'clock  the  mem- 
bers of  the  executive  council  left  the  headquarters  of  No.  16  with  the  belief 
that  the  special  meeting  would  be  held,  and  to  make  necessary  preparations  for 
that  meeting.  So  secure  were  the  members  of  the  council  in  the  belief  that 
the  special  meeting  would  be  held,  according  to  schedule,  that  the  International 
headquarters  at  Indianapolis  were  called,  and  in  order  to  avoid  all  chance  for 
accident  or  delay,  a  special  messenger  was  directed  to  bring  to  Chicago  all  of 
the  records  in  connection  with  the  illegal  strike,  and  this  messenger  arrived  in 
Chicago   Saturday  morning  with   the   required   documents. 

But  about  3  o'clock  on  Friday  afternoon  you  called  President  Lynch  on 
the  telephone  at  the  Briggs  House  and  informed  the  president  that  the  spe- 
cial meeting  would  not  be  held,  as  no  suitable  hall  could  be  secured,  and  that 
a  meeting  of  your  executive  committee  would  be  held  at  6  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  and  it  was  desired  that  the  executive  council  should  attend  this  meet- 
ing. President  Lynch  said  he  would  communicate  the  information  to  the 
executive   council   and   call   you    up   later. 

It  seemed  exceedingly  strange  to  the  executive  council  that  in  a  city  of 
Chicago's  population  and  area  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  a  hall  for  such  an 
important  meeting.  So,  as  the  Lyric  Theater  was  one  of  the  places  you  had 
under  consideration  for  the  meeting,  the  management  of  that  theater  was  called 
on  the  telephone,  and  asked  if  the  theater  could  be  obtained.  The  reply  was 
that  the  Lyric  Theater  could  be  obtained  for  Sunday  afternoon  from  i  to  6 
o'clock,  and  that  the  theater  would  seat  1,400  people.  With  the  stage  and  stand- 
ing room  utilized,  this  would  mean  at  least  2,000  people. 

This  convinced  the  members  of  the  council  that  they  were  being  jockeyed 
with  for  some  purpose  not  then  clear,  but  that  nevertheless  the  council  would 
attend  the  meeting  of  your  executive  committee.  President  Lynch  then  called 
you  on  the  telephone  and  asked  you  the  object  of  the  committee  meeting. 
You  replied  evasively  and  contradictorily,  finally  contenting  yourself  with  the 
assertion  that  the  executive  committee  was  the  union  between  meetings,  and 
as  there  was  not  to  be  a  special  meeting  of  the  union,  therefore  the  executive 
committee  meeting.  President  Lynch  said  to  you  that  the  executive  council 
had  in  the  morning  attended  a  meeting  of  yourself  and  scale  committee,  and 
had  thoroughly  gone  into  matters,  and  therefore  could  not  understand  why 
another  committee  meeting  was  necessary;  that  what  the  executive  council  was 
anxious  for  and  most  desired  was  a  special  meeting  of  the  union.  However,  you 
were  insistent  that  the  council  should  attend  the  executive  committee  meeting. 

At  6:20  o'clock  the  council  arrived  at  your  headquarters,  and  you  called 
the   meeting   to   order,   immediately   placing  before   the   attendants    a   long   type- 

1022 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

written  document.  This  document,  which  proved  to  be  a  reiteration  of  your 
many  and  conflicting  statements  of  the  morning  of  points  of  difference  that  you 
claimed  the  council  should  take  up  and  questions  the  council  should  answer,  was 
then  read  by  the  committee's  secretary,  and  its  adoption  moved.  Two  members 
of  your  committee  questioned  statements  contained  in  the  document  and  at- 
tempted to  ask  you  questions,  but  you  promptly  silenced  them.  The  docu- 
ment was  then  adopted  by  the  committee,  notwithstanding  that  several  members 
of  the  committee  had  but  just  heard  its  contents  and  had  no  opportunity  to 
digest   them.      But   you   had   it   adopted. 

You  then  expressed  the  hope  that  the  executive  council  would  give  the 
document  early  consideration,  and  your  committee  a  speedy  reply.  Evidently 
this  was  intended  as  the  council's  dismissal,  but  President  Lynch  for  tba 
council   insisted  on   making  a  statement  immediately. 

President  Lynch  said  that  the  committee's  evident  purpose  (and  you  are  a 
member  of  and  chairman  of  the  committee)  was  to  secure  delay;  that  what  the 
executive  council  wanted  was  a  special  meeting  of  the  union  on  Sunday,  and 
that  the  council  had  been  denied  that  meeting;  that  you  knew  the  document 
just  adopted  meant  delay,  as  it  had  been  explained  to  you  in  the  morning  that 
the  proper  procedure  for  the  settlement  of  disputed  points  was  as  set  forth  in 
the  local  contract  and  that  the  council  had  no  jurisdiction;  that  the  responsi- 
bility for  the  delay  in  the  adjustment  of  the  points  in  dispute  with  the  pub- 
lishers would  be  on  you  and  your  committee;  that  you  and  your  committee 
were  simply  sparring  for  time;  that  you  and  your  committee  were  evidently 
afraid  to  hold  a  special  meeting  of  No.  16.  You  replied  that  you  were  not 
afraid  to  appear  before  any  meeting  of  No.  16.  President  Lynch  then  asked 
why  you  did  not  create  and  accept  the  opportunity  to  appear  and  state  your 
case  and  permit  the  executive  council  to  do  likewise  by  calling  a  special  meet- 
ing as  you  had  agreed  to  do  in  the  forenoon.  To  this  question  you  did  not 
vouchsafe  a  reply.  It  was  noticeable  that  at  the  evening  meeting  you  did  not 
make  the  claim  that  a  suitable  hall  could  not  be  obtained  for  the  special  meet- 
ing, but  shifted  to  the  excuse  that  you  could  not  notify  the  membership  of 
No.  16  in  time.  The  executive  council  knows  that  your  special  meeting  of 
Wednesday,  March  i,  was  called  in  much  less  time,  and  was  a  most  repre- 
sentative gathering.  But  at  that  time  perhaps  you  had  the  impression  that 
you  were  a  martyr  to  the  executive  council's  insistence  on  the  inviolability 
of  law  and  contracts,   and  you   wanted   that   special   meeting   held. 

As  the  members  of  the  council  were  retiring  from  your  executive  com- 
mittee meeting,  you  jeeringly  asked  if  the  executive  council  intended  to  "run 
away"  to  Indianapolis  on  the  first  train.  You  were  distinctly  informed  by 
President  Lynch  that  the  executive  council  would  remain  in  Chicago  until 
Sunday  evening. 

The  council  remained  in  Chicago  Saturday  and  Sunday,  as  you  werr  in- 
formed they  would  do,  the  council  hoping  against  hope  that,  knowing  this,  you 
would  on  Friday  night  or  Saturday  morning  call  a  special  meeting  of  No.  16 
for  Sunday  afternoon,  at  which  both  you  and  the  council,  fare  to  face  with 
the  members  of  No.  16,  could  give  an  account  of  their  »tcwar.l»hip.  The  council 
hoped   In   vain.     You   were   determined   there   should   not   be  a   special   mr«- 

The  executive  council,  having  been  <lr|.u\nl  by  you  of  the  ••; 
setting  forth  nil  the   facts  before  the  membership  of  No.    16,  in  special  meet- 
ing assembled,  will   furnish  to  each  member  of   No.    16,  who**  !>■■■  and  ad- 
dress we  have,  a  copy  of  this  Inter. 

We  will  also  present  to  the  membership  •>(  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  in  the  next  issue  of  the  Typographical  Journal,  a  complete  history  of 
the  illegal  strike,  and  subsequent  event*. 

At  to  ttir   pofartl  of  ililTrrrnrc  between  No.    16  and  the  Chicago  publlabtra, 

I023 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

they  can  be  speedily  adjusted  under  the  terms  of  the  local  contract,  and  you 
know  it.  You  also  know  that  the  executive  council  has  no  jurisdiction  at 
present   over  these  disputes  and  can   not   take  jurisdiction. 

The  executive  council  has  performed  its  duty  in  protecting  the  contract. 
It  is  now  clearly  up  to  you  to  perform  your  duty  as  specified  in  the  contract. 

Summarized,   the  position  of  the  executive  council  is: 

That  differences  between  No.  16  and  the  Chicago  local  American  News- 
paper Publishers'  Association  must  be  settled  between  the  parties  thereto  in 
accordance  with  the  contract  and  the  national  arbitration  agreement,  and  the 
council  can   not   consider   them   until   presented   in   proper   form. 

That  you  allowed  a  strike  to  occur  in  violation  of  both  an  existing  con- 
tract and  the  laws  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  notwithstanding 
that  at  the  time  of  the  walkout  you  were  in  possession  of  a  telegram  from 
President  Lynch  notifying  you  that  pending  a  settlement  of  any  differences 
work  must  continue. 

That  when  the  executive  council  issued  orders  in  accordance  with  Interna- 
tional laws  that  the  men  must  return  to  work  and  disavowed  the  illegal  strike 
you  accused  its  members  of  being  strikebreakers,  and  that  you  later  pre- 
vented the  holding  of  a  meeting  of  No.  16  to  allow  the  members  of  the  coun- 
cil to  state  their  position  to  the  members  of  the   Chicago  Typographical  Union. 

Because  of  your  position  the  executive  council  takes  this  method  of  reach- 
ing the  members  of  No.    16,  and  this  communication  will  be  published. 

Fraternally, 

James  M.  Lynch, 
Hugo  Miller, 
J.  W.  Hays, 
Executive   Council  International   Typographical    Union. 

AT    THE    REGULAR    MEETING    OF    NO.     1 6 

During  the  time  intervening  between  the  visit  of  the  executive  council  to 
Chicago,  when  the  effort  of  the  council  to  have  a  special  meeting  of  No.  16 
failed,  and  the  regular  March  meeting  of  No.  16,  which  occurred  on  the  26th 
inst.,  resolutions  were  received  by  the  executive  council  from  the  Examiner 
chapel  requesting  that  it  attend  the  regular  meeting  of  No.  16,  and  with  the 
request  made   in   the    resolutions   the   council   complied. 

At  the  meeting  held  on  the  26th  inst.  the  capacity  of  the  hall  in  which 
the  meeting  was  held  was  taxed  by  the  large  number  of  members  present,  and, 
while  considerable  time  was  devoted  to  what  it  was  supposed  would  be  a  dis- 
cussion of  the  proper  handling  of  the  issues  in  dispute  which  brought  about 
the  illegal  strike,  the  meeting,  nevertheless,  failed  to  touch  to  any  extent  at 
all  (upon  those  issues,  but  rather  devolved  into  a  clamor  trying  to  justify  the 
illegal  strike  and  lost  sight  entirely  of  the  fact  that  the  issues  raised  were  still 
there  and  must  be  settled  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union,  which  laws  have  been  the  guide  for  every  action  taken 
by  the  executive  council.  During  the  meeting  the  executive  council  and  its 
members  were  subjected  to  all  the  abuse  that  vitriolic  oratory  could  emit,  and 
it  became  quite  apparent  that  a  large  number  of  the  members  of  No.  16  took 
the  position  that  both  the  council  and  the  laws  of  the  International  should 
be  disregarded  at  any  time  at  the  behest  of  a  subordinate  organization.  The 
result  was  that  no  action  was  taken  at  the  meeting  that  would  in  any  man- 
ner assist  in  the  settlement  of  the  difficulty,  and  the  points  in  issue  must,  of 
necessity,  remain  unsettled  until  taken  up  in  the  manner  provided  by  the  con- 
tracts signed   by  the   officers  of   No.    16. 

The  members  of  the  executive  council  take  the  position  that  the  laws  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union  have  been  adopted  by  the  membership 
and   are    intended    to   be   lived   up   to;    also   that   contracts    once   made    must   be 

I024 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

lived  up  to  in  all  respects,  and  they  will  be  lived  up  to  so  far  as  it  is  within 
the  power  of  the  executive  council  to  see  that  they  are  enforced. 

The  strike  on  the  Chicago  American  and  the  Chicago  Examiner  on  Febru- 
ary 28  was  illegal  and  absolutely  without  warrant  from  any  standpoint  of  In- 
ternational  law   or  the  contracts. 

The  report  of  the  executive  council,  together  with  all 
data  in  connection  with  the  walkout,  was  referred  to  the 
committee  on  subordinate  unions.  After  a  hearing  cov- 
ering the  entire  matter,  the  committee  submitted  the 
following  report  to  the  convention  : 

Your  committee  approves  unqualifiedly  the  action  of  the  executive  council 
in  regard  to  the  illegal  strike  of  February  28,  191 1,  in  the  offices  of  the  Chi- 
cago Examiner  and  Chicago  American,  controlled  by  William  R.  Hearst,  a 
gentleman  whose  cordial  relations  with  and  unfailing  good  will  for  the  In- 
ternational Typographical  Union  should  at  least  have  prevented  precipitate 
action,  whatever  may  have  been  the  grievance  (real  or  fancied)  against  the 
institutions  over  which  he  has  control. 

On  the  contrary,  the  record,  as  set  forth  fully  in  the  report  of  the  execu- 
tive council,  shows  that  the  action  of  the  Chicago  union  and  its  officers  was 
in  violation  of  the  principles  for  which  the  International  Typographical  Union 
has  stood  for  years — the  arbitration  of  disputes  between  employer  and  em- 
ploye,  and  the   inviolability  of  contracts  entered  into  in  good   faith. 

Your  committee  would  especially  commend  the  prompt  and  vigorous  meas- 
ures taken  by  President  Lynch  and  the  executive  council  to  secure  compliance 
on  the  part  of  Chicago  Union  No.  16  witn  the  contract  obligations  imposed 
upon  them,  not  only  by  their  local  scale  agreement,  but  also  by  the  agree- 
ment with   the   national   publishers'   association. 

Your  committee  is  loath  to  believe,  and  does  not  believe,  that  the  great 
majority  of  the  membership  of  Chicago  Union  were  cognizant  of  the  circum- 
stances under  which  the  illegal  strike  was  ordered,  and  the  record  justifies  this 
belief,  showing,  as  it  does,  that  the  efforts  of  No.  i6's  chief  executive  were 
directed  not  to  the  dissemination  of  all  the  facts  among  the  membership,  but 
rather  to  the  concealment  from  the  rank  and  file  of  the  real  state  of  affairs 
in  connection   with  his  action. 

His  action  throughout  the  trouble  deserves  the  severest  censure. 

The  action  of  the  executive  council  throughout  every  phase  of  the  matter 
deserves  the  commendation  of  the  convention,  tending  to  prove  to  those  with 
whom  wc  enter  into  contracts  that  our  organization  is  not  only  willing,  but 
also  is  able  to  compel  compliance   with   their   terms. 

While  the  report  of  the  committee  was  under  consid- 
eration by  the  convention  an  animated  dttCUStioo  took 
place  in  which  Delegate  Koop  (Chicago)  and  former 
President  O'Brien  of  Chicago  Union  defended  the  action 
of  the  ol'lieials  responsible  for  the  walkout,  while  former 

President  loir  of  \eu  York  Union,  Protsdanl  Lynch  mad 

Seeiet.uv    rivasiirer     May*     j  11st  i  lied     the    iCtiOfl     o4     the 
executive  council.     Several  delegates  took  the  floor  ami. 

1025 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

without  discussing  the  merits  of  the  case,  asked  to  be 
recorded  as  endorsing  the  action  of  the  executive  council, 
e  previous  question  was  ordered  and  the  action  of  the 
execuTive  LuuitLrr*^^manimou|L/^endorsed. 

LOAN      TO      UNITED      HATTERS 

In  its  report  to  the  convention,  the  executive  council 
referred  to  the  fact  that  it  had  carried  in  the  financial 
statement  as  an  asset  a  loan  that  was  made  to  the  United 
Hatters  of  America  during  their  great  strike,  the  item 
amounting  to  $5,000.  The  hatters,  in  reply  to  a  com- 
munication from  Secretary-Treasurer  Hays  requesting 
payment  of  the  obligation,  under  date  of  New  York, 
July  19,  191 1,  said: 

Dear  Mr.  Hays:  Your  favor  of  the  14th  inst.  at  hand,  and  note  that  your 
annual  convention   is  to  be   held  at   San   Francisco,   Cal.,   next   month. 

Referring  to  the  loan  made  by  your  organization  to  the  United  Hatters 
of  North  America  during  the  lockout  of  1909,  for  which  you  hold  our  note, 
I  am  directed  by  our  general  executive  board  to  request  your  executive  coun- 
cil to  call  this  matter  to  the  attention  of  your  convention,  and  request  that 
the  note  be  canceled,  and  the  amount  considered  as  a  donation  from  your  or- 
ganization. We  negotiated  for  this  note  in  good  faith,  and  fully  intended  it 
would  be  paid  back  in  the  very  near  future,  but  as  you  are  aware,  the  lock- 
out dragged  along  for  nearly  a  year,  and  finally  resulted  in  the  loss  of  seven 
of  our  largest  factories,  of  which  only  two  have  since  come  back  to  union  con- 
ditions. Our  membership  has  not  yet  recovered  from  the  great  strain  put 
upon  them  by  the  lockout,  and  the  dulness  of  trade  during  the  past  year 
has  materially  affected  our  revenue,  otherwise  we  would  have  taken  up  this 
note  before  now. 

As  you  are  aware,  our  organization  has  been  in  the  thick  of  the  fight  for 
the  past  two  years,  and  hardly  a  day  went  by  that  we  did  not  have  a  strike, 
lockout  or  lawsuit  to  face,  which  meant  considerable  expense  to  our  organiza- 
tion, and  with  all  I  am  pleased  to  say  that  the  note  held  by  your  organiza- 
tion is  the  only  debt  we  owe  to  any  labor  organization. 

If  your  organization  could  see  its  way  clear  to  cancel  this  indebtedness, 
I  am  sure  it  would  be  highly  appreciated  by  the  officers  and  members  of  our 
organization;  if  not,  we  will  appreciate  it  just  the  same  and  highly  appreciate 
your  kindness  in  making  us  the  loan  in  time  of  need  and  being  so  patient 
about  its  return,  and  assure  you  that  at  the  very  first  opportunity  it  will  be 
paid. 

Thanking  you  and  the  members  of  your  organization  for  the  many  past 
favors  rendered  our  organization,   I  am, 

Respectfully  yours, 

Martin  Lawlor,  Secretary. 

The  question  was  referred  to  the  convention  committee 
on  returns  and  finances.  This  committee  in  its  report  to 
the  convention  said  that  the  hatters  had  been  under  enor- 

1026 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

mous  expense  for  strike  purposes  for  a  period  of  more 
than  two  years,  and  were  still  carrying  heavy  burdens. 
For  this  reason  the  committee  recommended  that  the  con- 
vention authorize  the  executive  council  to  cancel  and 
return  the  note  of  the  hatters  to  the  secretary  of  that 
body,  with  the  compliments  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  and  that  the  secretary-treasurer  be 
instructed  to  enter  the  item  on  his  books  as  a  donation 
to  the  strike  fund  of  the  hatters'  union.  The  recom- 
mendation of  the  committee  was  unanimously  adopted. 

PRESENTATION      TO      HUGO      M  I  I.  I.  E  R 

During  the  progress  of  the  San  Francisco  convention, 
on  behalf  of  German-American  Union  No.  7,  of  New 
York,  President  Lynch  read  the  following  letter: 

New  York,  August  4,  1911. 
Mr.  James  M.  Lykch,  President  International  Typographical  Union. 

Dear  Sir:  Mr.  Hugo  Miller  has  been  for  the  last  twenty-five  years  the 
secretary   of  the   German-American   Typographical   Union. 

In  order  to  show  their  high  esteem  the  members  of  the  German-American 
Union  wish  to  award  him  with  a  token  to  prove  their  appreciation  for  the  good 
work  done  by  him  in  all  these  years. 

'They  therefore  most  respectfully  request  you,  both  as  president  of  the  In- 
ternational Typographical  Union  and  as  a  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Hugo  Miller, 
to  present  this  coat-of-arms  to  him  in  the  name  of  the  German-American  Typo- 
graphical  Union   at   an    open   meeting   during   the   convention. 

You  will  receive  this  small,  valuable  package  within  a  few  days  by  ex- 
press. 

Hoping  that  you   will  bestow  this  great  favor  upon  us,   I   remain. 

Fraternally, 

Paul  H.   Sciiisirt. 
Secretary  New  York  German-American  Union  So.  7. 

Mr.   Lynch  then  presented  the  coat-of-arms   in. 
to,  and  expressed  his  pleasure  <>n  having  the  honor  of  so 
doing.     Vice-President  Miller,  in    ncepting  the  gift,  said 

it  was  the  greatest  surprise  of  his  life     He  referred  to 

the  111.111  v  obstacles  encountered  In  his  work  and  said  that 
this  gift  more  than  repaid  him  for  his  labors. 

1  11  1       BROTH  BR  BOO  D 

From  time  to  time  throughout  tin   history  of  the  Inter 
national  Typographical   I'nion  various  conventions  have 

to*? 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

passed  resolutions  and  enacted  laws  having  for  their  pur- 
pose the  elimination  of  secret  organizations  or  political 
machines  alleged  to  exist  for  the  purpose  of  influencing 
legislation  and  the  election  of  officers  of  the  organization, 
both  local  and  international.  At  the  San  Francisco  con- 
vention an  amendment  was  offered  to  section  108,  general 
laws,  which  prohibits  membership  in  secret  societies  of 
printers.  In  the  original  section  108  it  was  provided  that 
any  member  convicted  of  a  violation  of  the  law  stood 
expelled  from  the  union.  The  purpose  of  the  amendment 
was  to  alter  this  section  to  provide  that  the  penalty  for 
a  first  offense  be  that  a  member  so  convicted  should  be 
ineligible  for  election  or  appointment  to  any  office  in  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  or  any  local  union 
within  its  jurisdiction,  and  should  be  expelled  only  upon  a 
second  conviction.  The  particular  section  referred  to, 
as  amended,  follows : 

Section  108.  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  member  of  any  subordinate  union 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union  to  belong  to  any  secret  organiza- 
tion, oathbound  or  otherwise,  the  intent  or  purpose  of  which  shall  be  to  in- 
fluence or  control  the  legislation  or  the  business  of  such  local  union  or  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  the  selection  or  election  of  officers  of 
such  local  or  International  Union,  or  the  preferred  or  other  situations  under 
their  jurisdiction.  Any  member  convicted  of  a  violation  of  this  section  shall, 
for  a  first  offense,  be  declared  ineligible  for  election  or  appointment  to  any 
office  in  the  International  Typographical  Union,  or  any  local  union  within  its 
jurisdiction,  and  upon  conviction  for  a  second  offense  shall  stand  expelled. 
All  laws  or  parts  of  laws,  constitutional  or  general,  in  conflict  with  this  sec- 
tion,  are   hereby   repealed. 

In  lieu  of  the  above,  the  laws  committee,  to  which  the 
proposition  had  been  referred,  recommended  the  striking 
out  of  the  entire  section,  offering  as  a  reason  that  the 
matter  was  covered  in  the  obligation  which  all  members 
are  required  to  take  when  admitted  to  the  union.  Fol- 
lowing the  committee's  report,  an  animated  discussion 
took  place,  which  was  intensified  by  reason  of  the  fact 
that  several  meetings  of  an  alleged  secret  character  wer,e 
known  to  have  been  held  in  San  Francisco  during  the 

1028 


Convention  at  San  Francisco,  191 1 

convention  week.  On  a  roll  call,  the  recommendation 
of  the  laws  committee  to  eliminate  the  section  was  carried 
by  115  ayes,  102  noes. 

Following  the  adjournment  of  the  San  Francisco 
convention,  San  Francisco  Typographical  Union  initi- 
ated a  referendum  proposition  to  submit  section  108  as 
amended  to  the  membership.  A  sufficient  number  of 
endorsements  were  secured  and  a  referendum  vote  was 
ordered  to  be  taken  on  the  20th  of  March,  191 2.  Three 
propositions  were  submitted  at  this  time.  Summarized, 
the  propositions,  with  the  vote  on  each,  are  as  follows : 

First  Proposition — Amend  section  5,  article  vi,  constitution;  subsection  b 
of  section  3,  article  iv,  by-laws,  and  section  3.  article  v,  by-laws,  more  clearly 
defining  the  duties  of  the  officers  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  in 
the  care  of  funds,  and  to  provide  for  their  safe  and  profitable  investment  in 
government  bonds,  or  approved,  non-taxable,  state,  county,  township,  city  or 
school  bonds. 

For,  21,707;  against,  5,564.     Majority  for,  16,143. 

Second  Proposition — To  provide  for  a  new  section  in  the  general  laws  to 
take  the  place  of  section  108,  stricken  out  by  the  San  Francisco  convention. 

For,  18,756;  against,  7,468.     Majority  for,  11,288. 

Third  Proposition — To  provide  for  a  new  section  in  the  general  laws  in 
lieu  of  the  one  proposed  in  the  second  proposition. 

For,  12,004;  against,  13,280.    Majority* against,   1,276. 

Officers,  1912-1913  —  At  the  biennial  election  of  offi- 
cers held  on  May  15,  191 2,  the  following  were  chosen 
for  the  term  beginning  November  I,  1912:  President, 
James  M.  Lynch,  Syracuse;  first  vice-president,  James  M. 
Duncan,  New  York;  second  vice-president,  Hugo  Miller. 
Indianapolis;  third  vice-president,  Charles  N.  Smith, 
New  York;  secretary-treasurer,  J.  \\  Hays.  Minneapolis 
Delegates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor — James  M. 
Lynch  (president),  Syracuse;  Frank  Morrison,  Chicago; 
Max  S    I  Cleveland;    I     W.  McCullough,  Omaha ; 

Hugh  Stevenson,  Toronto.  Trustees  Union  Printers 
Home — Jann     M    Lynch.  Syracuse;  J    W    Hays,  Minn* 

1099 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

apolis ;  Thomas  McCaffery,  Colorado  Springs ;  Anna  C. 
Wilson,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Michael  Powell,  Ottawa; 
C.  L.  Wood,  Fort  Worth;  Walter  E.  Ames,  Milwaukee. 
Agent — F.  C.  Roberts,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Convention    at    Cleveland 

[1912]  —  The  fifty-eighth  convention  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  was  called  to  order  at  Grays 
Armory,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  August  12,  1912,  by  A.  W. 
Thomson,  chairman  of  the  local  entertainment  committee 
of  Typographical  Union  No.  53.  Rev.  E.  R.  Wright 
offered  a  prayer  and  Newton  D.  Baker,  mayor  of  Cleve- 
land, delivered  an  address  of  welcome.  He  was  followed 
by  Charles  T.  Scott,  president  of  Cleveland  Typograph- 
ical Union;  E.  H.  Baker,  publisher  of  the  Cleveland  Plain 
Dealer;  Joseph  Weimer,  representing  the  Cleveland 
Leader;  H.  N.  Rickey,  representing  the  Scripps-McRae 
League;  David  Gibson,  a  Cleveland  journalist;  and 
Harry  D.  Thomas,  president  Cleveland  Federation  of 
Labor.  President  Lynch  responded  on  behalf  of  the  dele- 
gates and  visitors,  and  was  followed  by  Secretary-Treas- 
urer Hays,  who  presented  a  list  of  the  delegates.  After 
announcing  the  temporary  officers  of  the  convention,  the 
president  said  that  the  convention  laws  provided  for  seven 
members  for  each  committee,  but  that  he  believed  the 
laws  should  be  changed  in  order  that  more  of  the  dele- 
gates could  have  a  chance  to  serve  on  the  committees.  He 
said  that  he  had  placed  eleven  delegates  on  each  commit- 
tee, with  the  exception  of  the  committee  on  laws,  and 
asked  the  convention  to  endorse  his  action.  An  amend- 
ment to  the  convention  laws  providing  for  committees  of 
eleven  was  offered  by  the  laws  committee  and  adopted  by 
the  convention,  thus  enabling  the  president  to  carry  out 
his  wishes  in  the  matter. 

1030 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

The  convention  at  Cleveland  was  the  largest  in  the 
history  of  the  union,  334  delegates  being  in  attendance. 

officers'    reports 

In  presenting  his  twelfth  annual  report  as  president  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union,  President  Lynch 
said  that  the  parent  body  was  further  ahead  from  every 
viewpoint  than  it  was  when  the  previous  convention  had 
assembled.  The  Union  Printers  Home  had  been  improved 
and  beautified  and  was  in  magnificent  condition.  The 
technical  education  commission  had  continued  successfully 
with  the  work  committed  to  its  charge.  The  campaign 
against  tuberculosis  and  for  sanitary  composing  rooms 
had  progressed  and  the  health  of  the  members  had  been 
conserved.  The  label  campaign  had  been  pushed  vigor- 
ously and  the  results  had  added  patronage  to  union  officr- 
and  provided  additional  work  for  members  of  the  organi- 
zation. The  publicity  campaign  had  been  pushed  ear- 
nestly and  the  union  stood  higher  in  public  estimation 
because  of  its  publicity  policy  than  at  any  previous  period 
in  its  history.  Wages  had  been  increased  by  millions  of 
dollars,  hours  had  been  reduced  whenever  opportunity 
offered  and  working  conditions  had  been  bettered. 

Speaking  of  the  old  age  pension  the  president  said  that 
it  could  no  longer  be  deemed  a  venture  for  it  was  on  a 
secure  and  substantial  basis.  The  mortuary  plan,  it  was 
believed,  from  the  short  experience  had,  would  pf 
successful  in  its  operation.  Speaking  generally  of  tin- 
organization,  the  president  said  that  the  International 
Typographical  Union  in  even-  one  of  its  activities  was 
adding  to  the  comfort  and  happinesi  of  its  membership 
and  therefore  to  the  progress  of  the  human  family  \ 
business «ventu re  had  been  more  ful.  no  industrial 

organization  more  prosperous. 

Referring  to  the  importance  of  the  reports  of  the 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ous  officers  and  the  duty  of  the  delegates  and  the  member- 
ship at  large  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  progress  and 
development  of  the  organization  by  reading  the  various 
reports  submitted,  President  Lynch  said  that  it  was  a 
part  of  the  duties  of  the  secretary-treasurer  to  print  in 
pamphlet  form  the  reports  of  the  officers  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union  and  mail  a  copy  of  the  volume  to  every 
delegate-elect  a  sufficient  length  of  time  in  advance  of  the 
assembling  of  the  convention  to  permit  the  members  who 
make  up  the  gathering  to  familiarize  themselves  with  the 
subjects  covered  by  the  various  reports.  The  theory  was 
that  each  delegate  would  saturate  himself  with  statistics 
and  data,  weigh  carefully  the  arguments  and  statements 
made  by  the  officers,  and  then  come  into  the  convention 
prepared  to  pass  on  proposed  legislation  with  a  full 
knowledge  of  the  condition  of  the  union  and  its  future 
needs  and  possibilities.  The  reports  in  large  measure 
included  statistical  literature  and  were  not  tinctured  with 
the  glamor  of  romance,  nor  was  there  the  story  of  the 
triumph  of  the  hero  who  ultimately  achieved  the  vision 
of  his  dreams  and  no  heroine  appeared  to  resist  the  allure- 
ments and  blandishments  of  the  tempter  in  order  that 
virtue  might  triumph,  but  running  through  the  reports 
and  standing  out  pre-eminently  in  every  sentence  and 
every  paragraph  was  the  story  of  the  struggle  of  the 
wage  earner  to  better  his  condition,  to  achieve  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a  greater  measure  of  the  possibilities  of  life  and 
to  leave  behind  him  a  heritage  for  his  children  to  enable 
them  to  make  of  their  lives  a  more  satisfactory  existence 
than  their  progenitors  inherited.  It  was  urged  that  the 
membership  should  familiarize  themselves  with  the  or- 
ganization and  take  the  same  interest  in  their  local  unions 
as  they  did  in  all  of  their  other  affairs. 

Facts  and  Figures  —  Some  interesting  facts  and  fig- 

1032 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

ures  were  included   in  the  report  of  the  president,  as 

follows : 

For  the  year  ended  May  31,  1909,  members  earned  $40,293,738. 
For  the  year  ended  May  31,  1910,  members  earned  $45,602,944. 
For  the  year  ended  May  31,  191 1,  members  earned  $49,770,668. 
For  the  year  ended  May  31,  1912,  members  earned  $53,378,902. 
The  average  earnings  per  member  per  year  for   1909  were  $897. 
The  average  earnings  per  member  per  year  for   1910  were  $953. 
The  average  earnings  per  member  per  year  for   191 1   were  $974. 
The  average  earnings  per  member  per  year   for   191 2  were  $992. 
The  average  paying  membership  for   1909  was  44,921. 
The  average  paying  membership  for   1910  was  47,848. 
The  average  paying  membership  for   1911   was   51,095. 
The  average  paying  membership  for   1912  was  53,807. 

Strike  of  Chicago  Web  Pressmen  —  Early  in  May, 
19 1 2,  difficulty  arose  between  the  Web  Pressmen's  Union 
of  Chicago  and  the  Chicago  American  and  Chicago  Ex- 
aminer, A  strike  followed  and  later  this  strike  was  joined 
sympathetically  by  the  stereotypers'  union,  which  ordered 
its  members  out  of  the  Chicago  daily  newspaper  stereo- 
type departments  in  violation  of  a  general  contract 
between  the  union  and  the  publishers.  After  the  difficulty 
occurred  in  the  American  and  Examiner  (Hearst)  press- 
rooms the  Chicago  publishers  claimed  violation  of  the 
general  contract  between  the  pressmen  and  the  publish- 
association,  and  posted  open  shop  notices.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  walkout  on  the  part  of  all  the  union  pressmen 
and  later  by  the  sympathetic,  action  referred  to  on  the 
part  of  the  stereotypers  and  then  by  strikes  on  the  part  of 
the  delivery  wagon  drivers  and  newsboys.  At  this  stage 
in  the  development  of  the  difficulty,  efforts  were  made  to 
embroil  Mailers'  Union  No,  2  and  Chicago  Typographical 
Union  No.  16.  President  Lynch,  at  the  time  the  difficulty 
arose,  was  in  an  eastern  city,  but  as  Boon  as  possible  went 
on  to  Chicago  and  attended  a  special  meeting  of  Mail- 
Union  No.  2  in  which  the  strike  situation  in  the  other 
trades  was  considered,  and  a  motion  to  support  the  strike 
sympathetically  wa^  defeated  In  f  97  to  6.     Then 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

a  special  meeting  of  Typographical  Union  No.  16  was 
held,  the  situation  fully  discussed,  and  the  meeting  ad- 
journed until  the  following  Sunday,  when  a  resolution  was 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  1,099  to  5  5  6,  on  a  secret  ballot, 
which  referred  all  questions  relative  to  the  strikes  of  the 
pressmen,  stereotypers,  delivery  wagon  drivers  and  news- 
boys to  the  officers  of  No.  16  and  the  executive  council  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union.  Immediately 
No.  16,  by  the  decisive  vote  above  mentioned,  announced 
its  intention  to  abide  by  its  contract  with  the  Chicago 
publishers  there  began  on  the  part  of  the  representatives 
of  the  unions  involved  in  the  difficulty  a  campaign  of 
falsehood,  misrepresentation  and  intimidation  aimed  at 
the  officers  and  members  of  Mailers'  Union  No.  2,  Chi- 
cago Typographical  Union  No.  16  and  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union.  This  campaign  was  carried  into  the 
Chicago  Federation  of  Labor,  which  was  induced  to 
espouse  the  cause  of  the  men  on  strike  regardless  of  the 
legality  of  the  movement,  its  necessity,  the  broken  con- 
tracts or  the  obligation  resting  on  Typographical  Union 
No.  16  to  abide  by  its  contract.  The  unions  attacked 
through  the  Chicago  Federation  of  Labor  were  refused 
the  floor  at  the  Federation  meetings  to  explain  and  defend 
their  attitude,  and  in  every  way  possible  it  was  sought  to 
place  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  its 
subordinate  bodies  in  a  false  and  ununionlike  position. 
This  attempt,  however,  failed,  as  it  was  bound  to  fail. 
The  position  of  the  union  that  no  violation  of  the  con- 
tracts between  it  and  the  Chicago  Publishers'  Association 
be  permitted  was  stoutly  maintained.  So  virulent  were 
the  leaders  of  the  striking  unions  that  through  one  of 
their  prominent  associates  they  attempted  to  influence  the 
result  of  the  biennial  election  held  by  the  International 
Typographical  Union  on  May  15,  19 12. 

1034 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

Referring  to  the  Chicago  difficulty  and  its  relation  to 
the  fealty  of  contracts  and  the  subject  of  closer  affiliation 
with  the  allied  trades,  President  Lynch  submitted  the 
following  in  his  annual  report : 

This  latest  Chicago  situation  brings  up  the  entire  question  of  the  value  of 
contracts,  the  wisdom  of  entering  into  these  covenants  and  our  attitude  after 
the  agreements  have  been  executed  and  signed.  For  more  than  a  decade  con- 
tracts have  been  a  feature  of  the  industrial  policy  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union.  They  have  assured  to  the  union  and  to  the  employer  in- 
dustrial peace.  With  our  first  arbitration  contract,  approved  by  the  membership, 
the  local  or  labor  contract  became  popular.  Each  year  since  that  time  thousands 
of  these  contracts  have  been  entered  into.  So  far  as  our  unions  have  been  con- 
cerned there  have  been  but  few  violations  of  contracts,  and  this  can  also  be 
said  as  to  the  employers  parties  to  these  contracts.  The  International  organiza- 
tion has  grown  and  prospered  under  the  contract  system;  wages  have  been  in- 
creased, conditions  bettered  and  the  number  of  hours  making  up  the  working 
day  reduced.  There  is  not  a  single  business  argument  that  can  be  advanced 
against  the  contract  system.  Indeed,  with  our  allies  in  the  printing  industry, 
our  sister  international  unions,  contracts  have  been  popular,  and  the  advisabil- 
ity of  entering  into  these  agreements  has  never  been  questione'd  by  them,  ex- 
cept in  periods  of  industrial  stress  similar  to  that  through  which  we  have  just 
passed  in  Chicago.  It  can  be  asserted  that  with  the  four  international  unions 
in  the  printing  industry  with  which  we  are  associated  there  are  as  many  con- 
tracts, proportionate  to  the  number  of  offices  in  which  the  members  of  each  in- 
ternational organization  are  employed,  as  are  in  effect  between  union  offices  and 
the  subordinate  unions  of  the  International  Typographical  Union.  Notwith- 
standing this,  immediately  the  pressmen  were  in  difficulty  in  Chicago  and  the 
other  unions  named  joined  issue  with  them  in  the  struggle,  there  was  an  im- 
mediate demand  that  Chicago  Typographical  Union  should  go  on  sympathetic 
strike,  notwithstanding  that  this  meant  violation  of  an  agreement  that  had  not 
in  any  way  been  violated  by  the  employers  party  to  it,  an  agreement  which  in 
varying  form  had  been  in  existence  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  It 
meant  more  than  this,  for  the  unions  that  were  on  strike  had  made  no  prepa- 
ration for  the  conflict,  and  all  of  them,  more  especially  the  principal  interna- 
tional union  involved,  were  without  funds  with  which  to  conduct  such  a  mighty 
conflict.  The  treasury  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  was  then,  and 
is,  in  magnificent  condition,  and  if  our  local  unions  in  Chicago  had  been,  allured 
by  the  sympathetic  strike  bait  it  would  have  been  up  to  us  to  carry  the  struggle, 
not  only  in  its  industrial  features,  but  also  as  to  its  financial  requirement*. 

SUBJECT    Or    CLOSE*    AFFILIATION 

The  Chicago  affair  has  again  brought  to  the  front  thr  proposition  (or  joint 
agreements  and  therefore  joint  action  in  case  of  difficulty.  It  is  noticeable. 
however,  that  the  apostles  of  this  policy  never  allude  lo  the  machinery  by  which 
it  is  to  be  conducted.  They  shout  from  the  house  top*  approval  of  their  idee.* 
and  carefully  refrain  from  discussing  *n  incidental  a  matter  a*  the  detail*  tin 
der  which  the  scheme  i»  to  l«-  «...L..i  ,.nt.  When  *m  do  Anally  pin  Umm 
thr,,,i..u  dOWl  to  facts,  we  invariably  find,  when  their  ide»%  art  analysed. 
that  it  is  the  International  TypOgraplUcol  I  in. mi  that  It  to  bMI  the  brunt  ol 
thr  conflict,  beta  foavatrially  and  rtaandnltyi  »<■  are  to  be  the  big  brotber. 
protector,  and  also  the  mint  which  is  to  supply  the  money.  Needle**  to  to*. 
v.nr   officers  have  .Inline. I   t,.  enter    int..  any  such   pact.      We  h*ve  always  been 

I035 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

willing,  and  we  are  still  willing,  to  go  along  with  any  proposition  which  will 
make  the  industrial  burden  rest  with  proportionate  weight  on  the  shoulders  of 
each  member  of  the  five  international  unions.  When  this  agreement  can  be 
worked  out,  and  though  it  is  confronted  by  many  obstacles  and  will  require 
time  and  patience,  I  still  believe  that  it  can  be  worked  out,  it  must  provide  for 
every  step  in  the  proceedings,  just  as  our  arbitration  agreement  now  provides 
for  every  step  in  the  arbitration  process.  More  especially,  there  must  be  an 
opportunity  for  the  officers  of  the  allied  unions  to  act  jointly  in  the  attempt  to 
evade  trouble,  and  not  to  be  called  in  after  a  strike  has  occurred.  In  our  in- 
dustry it  has  been  demonstrated  that,  in  the  greater  number  of  instances,  where 
we  can  get  an  International  representative  on  the  ground  when  trouble  threat- 
ens, the  difficulty  can  be  obviated  if  we  can  exert  our  influence  before  the 
trouble  is  actually  on.  When,  however,  a  strike  occurs  and  we  then  attempt 
to  make  a  settlement,  days  and  weeks,  and  sometimes  months  intervene  before 
we  are  successful,  and  only  too  often  the  effort  is  not  attempted  with  any  kind 
of  success.  So  of  those  who  talk  of  joint  agreement,  and  joint  action,  and 
closer  affiliation,  and  solidarity  of  trade  unionism,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  stock 
arguments  that  are  advanced  in  order  to  influence  the  inexperienced  and  un- 
thinking, in  applying  their  pet  panaceas  to  the  settlement  of  industrial  diffi- 
culties, should  be  asked  to  explain  in  full  the  details  of  their  schemes  and 
especially    the   business   end    of   their    propositions. 

LOOKING    BACKWARD 

Glancing  back  over  the  history  of  trade  unions  on  this  continent  there  can 
not  be  found  a  single  instance  in  which  an  international  union  has  been  built 
up  so  that  it  has  achieved  a  position  of  strength  and  stability  where  its  policy 
has  been  faithlessness  to  its  agreements  and  its  contracts.  If  the  history  of  the 
successful  organizations  is  examined  and  analyzed  it  will  be  found  that  they 
have  been  successful  for  the  reason  that  every  effort  has  been  made  and  every 
method  has  been  applied  to  avoid  instead  of  invite  industrial  difficulty.  Com- 
promises have  been  made  even  to  the  extent  of  partial  nullification  of  union 
law;  difficulties  and  obstacles  have  been  overcome  through  patience  and  diplo- 
macy; union  ranks  have  been  maintained  in  spite  of  opposition  and  persecu- 
tion, not  through  resort  to  an  unprepared  for  strike,  but  through  constant 
negotiation  and  the  battering  down  of  prejudice  and  opposition  against  the 
trade  union  idea.  This  has  been  particularly  true  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union.  It  has  sought  to  avoid  rather  than  to  court  trouble,  but  once 
in  that  trouble  it  has  fought  in  the  great  majority  of  instances  to  a  success- 
ful conclusion,  and  this  without  the  aid  of  sympathetic  strikes  or  the  violation 
of  contracts  by  affiliated  organizations.  Is  it  not  wise,  therefore,  to  continue 
in  operation  the  policies  justified  by  experience  and  which  have  made  us  great? 
The  demagogue,  the  unthinking  and  irresponsible  shouter,  and  those  members 
who  may  be  personally  interested  in  fomenting  trouble  will  always  be  with  us, 
and  while  it  is  regrettable  that  we  should  have  a  situation  such  as  that  recent- 
ly occurring  in  Chicago,  yet  it  has  served  one  useful  purpose,  and  that  is  to 
arouse  among  inactive  but  conservative  trade  unionists  a  proper  sense  of  the 
danger  that  can  be  incurred  by  the  officer  whose  main  qualification  is  abuse  and 
whose  main  deficit  is  lack  of  ability  to  lead. 

Benefit  Features  —  In  dealing  with  the  general  ques- 
tion of  benefit  features,  President  Lynch  referred  particu- 
larly to  the  old  age  pension  law  and  the  new  mortuary 
benefit  plan.    The  monthly  statement  appearing  in  the 

1036 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

Typographical  Journal  showed  that  the  receipts  for  the 
old  age  pension  fund  exceeded  the  disbursements,  with 
the  result  that  a  healthy  reserve  was  being  accumulated. 
While  there  was  a  goodly  number  of  pensioners  under  the 
original  pension  law,  quite  an  addition  to  the  pension  roll 
had  been  brought  about  because  of  modifications  and 
extensions  made  in  the  law  by  the  conventions  at  Minne- 
apolis and  San  Francisco.  The  fact  that  this  fund 
contained  a  substantial  balance  was  looked  upon  as  simply 
a  guaranty  of  the  permanency  of  the  pension  idea.  If 
the  number  of  pensioners  ever  became  so  large  as  to  make 
the  expenditures  exceed  the  receipts,  then  the  danger 
point  in  the  proposition  would  be  reached.  So  long  as  the 
receipts  exceeded  the  expenditures,  a  healthy  condition 
would  be  evident.  It  was  also  pointed  out  that  it  was  to  be 
expected  that  for  some  years  the  number  of  pensioners 
would  gradually  increase  and  that  at  a  later  date  the 
number  of  pensioners  would  in  all  probability  become 
stationary,  based  on  a  certain  percentage  of  the  members 
of  the  organization. 

The  mortuary  benefit  had  been  in  existence  only  since 
April  1,  1 912,  so  far  as  the  increased  amount  of  money 
paid  at  death  was  concerned,  notwithstanding  that  assess- 
ments to  create  the  fund  began  on  January  1  of  that  year. 
The  plan  had  been  in  operation  for  only  a  short  time  and 
while  it  was  impossible  to  determine  exactly  how  the 
proposition  would  work  out,  indications  were  that  it 
would  be  entirely  successful.  On  the  basis  of  tin-  firH 
IOO  deaths,  the  average  amount  per  death  claim  paid  was 
$336.48.  Estimating  the  number  of  deaths  for  the  year 
at  675,  a  number  larger  than  in  any  previous  year,  allow- 
ing the-  excess  because  of  increased  membership,  the 
amount  to  be  paid  out  would  be  about  $230,000,  while 
the  receipts  for  the  same  period  would  be  about  $275,000, 
thus  leaving  a  substantial  balance  in  the  fund  .it  the  end 

I037 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

of  the  fiscal  year.  The  president  was  strongly  opposed  to 
any  change  in  the  mortuary  law  by  the  Cleveland  conven- 
tion. In  his  opinion,  another  year,  if  not  longer,  should 
elapse  before  any  change  could  be  made  that  would  be 
based  upon  exact  and  reliable  data.  The  mortuary  propo- 
sition was  largely  an  experiment.  It  had  been  started  on 
what  was  thought  to  be  a  safe  foundation,  based  upon 
such  facts  as  were  in  possession  of  the  union  at  the  time 
the  law  was  passed,  but  whether  the  receipts  of  the  fund 
were  to  equal  the  disbursements  under  the  law  could  only 
be  determined  by  actual  experience.  On  the  basis  of  the 
first  ioo  deaths  the  indications  were  reassuring,  but  after 
500  or  more  benefits  had  been  paid  an  opinion  could  be 
expressed  regarding  the  cost  of  maintaining  this  benefit 
feature  at  the  amounts  fixed  by  existing  law,  and  these 
amounts,  compared  with  the  receipts,  could  safely  be 
used  as  a  basis  for  amplification  or  modification  of  exist- 
ing laws  on  the  subject. 

Arbitration  —  The  arbitration  agreement  in  effect  with 
the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  adopted 
by  the  San  Francisco  convention  of  191 1,  had  been  ac- 
cepted by  seventy  subordinate  unions,  covering  146  indi- 
vidual newspaper  contracts.  This  was  not  as  large  a 
number  of  agreements  as  were  in  force  under  the  arbitra- 
tion contract  during  the  previous  five-year  period.  Some 
local  unions  had  declined  to  assent  to  the  execution  of  the 
new  agreement,  while  some  publishers  and  some  associa- 
tions of  publishers  had  refused  to  execute  the  new 
compact.  The  reason  for  this,  according  to  the  president's 
view,  was  set  forth  in  an  address  delivered  before  the 
American  Newspaper  Publishers'  convention  held  in  New 
York  city  in  April,  1912,  which  is  reproduced  herewith. 
Notwithstanding  that  some  unions  and  some  publishers 
had  refused  to  execute  the  new  agreement,  the  president 

1038 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  1912 

was  confident  that  it  would  be  generally  accepted  before 
the  end  of  another  year. 

In  appearing  before  your  convention  today  it  seems  to  me  that  I  may  refer 
briefly  to  the  history  of  the  relations  that  have  so  far  maintained  between  the 
International  Typographical  Union  and  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association — relations  which,  as  you  know,  have  covered  nearly  eleven  years, 
and  during  all  that  time,  with  a  few  exceptions,  we  have  managed  to  conserve 
industrial  peace.  There  has  not  been  an  important  newspaper  strike  in  all 
those  eleven  years,  and  when  we  took  up  the  negotiations  for  the  new  agree- 
ment we  hoped  that  we  might  evolve  an  instrument  that  would  be  an  improve- 
ment on  the  three  that  preceded  it,  and  would  even  to  a  greater  extent  guaran- 
tee industrial  peace  for  the  coming  five  years.  I  thought  when  the  new  pact 
was  agreed  to  that  we  had  managed  to  put  together  such  an  instrument;  that 
it  was  an  agreement  in  one  of  its  essential  features  that  would  give  satisfac- 
tion to  our  local  unions,  and  that  was  in  giving  them  the  right  to  say  whether 
they  would  agree  to  issue  new  arbitration  contracts  or  not — a  right  that  was 
previously  enjoyed  by  the  local  publisher.  I  believe  if  certain  untoward  occur- 
rences had  not  taken  place  that  that  would  have  been  a  right  that  would  have 
been  more  of  a  satisfaction  to  the  local  unions  than  one  to  which  they  would 
actually  resort;  that  is,  that  all  of  the  local  unions  that  had  arbitration  con- 
tracts with  local  publishers  heretofore  would  have  made  no  objection,  or,  at 
least,  no  objection  that  might  not  have  been  overcome,  to  the  issuing  of  new 
arbitration  contracts.  That  would  have  been  the  result  had  not  one  of  the 
largest  local  associations  affiliated  with  this  national  association,  even  before  the 
signatures  were  finally  attached  to  the  new  arbitration  agreement,  sent  out  a 
notice  to  the  publishers  all  over  this  country  that  this  one  associaion  would 
not  enter  into  arbitration  agreements  with  the  local  unions  affiliated  with  the 
International  Typographical  Union.  It  may  have  been  the  intention  that  this 
notice  was.  to  be  confidential  as  between  the  publishers  of  this  city  that  I 
speak  of  and  the  other  cities  throughout  the  country,  but  if  that  was  the  in- 
tention it  did  not  work  very  well,  because  every  one  of  our  local  unions,  or 
at  least  members  of  these  unions,  in  other  cities  became  aware  of  the  position 
taken  by  this  large  association.  This  was  followed  by  a  notice  from  another 
association  affiliated  with  this  national  body,  sent  to  publishers  throughout  the 
North  American  continent,  that  it  would  also  decline  to  take  out  the  new  arbi- 
tration contract,  and  the  opposition  of  this  association  became  known  to  our 
local  unions.  And  this  attitude  was  taken,  and  these  circulars  sent  out,  not- 
withstanding that  both  of  these  associations  bad  representatives  on  the  com- 
mittee of  this  body  that  negotiated  with  the  executive  council  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  for  a  new  arbitration  contract.  At  a  result  of  all 
this,  instead  of  220  contracts  that  are  at  present  in  force,  we  have  some  ninety- 
seven  agreements  made  at  this  time,  with  the  prospect  of  the  number  being 
but  slightly  increased. 

Now,  as  far  at  I  am  concerned,  and  as  far  at  the  International  Type- 
graphical  Union  is  concerned,  we  will  manage  to  take  care  of  our  interests  W 
we  did  before  the  arbitration  contract  was  formulated  and  became  effective. 
If  these  occurrences  mean  a  disruption  of  the  pleasant  relations  that  have 
exitted  heretofore  in  any  locality  between  our  hx-al  BfJoH  and  the  members  of 
this  association,  why.  we  will  mrrt  the  i*«uc  when  it  arises  and  Croat  the 
bridge  when  wr  MOM  I"  It  aM  •<«  a  .Ulcere  a.lvoeale  .  f  (hr  art.  t  a  I  ion  taetnOO* 
of  Settling  dispute*  between  employer  ami  employe,  a*  one  who,  in  MMOn  MHl 
out  of  tcason,  and  before  hostile  gathering*  of  my  own  rraft.  ami  before  gather- 
ings of  employers  in   other   industries,   has  advocated   arbitration,  as  we  twee 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

operated  it  for  the  settlement  of  these  disputes'  between  employer  and  employe, 
I  want  to  say  that  I  sincerely  regret  that,  owing  to  the  action  and  position  of 
members  of  your  association,  we  are  now  facing  what  may  become  an  actual 
crisis  in  some  localities,  and  what,  if  these  crises  actually  take  place,  spells 
ruin  for  the  arbitration  idea,  not  alone  in  our  industry,  but,  I  am  afraid,  in 
many  other  industries  of  this  country.  Because,  if  this  association,  composed, 
as  it  is,  of  men  who  control  the  great  mouthpieces  of  the  country,  and  who,  as 
they  boast,  are  the  men  who  form  public  opinion  and  guide  it  in  the  right 
channels,  and  this  great  International  Typographical  Union,  composed,  as  it  is, 
of  the  most  skilled  artisans  on  this  continent,  have  made  a  failure  of  arbitra- 
tion, surely  there  is  very  little  encouragement  for  employers  in  other  trades  to 
take  up  a  venture  which  as  I  have  shown  has  received  the  stamp  of  disapproval 
of  a  number  of  the  publishers  and  consequently  of  a  number  of  the  local  unions. 
Let  me  say  again,  so  far  as  I  am  personally  and  officially  concerned,  and  so 
far  as  my  attitude  is  concerned,  while  I  remain  an  official  of  my  organization 
I  shall  continue  to  favor  the  arbitration  idea;  but  I  want  to  say  this,  that  my 
experience  goes  to  show  that  where  an  employer  and  a  group  of  employes  or- 
ganized in  a  trade  union  wait  until  the  dispute  actually  arises  before  proceed- 
ing to  arbitration,  before  providing  the  necessary  machinery  for  arbitration, 
that  arbitration  rarely  results;  that  the  only  safe  method  for  preventing  clashes 
between  employer  and  employe  lies  in  the  formulation  of  an  agreement,  in  the 
providing  of  the  machinery  and  the  necessary  rules  for  arbitration  long  be- 
fore the  difficulties  arise  which  finally  go  to  arbitration,  and  thus  insure  in- 
dustrial  peace. 

So,  to  those  publishers  who  may  be  depending  as  a  last  resort  on  an 
eleventh-hour  offer  of  arbitration,  I  want  to  say  that  perhaps  they  are  leaning 
on  a  staff  that  is  none  too  strong,  and  that  when  it  is  entirely  too  late  they 
will  realize  the  value  of  the  agreements  that  have  been  built  up  with  so  much 
labor  and  carried  out  with  so  much  patience  by  the  gentlemen  representing 
both  organizations,  who  have  been  charged  with  their  administration. 

In  concluding  what  I  have  to  say,  I  want  again  to  bear  testimony  to  the 
efficiency — and,  of  course,  that  is  a  very  dear  term  to  the  employer  nowadays 
— the  efficiency  of  the  labor  representative  of  the  American  Newspaper  Pub- 
lishers' Association,  a  gentleman  of  tact  and  diplomacy,  and  above  all  a  gentle- 
man whose  word  once  given,  is  taken,  by  me,  at  least,  as  one  of  the  labor 
representatives,  as  absolutely  good;  who  has  helped  to  make  the  administration 
of  the  present  arbitration  contract  since  he  has  been  in  office,  to  my  mind,  a 
complete  success.  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  attention  in  listening  to  my 
views  of  the  present  situation,  which  I  consider  somewhat  critical,  and  which 
I  have  tried  to  express  to  you  as  frankly  as  I  generally  express  any  opinion 
that  I  have.    Again  I  thank  you  for  your  attention. 

The  chairman:  "I  wish  to  say,  in  response  to  Mr.  Lynch's  remarks  in  re- 
gard to  the  announcement  that  was  sent  out  by  the  New  York  Association  of 
Publishers,  that  he  appears  to  attach  too  much  importance  to  the  expression 
of  one  body.  The  board  of  directors  at  the  meeting  we  held  last  fall,  I  think 
it  was,  objected  to  that  announcement.  I  think  it  was  an  error,  and  did  not 
represent  our  body  at  all,  and  I  regret  very  much  that  these  unions  should 
have  attributed  to  the  action  of  one  association  a  matter  of  such  great  im- 
portance." 

Union  Printers  Home  —  During  the  year  covered  by 
the  report  the  property  at  Colorado  Springs  coming 
within  the  scope  and  title  of  the  Union  Printers  Home 
had  been  improved  and  rearranged.   The  Home  buildings 

1040 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

had  been  renovated  and  painted  and  the  institution  was 
in  fine  physical  condition.  Referring  to  the  future  of  the 
Home,  the  president  said  that  the  old  age  pension,  so 
successfully  conducted  by  the  union,  had  had  its  effect  on 
the  Home  in  that  there  had  been  a  gradual  reduction  of 
the  number  of  the  older  members  seeking  the  Home  as 
a  refuge  in  their  declining  years.  With  the  amended  rule 
relative  to  the  admission  of  patients  to  the  tuberculosis 
sanatorium,  there  had  been  a  gradual  increase  in  the 
number  of  residents  in  that  section  of  the  Home.  The 
requirement  as  to  membership  for  this  class  of  applicants 
had  been  reduced  to  a  minimum  in  the  belief  that  when 
the  younger  members  contract  tuberculosis  they  should 
not  be  asked  as  to  how  long  they  had  been  members  of  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  but  their  applications 
for  admission  to  the  Home  should  be  passed  upon  in  view 
of  the  possibility  for  the  recovery  of  the  patient.  Continu- 
ing, the  president  said : 

I  believe  the  Home  has  a  new  and  greater  career  before  it  and  that  it 
should  and  will  be  converted  into  a  printers'  sanatorium,  where  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  afflicted  with  disease  of  what- 
ever nature,  may  find  a  home  and  a  possible  cure.  Indeed,  I  would  go  further 
than  this  and  establish  an  institution  where  our  members  who  are  exhausted 
and  run  down  by  the  strenuous  requirements  of  the  composing  room  of  to- 
day, might  resort  for  a  month,  or  two  months,  or  six  months,  in  order  to 
build  up  a  shattered  nervous  and  physical  system  so  that  they  may  continue  at 
their  trade,  useful  members  of  society  and  supporters  of  families.  •  •  • 
Why  not,  then,  the  Union  Printers  Home,  converted  into  a  great  sanatorium 
and  rest  cure,  where  our  enervated  members  may  find  that  surcease  from  lofl 
and  worriment  that  will  instil  into  their  system  energy  and  ambition  and  add 
to  their  years  of  usefulness.  If  this  plan  is  eventually  made  ctTcetue.  it  will 
undoubtedly  require  some  increase  in  the  per  capita  that  goes  to  the  support 
of  the  Home,  but  after  giving  the  proposal  further  study  and  consideration 
during  the  year  that  has  just  closed  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  board  of 
trustees  could  gradually  make  the  change  and  that  as  its  wisdom  and  value 
were  demonstrated,  the  membership  would  the  more  readilv  •upi'lr  any 
tional  moneys  that  might  Ik-  requited  for  the  support  of  the  great  sanatorium 
idea.  The  library  annex  is  complete  with  the  exception  of  the  interior  finish 
»f  the  two  upper  storirn.  It  has  not  been  found  necessary  to  finish  tbe«- 
upper  gtOfiM  for  the  ira.ort  that,  as  slated,  the  number  of  irtident*  in  lb* 
main  building  has  gradually  declined  Why  not.  then,  finish  the**  two  St  or** 
with   the   .anatoiiiini^dea    in    muni  }      The    int.  <•  lion   could   be   on    the 

lionpital  basis,  and  then  could  begin  the  admlaaion  of  applicant*  of  the  etas* 
covered    in    the    qtloWlOB    i""n    gtj    irpoit    „f    |a«t  |asj    it    might    he 

-ary   to  gflsj  .   to  Ibt  applicant*  admitted  and  to  r*> 

I'M' 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ject  applications  filed  by  members  with  progressive  diseases,  especially  so  where 
these  patients  would  require  personal  attendance.  But  the  opportunity  is  pres- 
ent for  a  practical  test  and  it  is  my  belief  that  such  a  test  should  be  made, 
for  just  as  sure  as  the  success  of  the  pension  idea  continues,  and  it  will  con- 
tinue, there  will  be  further  reduction  in  the  number  of  the  older  members  mak- 
ing application   for  admission  to  the  Union  Printers  Home. 

ADDITIONAL    LAND    SECURED 

Some  years  ago  the  National  Association  of  Letter  Carriers  gave  encour- 
agement to  the  proposition  to  build  a  home  in  Colorado  Springs.  We  then 
had  under  lease,  in  the  rear  of  the  Home,  240  acres  of  state  school  land.  This 
site  was  selected  by  the  representative  of  the  National  Association  of  Letter 
Carriers  for  the  proposed  home  for  the  organization  and  application  was  made 
to  the  State  Land  Board  for  its  sale.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  an  organization 
of  wage-earners  was  seeking  to  secure  this  land,  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Union  Printers  Home  did  not  make  objection,  and  when  the  sale  was  made 
there  was  but  one  bid,  that  of  the  representative  of  the  letter  carriers.  After 
this  transaction  was  completed,  the  National  Association  of  Letter  Carriers,  by 
referendum  vote,  abandoned  the  home  project.  Immediately  thereafter  we  be- 
gan steps  to  again  secure  possession  of  the  land,  but  we  were  not  successful 
in  this  until  many  months  had  elapsed.  Our  effort  to  regain  possession  was 
bitterly  contested  by  the  representative  in  Colorado  Springs  of  the  National 
Association  of  Letter  Carriers,  and  it  was  necessary  for  your  president,  as  the 
representative  of  the  board  of  trustees,  to  conduct  a  large  volume  of  corre- 
spondence and  make  several  trips  to  various  points  before  we  finally  secured 
the  land.  These  trips  included  one  to  Atlantic  City  to  appear  before  the  coun- 
cil of  administration  of  the  National  Association  of  Letter  Carriers;  one  to 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  to  appear  before  the  convention  of  that  organization,  and 
another  to  Washington  to  again  appear  before  the  council  of  administration. 
At  this  last  meeting  agreement  was  reached  under  which  the  land  was  finally 
transferred  to  the  Union  Printers  Home.  The  transfer  was  made  by  a  com- 
missioner appointed  by  the  council  of  administration  and  the  Colorado  Springs 
representative  of  the  National  Association  of  Letter  Carriers,  and  the  cost  of 
the  land  was  $3,500.  The  tract  embraces  160  acres,  eighty  acres  of  the  orig- 
inal 240  having  been  secured  by  a  state  institution  in  Colorado  Springs  before 
we  succeeded  in  bringing  about  a  condition  that  permitted  of  the  transfer  of 
the  land  to  the  Home.  However,  the  160  acres  secured  are  well  worth  the 
money  paid,  even  as  an  investment,  but  to  the  Union  Printers  Home  for  the 
grazing  of  cattle  the  land  is  worth  three  times  the  amount  that  we  paid  for  it. 
In  all  this  transaction  we  avoided  friction  with  the  National  Association  of 
Letter  Carriers.  Indeed,  it  should  be  said  here  that  the  council  of  administra- 
tion of-  the  National  Association  of  Letter  Carriers,  and  especially  President 
Kelly  and  Secretary  Cantwell,  did  all  in  their  power  when  their  own  project  was 
abandoned  to  aid  your  president  in  securing  the  land  for  our  Home.  It  might 
be  well  for  the  convention  to  pass  a  minute  of  appreciation  of  the  attitude  of 
the  official  representatives  of  the  National  Association  of  Letter  Carriers  on 
the  land  question  as  explained  herein. 

Typographic/,  —  Second  Vice-President  Miller,  repre- 
senting the  German-American  Typographia,  said  that 
three  German  unions  gave  up  their  charters  during  the 
year,  due  to  the  decline  of  German  newspaper  work  in 

1042 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  1912 

this  country.  The  remaining  nineteen  locals  of  the  Typo- 
graphia  had,  as  usual,  made  substantial  progress  in 
increasing  wages  and  improving  the  condition  of  their 
members.  Several  wage  advances  were  secured  during 
the  year  and  the  finances  were  in  excellent  condition. 
Expenses  for  out-of-work  benefits  were  not  excessive,  as 
business  had  been  fairly  good  throughout  the  period. 

Mailers  —  Third  Vice-President  Smith,  representing 
the  mailers,  reported  one  of  the  most  prosperous  years  in 
the  history  of  his  branch  of  the  International  Union.  It 
was  the  twentieth  year  of  affiliation  of  the  mailers  with 
the  parent  organization  and  the  third  vice-president  said 
that  the  mailers  were  proud  of  their  parent  body,  and 
believed,  with  the  substantial  benefits  derived  therefrom, 
the  mailers  would  never  sever  their  connection  with  the 
International  Typographical  Union.  Many  new  scales 
had  been  signed  during  the  year  and  several  unions 
organized. 

Secretary-Treasurer's  Report  —  The  report  of  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer Hays  began  with  a  summary  of  the 
receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  organization  for  the 
fiscal  year.  Receipts,  including  balance  on  hand  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year,  were  $1,188,003.65;  expenditures 
$532,461.01,  leaving  a  balance  on  hand  of  $655,542.64. 
Of  the  balance  $507,280.17  was  credited  to  the  pension 
fund.  The  amounts  paid  to  the  various  unions  for  strike 
benefits  and  .special  assistance  and  other  miscellaneous 
expense  incurred  under  the  direction  of  the  executive 
council,  were  $22,743.10.  Expenses  of  committees  were 
$18,767.72  ;  expenses  of  rcpresi  nt.itivcs,  $27,819.97,  mak- 
ing a  grand  total  of  $69,330.79. 

Tuberculosis  Campaign  —  Through  the  participation 
of  local  unions  in  the  general  war  against  tuberculosis,  the 
International  Union  had  become  a  recognised  factor  in 

1043 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

this  important  movement.  Much  publicity  had  been  given 
to  the  union's  work  in  different  localities  and  it  had  been 
favorably  commended.  More  than  50,000  tuberculosis 
folders  were  printed  and  distributed  during  the  year. 
The  expenses  of  the  International  Union  during  the  year 
directly  charged  to  the  tuberculosis  campaign  were 
nominal. 

Volume  of  Business  —  The  summary  of  the  daily  rec- 
ord of  mail  and  express  matter  sent  out  by  the  secretary- 
treasurer  during  the  twelve  months  covered  by  his  report 
showed  a  total  of  1 19,759  letters  and  parcels.  The  volume 
of  business  of  the  secretary-treasurer's  office  was  con- 
stantly increasing.  This  was  the  natural  outcome  of  the 
added  benefit  features  and  the  continued  growth  of  the 
membership  of  the  International. 

Burial  Benefits — Six  hundred  and  fifty-five  burial 
benefits  were  paid  during  the  fiscal  year.  The  record 
exceeded  that  of  any  previous  twelve  months  and  was 
sixteen  more  than  were  paid  in  the  fiscal  year  of  191 1. 
The  benefits  aggregated  $74,698.85,  or  about  $1.38  per 
member,  based  on  the  average  paying  membership.  The 
death  rate  for  the  year  was  1.2 17  per  cent  of  the  average 
membership,  or  a  little  more  than  12  per  1,000.  The 
average  death  rate  since  the  establishment  of  the  burial 
fund  had  been  1.2^/2  per  cent,  a  little  more  than  12  per 
1,000.  The  average  age  at  death  was  48.09  years.  With 
a  constantly  increasing  membership,  the  death  rate  had 
remained  almost  stationary  and  the  average  age  at  death 
had  been  extended  eight  years.  In  presenting  this  infor- 
mation to  the  convention,  the  secretary  said :  "Can  better 
proof  be  offered  of  the  benefits  of  shorter  hours  and  sani- 
tary workrooms  on  the  health  of  the  members?" 

Membership  —  The  receipts  for  per  capita  tax  showed 
an  average  paying  membership  of  53,807  for  the  twelve 

1044 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  1912 

months  ended  May  31,  1912,  being  an  increase  of  2,712 
over  the  year  191 1,  and  5,959  over  1910.  During  the 
year  16  charters  were  issued,  8  unions  were  suspended, 
15  surrendered  their  charters,  there  being  at  the  end  of 
the  year,  689  subordinate  unions,  of  which  636  were 
English  typographical;  Typographia,  19;  mailers,  29; 
newspaper  writers,  4;  typefounders,  1. 

During  the  twelve  months  covered  by  the  report,  the 
receipts,  monthly,  from  the  pension  assessment  averaged 
$22,241.20,  being  41.3  cents  per  member  per  month,  or 
$4.96  per  member  per  year.  These  figures  meant  that  the 
total  earnings  of  the  membership  during  the  year  aggre- 
gated $53,378,902 — $3,608,234  more  than  in  the  previous 
year — $992.04  per  member,  an  increase  of  $17.91  per 
member,  based  on  the  average  paying  membership  for  the 
year.  The  figures  for  the  year  again  demonstrated  the 
International  Typographical  Union  to  be  superior  as 
regards  the  average  wages  of  its  members  to  all  other 
organized  trades,  no  matter  where  located,  with  an  equal 
membership. 

Pensioners  —  Since  the  establishment  of  the  pen-ion 
fund  and  up  to  May  31,  191 2,  1,341  applications  for  the 
pension  had  been  filed.  Of  this  number  315  were  handled 
during  the  fiscal  year  191 1- 191 2,  304  being  approved  and 
1  1  disapproved.  Seventeen  petitions  previously  dlMfh 
proved  were  reconsidered  and  approved  under  tin- 
amended  law,  making  a  total  of  321   applications  passed 

in  the  fiscal  year.  Thirty-eight  application!  M 

from  members  over  70  years  of  age  and  who  applied 

under  the  ten  \  ear  membership  clause.   Forty  application 

were  received  from  members  whose  petitions  for  adr 
sion    to   the    Home    had   been    disapproved,   and   67   were 
from  members  who  !>< ,  ame  eligible  to  the  pension  through 
the  amendment  of  tin-  law  by  the  San  Francisco  I 

»o-j5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

tion.  There  were  1,038  pensioners  on  the  roll  May  31, 
1912.  The  secretary  also  included  a  tabulated  statement 
of  membership  in  his  report,  showing  a  grand  total  of 

59,703- 

Strikes  —  Strike  difficulties  to  the  number  of  twelve 
were  reported  during  the  year  involving  161  members. 
Of  these  disputes,  five  were  won,  one  lost  and  six  were 
pending  on  May  31,  19 12.  Every  effort  was  made  in  each 
instance  to  avoid  an  open  rupture  with  the  employer  and 
a  strike  was  ordered  as  a  last  resort. 

Executive  Council  —  The  report  of  the  executive  coun- 
cil was  a  most  important  and  interesting  document,  in- 
cluding such  subjects  as  the  Chicago  pressmen's  strike, 
the  security  of  the  union's  funds,  bonds  of  local  officers, 
admissions  to  the  Home,  newsboys  and  newspaper  solicit- 
ors' unions,  newswriters'  and  roller  makers'  unions, 
special  representatives,  lithographers'  and  paper  makers' 
unions,  the  amended  pension  law,  mortuary  benefit 
regulations,  headquarters  building,  organizing  employ- 
ers, closer  affiliation,  assistance  to  local  unions,  and  uni- 
form scales. 

Concerning  the  efforts  to  embroil  the  Typographical 
Union  in  the  Chicago  newspaper  strike,  the  council  said : 

The  position  of  the  executive  council  is  that  when  our  unions  make  con- 
tracts, these  contracts  must  be  faithfully  carried  out,  and  in  addition,  that  the 
laws  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  governing  strikes  must  be  care- 
fully observed  by  the  local  unions.  The  executive  council  would  have  been 
pleased  to  have  been  of  assistance  to  the  Chicago  web  pressmen  had  that  as- 
sistance been  requested  before  the  strike  actually  occurred,  and,  indeed,  would 
have  cheerfully  rendered  such  assistance  if  the  council  had  been  requested  to 
do  so  any  time  after  the  strike  occurred  and  up  to  the  period  when  the  offi- 
cers of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  and  the 
local  officers  of  the  stereotypers'  union  shifted  their  position  and  directed  their 
main  attack  against  Chicago  Typographical  Union  No.  16  and  the  International 
Typographical  Union.  While  they  maintain  this  position,  and  they  have  main- 
tained it  from  the  inception  of  their  assault  on  No.  16,  the  executive  council 
is  of  the  belief  that  its  services  are  not  desired  and,  furthermore,  that  it  is 
not  in  a  position  to  extend  aid  to  a  union  the  representatives  of  which,  by  in- 
nuendo, misstatement  and  deliberate  falsehood,  sought  to  place  our  local  unions 
and  our  International  organization  in  an  unfavorable  light. 

IO46 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  1912 

The  council  discussed  the  amended  pension  law,  and 
some  of  its  conclusions  were  as  follows : 

At  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  for  which  this  report  is  made  there  was 
$507,280.17  in  the  old  age  pension  fund.  To  many  of  our  members  this  seems 
like  a  very  large  balance,  but  when  we  take  into  consideration  the  fact  that 
this  fund  is  of  a  nature  that,  makes  it  the  guaranty  of  the  pension  plan  for 
all  future  time  then  we  can  well  determine  that  it  is  not  too  large,  nor  is 
it  increasing  too  rapidly.  The  experience  of  the  societies  of  older  countries 
that  have  had  old  age  pension  provisions  for  many  years  is  that  as  time  passes 
the  burden  that  must  be  carried  increases  and  their  experience  has  shown  that 
they  have  been  unable  to  maintain  the  standard  on  which  their  plans  were 
started,  although  the  pensions  they  have  paid  have  been  much  less  than  those 
we  pay. 

It  is  hoped  that  our  experience  will  be  the  reverse  of  this,  but  in  order  to 
insure  us  that  it  will  be  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  a  large  reserve  fund 
be  accumulated,  one  that  will  be  sufficient  to  meet  all  emergencies. 

Another  thing  that  must  not  be  lost  sight  of  is  that  the  receipts  to  this 
fund  are  based  on  a  percentage  of  the  earnings  of  our  members.  Since  the 
law  has  been  in  effect  we  have  been  most  fortunate  in  having  practically  all 
of  our  members  working  all  of  the  time.  Should  we  meet  a  season  of  general 
depression  in  the  printing  business  the  receipts  to  this  fund  will  fall  off  ac- 
cordingly, and  should  they  fall  below  the  expenditures  the  reserve  fund  must 
always  be  depended  upon*  to  meet  the  deficiency. 

The  pension  now  being  paid,  $5  per  week,  is  as  much  as  can  reasonably 
be  expected.  The  provisions  of  the  law  as  to  the  necessary  membership  of 
an  applicant  are  also  very  liberal.  We  would  not  at  this  time  advise  any 
change   in  the  law. 

Another  important  subject  covered  was  the  new  mortu- 
ary regulations,  the  council  concluding,  in  part : 

At  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  we  had  been  paying  the  increased  mortuary 
benefit  for  a  period  of  only  two  months.  During  this  time  benefits  were  paid 
on  ninety-seven  members,  amounting  to  $32,848.85.  Enough  time  had  not 
elapsed  between  the  time  of  starting  the  payments  on  the  increased  mortuary 
plan  and  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  to  warrant  anything  more  than1  a  prr 
diction  as  to  whether  or  not  the  plan  is  to  be  entirely  successful  and  the  funds 
collected  sufficient  to  insure  its  perpetuity  and  the  ability  of  the  International 
to  carry  it  out  successfully.  Comparing  the  amounts  collected  and  paid  out 
■  luring  the  last  two  months  of  the  fiscal  year  with  our  mortuary  records  for 
previous  years,  as  set  out  in  the  reports  to  previous  conventions,  it  would 
seem,  however,  that  the  plan  will  be  entirely  successful  and  the  funds  adequate. 
If,  however,  it  should  prove  that  the  funds  collected  for  the  purpose  of  pay- 
ing  the  mortuary  benefits  under  the  new  plan  were  only  ju>t  .ufficieni  to  MM 
the  requirements  of  the  law  in  the  payment  of  benefits  we  would  be  able  to 
maintain  the  plan  with  great  »urr<-««,  for  ilir  reason  that  the  7  rents  per  capita 
which  was  previously  Med  to  pay  the  $75  mortuaty  hrnrftt,  and  which  now 
accrues  to  the  general  fund,  could  be  used  to  meet  any  exigencies  which  might 
arise  through  disantcr.  or  tlir  prevalence  of  an  c|»,lrmic  in  any  locality.  The 
executive  o. wn.il  feel,  that  m  the  adoption  "'  the  m.- r rased  mortuary  benefit 
tin  International  Typographical  1'nion  has  taken  one  more  advanced  seep  that 
will  assist  in  keeping  it  far  ahead  of  all  other  labor  organisation*,  and  that  «>ll 
also  be  of  great  benefit  to  it  in  maintaining  the  present  good  conditions  ealet- 

1047 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ing  for  our  members,  and  be  of  great  assistance  to  it  in  securing  further  in- 
creases in  wage  scales  and  further  betterments  of  the  above-mentioned  condi- 
tions. 

REFERENDUM      PROPOSITIONS 

The  Cleveland  convention,  while  amending  Interna- 
tional law  in  many  particulars,  proposed  but  one  amend- 
ment requiring  the  approval  of  the  membership.  This  was 
a  change  in  the  constitution  relating  to  copies  of  appeal 
papers,  and  it  was  adopted  by  a  large  majority.  In 
addition  to  the  constitutional  amendment  referred  to 
above,  however,  resolutions  were  adopted  which  the 
convention  decreed  should  be  sent  to  the  referendum  for 
approval.  These  resolutions  were  so  important  and  far 
reaching  in  their  nature  and  intent  that  unusual  interest 
was  manifested  by  the  membership  at  large,  and  a  lively 
discussion  was  indulged  in  by  delegates  while  considering 
the  resolutions.  They  were  adopted  by  a  referendum  vote 
of  16,601  ayes,  7,225  noes.   The  resolutions  follow: 

Proposition   No.    134 — By    Delegate   Strief    (Sioux   City): 

Whereas  the  right  of  free  speech  is  the  dearest  possession  of  a  free  people, 
and  along  with  this  priceless  right  goes  the  equally  precious  institution  of  a 
free  press;   and 

Whereas  the  union  printers  of  North  America  have  always  been  and  are 
the  most  zealous  champions   of   free  speech  and  a   free  press;  and 

Whereas  we  realize  that  the  fullest  and  freest  discussion  of  the  affairs 
of  any  organization  by  the  membership  thereof  is  a  vital  necessity  in  the  proper 
management  and  control  of  the  organization,  and  that  this  is  essentially  true 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  whose  interests  can  only  be  safe- 
guarded through   the   widest   publicity;   and 

Whereas  a  tendency  has  developed  among  the  members  of  the  Interna- 
tional Union  to  abuse  the  rights  of  free  speech  and  free  publication,  recent 
campaigns  for  the  election  of  officers  having  been  attended  by  the  publication 
and  circulation  of  scandalous  and  defamatory  charges,  frequently  of  such  na- 
ture as  to  be  actionable  as  libelous  and  slanderous,  and  tending  to  bring  into 
disrepute  not  only  the  individual  so  attacked,  but  to  disgrace  the  International 
Typographical   Union;    and 

Whereas  while  we  are  opposed  to  any  effort  having  for  its  purpose  the 
restriction  of  the  proper  exercise  of  the  right  of  free  speech  or  free  publica- 
tion, we  reserve  the  right  to  reprehend  at  any  time  any  abuse  of  these  rights 
that  may  be  flagrant  or  jeopardize  the  good  name  and  reputation  of  our  organ- 
ization; therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  deplore  the  dangerous  tendency  so  manifest  to  abuse 
and  transcend  the  rights  of  free  speech  and  free  publication  by  the  circulation 
of  scandalous  and  libelous  matter,  the  making  of  indiscriminate  charges  and 
allegations  affecting  the  private  character  as  well  as  the  union  standing  of 
individual  members  of  our  union,  to  the  ultimate  detriment  of  the  whole  mem- 
bership; and,  be  it  further 

IO48 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

Resolved,  That  we  demand  that  all  members  of  the  International  Union 
shall  refrain  from  the  abuses  of  free  speech  and  free  publication  that  have 
made  of  our  elections,  both  international  and  local,  a  reproach  to  the  good 
name  of  our  organization  and  a  discredit  to  the  trade  union  movement;  and, 
be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  this  preamble  and  resolutions  in  their  entirety  be  submitted 
to  the  referendum  for  endorsement. 

CHICAGO     PRESSMEN'S      STRIKE 

In  the  summary  of  the  president's  report  to  the  Cleve- 
land convention  and  included  in  this  chapter  is  given  a 
recital  of  the  incidents  leading  up  to  the  strike  of  the 
Chicago  web  pressmen,  and  in  the  executive  council's 
report  on  that  question  is  found  a  paragraph  clearly 
defining  the  position  of  the  council  relative  to  the  press- 
men's strike  and  particularly  with  reference  to  the  execu- 
tion of  contracts.  The  entire  question  was  submitted  to 
the  convention's  committee  on  subordinate  unions,  and 
that  committee,  after  a  thorough  investigation  and  a  full 
hearing,  submitted  a  report  to  the  convention  which  is 
printed  below.  During  a  discussion  of  this  report  an  ani- 
mated dispute  ensued  in  which  President  Lynch  stoutly 
defended  his  action  and  the  action  of  the  executive  coun- 
cil during  the  pressmen's  strike.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
debate,  which  extended  over  a  period  of  several  hours, 
the  report  of  the  committee  on  subordinate  unions  un- 
adopted unanimously  by  a  rising  vote  of  the  delegates. 
The  committee's  report  follows: 

Gentlemen:  To  your  committee  was  referred  those  portions  of  the  report 
of  President  Lynch  and  the  report  oi  the  r\rmh\r  MSJmH  >ovcring  the  recent 
strikes  in  Chicago. 

Your  committee  has  given  full  opportunity  to  all  delegates  and  con««sV 
lion  attendants  baUrnfd  ">  t<»'  llnugu  «t>ikr»  to  appear  before  IB*  cow- 
mittcc   and   present   their   views. 

I  1. >in  ill.-  ir|i..,i,  mhi.ii..ih'.I,  an. I  1 1, .in  information  gathered  from  those 
who   appcnie.l    I.,  i  ninnitce    find*   thai    when   the   web  pit— en's 

strike  occur r.-.l  on  the  (  in.  g*jg   I  *ammcr   and  Chicago  American,  spreading  to 
i!h-    ..tin  1    Chicago    newspapers,    ami    I. .11. .*<-,!    I>v    .inkrs    on    law    part    of    Ik* 
i  \  |.«-m,    wagon    drivers   and    newsboys,   Chicago   Typographies!    In  ion    was 
woikinu    im.lrr    A    .  ..niiaii    with    the    I  Incago    local    Aim  ,>aper    Pub 

Imlirrs'   Assocint  M   January    15,    igm.   and    running   10    t-'ebru*<  < 

1915.      Imnir.liji.  |y    after    the   «lnkr»   .Heinrr.l.    it    was   ...t.«rn    to   Involve   N 
in  s)ui|..iilieii.    sajpi •(  the  «uikes.     Thu  attempt  was  combated  by  Pi  gas  dim 

KM9 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Lynch,  representing  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  its  executive 
council,  and  by  the  officers  of  No.  16,  representing  that  union.  Special  meet- 
ings of  No.  1 6  were  called,  and  it  was  finally  decided  by  a  vote  of  1,099  to  655 
to  abide  by  the  contract  referred  to. 

Your  committee  finds  that  during  the  attempt  to  involve  No.  16,  and  after 
the  definite  action  taken  by  No.  16,  the  officers  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  and  the  officers  of  No.  16  were  libeled  and  misrepresented  by  the 
officers  of  the  unions  that  were  on  strike,  and  by  the  Chicago  World,  a  morn- 
ing and  evening  publication  claiming  to  support  the  strikers,  but  in  the  opinion 
of  your  committee,  really  engaged  in  an  effort  to  make  capital  out  of  the  strike 
and  to  increase  its  circulation,  prestige  and  influence  because  of  the  strikes, 
and  to  build  itself  up  on  the  sacrifice  and  trade-unionism  of  the  men  who 
were  on  strike  and  who  were  combating  for  principles  which  they  believed 
were  right. 

Your  committee  also  finds  that  an  effort  was  made  on  the  part  of  the  rep- 
resentatives of  the  unions  out  on  strike  to  involve  Mailers'  Union  No.  2  in 
sympathetic  strike  action,  and  that  this  effort  was  also  combated  by  President 
Lynch,  Vice-President  Smith  and  the  president  of  Chicago  Mailers'  Union. 
Your  committee  from  its  investigation  is  of  the  opinion  that  if  Mailers'  Union 
No.  2  had  entered  into  a  sympathetic  strike,  it  would  have  meant  the  disrup- 
tion and  ruination  of  that  union,  for  the  organization  is  in  no  condition  to 
withstand  the  dangers  and  difficulties  that  are  incident  to  a  strike.  This  union 
voted  97  to  6  not  to  enter  into  a  strike. 

Your  committee  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  position  taken  by  President 
Lynch  and  the  officers  of  No.  16  and  Mailers'  Union  No.  2  was  the  only  posi- 
tion that  could  be  taken,  and  it  recommends  that  the  convention  commend  and 
endorse  the  action  of  the  International  president,  the  International  executive 
council,  and  the  officers  of  Typographical  Union  No.  16  and  Mailers'  Union 
No.  2,  and  also  commend  and  endorse  the  action  taken  by  these  unions,  in 
view  of  the  contract  under  which  one  was  working,  and  the  condition  confront- 
ing the  other,  in  refusing  to  enter  into  sympathetic  strike. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  your  committee  would  not  make  comment  on 
the  wisdom  or  legality  of  the  Chicago  strikes,  leaving  these  questions  to  the 
investigation  and  determination  of  the  local  unions  involved,  and  their  interna- 
tional organizations.  Your  committee  finds,  however,  that  one  of  the  unions, 
the  wagon  drivers'  organization,  is  an  independent  union,  in  open  defiance  to 
its  international  organization,  the  International  Teamsters,  Chauffeurs  and  Sta- 
blemen's Union.  The  newsboys  have  no  national  organization.  Your  commit- 
tee also  finds  that  the  stereotypers'  union,  in  entering  into  sympathetic  strike, 
violated  its  contract  with  the  Chicago  publishers;  that  this  action  was  immedi- 
ately disavowed  by  the  international  officers  of  the  International  Stereotypers 
and  Electrotypers'  Union,  the  union's  charter  revoked,  and  that  the  convention 
of  this  organization,  held  in  San  Francisco  in  June,  upheld  the  officers  in  their 
action,  and  placed  the  Chicago  situation  in  charge  of  the  executive  board  with 
full  power  to  act. 

The  Chicago  trouble  originated  with  the  strike  of  the  web  pressmen  in  the 
pressrooms  of  the  Chicago  American  and  Chicago  Examiner.  Your  committee 
finds  from  the  evidence  before  it  that  arbitration  was  offered  to  the  pressmen 
before  they  walked  out,  but  that  it  was  declined  unless  it  was  predicated  on 
conditions  laid  down  by  the  pressmen  themselves.  Your  committee  believes 
that  had  the  proffer  of  arbitration  been  accepted  by  the  pressmen  and  their 
international  representatives,  the  difficulty  with  the  Hearst  papers  could  have 
been  avoided;  that  no  international  union  principle  was  involved,  and  that 
before  any  fair  arbitration  board  the  pressmen  would  have  secured  a  verdict 
that  would  have  safeguarded  the  interests  of  the  men  employed  in  the  Hearst 
pressrooms,   and  whose   positions   were   in   jeopardy   owing  to   the  attempted   re- 

1050 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

duction  of  the  number  of  men  manning  each  press.  If,  therefore,  this  strike, 
which  brought  about  strikes  in  the  other  newspapers  and  which  resulted  in 
the  latest  Chicago  situation,  could  have  been  avoided  by  the  exercise  of  patience 
and  diplomacy,  it  follows  that  it  should  never  have  taken  place.  To  permit 
such  a  strike  to  occur  and  then  to  involve  other  trade  unionists  in  the  warfare, 
and  to  propagate  and  support  this  warfare,  bringing  about  industrial  chaos  and 
individual  suffering,  is,  as  No.  16  justly  termed  it,  a  blunder  worse  than  a 
crime. 

Your  committee  also  finds  that  the  international  officers  of  the  International 
Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union  went  over  the  heads  of  the  officers 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  carried  their  campaign  for  •  sympa- 
thetic strike  into  the  local  unions,  and  personally  urged  these  unions  to  partici- 
pate in  the  strikes,  thus  violating,  not  only  international  ethics  and  courtesy, 
but  also  violating  the  course  that  has  been  followed  heretofore,  and  the  method 
recognized  as  proper  by  the  five  international  unions  of  the  printing  trade. 

Your  committee  can  not  too  strongly  condemn  the  methods  and  tactics  used 
in  Chicago,  and  to  which  it  calls  attention,  and  your  committee  believes  that 
not  only  should  the  International  officers  of  our  organization  be  commended 
for  the  course  they  pursued,  but  that  they  should  be  instructed,  in  the  future, 
to  see  to  it  that  every  renewal  of  the  attempt  to  embroil  us  in  needless  diffi- 
culties, made  by  any  other  international  union,  is  promptly  exposed  and 
combated. 

It  has  been  asserted  that  the  section  in  the  contract  between  Chicago  Typo- 
graphical Union  No.  16  and  the  Chicago  local  of  the  American  Newspaper  Pub- 
lishers' Association  reading:  "This  contract  may  be  declared  null  and  void  in 
the  case  of  strike  or  lockout  hereafter  of  a  union  now  affiliated  with  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union;  provided,  that  such  strike  or  lockout  occurs 
after  all  efforts  of  arbitration  have  failed  through  the  fault  of  the  proprietor, 
the  determination  of  which  latter  fact,  however,  shall  be  referred  to  the  national 
board  of  arbitration  provided  for  in  the  arbitration  agreement  now  existing 
between  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  and  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  if  so  requested  by  either  the  publisher  or 
manager  of  the  newspaper  affected,  or  by  Chicago  Typographical  Union  No.  16." 
would  have  justified  a  sympathetic  strike  on  the  part  of  No.  16,  but  in  the 
opinion  of  your  committee,  if  this  section  means  anything  at  all,  it  means  that 
the  effort  at  arbitration  must  be  made  before  the  strike  on  the  part  of  the 
affiliated  union  occurs,  and  not  after  the  strike  is  on,  as  was  the  case  in  (  hi 
cago.  Your  committee  ia  also  of  the  opinion,  as  expressed  by  our  international 
president,  that  in  instances  where  industrial  strife  confronts  our  allies,  and  they 
are  desirous  of  the  assistance  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  that 
assistance  should  be  sought  before  a  strike  is  permitted  to  occur,  if  such  oppor- 
tunity presents  itself,  and  not  after  the  strike  has  been  actually  put  into  effect. 
For,  as  our  president  points  out,  if  our  influence  is  of  any  value,  it  ia  of  the 
greatest  value  when  it  can  be  exerted  while  industrial  peace  maintains,  rather 
than  after  industrial  warfare  ia  actually  in  effect. 

Your  committee  has  reached  its  conclusions  after  a  long  and  poUksttkaftf 
examination  of  the  history  of  thr  ( 'hiragn  «tnkr».  (10m  tlinr  inception  to  the 
present  time,  and  earnestly  recommends  this  report  to  the  convention  for  It* 
approval  and  adoption. 

ADDRESSES     BY     DISTINGUISHED     VI 1 1 TO 1 1 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day's  session,  President 
Lynch  announced  that  the  time  had  arrived  f«»r  hearing 
from  th.  US  aatoci.tt t->t)s  (•>  whom 

IO51 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  privilege  of  the  floor  had  been  granted  at  the  first 
day's  session.  The  chair  said  :  "There  being  no  objection, 
I  will  now  introduce  to  you  a  gentleman  who  has  ad- 
dressed several  of  our  conventions,  and  with  whom  a 
number  of  you  are  acquainted,  and  who  is  known  in  the 
printing  industry  all  over  the  continent,  and  is  held  in 
high  esteem  by  the  printing  trade  artisans  in  the  city  in 
which  he  conducts  a  large  printing  establishment,  and  I 
take  pleasure  in  presenting  to  you,  therefore,  Mr.  Charles 
Francis,  president  of  the  Printers'  League  of  America, 
who  will  now  address  you."  Mr.  Francis  spoke  as  follows : 

Mr.  President  and  Brethren  of  the  Printing  Fraternity:  It  gives  me 
great  pleasure  to  be  with  you  this  morning,  and  to  congratulate  you  upon  the 
very  large  gathering  that  has  gotten  together  here  in  the  city  of  Cleveland,  to 
attend  the  business  which  the  best  institution  of  labor  in  the  country  can  do, 
which  is  the  International  Typographical  Union.  They  have  shown  the  greatest 
regard  for  the  employer  as  well  as  for  the  employe,  and  it  has  always  been 
my  idea  that  the  employer  and  the  employe's  interest  are  one  and  the  same, 
where  we  are  inclined  to  be  fair  one  with  the  other. 

I  want,  in  beginning  my  remarks,  to  thank  you  for  the  presence  of  your 
president  at  a  dinner  which  was  tendered  to  myself  before  leaving  for  an  ex- 
tended trip,  and  for  his  remarks  at  that  dinner,  which  were  very  complimentary 
not  only  to  myself  but  to  the  cause  which  I  represent,  the  Printers'  League  of 
America. 

I  would  like  to  say  just  a  few  words  about  your  own  organization.  I  am 
a  pretty  close  reader  of  the  Typographical  Journal.  Perhaps  some  of  you  may 
think  that  the  employer  ought  not  to  read  the  Typographical  Journal.  I  think 
there  has  been  that  kind  of  a  feeling  sometimes,  and  yet  if  our  interests  are 
identical,  why  shouldn't  we  look  into  what  one  another  are  doing? 

Now,  regarding  the  progress  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  I 
find  that  the  earnings  per  member  from  1909  to  1912  have  increased  from 
$897  to  $974,  an  increase  of  10  per  cent,  or  a  total  of  $3,600,000  per  year,  and 
that  the  membership  has  increased  20  per  cent  in  that  time.  Now,  that  is  a 
very  roseate  view  for  your  own  organization,  and  I  want  again  to  congratulate 
you  upon  this  assurance  of  your  members  that  you  are  doing  a  work  that  is 
necessary  for  them. 

Now,  in  the  Typographical  Journal  I  also  noticed  a  little  paragraph  by 
your  president;  since  making  these  remarks  I  find  that  one  of  my  confreres  is 
going  to  talk  upon  the  same  subject,  but  perhaps  he  won't  talk  the  same  as  I  ■ 
do.  Your  president  says:  "One  association  of  commercial  printers  will  mean 
much  for  the  industry,  if  advancement  is  with  the  unions  and  not  against 
them."  I  might  interpolate  there  that  if  the  advancement  is  against  the  unions 
it  will  also  be  against  the  employer,  because  the  majority  of  the  employes  means 
the  unions;  they  must  work  together.  Printing  trades  unions  working  under 
agreement  with  such  an  association  can  be  of  immense  assistance  in  placing 
the  book  and  job  industry  on  a  profitable  basis.  That  the  unions  are  ready  to 
assist  in  this  way  is  indisputable.  All  that  they  desire  is  fair  treatment  under 
a  working  agreement,  and  they  will  carry  their  share  of  the  load. 

Now,  under  the  agreements  made  by  the  Printers'  League  I  want  to  say  to 

1052 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

you  here  that  I  have  found  that  to  be  the  absolute  fact.  We  have  received  a 
great  deal  of  assistance  from  the  unions  themselves  whenever  we  could  show 
reason  for  that  assistance,  and  there  are  some  times  when  the  unions  don't 
exactly  catch  the  thought  that  would  come  if  they  got  it  from  the  employer, 
but  as  a  rule  the  International  Typographical  Union  has  seemed  to  catch  that 
thought. 

Now,  the  question  of  the  necessity  of  the  employes  getting  together  goes 
without  saying,  but  it  remains  to  be  seen  whether  they  will  or  not.  There  is 
another  article  in  the  Typographical  Journal  which  I  shall  not  read,  which  has 
a  grc*at  deal  of  talk  about  the  typotheta:.  Now,  I  know  very  well  that  you  and 
the  members  of  the  typotheta;  have  not  been  very  good  friends  for  quite  some 
time,  but  there  are  some  things  that  ought  to  be  before  you,  and  I  think  it 
will  not  be  detrimental  to  the  interests  of  everybody  if  we  understand  that 
there  has  been  a  change  in  the  membership  and  in  the  sentiments  of  the  typoth- 
eta:. What  is  said  in  that  article  is  perfectly  true  in  a  great  many  instances. 
It  speaks  of  $60,000  being  expended  by  them  for  the  purpose  of  organization, 
but  for  the  purpose  of  organization  is  also  to  get  cost  information,  and  cost 
information  is  a  very  necessary  thing  for  the  printer.  AH  of  you  have  heard 
of  it  throughout  the  country  in  the  last  little  while,  and  the  work  of  the  typoth- 
eta; in  that  direction  is  not  to  be  derided.  It  will  eventually  help  the  organ- 
izations to  which  we  belong.  That  is  not  a  large  sum.  I  understand  they  are 
spending  even  more  this  year,  but  it  is  for  the  purpose  of  installing  a  cost  sys- 
tem. It  is  not  for  a  defense  fund,  as  was  the  purpose  prior  to  1906,  and  the 
newer  members  which  they  are  getting  in  are  broader  and  have  a  higher  motive 
than  those  who  were  the  old  members  of  the  typotheta:;  and  I  want  to  say  that 
the  complexion  of  the  typothctx  has  changed  considerably,  and  the  best  thing 
we  can  do  is  to  try  and  help  it  to  change  some  more. 

Now,  I  would  like  to  say  just  a  few  words  about  Denver.  A  number  of  us 
went  out  to  Denver  for  the  very  purpose  that  I  was  speaking  of  just  now.  We 
wanted  to  get  together,  and  the  United  Typotheta;  of  America  appeared  to  be 
the  only  strong  national  organization  of  America,  and  the  Ben  Franklin  Club* 
of  America  had  a  large  membership,  but  were  all  locals,  therefore  they  couldn't 
offer  anything  collectively.  The  Printers'  League  of  America  had  a  national 
organization,  but  it  was  so  small  and  so  infinitesimal  that  it  was  impossible  for 
us  to  cut  very  much  of  a  figure  in  the  proposition.  I  am  sorry  to  say  this,  be- 
cause I  believe  in  the  Printers'  League  of  America,  and  I  believe  the  progress 
is  only  the  progress  that  might  be  looked  for.  It  is  not  any  worse  than  thr 
International  Typographical  Union  had  at  its  start.  We  haven't  been  in  exist- 
ence  very  long,  and  we  haven't  made  the  progress  that  I  think  we  ought  to 
make,  but  we  have  made  progress,  and  I  have  very  encouraging  words  from  a 
number  of  the  larger  cities  that  will  become  members  of  the  Printer*'  League 
and  enter  into  tin-  collective  bargaining  proposition,  the  cooperative  proposition. 

In  t hat  convention  there  was  a  meeting  called,  of  which  I  was  made  chair- 
man. We  li.nl  four  representative*  from  the  Men  Franklin  Club*  and  five  from 
the  typotheta:,  and  we  went  to  work  and  we  made  practically  a  new  constitution 
and  by-laws  for  the  typotheta:,  or,  rather,  for  the  one  organisation  thai  was 
spoken  <■<.  Imt  subsequently  adopted  l>v  the  t\ t>otrirt;r,  which  changed  very 
largely  their  old  constitution  and  placed  new  matin.  iwfoic  them.  Stinging  in 
n  paragraph  by  which  they  would  allow  collective  bargaining  by  their 
Don't  mist.ikr  .,11c  thing,  and  that  is  this,  that  was  a  Urge  step  ia 
them.  The  licni.imiu  I  i.mUm  (lull  of  Anini.j,  jt  it*  lirsl  annual  convention 
in  this  city,  gdopfd  1 1» .1 1  vnv  s.inu-  .  ii.titutmn  and  t»>  law*  with  a  little  more 
liberal  clause  than  was  put   in  l»   the  t\|>oihrtj-.  and  ir.-m  what  «r  have  at  lb* 

li.h.ve    lh.it     the     Itcn  latum     rianUin    Hub    and    thr 
League,    if    they   can   not   amalgamate    with   one   another.   will   in   the    future  be 
I. .mi. I   umkiiiK   »i,i,    hf   si.lc   with   a  mutuality  •»{   inirrrsl   which   will   very  greatly 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

enhance  the  effectiveness  of  the  Printers'  League,  and  I  think  will  also  do 
the  same  thing  for  the  Benjamin  Franklin  Club.  I  feel  in  my  bones  that  it 
is  almost  impossible  at  the  present  time  for  that  one  organization  to  be  put 
through.  I  hope  it  will  be.  I  would  be  willing  to  concede  a  good  deal  that  was 
not  against  my  positive  principles  to  see  it  put  through,  but  we  as  a  committee 
— I  am  on  that  committee  of  organization — but  as  a  committee  if  we  agreed  to 
deliver  over  something  that  we  could  not  deliver,  what  would  be  the  use  of 
making  the  agreement?  And  I  think  it  is  almost  impossible  for  us  to  under- 
take under  certain  conditions  to  turn  over  the  Ben  Franklin  Club  to  the  Print- 
ers' League,  or  either  of  them,  into  the  typothetx,  because  I  don't  believe  the 
rank  and  file  would  stand  for  it.    I  hope  that  will  not  come  about. 

I  am  going  to  Chicago  in  September,  and  I  shall  work  with  the  greatest 
earnestness  for  the  purpose  of  getting  them  together,  but  only  with  the  pur- 
pose that  the  principles  for  which  I  stand  and  for  which  my  organization 
stands,   for  which  the   Ben   Franklin   Club  stands,   shall   be  maintained. 

There  has  been  a  great  deal  of  talk  about  the  name.  Now,  what  is  in  a 
name?  The  principle  is  what  you  want  to  stand  for?  It  matters  very  little 
about  the  name,  and  personally  I  wouldn't  care  whether  they  called  it  the 
typothetse  or  some  other  name,  except  for  this  reason,  that  that  name  has  be- 
come obnoxious  to  a  certain  number  of  people,  and  it  would  be  almost  impossible 
to  have  them  understand  that  this  is  an  old  name  with  a  new  principle;  there- 
fore, I  think  a  new  name  would  be  better  than  the  old  name.  It  was  suggested 
to  me  this  morning  that  this  was  not  a  matter  to  be  brought  before  you,  but  I 
think  you  are  very  much  interested  in  it,  and  I  think  what  you  want  to  see  is 
to  have  the  employers  get  together.  What  I  want  to  see  is  the  employes  get 
together  more  closely  than  they  ever  have  been,  and  then  see  the  employers 
get  closer  together  than  they  ever  have  been,  and  then  see  the  employes  and 
employers  get  together,  and  then  we  will  have  a  condition  by  which  we  can  get 
more  dollars  than  we  could  in  any  other  possible  way.  If  we  are  going  to 
have  profit  we  must  have  harmony  between  ourselves,  and  the  only  way  to 
have  harmony  is  to  be  fair  on  both  sides. 

Anything  that  tends  to  decrease  output  or  anything  of  that  description,  or 
any  loafers  in  the  office,  are  loafing  on  the  man  who  produces,  not  upon  the 
employer  so  much  as  he  is  upon  the  man  who  produces,  because  there  is  only 
one  way  to  pay  a  man  and  that  is  upon  the  basis  of  what  he  produces.  The 
employer  is  entirely  dependent  upon  you  for  his  salary  or  profit,  because  if 
you  don't  produce  that  salary  or  profit  it  is  absolutely  impossible  for  him  to 
get  it. 

I  have  said  before  that  the  employes  are  half  partners  in  every  business, 
and  I  hope  you  will  understand  me  as  talking  from  the  commercial  end  of  the 
business,  because  I  don't  know  very  much  about  the  newspaper  end,  although 
I  have  run  a  newspaper.  I  am  talking  from  the  commercial  end.  In  the  com- 
mercial end  the  employe  is,  after  all,  a  half  partner,  because  according  to  my 
experience  he  takes  the  first  half  of  the  money,  and  has  to  have  his  whether 
the  employer  gets  anything  or  not.  That  makes  him  a  half  partner,  and  if  he 
don't  produce  his  half  it  is  impossible  for  the  employer  to  get  his  half.  As 
the  work  goes  through  the  only  thing  we  can  quarrel  about  is  the  rake  off 
that  the  employer  will  get.  That  hasn't  been  so  much  in  the  last  few  years  as 
it  ought  to  be  in  any  business,  but  we  can  congratulate  ourselves  on  this,  that 
the  business  has  increased  wonderfully.  We  have  made  strides  until  we  have 
become  the  sixth  industry  in  the  United  States,  and  the  secopd  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  and  if  we  have  any  luck  in  the  state  of  New  York  maybe  we  will 
get  to  the  top  in  a  few  years.  We  have  climbed  up  a  long  way  to  be  the  sec- 
ond industry  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  we  hope  to  be  at  the  head  of  the 
list. 

The  principal  thing  that  I  have  to  say  I  am  through  with,  but  there  is  one 

I054 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

thing  I  want  to  quote  from  the  Typographical  Journal  again.  I  saw  a  para- 
graph in  there  where  the  employers  of  the  United  States  were  paying 
$100,000,000  to  secure  themselves  against  liability  to  accident  to  the  employe. 
Now,  that  is  a  necessary  business  precaution,  but  it  seems  a  shame  that  so 
much  money  should  be  wasted.  I  delved  into  that  myself,  and  found  that  %$2,- 
500,000  of  that  money  goes  into  the  treasuries  of  the  insurance  companies  and 
never  comes  out;  $30,000,000  of  it  goes  10  Europe;  that  leaves  $17,500,000, 
and  by  the  time  that  it  is  trimmed  off  by  the  lawyers  and  the  courts,  and  one 
thing  or  another,  the  employe  gets  $10,000,000  out  of  that  amount,  at  10  cents 
on  the  dollar.  I  have  learned  since  I  came  here  that  the  state  of  Ohio  has 
taken  up  the  very  matter  that  I  had  on  my  mind.  The  state  of  Ohio  is  prac- 
tically going  to  charge  the  employer  the  same  rates  as  he  would  pay  to  the 
insurance  company  for  that  protection,  and  see  that  the  employe  gets  the  dollar 
instead  of  the  10  cents.  It  will  not  go  through  these  legal  processes,  and  a 
man  will  not  have  to  wait  ten  years  before  he  can  get  bis  award  for  any- 
thing that  may  happen. 

The  suggestion  that  I  wanted  to  make  before  I  heard  of  this  was  this:  that 
the  employer  and  the  employe  agree  upon  a  plan  by  which  this  amount  that  they 
would  pay  to  the  insurance  companies  should  go  into  a  trust  fund  for  the  pur- 
pose of  being  awarded  in  case  of  accidents,  so  that  instead  of  the  employe 
getting  10  cents,  he  would  get  at  least  90  cents  out  of  every  dollar  that  is  paid 
in ;  then  I  think  there  would  be  enough  to  pay  for  these  accidents  at  the  ratio 
they  ought  to  be  paid  for.  I  am  going  to  leave  that  with  this  convention,  and 
I  should  like  to  see  a  committee  appointed  to  look  into  this  matter,  and  if  pos- 
sible I  think  this  state  arrangement  may  be  the  best,  this  Ohio  state  arrange-  * 
ment — if  they  get  it  through — but  otherwise  I  think  it  would  be  well  to  get 
into  a  compact  with  the  employer  and  employe  that  that  amount  of  money 
should  be  placed  into  a  treasury  and  awarded  by  an  award  committee  of  em- 
ployes and  employers.  In  anything  that  will  tend  to  the  harmony  of  th-  em- 
ployer and  the  employe,   you  can   always  count  on  me. 

The  chair  then  introduced  W.  J.  Hartman,  president 
of  the  Ben  Franklin  Clubs  of  America.  Mr.  Hartman 
said: 

Mr.  President  and  Delegates  to  the  International  TvrocRArui>  ia 
Union  Convention:  This  is  the  first  time  that  I  have  ever  been  called  upon 
to  talk  to  the  employes  in  the  printing  trades.  I  want  to  assure  you  that  1 
esteem  it  a  very  great  honor  to  be  asked  to  talk  to  the  men  whom  we  meet 
every  day  in  our  business. 

Your  president  has  asked  me  to  talk  on  one  international  organisation  of  em- 
ployers. That  is  something  that  we  have  been  hoping  for  for  the  past  two  years. 
but  up  to  the  present  time  we  have  not  accomplished  what  we  tried  to  do  last 
year  in  Denver.  The  United  Typothcla:  of  America  has  been  in  esialrnce  about 
twenty-five  years;  it  started  out  and  was  organiied  in  the  first  place  when  yoo 
gentlemen  made  demands  on  the  employnv  ami  lag  some  time  Ikry  made  con- 
tracts with  you.  Those  contracts,  I  believe,  were  lived  up  lo  on  bo) 
when  you  demanded  the  eight-hour  day  you  split,  and  you  were  at 
and  you  were  fighting,  which  was  drtiimental  lo  ibe  printing  Industry  of  tats 
country,  both  to  you  and  the  employer.  What  we  want  In  the  printing  husmoas 
is  co-operation  bciwrm  ihr  employes  and  the  employers,  a  square  deal.  It  11 
were  possible  to  organise  one  great  big  organisation  of  employers,  so  that  we 
could  make  contracts  with  you  that  were  fair,  contract*  that  would  give  you 
good  big  wages  anil  enable  us  to  make  some  money  out  of  oar  bosmem.  ih»t 
would  be  something  that  everybody  would  welcome. 

io$5 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

You  know,  if  you  will  look  along  back  in  the  years,  that  the  master  printer 
has  not  been  successful  as  a  rule,  he  has  failed  nine  times  out  of  ten  after  going 
into  business,  and  the  reason  of  that  was  that  he  did  not  know  the  business  end 
of  the  game,  and  I  will  tell  you  why  he  didn't  know  it.  The  average  employer 
was  an  employe,  came  out  of  the  shop,  and  did  not  know  anything  about  the  busi- 
ness end  of  the  game,  and  he  imagined,  as  we  did  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago, 
that  if  we  could  sell  hand  composition  at  60  cents  an  hour,  and  pay  you  40,  we 
were  making  20  cents  an  hour.  We  have  discovered,  since  we  have  got  a  scien- 
tific cost-finding  system,  that  we  must  multiply  your  wages  practically  by  three  to 
get  the  cost  of  hand  composition.  You  may  not  believe  that  is  true,  but  in  that 
hour  we  have  to  take  care  of  the  foremen,  we  take  care  of  the  distribution, 
we  take  care  of  the  errand  boys  and  all  those  things,  the  selling  expense,  the 
administration,  the  rent,  the  power  where  used,  light,  heat,  insurance,  taxes, 
depreciation  and  interest  on  investment.  Now,  when  we  first  started  out  in 
our  shop  to  demand  a  daily  time  ticket  from  the  employes,  they  imagined  we 
were  trying  to  check  them  up,  trying  to  get  a  line  on  them.  We  were,  for  the 
purpose  of  finding  out  the  cost  of  our  production,  so  we  could  see  it  at  a  profit, 
and  afterward  to  pay  you  good  wages.  You  who  have  been  in  the  game  as  long 
as  I  have,  know  that  there  are  many  master  printers  today  that  are  going  along 
only  getting  an  existence  out  of  the  game.  Many  of  you  possibly  who  are  here 
today  have  started  small  shops,  and  were  satisfied  with  a  day's  wages  if  it  was 
possible  to  earn  that  much.  You  disregard  your  investment,  you  disregard 
your  investment  of  machinery  and  type,  and  you  were  responsible,  to  a  great 
extent,    in   reducing   the   profits   of   the   master   printer. 

I  want  to  see  one  organization  of  employers,  and  if  possible,  one  organiza- 
tion of  employes,  working  in  harmony,  working  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
trade,  and  when  we  get  it  up  to  a  point  where  we  can  afford  it,  you  can  all  get 
more  money  every  time,  without  a  great  deal  of  trouble. 

I  have  been  interested  a  great  deal  in  the  system  in  vogue  in  Germany. 
They  have  zones  there,  both  for  wages  and  prices  of  printing.  Now,  I  may  be 
saying  something  to  you  that  you  have  heard  a  great  many  times.  We  in  the 
large  cities  like  Chicago  have  a  high  scale  of  wages.  Within  forty  or  fifty 
miles  of  Chicago  your  scale  may  be  25,  30  or  40  per  cent  less  than  ours.  Now, 
I  do  not  believe  that  is  right.  I  think  a  man's  work  in  any  town  is  worth 
just  as  much,  say,  in  Joliet,  in  Aurora,  or  in  Elgin,  as  it  is  in  Chicago,  because 
he  has  got  to  put  in  the  hours  and  give  the  best  that  is  in  him  while  he  is  at 
work.  On  the  same  basis,  a  job  of  printing  is  worth  just  as  much  in  a  small 
town  as  it  is  in  big  towns,  and  I  would  like  to  see  you  establish  zones,  get  your 
wages  more  uniform,  so  as  to  give  us  in  the  large  cities  a  better  chance  to  com- 
pete with  the  country  printer. 

A  great  many  of  you  no  doubt  come  from  small  towns,  and  some  of  you 
are  working  for  a  great  deal  less  than  we  pay,  and  I  believe  that  you  are  inter- 
ested in  getting  that  scale  up  where  your  scale  is  low. 

I  am  getting  away  from  the  subject  your  president  said  I  was  going  to 
speak  on.  We  expect  to  meet  a  committee  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America 
in  Chicago  on  September  1,  for  the  purpose  of  talking  amalgamation.  As  Mr. 
Francis  told  you,  the  membership  in  the  typotheta;  has  changed  a  good  deal  in 
the  last  two  or  three  years.  We  who  have  been  in  the  very  forefront  of  the 
Ben  Franklin  movement  eliminated  the  labor  proposition  from  our  platform, 
and  let  a  man  run  any  kind  of  a  shop  he  wanted  to,  and  that  is  why  we  were 
successful  in  building  up  a  membership  in  a  short  time.  We  started  out  to 
educate  the  master  printer,  but  the  vast  majority  of  men  in  the  Ben  Franklin 
Clubs  today  are  employers  of  union  labor;  they  are  fair,  they  are  broad  minded, 
they  have  the  sympathetic  spirit  that  Benjamin  Franklin  taught,  and  we  hope 
when  we  see  that  committee  that  we  will  be  able  to  bring  about  that  amalgama- 
tion  on   such   broad   lines,    under   whatever   name,   and   that   you   gentlemen   will 


IO56 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

assist  to  build  up  the  greatest  industry  in  this  or  any  other  country,  the  print- 
ing business.  % 

If  I  were  talking  to  the  master  printers,  gentlemen,  I  could  entertain  them 
a  good  deal  better  that  I  can  you,  because  I  am  familiar  with  that  subject,  but 
I  have  been  asked  to  talk  about  something  that  I  haven't  given  any  great 
amoupt  of  study;  but  I  hope  that  one  great  big  organization  will  be  brought 
out,  that  harmony  will  prevail  between  the  employer  and  the  employe,  and  if 
that  is  accomplished  and  business  is  brought  up  to  the  point  where  it  should 
be,  you  will  all  be  enjoying  bigger  envelops  on  pay  day,  and  you  will  all  be 
happy.     I  thank  you. 

President  Lynch  stated  that  the  previous  speaker,  re- 
ferring to  the  equalization  of  wage  scales,  had  said  that 
in  his  opinion  the  wage  should  be  as  high  in  Joliet  and 
Aurora  and  Elgin  as  in  Chicago.  The  amalgamation  of 
employers'  associations  into  one  association,  said  the  pres- 
ident, and  the  changed  spirit  that  was  animating  these 
various  associations,  might  make  an  effort  at  the  equaliza- 
tion of  wage  scales  easier  of  accomplishment  than  it  had 
been  in  the  past,  for  in  the  past,  whenever  the  union  tried 
to  equalize  the  wage  scales  in  Joliet  and  Aurora  and  in 
towns  contiguous  to  New  York  and  the  other  large  cities, 
the  employers  in  New  York  and  Chicago,  who  were  vi- 
tally interested  in  having  competition  placed  on  a  fairer 
basis,  assisted  the  employers  in  the  small  towns  to  combat 
the  raise  in  the  wage  scale. 

"In  introducing  the  next  speaker,"  the  president  con- 
tinued, "I  have  to  say  that  we  have  had  our  differences 
with  the  association  that  he  represents ;  we  fought  those 
differences  out,  and  I  believe  that  aside  from  the  other 
good  results  from  that  campaign,  that  the  clarifying  of 
the  atmosphere  in  the  printing  industry  was  one  of  the 
best  things  that  c<>nld  have  happened,  for  I  believe  that 
all  recent  progress  that  has  been  made  in  the  commercial 
industry  dates  from  the  establishment  of  the  eight-hour 
day  in  the  industry,  and  that  this  applies  equally  to 
employer  and  employe,  f»>r  it  certainly  brought  the  em- 
ployer to  a  realization  of  the  senseless  basis  on  which  he 
was  doing  business,    I   had  occasion  to  relet  to  that  the 

l<>57 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

other  day  when  I  explained  the  manner  in  which  We  give 
out  the  printing  of  the  International  Union.  I  am  happy 
to  say  that  friendly  relations  now  exist  between  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  and  the  United  Typothetae 
of  America,  and  I  attribute  that  largely  to  the  attitude 
and  the  efforts  of  the  gentleman  who  is  about  to  address 
you.  After  he  became  secretary  of  that  organization,  it 
was  not  very  long  until  the  president  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  and  the  secretary  of  the  United 
Typothetae  of  America  were  able  to  write  letters  to  each 
other,  and  then  we  got  to  know  each  other,  and  found  that 
neither  one  was  very  bad,  and  finally  we  got  so  we  can  do 
business  right  along,  when  there  is  business  to  do  in  rela- 
tion to  both  organizations.  This  is  the  first  time,  to  my 
knowledge,  at  least  in  recent  years,  that  the  United 
Typothetae  has  sent  a  speaker  to  our  convention,  and  I 
hope  that  this  is  also  an  augury  of  better  relations  between 
the  employers  and  employes  in  the  printing  industry  and 
better  conditions  in  that  industry.  I  take  great  pleasure, 
therefore,  in  introducing  to  you  Mr.  Franklin  W.  Heath, 
secretary  of  the  United  Typothetae  of  America."  Mr. 
Heath  said : 

Mr.  President  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  realize  that  it  is  an  event 
in  the  history  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  that  the  secretary  of 
the  United  Typothetae  of  America  should  be  present  with  you  at  one  of  your 
meetings,  and  it  certainly  is  an  event  in  the  life  of  the  secretary.  A  few  years 
ago  it  would  not  have  been  possible,  and  I  don't  think  it  would  have  been  safe. 

I  am  not  going  to  make  an  extended  address.  I  am  only  here  to  give  you 
greetings,  and  to  express  the  pleasure  I  feel  in  being  with  you  for  the  first 
time — and  I  hope  it  will  not  be  the  last — and  to  leave  just  a  word  with  you 
when  you  go  home. 

The  fact  of  the  matter  is  that  the  preceding  speakers  have  taken  away 
some  of  my  thunder.  They  both  made  good  typothetae  speeches,  but  I  want  to 
go  into  it  a  little  more  deeply.  You  represent  the  employes  and  I  represent 
the  employers;  we  don't  always  agree,  we  don't  always  look  at  things  from  the 
same  point  of  view,  but  we  are  certainly  getting  together,  and  if  we  were  not 
I  would  not  be  here  today.  You  have  probably  all  of  you  had  experience  in 
trying  to  better  your  conditions,  especially  in  the  matter  of  wages.  I  have  in 
the  earlier  days,  and  sometimes  I  got  the  raise  and  sometimes  I  didn't,  but  I 
always  get  a  strong  protest  and  a  holler  from  the  boss.  Now  that  I  have  been 
representing  the  employers,  and  I  think  I  have  met  most  of  them  in  the  United 
States  in  the   last  four  years,   I  begin  to   realize  that  the  employer  had  pretty 

1058 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

good  grounds  for  putting  up  a  protest  whenever  an  increase  in  hit  expenses 
confronted  him,  whether  it  was  in  wages  or  rent  or  material. 

An  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  and  in 
the  life  of  the  secretary  of  the  United  Typothetae  is  when  the  Utter  addresses 
a  convention  of  the  former. 

It  is  an  occasion  that  a  few  years  ago  would  have  been  thought  not  only 
unlikely,  but  impossible. 

The  first  time  representatives  of  international  unions  ever  appeared  at  a 
typothetae  convention  was  in  1898,  when  J.  H.  Bowman,  president  of  the  Inter- 
national Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union,  and  George  W.  Harris,  or- 
ganizer of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  addressed  the  delegates  in 
Milwaukee,  when  assembled  in  our  twelfth  annual  meeting.  The  subject  of 
their  addresses  was  the  nine-hour  day.  Mr.  Bowman  remarked  on  leaving  the 
hall  that  he  was  fortunate  to  get  through  alive;  and  yet  neither  Mr.  Bowman 
nor  Mr.  Harris  was  roughly  handled. 

The  occasion  of  the  appearance  of  Mr.  Bowman  and  Mr.  Harris  led  to 
the  Syracuse  conference  in  October  of  1898,  when  committees  from  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assist- 
ants' Union,  and  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Bookbinders  met  with  a 
committee  from  the  United  Typothetae  of  America  to  confer  upon  the  subject 
of  the  shorter  workday,  and  how  it  might  be  made  practicable.  As  many  of 
you  know,  the  result  of  this  meeting  was  that  the  fifty-seven-hour  week  or 
nine-and-one-half-hour  day,  was  inaugurated,  to  go  into  effect  in  November, 
1898,  and  the  nine-hour  day,  or  fifty- four-hour  week,  in  November,  1899;  it  was 
hoped  then  that  a  new  era  had  been  inaugurated  for  the  settlement  of  diffi- 
culties between  the  allied  printing  trades  and  the  employers. 

Six  years  later  it  was  found  that  the  new  era  had  not  entirely  arrived. 
But  the  employe  is  getting  closer  to  the  employer  all  the  time;  he  is  co-oper- 
ating with  greater  interest,  loyalty,  faithfully  and  true;  he  is  a  broader  man, 
and  he  knows  that  his  interests  are  better  conserved  by  faithful  application  to 
his  employer's  concerns  than  by  indifference  and  lukewarm  interest  in  the 
work  in  which  they  both  are  mutually  interested.  Self-interest  naturally  pre- 
dominates— it  is  human  nature. 

Some  of  you  may  question  how  such  faithful  application  to  the  affairs  of 
your  employer  is  to  your  personal  advantage.  It  is  very  simple,  because  thr 
employer  usually  profits  and  advances  in  the  same  ratio  that  his  employes  co- 
operate and  assist  in  building  up  his  organization;  if  the  organization  consists 
of  honest,  well-meaning  men,  who  labor  faithfully  in  their  endeavors  to  stop 
leaks  and  deliver  an  hour's  labor  for  an  hour's  pay,  then  that  employer  is  go- 
ing to  enjoy  a  greater  prosperity,  and  is  enabled  to  treat  his  employes  mora 
liberally  and  with  greater  consideration. 

On  the  contrary,  a  shop  loosely  orgsnized  with  carrlr««.  indifferent  work- 
men can  not  prosper,  can  not  do  fur  thr  turn  at  the  proprietor  would  like,  bat 
he  leads  the  hand-to-mouth  rxi»trnrr  that  it  the  lot  of  so  many  printing- hotts* 
proprietors  in  the  land  today.  So  I  say,  "Co-operate,  help  build  up  th«  bast* 
nctt,  snd  recognition  is  sure  to  comr." 

The  printing  industry  it  the  »i*th  in  commercial  importance  in  the  United 
States;  but  whrrc  docs  it  stand  in  credit* ' 

A  Wall  ttrrct  Mntrmrnt  rrrrntlv  ittued  put  thr  piiuirr  neat  to  tkt  bottOSS 
of  the  list;  I'm  almost  ashamed  to  tell  you  who  that  last  man  was;  ha  was  tkt 
saloon  krrprr.  hut  thr  ptintrr  was  neat  door  to  him. 

The   country   hat   too   many    printing:   other*,    bj   fftjrf    sjtj    hj   tsw   Unlttd 

States    thrrr    ptohahlv    rxi.M    nil    ovrt  r.|iiipmrtit    of    at    least    JO    par    C*?nl;    it    it 

any  wou.lrr   thr  prints*   has  a   hard  time  of  it?     Sine*   thr  workday 

from  ten  hours  in    1898  to  thr   ptrtmt   right  hour   day  the  coat  of 

has  increased  nearly  $0  per  cant.     Think  of  it!     It  coats  about  one  half  saora 

I<>59 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

today  to  produce  a  catalogue  as  it  did  in  1898,  and  yet  the  selling  prices  re- 
main nearly  stationary.  Prices  are  now  increasing  though  gradually  and 
slowly  the  printer  is  coming  into  his  own;  but  he  needs  your  help  and  I  think 
it  will  be  found  that  usually  he  is  ready  to  divide  his  good  fortune  and  pros- 
perity; when  he  has  intelligent,  wide-awake  people  working  for  him  and  with 
him,  he  realizes  their  value  to  him,  and  in  the  end  they  lose  not  by  their  atten- 
tion and  faithfulness.     This  is  not  a  fairy  story. 

The  United  Typothetae  of  America  has  during  the  past  two  or  three  years 
installed  in  printing  offices  in  the  United  States  fully  2,000  or  more  standard 
cost  systems  and  this  is  going  to  prove  the  solution  of  the  problem— a  cost 
system  properly  installed  and  operating,  upheld  by  the  workmen. 

The  cost  system  is  not  intended  as  a  check  upon  the  workman.  It  is  a 
check  upon  the  hours.  The  proprietor  has  nothing  to  sell  but  hours.  He  buys 
them  by  the  week,  and  he  sells  them  singly.  Of  eight  hours  he  buys,  he  is 
rarely  able  to  dispose  of  more  than  five  and  one-fourth,  say  65  per  cent.  The 
rest  of  it,  two  and  three-fourths  hours  that  he  buys  and  pays  for,  he  can  not 
sell,  because  it.  is  spent  in  foremanship,  errand  boys,  distribution  and  other 
non-producing  work;  the  cost  system  is  designed  to  separate  this  productive 
time  from  the  non-productive,  so  that  the  proprietor  can  tell  at  the  end  of  the 
week  just  how  many  of  the  hours  he  has  bought  have  been  sold,  and  thus  he 
can  arrive  at  his  actual  cost  per  hour. 

So  much  has  been  printed  about  this  subject  in  the  trade  magazines  that 
you  are  doubtless  familiar  with  it.  Two  or  three  years  ago  the  prevailing  rate 
for  selling  composition  was  60  cents  to  75  cents  an  hour;  the  cost  system  shows 
it  costs  from  $1.16  to  $1.25  per  hour;  the  average  cost  last  year  throughout 
the  United  States  was  $1.20.  Is  it  any  wonder  then  that  the  printing  house 
proprietor  has  never  made  but  a  struggling  existence  ever  since  printing  has 
been  a  commercial  industry?  Is  it  any  wonder  he  fights  against  reductions  of 
hours  and  increase  of  wages?  To  make  these  things  possible,  to  put  the  em- 
ployer in  a  position  where  he  is  financially  able  to  meet  reasonable  requests 
from  his  employes  for  the  improvement  of  their  conditions  the  employe  must 
co-operate  to  the  fullest  extent  possible.  He  must  watch  the  leaks,  make  every 
minute  count,  for  the  minutes  make  up  the  hours,  which  the  proprietor  buys 
and  sells,  and  he  can  never  in  the  best  regulated  shop  sell  all  he  buys. 

When  such  co-operation  is  practiced  the  condition  of  both  the  employed 
and  the  employer  will  improve  and  life  will  be  the  pleasanter  and  happier  for  it. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Heath's  remarks,  President 
Lynch  said  that  on  Monday,  at  the  opening  exercises,  the 
convention  was  welcomed  by  the  president  of  the  Amer- 
ican Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  and  that  the 
president  took  occasion  at  that  time  to  express  his  high 
regard  for  that  association  and  its  officers,  and  continued : 
"I  now  have  the  pleasure  of  being  able  to  present  to  you 
the  labor  representative  of  that  association,  a  gentleman 
who  has  the  most  intimate  relations  with  the  presidents  of 
four  of  the  great  international  unions  that  operate  in  this 
industry.  You  have  all  met  him,  I  think,  all  of  those  who 
have  attended  conventions,  and  you  all  know  of  him.    I 

1060 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  1912 

take  pleasure  in  introducing  Mr.  H.  N.  Kellogg,  labor 
commissioner  for  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association."    Mr.  Kellogg  said  : 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  It  is  a  great  pleasure  for  me  to 
be  here  this  morning.  I  want  to  say  to  you,  however,  that  Mr.  Lynch  is 
slightly  mistaken  in  saying  that  I  represent  solely  an  employers'  association, 
because  some  of  our  members  have  stated  that  our  committee  is  the  tail  of  Mr. 
Lynch's  kite.  If  that  is  the  case,  perhaps  we  represent  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  in  some  respects. 

I  have  been  very  much  interested  in  listening  to  the  remarks  of  the  gen- 
tlemen who  represent  the  organizations  of  commercial  printers.  I  have  no 
doubt  they  will  ultimately  succeed  in  organizing  an  international  association  or 
amalgamating  the  various  associations.  They  will  then  be  in  a  position  where, 
as  the  publishers'  association  has  done,  their  association  "will  be  enabled  to 
follow  the  lead  of  the  lion  and  the  lamb,  the  publishers  being  the  lamb. 

Of  course,  when  they  refer  to  the  equalization  of  scales,  we  expect,  when 
that  halcyon  day  shall  come,  that  the  newspaper  scales  will  be  equalized  down 
to  the  jobmen's  scales.  I  understand  that  a  member  of  a  local  union  met  Mr. 
Lynch  on  the  street  and  said:  "Say,  Jim,  where  do  these  publishers  get  all 
the  money  we  take  away  from  them?" 

When  I  had  the  pleasure  of  addressing  you  a  year  ago  in  that  charming 
metropolis  of  the  Pacific  coast — San  Francisco — my  remarks  related  principally 
to  the  new  arbitration  agreement  between  your  organization  and  our  associa- 
tion, which  was  to  be  considered  by  you.  I  believe  we  should  congratulate  each 
other  on  the  fact  that  that  contract  is  now  in  effect,  and  that  we  arc  thus  as- 
sured of  industrial  peace  and  the  continuance  of  harmonious  and  pleasant 
relations  between  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  and  the 
International  Typographical  Union  for  another  five-year  period.  After  that 
agreement  had  been  fully  executed  by  authorized  representatives  of  both  par- 
ties, a  contract  identical  in  its  terms  was  concluded  by  our  representatives  and 
the  executive  board  of  the  International  Stercotypcrs  and  Elect rotypers'  Union. 
This  agreement  was  ratified  by  referendum  vote  of  the  stereotypers  and  ap- 
proved by  a  very  substantial  majority.  Therefore,  we  arc  assured  that  peace 
and  harmony  will  prevail  between  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Associa- 
tion and  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Elcctrotypers'  Union  for  the  nnt 
five  years.  A  contract  on  similar  lines,  though  differing  somewhat  in  detail. 
between  the  American  Newspaper  Association  and  the  International  Photo 
Engravers'  Union  has  also  been  concluded,  and  we  are  confident  that  friendly 
relations  will  prevail  with  that  organization  for  five  years  more.  An  arbitra 
(Km  agreement  was  also  negotiated  by  representative*  of  the  American  Publish- 
ers' Association  .-mil  the  International  Printing  Pic«»men  and  Assistants'  Union. 
III.-  repi  esentatives  of  this  organization  explained  that  their  action  in  neoo- 
tiating  the  agreement  must  be  submitted  to  the  referendum  vote  of  the  HMto- 
licmlup    of    tin-    Intei  national    l'i  miing    Pressmen    and    Assistants'    Union.      Tbe 

inik-.  batWOM  1,  preventatives  of  our  association  and  lb*  oaVers  of  the  b>> 
1.  1  national  pressmen's  union  during  which  the  tcrm«  of  the  new  a  r  tut  ratios 
agreement  ucte  .l< .  i.l.-.l  upon  were  held  at  my  oflke  la  Indianapolis  in  Janu- 
ary of  this  year.  The  flfactOfl  of  the  intn  national  pmsMl'l  onion  agreed. 
at  the  close  of  our  conferences,  that  the  rrfnrndum  volt  upon  lb*  arbttra- 
ti"n   ioiit:act    wiiild  be  taken  in    February.      About   ten   days  after   the 

Ived    n    letter    from    the    president    of    the    International 
imn'i  union  id   which  the  statement  was  made  that   the  directors  of  that 
had    I'Miml    it    impracticable    to   have   the    vole     upon     the    arbitration 
taken  .iuimk-    Pabniar]        i  '.ted,  however,  thai  toe  ataiter  would  be 

UV.l 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

submitted  to  the  membership  in  March,  and  I  would  be  officially  informed  of 
the  result  during  the  latter  part  of  that  month.  I  objected  to  the  delay,  but 
was  unable  to  induce  the  directors  of  the  pressmen's  organization  to  comply 
with  their  original  agreement,  and  have  the  vote  taken  during  February.  Bear 
in  mind  that  I  had  the  written  assurance  of  the  pressmen's  organization  that 
the  vote  would  be  taken  in  March,  and  he  would  inform  me  of  the  result  during 
the  "latter  part  of  that  month."  On  February  28  I  received  the  February 
number  of  the  American  Pressman,  which,  as  of  course  you  know,  is  the 
official  journal  of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union. 
It  contained  a  copy  of  the  new  arbitration  contract  with  instructions  to  local 
unions  to  vote  upon  it  and  to  see  that  their  reports  on  this  matter  reached 
headquarters  at  Rogersville  not  later  than  the  first  day  of  May.  I  supposed, 
of  course,  this  was  a  typographical  error,  and  immediately  took  the  matter  up 
with  Mr.  Berry.  I  was  astonished  to  receive  a  reply  that  the  date  as  printed 
in  the  American  Pressman  was  correct.  I  protested  vehemently  against  this 
delay  and  pointed  out  the  fact  that  this  would  result  in  an  interim  during 
which  we  would  have  no  arbitration  agreement,  and  proposed,  since  it  was 
stated  the  delay  was  unavoidable,  that  the  arbitration  contract  then  in  effect 
be  continued  in  operation  for  ninety  days  after  May  first.  The  suggestion  was 
made  because  that  agreement  contained  a  clause  permitting  such  a  course.  The 
directors  of  the  international  pressmen's  union  declined  to  accept  my  sugges- 
tion, but  assured  me  the  delay  in  taking  the  vote  would  make  no  difference. 
The  referendum  vote  on  the  .  arbitration  contract  was  reported  in  the  May 
number  of  the  American  Pressman,  which  was  issued  during  the  latter  part 
of  that  month.  It  gave  the  vote  as  2,020  against  the  agreement  and  1,569  for 
it.  A  majority  against  it  of  451,  less  than  3,600  votes  being  reported,  though 
there  are  nearly  23,000  members  of  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and 
Assistants'  Union.  The  published  list  of  local  unions  voting  on  the  proposition 
did  not  contain  the  votes  of  the  largest  locals  in  the  country,  those  of  New 
York  city,  although  shortly  before  the  vote  was  announced  an  officer  of  the 
international  pressmen's  union  told  me  personally  the  three  largest  New  York 
unions  had  voted  in  favor  of  the  agreement.  You  are  thoroughly  familiar  with 
the  local  phases  of  the  pressmen's  strike,  which  occurred  in  Chicago  on  May 
1,  as  your  officers  in  their  reports  have  covered  this  difficulty  most  thoroughly. 
You  may,  however,  not  be  aware  that  shortly  after  the  strike  occurred  tele- 
grams were  sent  to  local  pressmen's  unions  all  over  the  country  directing  them 
to  be  ready  to  call  sympathetic  strikes  in  the  offices  of  our  members  every- 
where. These  orders  were  sent  broadcast  throughout  the  country  in  utter 
disregard  of  the  fact  that  nearly  all  the  unions  that  were  ordered  to  strike 
had  contracts  with  the  newspaper  publishers  in  their  cities.  This  of  course 
explains  the  action  of  the  directors  of  the  international  pressmen's  union  in 
delaying  the  referendum  vote  so  that  on  the  first  of  May  there  would  be  no 
arbitration  contracts  in  effect  between  members  of  the  American  Newspaper 
Publishers'  Association  and  the  International  Printing  Pressmen  and  Assist- 
ants' Union.  You  know  that  it  has  been  charged  that  the  pressmen  in  Chicago 
were  "locked  out."  If  there  is  any  one  present  who  up  to  this  time  has  had 
any  doubt  in  his  mind  on  this  point,  I  am  sure  what  I  have  said  will  remove 
that  doubt,  as  it  clearly  indicates  the  officers  of  the  international  pressmen's 
union  last  February  fully  expected  there  would  be  a  strike  in  Chicago  on  or 
about  May  1.  This  is  further  confirmed  by  the  fact,  as  explained  in  your 
officers'  reports,  that  the  Chicago  Stereotypers'  Union,  on  two  occasions  prior 
to  May  1,  voted  that  if  the  pressmen  struck  on  that  date  they  would  strike  in 
sympathy.  Fortunately  nearly  all  the  local  pressmen's  unions  declined  to 
violate  their  contracts  and  go  out  on  sympathetic  strikes.  There  were  only 
two  cities  in  which  this  action  was  taken;  namely,  Atlanta  and  San  Francisco. 
In    Atlanta    the    pressmen    remained    out  'less    than    a    week    and    then    resumed 

I062 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  1912 

work.  In  San  Francisco  the  pressmen  are  still  on  strike.  Efforts  have  been 
made  to  boycott  the  San  Francisco  Examiner,  and  everything  possible  has  been 
done  to  embarrass  that  newspaper,  regardless  of  the  fact  that  the  officers  of 
the  local  union  have  assured  the  management  they  have  no  grievances  what- 
ever. Though  there  can  be  no  denying  the  fact  that  the  web  pressmen's  union 
in  San  Francisco  went  out  on  sympathetic  strike  because  it  was  ordered  to  do 
so  by  the  international  officers,  the  July  number  of  the  American  Pressman 
contains  repeated  statements  to  the  effect  that  the  pressmen  in  Chicago  and 
San  Francisco  had  been  "locked  out." 

You  no  doubt  know  statements  have  been  sent  broadcast  throughout  the 
country  that  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  has  decided  to 
inaugurate  an  "open  shop"  policy,  and  that  it  proposes  to  destroy  all  the 
unions  of  the  printing  trades.  These  statements  are  almost  too  foolish  to  deny. 
The  fact  that  we  have  negotiated  arbitration  contracts  with  four  international 
unions,  that  three  of  them  are  in  effect,  and  that  the  fourth  one  is  not  in  effect 
because  it  has  been  rejected  by  the  membership  of  the  fourth  union,  clearly 
disproves  the  allegation.  The  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association 
desires  to  continue  dealing  with  labor  unions  if  it  can  be  assured  unions  will 
respect  their  agreements  and  international  officers  will  deal  honestly  with  the 
representatives  of  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association.  The 
American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association,  however,  believes  that  unions 
which  fol|ow  the  lead  of  men  who  openly  assert  they  would  "break  any  con- 
tract," and  that  they  believe  "the  ethics  of  trade  unionism  demand  the  viola- 
tion of  the  best  contract  ever  made  if  necessary  to  assist  a  union  in  distress," 
must  inevitably  meet  with  disaster.  Such  remarks  you  will  recollect  were 
made  by  the  president  of  the  international  pressmen's  union  during  the  trouble 
in   Chicago,  as  stated  in  the  report  of  Representative  Colbert. 

In  this  connection,  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers'  Association  heartily 
and  sincerely  appreciates  the  action  of  President  Lynch  and  the  executive 
council  of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  the  action  of  the  Chicago 
Typographical  Union  No.  16,  in  standing  firmly  for  the  right  and  upholding 
the  integrity  of  contracts  during  the  stress  of  the  recent  storm  in  Chicago.  I 
can  not  let  this  opportunity  go  by  without  also  expressing  our  sincere  appre- 
ciation of  the  action  of  President  Freel  and  the  executive  board  of  the  Inter- 
national Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union,  in  standing  for  the  right. 

We  are  also  gratified  at  the  action  of  President  Woll  and  the  officers  of  the 
International  Photo  Engravers'  Union,  in  preventing  sympathetic  strikes  by 
local  photo  engravers'  unions.  This  applies  also  to  the  officers  of  Mailers' 
Union  No.  a. 

In  closing,  I  wish  to  congratulate  you  on  having  re-elected  for  another  two 
years'  term  the  international  officers  who  have  labored  so  long  and  faithfully 
and  have  accomplished  so  much  in  your  behalf.  I  thank  you  for  your  kind 
attention. 

When  Commissioner  Kellogg  had  conclinli-il  his  re- 
marks President  Lynch  introduced  James  J.  Freel,  one  of 
the  officials  who  had  hem  much  in  the  public  eye  in  con- 
nection with  the  pressmens  strike  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Freel 
spoke  as  follows: 

Mr    Prisidint.  Ladiis  and  QmUMSRI     I  am  much  pleat**!  to  hi 
Malty  to  again  appear  before  your  convention,  and  tender  on  behalf   <•< 
ih.     Inirui.iiic.nnl    Sirrroivprm   m  t<*r»"   Union   their  congratulation* 

on   the   magnificent   showing   that    the    International   Typographical    Union   has 

l<*M 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

made  during  the  past  year.  I  read  the  reports  of  your  officers  with  a  great 
deal  of  satisfaction,  and,  realizing  as  I  do,  that  the  International  Typographical 
Union  is  one  of  the  largest  organizations  that  make  up  the  great  American 
Federation  of  Labor,  I  appreciate  the  fact  that  if  you  progress  it  certainly 
means  progress  for  the  trade  union  movement  in  general  throughout  this 
North  American  continent.  I  do  also  know  that,  being  the  largest  organization 
in  the  printing  industry,  any  progress  you  may  make  in  that  industry  directly 
affects  the  interests  of  the  other  four  international  printing  trade  unions,  and  I 
think  that  that  was  very  thoroughly  demonstrated  when  you  successfully  inaugu- 
rated the  eight-hour  day.  I  believe,  and  I  don't  think  any  other  international 
trade  organization  will  deny  the  fact,  that  it  was  a  great  benefit  to  them 
latterly  in  securing  what  you  had  first  secured,   the  eight-hour  day. 

Your  president  has  requested  that  I  briefly  outline  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union  the  unfortunate  con- 
dition at  present  existing  in  the  newspaper  industry  in  the  city  of  Chicago. 
In  connection  with  this  matter  I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that 
this  subject  has  been  very  thoroughly,  and  let  me  say  with  as  much  emphasis 
as  I  can,  truthfully  presented  to  you  by  the  president  of  your  international 
organization,  by  the  executive  council  of  your  international  organization,  by 
Typographical  Union  No.  16  of  Chicago,  III.,  by  Representative  Colbert,  and 
by  the  representative  of  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers' 
Union,  who  represented  our  union  on  the  ground  after  I  was  obliged  to  go 
to  our  convention  in  San  Francisco.  Let  me  again  emphasize  that  you  have 
that  before  you  in  the  report  of  your  officers,  and  that  it  is  absolutely  truthful. 

It  will,  therefore,  not  be  necessary  for  me  to  take  up  your  time  in  attempt- 
ing to  further  enlarge  upon  that  subject,  but  I  feel  that  as  the  representative 
of  the  International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union,  it  is  my  duty,  it 
is  my  obligation,  to  present  to  you  officially  the  views  of  our  organization  in  a 
brief  manner  in  regard  to  this  unfortunate  affair.  So  that  you  will  thoroughly 
understand  it,  it  will  be  necessary,  I  believe,  for  me  to  go  back  and  state 
some  ancient  history  that  perhaps  some  of  the  younger  delegates  to  your  con- 
vention  are   not   familiar  with. 

In  1898,  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  we  had  a  stereotypers'  organization,  and  at 
that  time  the  stereotypers  and  electrotypers  were  affiliated  with  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  that  is,  as  a  subordinate  body.  We  had  two 
organizations,  but  I  want  to  refer  particularly  to  the  stereotypers'  organiza- 
tion. We  had  a  100  per  cent  stereotypers'  organization  in  that  city.  There 
was  not  a  non-union  stereotyper  in  the  city  of  Chicago  at  that  time,  and  a 
dispute  arose  between  the  newspaper  publishers  in  the  city  of  Chicago  and 
the  stereotypers'  union  over  a  new  wage  scale.  I  believe  the  stereotypers 
were  asking  for  an  increase  in  wages  and  a  reduction  in  hours.  Fortunately, 
at  that  time  there  was  no  agreement  in  existence.  The  stereotypers  had  no 
agreement  with  the  publishers  at  that  time.  I  won't  go  into  the  details 
particularly  of  what  transpired  between  the  two  parties  that  were  negotiating, 
but  I  will  tell  you  what  happened.  On  July  3  or  4,  1898,  at  the  time  of  the 
battle  of  Manila,  a  lockout  occurred  which  resulted  in  the  Chicago  newspapers, 
that  is,  all  the  large  newspapers,  suspending  publication  for  three  or  four 
days,  if  you  remember.  They  suspended  publication,  I  presume,  for  the  reason 
that  they  were  unable  to  obtain  stereotypers.  I  call  attention  to  the  fact 
that  we  had  at  that  time  a  100  per  cent  organization,  and  there  were  no 
non-union  stereotypers  in  Chicago.  They  suspended  publication  for  three  or 
four  days;  at  the  expiration  of  the  third  or  fourth  day  they  finally  reissued, 
and  I  believe  they  reissued  by  publishing  four-page  papers,  and  improved  until 
they  were  able  in  a  very  short  time  to  publish  the  requisite  number  of  pages 
that  they  had  always  been  doing,  and  the  reason  was  that  the  stereotypers  in 
the  city  of  Chicago  were  absolutely  defeated,  and  we  had  a  non-union  condition 

IO64 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2 

in  every  newspaper  office  in  that  city.  That  occurred  in  1898.  In  1902  tbe 
International  Stereotypers  and  Electrotypers'  Union  was  organised,  and  from 
1898  to  igo4,  with  the  assistance  of  the  International  Typographical  Union— 
and  I  want  to  give  them  all  the  credit  for  that — we  made  every  possible  effort 
to  unionize  the  city  of  Chicago  and  restore  the  union  conditions  that  had 
existed  in  those  newspaper  offices  previous  to  the  strike  or  lockout  of  1898; 
and  in  1904  we  succeeded  in  doing  that,  and  we  did  it  largely  through  the 
able  assistance  rendered  by  your  present  president,  and  when  the  final  nego- 
tiations were  concluded,  and  while  they  were  on,  we.  had  the  assistance,  as 
your  president's  representative,  of  Michael  Colbert,  who  is  now  one  of  your 
representatives,  and  we  succeeded  in  organizing  that  entire  newspaper  industry, 
in  unionizing  every  paper,  and  we  restored  tbe  conditions  that  had  been  in 
existence  previous  to  the  trouble.  At  the  time  of  the  trouble  tbe  stereotypers 
were  getting  $3.25  a  day,  and  the  agreement  that  we  made  in  1904,  or  six 
years  afterwards,  provided  for  a  scale  of  $3.75  a  day,  an  increase  of  50  cents 
over  the  previous  wage  scale.  Not  only  that,  but  we  made  an  agreement  that 
would  be  in  effect  for  three  years,  or  until  June  1,  1907,  and  in  order  to 
prevent  anything  occurring  again  like  what  had  occurred  in  the  past,  we 
provided  in  that  agreement  that  in  the  event  of  the  publishers  and  union 
being  unable  to  agree  upon  a  scale,  that  the  matter  would  have  to  go  to 
arbitration.  In  other  words,  we  provided  that  in  Chicago,  in  future,  a  strike 
could  not  occur.  As  a  lesult  of  that  provision,  when  the  scale  expired  in  1904, 
the  publishers  and  tbe  Chicago  Stereotypers'  Union  endeavored  to  get  together 
on  a  scale  by  conciliation  or  negotiation,  but  were  unable  to  do  so,  and  tbey  finally 
decided  to  go  to  arbitration,  and  they  got,  as  a  result  of  that  arbitration,  one 
of  the  best  awards  I  ever  heard  of  a  trade  union  receiving.  The  scale,  as  I 
stated  at  that  time,  was  $3.75.  The  arbitrators  decided  that  the  scale  should 
be  immediately  increased  to  $4.25  a  day.  That  was  an  increase  of  50  cents 
over  the  scale,  and  a  year  afterwards  it  was  provided  to  be  increased  to 
$4.50.  They  were  working  ten  hours  on  Saturday  night  in  those  newspaper 
offices,  and  the  arbitrator  decided  that  the  Saturday  night  work  should  consist 
of  eight  hours.  They  negotiated  for  almost  a  year,  and  went  to  arbitration,  and 
the  arbitration  proceedings  took  almost  a  year.  The  matter  was  pending  for 
about  two  years  altogether,  and  it  was  not  until  June  1,  1909,  that  it  was 
settled.  When  the  arbitration  matter  was  taken  up  in  1907  it  was  agreed 
lh.it  any  award  that  was  made  would  date  from  June  1,  1907,  and  tbe  re«ult 
was  that  every  stcreotyper  in  the  city  of  Chicago  that  held  a  situation  got 
about  $300  back  pay.  They  got  back  pay  for  the  ten  hours  on  Saturday  nights 
for  two  years.  They  had  a  provision  so  far  as  apprentices  were  concerned  that 
every  office  should  have  one  apprentice  for  ten  men,  two  for  eleven  men,  and 
three  for  twenty-one  men.  The  arbitrator  decided  that  every  oAcc  should 
have  one  apprentice  for  ten  men,  the  second  whrn  tliry  had  the  major  pOTtiOss 
of  twenty,  and  the  third  when  they  had  the  major  portion  of  thirty  one.  In 
other  words,  they  could  not  have  the  second  apprentice  until  tbey  had  sixteen 
men,  nor  the  third  apprentice  until  tliry  had  twenty-six  men.  Wc  felt  thai 
that  award  was  a  very  fair  one,  and  the  international  representatives  felt 
that   wc   weald   never   hove   any   in.nr   trouble    111    the  city  of   Chicago. 

At  tli. it  time  llmmt  had  no  newspaper  in  Chicago.  He  did  not  have  a 
newspaper  in  tgoo,  and  when  he  established  a  nrwspaptr  he  made  a  blanket 
ontract  with  all  the  union*  in  that  city.  Hearst  had  a  separate  aimaaml 
WhJen  expired  May  1  last.  Our  local  had  agreements  with  all  the  other 
newspapers,  which  did  not  expire  until  1913.  Some  dispute  occurred  between 
thr  DfssfsMkCsl  and  the  Hearst  newspapers,  and  it  was  a  matter  of  pretty  gen- 
eral knowledge   in   tbe   printing   industry  that   thr   pressmen  proooacd  to  force 

M  to  sign  a  contract  (hat  would  1  •hem  on  May   1.     Wl 

not  aware  that  there  was  any  dissatisfaction,  so  far  aa  our   sterrot. 


t065 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

organization  was  concerned,  until  I  received  an  official  communication  on 
March  23  last,'  in  which  the  local  union  in  Chicago  requested  the  sanction  of 
the  international  union  to  strike  the  Hearst  newspaper  offices  on  May  1  in 
conjunction  with  the  pressmen.  I  would  like  to  say  that  as  a  result  of  this 
communication,  our  Vice-President  Sumner  and  myself  visited  Chicago  and 
attended  a  meeting  of  the  local  union  on  April  31,  We  investigated  and 
found  that  the  Hearst  newspapers  had  offered  the  same  contract  to  our  men 
that  they  had  with  the  other  newspapers,  and  that  they  refused  to  accept  that 
contract.  On  behalf  of  our  international  union  we  notified  the  members  of  the 
Chicago  union  that  we  would  not  sanction  a  strike  in  the  city  of  Chicago. 
After  we  left  the  hall,  however,  we  learned  that  they  had  taken  a  strike 
vote  and  decided  to  strike  on  May  1,  1912.  Whether  we  sanctioned  it  or  not, 
they  were  going  to  strike  anyhow.  I  simply  want  to  make  that  point,  so  you 
will  understand  that  they  were  determined  to  do  this  thing  whether  we  sanc- 
tioned their  action  or  not.  That  occurred  on  April  21.  On  April  30  the 
Chicago  Stereotypers'  Union  held  a  meeting,  and  rescinded  the  action  they 
took  on  April  21,  and  appointed  a  committee,  and  authorized  that  committee 
on  behalf  of  the  union  to  go  to  the  Hearst  newspapers  and  sign  up  an  agree- 
ment permitting  them  to  become  parties  to  the  agreement  we  had  with  the 
other  newspapers,  which  did  not  expire  until  1915.  That  committee  met  the 
representatives  of  the  Hearst  newspapers,  and  signed  the  contract  to  that 
effect,  consequently  on  April  30  we  had  signed  contracts  with  all  the  news- 
papers, guaranteed  by  our  national  organization,  which  did  not  expire  until 
1915,  and  we  made  up  our  minds  that  there  was  not  any  possibility  of  contract 
violation  in  Chicago.  I  want  to  say  to  the  members  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union  that  we  have  about  200  contracts  in  various  parts  of  North 
America  that  have  been  guaranteed  by  our  international  organization.  Previous 
to  the  unfortunate  occurrence  in  Chicago,  our  international  organization  had 
never  violated  a  contract.  Very  much  to  our  surprise  we  learned  on  May  2, 
that  a  lockout  or  strike  of  the  pressmen  had  occurred  on  the  Hearst  news- 
papers, and  immediately  afterwards  all  the  pressmen  either  struck  or  were 
locked  out  on  the  other  newspapers.  And  up  to  that  time,  I  want  to  say  to 
the  representatives  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  assembled  here, 
we  had  no  official  communication  with  the  president  of  the  International  Press- 
men and  Assistants'  Union.  He  never  officially  communicated  with  our  inter- 
national organization  at  all,  but  on  May  2,  when  his  men  were  out  on  the 
street,  I  received  a  telegram  requesting  support.  In  all  his  dealings  he  dealt 
with  our  local  union  in  that  city.  We  were  not  aware  that  he  required  or 
wanted  any  assistance  from  us.  On  May  3,  the  day  after  the  pressmen's 
strike  or  lockout  occurred,  I  received  over  the  long  distance  telephone  word 
that  our  local  in  Chicago  had  struck  in  eight  newspaper  offices,  and  I  was 
requested  to  declare  just  what  the  attitude  of  our  international  organization 
would  be  under  those  circumstances.  The  eight  newspapers  were  the  follow- 
ing: Tribune,  Record-Herald,  Inter  Ocean,  Daily  News,  Journal,  Evening  Post, 
American  and  Examiner.  In  all  those  offices  we  had  contracts  that  the  local 
union  had  negotiated  and  that  our  international  union  had  underwritten  and 
guaranteed. 

I  have  a  statement  here  of  our  executive  board  that  perhaps  will  make 
the  matter  a  little  more  clear.  I  just  want  to  explain  our  position  in  regard 
thereto : 

"Disregarding  the  laws  of  this  union  and  in  direct  violation  of  section  69, 
general  laws,  also  in  violation  of  the  terms  of  an  agreement  which  it  had 
negotiated  with  most  of  the  daily  newspapers  of  Chicago,  111.,  under  date  of 
June  1,  1909,  and  continuing  until  February  1,  191 5,  which  agreement  was 
underwritten  and  guaranteed  by  this  union,  Stereotypers'  Union  No.  4,  of 
Chicago,    111.,    did,    without    any    notice    to,    and    without    the    sanction    of    this 

1066 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  1912 

union,  on  the  night  of  May  3  last,  illegally  call  and  institute  a  strike  in  the 
stereotype  departments  of  the  following  Chicago  Newspapers."  I  hare  already 
given  you  their  names. 

"Immediately  upon  receiving  notice  of  such  strike  (early  on  the  morning 
of  May  4,  shortly  after  it  occurred),  the  president  of  this  union  called  up 
by  long  distance  telephone  President  Straube,  of  Stereotypers'  Union  No.  4, 
of  Chicago,  111.,  and  informed  him  that  the  strike  was  illegal,  and  ordered 
the  members  of  No.  4,  who  bad  struck,  to  immediately  return  to  work.  Presi- 
dent Straube,  of  No.  4,  flatly  refused  to  obey  this  order,  or  instruct  the 
members  of  his  union,  who  struck,  to  do  so. 

"The  president  of  this  union  then  sent  telegrams  to  President  Straube  and 
Secretary  Conklin,  of  No.  4,  declaring  the  strike  illegal,  and  ordering  No.  4's 
members  involved  to  immediately  return  to  work,  but  until  May  7,  at  5:10 
r.  m.,  no  reply  was  received  from  No.  4. 

"On  May  6,  at  9:00  a.  m.,  President  Freel  and  Vice-President  Sumner 
reached  Chicago,  and  on  behalf  of  the  executive  board  of  this  union  used  every 
possible  endeavor  to  promptly  meet  President  Straube  and  No.  4's  local  com- 
mittee, but  were  unable  to  do  so  until  about  3:30  that  afternoon,  when  we 
located  President   Straube  at  the  office  where  he  is  employed." 

Imagine  the  president  of  the  union,  with  almost  one  hundred  members  on 
strike  in  eight  newspaper  offices,  holding  down  his  situation  under  those  cir- 
cumstances!    I   again  quote: 

"President  Straube  stated  he  could  not  meet  us  until  5:00  r.  u.  that 
evening,  at  which  time  he  appeared  with  No.  4's  committee  and  representatives 
of  pressmen  and  other  unions  on  strike." 

I  would  like  to  say  that  we  requested  a  meeting  with  the  president  of  the 
Chicago  Stereotypers'  Union  and  the  committee  who  had  charge  of  that  strike, 
who  had  agreed  to  meet  us,  and  did  come  to  the  hotel  where  we  were,  and 
very  much  to  my  surprise,  they  had  with  them  the  president  of  the  Interna- 
tional Printing  Pressmen  and  Assistants'  Union,  and  the  secretary,  and  a  Mr. 
Kennedy,  representing  the  wagon  drivers  or  newsboys.  As  soon  as  they 
were  seated  I  said  we  desired  to  meet  only  the  representatives  of  the  stereo- 
typers' union  in  Chicago,  for  the  reason  that  we  had  no  jurisdiction  over  any 
other  organization,  and  the  president  said  that  if  we  desired  a  meeting  we 
would  have  to  meet  the  representatives  of  these  organizations  who  were  with 
him,  inasmuch  as  it  was  a  joint  matter,  and  he  absolutely  refused  to  meet  us 
any  other  way.     The  statement  says  further: 

"He  also  admitted  that  the  telephonic  and  telegraphic  orders  issued  by  the 
president  of  this  union,  declaring  the  strike  illegal  and  ordering  the  members 
of  No.  4  to  return  to  work,  bad  been  received  by  him,  but  had  not  up  to  that 
time  been  communicated  to  the  membership  of  No.  4,  but  were  communicated 
to  No.  4's  committee. 

"President  Freel  then  reiterated  the  decision  of  the  executive  board  of  this 
union,  that  the  strike  was  illegal,  and  ordered  the  members  of  No.  4  to  return 
to  work,  which  President  Straube  and  No.  4's  committee  refused  to  obey." 

I  would  like  to  say,  too,  that  we  immediately  requested  a  meeting  of 
Stereotypers'  Union  No.  4,  so  we  could  go  before  them  and  order  tbesa  to 
go  back  to  work,  and  the  president  refused  to  permit  us  to  meet  them,  and 
said  the  only  way  to  meet  them  was  collectively.  There  were  shout  on*  hun- 
dred stereotypers  and  many  wagon  drivers,  pressmen  and  newsboys  atlectod. 
Of  course,  we  refused  to  do  that,  and  insisted  on  having  a  meeting  of  our  own 
people,  and  he  absolutely  refu»r<l  10  permit  that.     To  quote  from  the  statement: 

"The  representatives  of  this  union,  being  debarred  frees  meeting  No.  4 
and  its  membership,  did  everything  possible  under  the  clfllWIlBUi  to  lagsN 
the  members  of  No.  4  whom  they  were  able  to  reoeh  to  return  to  work,  and 
being  unsuccessful,  did.  on  the  afternoon  of  May  9,  anopina  the  BJswm  of 


RI67 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Stereotypers'  Union  No.  4,  of  Chicago,  111.,  for  striking  illegally  in  violation 
of  the  laws  of  this  union,  and  in  violation  of  existing  agreements,  etc.,  as 
stated  above." 

They  absolutely  refused  to  return  to  work,  and  we  waited  until  May  9 
and  then  suspended  the  charter.  Now,  according  to  our  laws,  when  a  charter 
is  suspended  by  the  executive  board  of  the  international  union,  the  suspended 
union  has  the  right  of  appeal  to  our  convention,  and  they  did  appeal  to  our 
convention,  and  they  did  send  three  representatives  to  present  their  side  of 
the  case  to  our  convention,  and  I  assure  you  that  the  representatives  at  that 
convention  considered  it  a  most  important  matter,  for  the  reason  that  we  gave 
them  every  possible  opportunity  to  present  their  side  of  the  case.  They  took 
it,  and  the  discussion  of  the  Chicago  matter  took  up  the  first  five  days  of 
the  meeting  of  our  international  union  in  San  Francisco,  and  the  final  result 
was  that  the  action  of  the  executive  board  of  the  International  Stereotypers  and 
Electrotypers'  Union  in  suspending  Chicago  Stereotypers'  Union  No.  4,  was 
unanimously  endorsed,  and  the  matter  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  our  executive 
board  with  full  power  to  act.  I  would  like  to  say  that  we  have  acted,  and 
have  chartered  a  new  union  of  stereotypers  and  electrotypers  in  Chicago. 

I  would  like  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  I  see  in  the  records 
that  the  privilege  of  the  floor  was  asked  for  the  man  who  was  formerly  presi- 
dent of  the  Chicago  union,  and  who  is  responsible  for  the  unfortunate  condi- 
tions that  exist  in  tha.t  city.  I  refer  to  Mr.  L.  P.  Straube.  I  want  to  say 
to  you  gentlemen  that  it;  is  entirely  up  to  you  to  give  the  privilege  of  the 
floor  to  any  one,  but  Mr.  L.  P.  Straube  is  no  longer  a  member  or  representa- 
tive of  the  local  No.  4,  and  anything  that  he  would  say  he  would  not  say 
as  a  representative  or  member  of  that  organization. 

I  want  to  say  further  that  I  understand  everything  that  was  done  in 
Chicago,  I  know  that  every  possible  effort  was  made  to  induce  union  No.  16 
to  violate  their  contracts,  I  know  that  they  were  abused,  vilified  and  called 
everything  that  honest  men  should  not  be  called,  designated  as  strikebreakers, 
but  to  their  honor  and  credit  be  it  said  that  they  maintained  the  true  principles 
of  organized  labor. 

Now,  gentlemen,  there  is  no  one  who  more  deeply  regrets  the  unfortunate 
conditions  that  exist  in  Chicago  than  I  do.  When  Vice-President  Sumner  and 
myself  went  to  Chicago  on  May  6,  we  felt  that  we  would  have  liked  to  be  in 
the  position  to  get  behind  our  local  union  in  that  city.  We  much  prefer  to  be 
in  that  position  than  to  oppose  them.  We  did  not  want  to  declare  that  strike 
illegal,  it  was  against  our  desire  to  do  that,  but  our  international  union  had 
made  the  contract,  which  had  been  violated,  and  there  was  nothing  else  for  us 
to  do.  It  was  a  great  crisis  in  our  history.  I  want  to  say  if  our  international 
union  in  San  Francisco  had  refused  to  sustain  our  action  that  I  would  as  an 
official  have  severed  my  connection  with  that  body.  I  don't  want  to  have  any 
official  connection  with  any  organization  that  won't  keep  a  contract  it  has  made. 

The  unfortunate  condition  that  exists,  so  far  as  our  organization  is  con- 
cerned— and  I  am  only  speaking  for  the  stereotypers'  union  of  Chicago — I 
haven't  any  desire  to  criticise  any  other  organization  in  the  printing  industry, 
but  I  have  the  right  to  speak  for  our  organization — that  the  trouble  in  Chicago 
was  caused  entirely  by  violation  of  contract.  Another  thing,  while  I  was  in 
Chicago,  and  while  your  president  was  in  Chicago,  two  papers  there  that  are 
supposed  to  represent  the  trade  union  side,  deliberately  and  maliciously  mis- 
represented my  position  and  misrepresented  the  position  of  your  president,  and 
they  accused  me  of  committing  every  crime  possible  against  the  trade  union 
movement;  they  accused  me  of  doing  things  that  none  but  a  degenerate  would 
be  guilty  of.  I  want  to  say  as  emphatically  as  I  can  that  the  only  thing  I  did 
in  the  city  of  Chicago  was  to  get  our  people  to  return  to  work,  and  to  keep 
their  contract  with  the  publishers  in  Chicago,  which  they  had  violated. 

IO68 


III'i.m    Mil  I  IK.    |M„,s,r..,i, 

Typographh    Vtet>Pr«UtM    latoaadoMl    Typographical 

Union,   ll04  -  t*—.     Secretary  TrrMum 
American   TjrpOfjnsMaj    18M  -  19- 


Deutsch-Am^rikanische 
Ty  pographia 


Deutsch-Amerikanische 
Typographia 

By  HUGO  MILLER 

Second  Vice-President  International  Typographical  Union 

SOON  after  the  close  of  the  civil  war,  in  1865,  the 
German  printers  in  a  number  of  cities  of  the  United 
States  organized  local  unions,  or  typographias,  as  they 
are  called.  But  these  organizations  were  instituted  more 
for  social  and  benevolent  purposes  than  for  the  extension 
of  trade  union  principles,  and  therefore  did  not  have  a 
solid  foundation. 

In  July,  1872,  the  Gutenberg  Society  of  Philadelphia, 
composed  of  German  printers,  addressed  a  circular  to  the 
other  unions  of  German  printers  in  this  country,  with  the 
object  of  bringing  about  a  closer  affiliation.  The  Typo- 
graphia of  New  York,  which  was  organized  in  1869,  at 
once  endorsed  the  project  and  requested  the  Philadelphia 
Union  to  send  two  delegates  to  its  next  general  meeting, 
for  the  purpose  of  discussing  the  subject.  This  was  done 
and  a  committee  composed  of  members  of  both  unions 
was  created.  This  committee,  in  December,  1872,  ad- 
dressed an  appeal  to  all  German  printers  of  the  United 
States,  and  all  the  local  unions,  to  organize  a  national 
union  of  the  German  printers  of  the  United  States.  This 
appeal  was  so  well  received  that  the  joint  committee 
decided  to  call  a  convention,  or  "Buchdruckcr-Tag" 
(Printers'  day),  to  be  held  in  Philadelphia,  beginning 
April  22,  1873.  The  order  of  business  in  this  call  was 
stated  to  be:  (1)  Framing  of  a  general  constitution; 
(2)  founding  a  general  sick  or  benevolent  fund ;  (3) 
starting  a  printers'  journal ;  (4)  to  discuss  the  advisability 
of  affiliating  with  tin-  International  Typographical  Union. 
The  delegates  to  this  convention  also  were  requested  to 

1071 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

bring  with  them  statistics  relating  to  the  number  of  Ger- 
man printers  in  the  different  cities  and  the  wages  paid 
them. 

The  convention  met  on  the  date  mentioned,  with  nine 
delegates  present,  representing  the  cities  of  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis.  The  Typo- 
graphias  of  Buffalo,  Cleveland  and  Detroit  had  expressed 
their  willingness  to  join  in  the  proposed  national  union, 
but  were  not  represented  by  delegates.  The  convention 
was  in  session  for  three  days  and  adopted  a  constitution 
(which  in  its  main  features  is  in  operation  to-day),  and 
a  platform,  as  follows : 

First.  Forming  of  printers'  unions  to  elevate  and  pro- 
mote their  calling,  by  obtaining  and  maintaining  a  scale 
of  prices. 

Second.  The  regulation  and  improvement  of  the  ap- 
prenticeship system. 

Third.  Union  with  other  trade  organizations  to  obtain, 
by  way  of  political  activity,  laws  for  the  protection  of 
labor  and  the  abrogation  of  those  detrimental  to  it. 

Fourth.  Supporting  members  in  case  of  sickness  or 
when  unable  to  obtain  work  or  when  on  strike ;  also  at  the 
death  of  a  member's  wife,  and  paying  the  stipulated 
amount  to  the  heirs  of  a  deceased  member. 

Fifth.  Support  in  the  event  of  starting  co-operative 
printing  offices. 

Sixth.  Elevating  and  promoting  the  intellectual 
capacity  of  members  by  collecting  libraries,  instruction 
by  scientific  and  technical  lectures  and  discussion  of  the 
labor  cause  in  general. 

Seventh.  Close  union  of  members  during  all  condi- 
tions and  dangers  of  their  calling. 

It  was  decided  at  this  convention  to  establish  a  monthly 
journal  bearing  the  title,  "Deutsch-Amerikanisches  Jour- 
nal fur  Buchdruckerkunst"    (German- American  Journal 

1072 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

for  the  Printing  Art),  and  this  publication  is  now  the 
oldest  trade  union  paper  in  this  country,  with  a  con- 
tinuous existence  of  forty  years  on  July  I,  1913.  The 
convention  also  recommended  that  the  local  unions  should 
avoid  strikes  in  so  far  as  it  was  possible,  in  order  to 
strengthen  the  organization  and  build  up  its  treasury. 
Philadelphia,  as  the  originator  of  the  movement  to  bring 
the  several  organizations  together  as  an  affiliated  body, 
received  the  first  number  in  the  allotment  of  charters, 
and  the  other  numbers  were  drawn  for,  with  the  follow- 
ing result:  No.  2,  Cincinnati;  No.  3,  St  Louis;  No.  4, 
Buffalo;  No.  5,  Detroit;  No.  6,  Cleveland;  No.  7,  New 
York. 

The  Philadelphia  convention  selected  Cincinnati  as  the 
place  in  which  to  hold  the  next  session,  the  first-named 
city  to  be  the  headquarters  (Vorort)  or  seat  of  the  exec- 
utive board,  the  members  to  be  selected  from  the  roll 
of  the  local  body.  In  the  matter  of  affiliating  with  the 
International  Typographical  Union,  the  executive  board 
was  instructed  to  address  a  communication  to  that 
organization,  asking  for  the  interchange  of  certificates 
of  membership,  and  the  members  of  the  typographias 
were  advised  to  advocate  the  adoption  of  the  plan  among 
the  English-speaking  printers  in  the  various  jurisdictions 
It  was  at  this  convention  that  a  resolution  was  adopted 
demanding  the  abolition  of  night  work  in  printing  offices. 

TIh-  total  membership  of  the  seven  unions  which 
formed  the  National  Typographia  was  ;ir».  It  may  seem 
strange  that  such  a  small  number  could  undertake  and 
carry  through  a  great  enterprise  of  this  character,  but 
it  should  he  remembered  that  most  of  these  men  had  been 
trained  in  the  printers'  union  movement  in  Genua 
which  organization  had  a  strong,  well-founded  and  far- 
reaching  beneficial  system  in  operation. 

I  lie    In   t    number    of    tin  '    paper,    Journal    fur 

WW 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Buchdruckerkunst,  was  issued  in  Philadelphia  on  July  I, 

1873.  It  was  not  compulsory  on  the  part  of  the  member- 
ship to  subscribe  for  the  publication,  so  it  was  necessary 
to  depend  on  voluntary  subscriptions  and  advertisements 
to  insure  its  existence.  The  paper  was  first  issued  as  a 
monthly,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year's  time  it  was  changed 
to  a  semi-monthly  publication. 

The  new  organization  at  once  started  off  at  a  lively 
pace.  Although  the  first  convention  had  warned  the 
membership  against  strikes,  it  was  necessary  that  several 
industrial  battles  be  fought  during  the  first  year  of  exist- 
ence of  the  affiliated  typographias,  with  the  result  that 
the  organization  gained  both  in  numerical  strength  and 
in  number  of  subordinate  bodies.  Four  new  local  unions 
(Newark,  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  Baltimore)  were 
added  during  the  first  year,  and  as  a  consequence  the 
membership  increased  to  499.  In  October,  1873,  Typo- 
graphia  No.  7,  of  New  York,  established  the  first  out-of- 
work  (or  employment)  bureau  for  German  printers. 

Nothing  of  great  importance  to  the  membership  was 
enacted  at  the  second  convention  at  Cincinnati,  in  May, 

1874,  except  that  it  was  decided  to  hold  conventions  bi- 
ennially, instead  of  annually,  and  to  receive  the  cards 
of  German  printers  coming  from  Europe. 

In  the  year  1874  there  was  a  panic  throughout  the 
country,  and  the  printers'  unions  had  to  struggle  hard  for 
existence.  But  the  young  Typographia  stood  up  well 
under  the  fire,  and  held  its  ground  firmly,  losing  only 
one  union  (Newark,  N.  J.)  and  twenty-five  members  up 
to  the  time  of  holding  the  third  convention,  at  St.  Louis 
in  June,  1876.  On  May  1,  1875,  a  union  of  German 
printers  was  organized  at  Indianapolis,  composed  of 
twelve  men  from  that  city,  nine  from  Fort  Wayne,  and 
one  each  from  Logansport  and  Terre  Haute.  But  in 
April,  1876,  the  printers  of  the  Telegraph  at  Indianapolis 

1074 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

were  compelled  to  go  on  strike,  in  order  to  uphold  the 
union  rules.  The  strike  was  lost  and  the  union  was  dis- 
solved. 

In  October,  1875,  the  officers  of  the  different  locals 
were  instructed  to  compile  statistics  covering  the  number 
of  printers,  apprentices,  etc.  Of  course,  these  statistics 
were  far  from  being  complete,  but  nevertheless  the  com- 
pilation is  worth  while  mentioning.  It  showed  that  in 
179  German  printing  offices  in  this  country  724  journey- 
men were  employed  (about  one-fifth  of  them  pressmen) 
and  447  apprentices.  Although  quite  a  number  of  the 
so-called  apprentices  were  running  small  platen  presses, 
the  enumeration  of  apprentices  was  enormous  in  com- 
parison with  the  journeymen  employed,  and  it  shows  the 
conditions  the  Typographia  had  to  contend  with  at  that 
time.  The  price  paid  for  1,000  ems  ranged  from  30  cents 
in  Cleveland  to  60  cents  in  San  Francisco.  The  hours 
of  labor  worked  were  not  given  in  detail,  but  were  from 
thirteen  to  fourteen  on  daily  papers  and  from  ten  to 
twelve  in  book  and  job  offices. 

At  the  third  convention,  held  at  St.  Louis  in  June, 
1876,  eleven  delegates,  representing  eight  unions  and  409 
members,  were  present.  It  was  resolved  to  tax  the  mem- 
bers 10  cents  per  month  for  the  creation  of  a  defense 
fund,  out  of  which  $6  per  week  should  be  paid  to  mem- 
bers on  strike  for  a  period  of  four  weeks.  The  com  i-nti»>n 
further  decided  to  remove  the  scat  of  the  national  c.\ 
titive  board  and  its  official  journal  from  Philadelphia  to 
New  York  and  to  change  the  name  of  the  paper  from 
"Journal  fur  Buchdruekerkunst"  to  "HuchdruekeT- 
/« itung,  Organ  of  the  German-American  Typographia, 
Published  Under  the  Control  of  its  Executive  Board,"  and 
to  furnish  the  same  free  of  cost  to  every  member.  The 
convention  also  went  on  record  as  favoring  the  alphabet. 
or  I  tern,  instead  oj  the  old  and  unjust  em  system 

">75 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

for  piece  work,  with  22  cents  and  24  cents  per  1,000  letters 
and  a  minimum  scale  of  $15  per  week  for  ten  hours'  work 
per  day.  The  convention  also  declared  in  favor  of 
creating  a  board  of  arbitration,  but  it  took  many  years 
before  this  object  was  accomplished. 

During  the  panic  years  from  1876  to  1879  the  Typo- 
graphia  was  hard  pressed  by  the  publishers  and  had  to  go 
through  strikes  at  Cincinnati,  Chicago,  Philadelphia,  Mil- 
waukee and  Detroit,  which  reduced  both  the  ranks  and 
the  treasury.  At  Cincinnati  the  German  printers  refused 
to  work  on  July  4,  1876,  because,  this  being  centennial 
year,  they  wanted  to  celebrate  this  glorious  day  also.  The 
men  were  locked  out,  and  as  the  national  executive  board 
could  not  sanction  the  strike,  it  was  lost  and  the  union 
went  to  pieces.  At  Chicago  a  strike  on  the  Illinois  Staats- 
Zeitung  against  a  reduction  in  wages  was  lost.  At  Detroit 
the  German  printers  lost  interest  in  the  organization,  so 
they  left  the  national  union  and  only  survived  thereafter 
as  a  benevolent  society.  At  New  York  the  union  called 
several  mass  meetings  of  all  the  German  printers,  union 
and  non-union,  and  by  harmonious  and  energetic  action 
they  were  strong  enough  to  stem  the  tide  against  trade 
unionism  until  the  trouble  had  passed.  Under  the  circum- 
stances the  executive  board  decided  to  postpone  the  next 
convention,  which  was  slated  for  June,  .1878,  until  May, 
1879,  so  that  its  enemies  would  not  so  plainly  see  the 
weakened  condition  of  the  Typographia. 

The  German  printers  of  St.  Paul  organized  in  March, 

1878,  as  Typographia  No.  13,  but  dissolved  in  December, 

1879.  The  German  printers  of  Louisville  had  organized 
as  No.  12  in  October,  1877,  but  this  union  could  not  live 
longer  than  seven  months.  At  the  end  of  1877,  No.  4, 
of  Buffalo,  dissolved,  and  in  November,  1878,  No.  10,  of 
Milwaukee,  went  out  of  existence. 

At  the  fourth  convention,  held  at  Chicago  in  May, 
1879,    only    six    local    unions    (Philadelphia,    Cleveland, 

1076 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

New  York,  Chicago,  Baltimore  and  St.  Paul)  were  repre- 
sented, showing  a  total  membership  of  306.  Here  it  was 
decided  to  hold  regular  conventions  in  the  future  every 
five  years  only.  The  establishment  of  a  central  burial 
fund  was  decided  upon,  and  the  old  age  pension  discussed, 
but  action  upon  both  plans  was  postponed.  It  was  also 
decided  to  send  organizers  to  several  cities  east  of  the 
Mississippi,  where  a  sufficient  number  of  German  printers 
were  employed  to  form  a  local  union,  and  to  make  every 
effort  for  the  reduction  of  the  hours  of  labor. 

The  year  1880  found  the  German  printers  with  renewed 
courage.  Increases  in  wages  were  gained  in  New  York, 
Philadelphia  and  Baltimore.  In  December,  1880,  No.  9, 
of  Chicago,  proposed  the  calling  of  a  special  convention 
for  the  purpose  of  centralizing  the  sick  and  out-of-work- 
funds,  which  then  were  under  control  of  the  different 
local  unions.  Two-thirds  of  the  affiliated  unions  favored 
the  plan,  and  the  special  convention  was  called  for  July  7, 
1 88 1,  at  Philadelphia.  This  convention  decided  to  cen- 
tralize the  several  beneficial  funds,  with  equalization  at 
stated  periods,  and  again  postponed  action  OK  the 
inauguration  of  an  old  age  pension.  But  all  the  work 
of  this  convention  was  useless  and  the  money  expended 
for  that  purpose  was  wasted,  because  at  the  referendum 
the  majority  of  the  local  unions  rejected  the  proposed 
new  laws. 

Notwithstanding  this  setback,  the  Typographia  now 
made  a  good  advance.  No.  10,  of  Milwaukee,  was 
reorganized  in  April.  1S81  ;  No.  2,  at  t'uuinnati.  and  No. 
12,  of  Louisville,  soon  followed  the  example,  so  that  at 
the  end  of  the  fiscal  year,  June  30,  1881,  the  national 
union  had  grown  to  571;  memben  In  November  of  the 
aine    year     the    (ierinan    print.  Pittsburgh    were 

organized  as  Ty|K>gra|>ln.i  No.  16,  but  this  union  n. 

showed  real  life.  txiatiM-  tin-  Knights  o(  Labor,  at  that 
time  very  strong  in  Pittsburgh — and,  in  fact,  in  the  whole 

IO77 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

country — succeeded  in  organizing  a  German  printers' 
assembly,  and  No.  16  dissolved  in  October,  1882.  No. 
15,  of  Evansville,  was  organized  in  the  spring  and  No.  13, 
of  St.  Paul,  was  reorganized  in  October,  1883,  and  at  the 
same  time  the  German  printers  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  who 
had  belonged  to  No.  7,  of  New  York,  again  started  their 
own  union,  No.  8. 

In  May,  1883,  the  matter  of  the  centralization  of  funds, 
adopted  by  the  special  convention  of  1881,  but  afterward 
defeated  by  the  membership,  was  again  submitted  to  the 
referendum  and  at  this  time  was  adopted  by  a  good 
majority,  to  take  effect  July  1,  1884.  Many  battles  were 
fought  with  employers  during  the  years  1881  to  1883; 
some  of  them  the  union  won,  in  some  of  them  the  men 
were  defeated,  but  the  organization  kept  on  growing,  and 
when  the  sixth  (and  last)  convention  was  called  at  New 
York  in  May,  1884,  all  the  eleven  local  unions  then  in 
existence  were  represented  by  sixteen  delegates,  showing 
a  membership  of  684.  This  full  representation  was  made 
possible  by  the  creation  of  a  general  fund,  out  of  which 
part  of  the  expenses  of  the  delegates  was  paid. 

At  this  convention  the  long-sought-for  recognition  of 
the  Typographi-a  by  the  International  Typographical 
Union  was  again  tried.  The  convention  adopted  the 
following,  which  was  confirmed  by  the  thirty-second  con- 
vention of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  held 
at  New  Orleans  at  the  same  time — first  week  in 
June,  1884: 

[Mutual  agreement  entered  into  by  the  German-American  Typographia  and 
the  International  Typographical  Union  op  North  America  at  the  sixth 
convention  of  the  German-American  Typographia,  held  in  New  York 
city,  May  28  to  31,  1884,  and  confirmed  by  the  thirty-second  convention 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  held  on  June  2  to  6,  1884, 
at  New  Orleans,  La.] 

First.  The  International  Typographical  Union  recognizes 
the  certificates  of  the  German-American  Typographia,  and  the 
latter  recognizes  the  cards, of  the  International  Typographical 

1078 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

Union.  This  recognition  shall  entitle  the  members  of  either 
union  to  join  the  other  without  paying  initiation  fees,  and  gives 
them  the  privilege  to  work  in  any  office  controlled  either  by  the 
English  or  German  union  without  being  obliged  to  join  both 
unions.  In  cases  where  the  validity  of  a  certificate  of  member- 
ship is  doubtful,  an  acknowledgment  of  the  same  from  the 
secretary  of  the  union  to  which  the  member  belongs  has  to  be 
furnished.  Members  of  either  organization  that  have  left  or 
wish  to  leave  their  union  to  join  a  union  of  the  other  organiza- 
tion must  pay  their  dues  to  the  union  they  leave  up  to  the  date 
of  their  withdrawal. 

Second.  Where  there  is  a  German  department  in  an  English 
union  office,  or  single  members  of  the  German  union  are  work- 
ing, or  vice  versa,  where  there  is  an  English  department  in  a 
German  union  office,  or  single  members  of  the  English  union 
are  employed,  the  members  of  both  unions  shall  act  in  unity  in 
all  disputes  about  wages,  or  possible  strikes,  after  having  re- 
ported the  case  to  their  respective  unions,  and  having  obtained 
the  permission  of  the  authorized  officers,  as  the  constitutions  of 
both  organizations  may  provide. 

If  a  strike  results  from  such  action,  and  it  becomes  necessary 
to  pay  relief  money  to  members,  the  following  maxim  shall 
prevail :  the  union  which  orders  the  strike  shall  also  pay  the 
relief  to  the  members  of  the  sister  union  it  orders  out. 

In  reference  to  chapel  organizations,  the  following  rules 
shall  be  binding  to  both  parties.  Those  members  of  a  union 
that  are  in  the  minority  in  an  establishment  shall  subordinate 
themselves  to  the  majority  of  the  other  union  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  common  interest  of  union  mtwhsffl  tin-re  em- 
ployed. If  there  is  a  separate  department  for  the  members  of 
the  unions,  they  may,  even  if  they  are  in  the  minority,  have  a 
separate  chapel,  but  they  must  adopt  such  rules  and  rcgulat 
that  unity  of  action  is  insured  in  all  cases  where  the  common 
interest  is  at  stake. 

Third.  It  shall  be  the  rule  that  GeflBM  compositors  not 
belonging  to  either  union,  setting  German  m  an  office  con- 
trolled by  the  English  union,  shall  be  compelled  by  the  chair- 
man to  join  the  German  union.  English  <  tnpositors  in  a 
German  union  office,  not  yet  belonging  to  either  union,  shall  be 
compelled  to  join  the  KnglMi  union. 

Unfortunately,  some  of  the  English  unions— especially 

1079 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

"Big  Six,"  in  New  York — refused  to  abide  by  this  mutual 
agreement,  claiming  the  convention  had  no  power  to 
adopt  the  same. 

At  the  New  York  convention  it  was  resolved  to  do 
away  with  regular  conventions  altogether,  and  only  to 
call  a  convention  when,  on  the  motion  of  three  local 
unions,  a  majority  of  the  membership  by  referendum  vote 
should  decide  in  favor  of  holding  one.  Since  that  time 
(nearly  thirty  years)  the  Typographia  has  managed  to 
get  along  without  conventions  and  had  all  its  important 
transactions,  including  its  amalgamation  with  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union,  accomplished  by  refer- 
endum after  discussion  at  the  meetings  and  in  the  official 
journal.  Several  times  the  question  of  holding  a  conven- 
tion has  been  before  the  membership  and  twice  was  voted 
on  by  the  referendum,  but  was  defeated  both  times.  This 
convention  also  decided  in  favor  of  one  general  fund  for 
all  the  beneficial  features  of  the  Typographia  (out-of- 
work,  sick,  traveling  and  burial),  which  fund  should  be 
kept  in  the  hands  of  the  different  local  unions,  but  should 
be  equalized  every  six  months.  Later  on  this  was  changed 
to  every  year.  By  this  action  a  strong  foundation  of 
the  Typographia  was  built.  Unfortunately,  No.  9,  of 
Chicago,  where  at  that  time  the  radical  or  anarchistic 
element  was  very  strong,  withdrew  from  the  national 
organization  and  tried  to  induce  other  locals  to  do  like- 
wise. In  this  effort  No.  9  did  not  succeed.  A  small 
number  of  its  members  remained  loyal  to  the  national 
union  and  formed  local  No.  16.  This  union,  in  the  course 
of  time,  gained  more  strength  than  the  independent  union, 
and  at  the  beginning  of  1891  both  Chicago  unions  were 
reunited  as  No.  9. 

In  the  fall  of  1885  the  labor  movement  of  this  country 
received  a  great  impetus,  which  had  its  climax  in  the 
eight-hour  movement  of  May  1,  1886.     The  Typographia 

1080 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

stood  in  the  front  rank  6f  this  movement  and  undertook 
an  aggressive  campaign.  By  energetic  action  and  making 
use  of  the  boycott— at  that  time  a  powerful  weapon — 
No.  7,  of  New  York,  gained  one  office  after  another  and 
increased  from  198  to  322  members.  Other  locals  fol- 
lowed this  example,  especially  Milwaukee,  which  union, 
by  energetic  work,  climbed  up  from  eighteen  to  seventy- 
six  members,  and  nearly  everywhere  the  German  unions 
increased  their  scales  and  their  membership.  It  was  a 
glorious  period-,  a  period  that  stands  alone  in  the  labor 
history  of  this  country.  So  great  was  the  enthusiasm  of 
its  members  and  the  success  of  the  Typographia,  that 
in  May,  1886 — the  time  set  for  the  inauguration  of  the 
eight-hour  day  in  all  the  German  printing  offices  of  this 
country — the  fight  had  practically  been  won,  and  the 
great  achievement  was  accomplished  without  much  trou- 
ble. At  New  York,  the  proprietors  of  the  German  book 
and  job  offices  got  together  quickly  and  tried  to  form  a 
defense  organization,  but  were  unsuccessful.  So  the  eight- 
hour  day  of  the  Typographia  was  established  by  one 
concerted  movement  and  without  any  reduction  in  wages. 
On  the  contrary,  in  New  York,  Newark  and  other  cities, 
the  scales  were  increased,  direct,  and  in/  the  whole  juris- 
diction indirect  by  substituting  the  alphabet  system  foe 
the  old  and  disadvantageous  em  system. 

But,  of  course,  the  proprietors  of  German  printing 
offices  had  a  hard  struggle  to  compete  with  the  proprietors 
of  the  English  offices,  the  hum  working  only  eight  hours 
in  the  German  offices  and  the  others  working  ten  hours 
in  New  York  and  some  other  cities  for  the  same  wa^es 
In  order  to  protect  the  German  eight-hour  offices,  the 
Typographia  adopted  the  first  printers'  union  label  used 
in  any  country,  which  label  bore  the  inscription  "I'nion 
Printer"  and  was  soon  well  known  and  well  Mipportcd  by 
the  progressive  clement  in  the  labor  mowment  and  the 

lOBl 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

public  in  general  as  the  eight-hour  label,  and  did  an 
immense  amount  of  good,  until  the  other  printing  trades 
unions  succeeded  in  gaining  the  eight-hour  day  also,  some 
twenty  years  later,  when  the  old  eight-hour  label  of  the 
Typographia  was  withdrawn  in  favor  of  the  allied  label, 
the  former  having  accomplished  its  purpose. 

Only  one  reverse  marked  the  great  eight-hour  struggle 
of  the  Typographia  in  May,  1886,  and  this  was  in  Cin- 
cinnati. Here  the  union  had  neglected  to  join  in  the 
movement  on  the  date  named,  and  went  into  the  battle 
at  the  end  of  May,  at  a  time  when  the  employers  in  the 
printing  industry,  as  well  as  in  other  industries,  had 
gained  new  courage  to  stop  the  onward  march  of  the  vic- 
torious working  masses.  The  strike  on  the  German  news- 
papers of  Cincinnati  in  1886  was  therefore  a  failure,  and 
the  union  lost  many  of  its  members,  retaining  only  the 
German  department  of  the  Methodist  Book  Concern  and 
a  few  small  offices.  But  some  of  the  striking  members  of 
No.  2  started  a  German  daily  labor  paper  on  the 
cooperative  plan,  and  with  its  assistance  the  union  was 
kept  afloat  until  it  could  gain  renewed  strength. 

Another  dark  spot  in  the  glorious  period  of  1886  should 
be  mentioned  to  make  a  true  history  of  the  Typographia. 
This  was  a  lockout  of  the  union  men  on  the  Philadelphia 
Tageblatt  (a  German  daily  with  socialistic  theories). 
It  would  require  too  much  space  to  go  into  the  details  that 
led  to  this  trouble,  but  the  fight  was  very  calamitous,  the 
united  German  trade  unions  of  Philadelphia  taking  the 
side  of  the  Tageblatt  against  the  Typographia,  while 
the  central  labor  union  of  that  city  stood  by  them.  The 
management  of  the  Tageblatt  had  engaged  non-union 
men  prior  to  the  lockout,  and  thereby  the  paper  could 
continue  publication,  while  the  Typographia  issued  a 
lively  boycott  paper  to  fight  the  Tageblatt.  The  non- 
union men  on  that  paper  formed  a  "fake"  union  under 

1082 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

the  name  "Gutenberg  Society,"  and  also  tried  to  get  into 
the  Knights  of  Labor,  an  organization  very  strong  at  that 
time.  In  order  to  prevent  this,  some  of  the  members  of 
the  Typographia  formed  a  German  printers'  assembly 
and  obtained  a  charter  from  the  Knights  of  Labor  before 
the  "rats"  on  the  Tageblatt  could  do  so.  The  battle 
lasted  more  than  a  year,  until  it  was  ended  by  a  board  of 
arbitration  (composed  of  two  members  of  the  executive 
board  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor,  Samuel 
Gompers  and  P.  J.  McGuire)  in  favor  of  the  Typo- 
graphia. 

Despite  these  two  obstacles  occurring  in  Cincinnati  and 
Philadelphia,  the  national  union  flourished  during  the 
next  few  years  up  to  1890  and  gained  new  or  reorganized 
locals  at  Indianapolis,  Belleville,  111.,  Buffalo,  Cleveland, 
St.  Paul,  Pittsburgh,  Kansas  City,  Omaha,  Detroit  and 
San  Francisco,  making  a  total  of  twenty-one  locals  with 
1,233  members.  Only  a  few  strikes  occurred  during  that 
time,  the  principal  one  being  at  St.  Louis  in  the  summer 
of  1890  on  two  of  the  German  papers  of  that  city,  which 
lasted  for  some  time,  until  an  agreement  could  be  reached. 

The  next  chapter  in  the  history  of  the  Typographia  is 
the  most  important  one  since  its  formation,  being  the  first 
cause  for  the  amalgamation  of  this  organization  with  the 
International  Typographical  Union.  At  New  York  city, 
where  Typographia  No.  7  had  control  of  all  the  German 
printing  offices,  the  proprietor  of  the  English  daily  Morn- 
ing Journal,  on  September  1,  1890,  started  also  a  German 
daily  under  the  title  "Morgen-Journal."  The  foreman  of 
the  Morning  Journal  had  picked  a  force  for  the  new  Ger- 
man daily  from  among  the  German  printers  belonging 
to  "Big  Six,"  and  wanted  the  office  to  be  placed  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  that  union.  Against  this  Typographia 
No.  7  protested,  claiming  juriMliition  overall  the  German 
papers  in  New  York.    The  management  of  the  Mory% 

1083 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Journal,  in  order  to  avoid  trouble  with  any  labor 
organization,  recommended  that  the  matter  of  having 
jurisdiction  over  this  office  should  be  decided  by  arbitra- 
tion. All  three  parties  agreed  to  this,  and  Samuel  Gom- 
pers,  president  of  the  American  federation  of  Labor,  was 
unanimously  appointed  as  arbitrator.  But  after  he 
decided  in  favor  of  the  Typographia,  the  members  of 
"Big  Six"  refused  to  accept  his  decision,  claiming  their 
officers  had  no  right  to  agree  to  such  an  arrangement.  So 
the  members  of  No.  7,  working  at  the  Morgen-Journal 
and  refusing  to  join  No.  6,  were  discharged,  and  replaced 
by  members  of  the  latter  union.  No.  7  then  started  a 
vigorous  boycott  against  the  paper  and  a  fierce  struggle 
between  the  two  unions  was  waged  for  several  months, 
with  the  result  that  at  last  a  conference  committee  agreed 
that  the  office  of  the  Morgen-Journal  should  come  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Typographia,  but  that  this  union 
should  take  out  a  charter  from  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union.  This  was  done  and  the  New  York 
Typographia  received  charter  No.  274  of  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union,  but  at  the  same  time 
remained  as  No.  7  of  the  Typographia  until  this 
organization  as  a  body  amalgamated  with  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  in  1894. 

The  onward  march  of  the  Typographia  continued  until 
the  summer  of  1891,  the  greatest  victory  being  gained  in 
New  York,  where  the  price  of  1,000  letters  was  raised 
4  cents  for  day  and  5  cents  for  night  work,  and  the  time 
scale  to  $18  for  book  and  job  offices,  $20  for  evening 
papers  and  $24  for  morning  papers,  at  eight  hours  per 
day.  The  first  obstacle  was  struck  at  Buffalo,  in  1891, 
where  the  Volksfreund  agreed  to  the  new  scale  of  No.  4, 
but  not  to  the  recognition  of  the  union,  and  therefore  its 
printers  did  not  join  the  ranks.  On  the  other  German 
dailies  of  Buffalo — Demokrat  and  Freie  Presse — a  strike 

1084 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

was  declared  and  all  the  members,  with  the  exception  of 
two  on  the  Demokrat,  came  out.  But  with  the  help  of  a 
number  of  apprentices  and  the  use  of  many  plates  both 
papers  managed  to  make  their  appearance.  No.  4  then 
started  a  lively  boycott  against  this  paper,  but  in  the 
course  of  time  went  out  of  existence,  and  it  was  February. 
1895,  before  the  union  could  get  a  new  foothold,  and 
soon  after  regained  its  old  strength. 

The  boycott  during  that  time  played  an  important  part 
in  the  warfare  of  the  Typographia,  and  battles  at  Cincin- 
nati, Evansville,  San  Francisco,  Pittsburgh,  Kansas  City 
and  Chicago  were  won  through  the  energetic  use  of  the 
boycott. 

The  year  1892  witnessed  heavy  battles  on  the  part  of 
the  Typographia.  The  first  one  was  with  the  New  Yorker 
Staats-Zeitung,  which  office,  although  partly  employing 
union  men,  and  as  a  rule  paying  the  scale  of  the  union, 
had  up  to  that  date  never  been  a  union  office.  This  con- 
dition could  not  be  tolerated  any  longer,  as  the  Typo- 
graphia could  not  run  the  risk  of  losing  the  other  Ger- 
man papers  of  the  city  as  strictly  union  offices.  So,  on 
February  22,  1892,  No.  7  decided  to  call  its  members  out 
of  the  New  Yorker  Staats-Zeitung.  Of  the  forty-three 
men  employed  there,  only  twenty-six  came  out;  seventeen 
members  and  ten  non-members  remained  at  work. 
I'll  rough  this  treacherous  action  the  publication  of  the 
paper  continued  and  No.  7  again  Halted  .1  lively  boycott 
against  it.  Every  effort  was  made  to  make  this  boycott 
effective.  Committees  were  sent  to  all  German  ■ 
mass  meetings  were  called  at  Cooper  Union  and  other 
places,  and  the  city  was  placarded  with  boycott  cuculars 
and  posters.  A  weekly  paper.  "O  (>."  (named  after  the 
proprietor  of  the  Si  uald   ( )tten«l.»rter) . 

was  published  by  No.  7  and  did  good  work.  Hut  the 
wealth)  Settling   was   in   a  condition   tO   hold  out. 

ioQs 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

with  the  assistance  of  linotype  machines  installed  shortly 
before  and  during  the  fight.  The  publication  of  an 
evening  edition  was  started  in  order  to  make  up  for  the 
loss.  An  understanding  was  then  reached  that  the  men 
out  on  strike  on  the  Staats-Zeitung  should  be  employed 
on  the  new  evening  edition,  and  the  strike  was  called 
off  after  a  duration  of  seven  months. 

While  this  great  and  expensive  battle  was  going  on  in 
New  York,  No.  9,  of  Chicago,  had  to  stand  an  attack  of 
the  proprietors  of  three  daily  papers  and  one  weekly 
paper,  the  latter  having  combined,  thinking  this  a  good 
time  to  kill  the  union.  But  the  members  in  Chicago  made 
a  good  fight.  They  also  issued  a  boycott  paper,  the 
Agitator,  and  received  able  assistance  from  the  Chicago 
Trades  and  Labor  Assembly  and  organized  labor  in  gen- 
eral. After  one  of  the  dailies  had  been  compelled  to 
give  in,  a  settlement  was,  reached  with  the  others  by  which 
the  Typographia  again  secured  control  over  all  the 
papers,  but  promised  to  whitewash  some  of  the  "rats." 

Having  shown  its  courage  and  great  resources  during 
this  battle,  the  second  half  of  the  year  1892  turned  out 
to  be  better  for  the  Typographia.  No.  2,  of  Cincinnati, 
regained  its  foothold  and  obtained  jurisdiction  over  all 
the  printing  offices  of  that  city.  The  unions  at  Columbus, 
Rochester  and  Chicago  raised  their  scales.  The  unions 
at  Indianapolis,  Cleveland,  Milwaukee  and  Pittsburgh  fol- 
lowed their  example  in  the  early  part  of  1893.  But  soon 
after  another  great  battle  had  to  be  fought,  at  this  time 
with  the  Cincinnati  Freie  Presse,  whose  proprietor  had 
installed  linotype  machines  and  wanted  to  get  rid  of  the 
union.  Another  lively  boycott  was  inaugurated  against 
this  paper,  which  lasted  for  years  and  even  reached  the 
courts,  but  at  last  No.  2  regained  control  over  this  office 
also. 

1086 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

The  plan  to  amalgamate  the  Typographia  with  the 
International  Typographical  Union  had  now  ripened, 
and  the  proposed  treaty  of  amalgamation,  agreed  upon  by 
the  executive  boards  of  both  organizations,  was  adopted 
by  referendum,  with  840  for  and  224  votes  against, 
while  the  motion  to  call  a  convention  for  the  purpose  of 
making  the  necessary  arrangements  was  defeated  by  a 
vote  of  627  for  to  435  against.  Later  on  it  was  agreed  that 
the  amalgamation  should  take  effect  on  July  1,  1894. 

The  fiscal  year  from  July  1,  1893,  to  June  30,  1894, 
was  the  worst  ever  experienced  in  the  history  of  the  Typo- 
graphia. Typesetting  machines  were  installed  in  a  great 
number  of  offices,  and  owing  to  the  slack  condition  of 
business  in  general,  a  number  of  German  newspapers 
consolidated  and  others  went  out  of  existence.  The 
treasury  of  the  Typographia  and  the  good  will  of  its 
members  had  to  stand  a  great  pressure.  The  dues  had 
to  be  raised  and  extra  assessments  levied  to  meet  the 
great  demand  on  the  out-of-work  fund.  Statistics  com- 
piled in  October,  1893,  showed  that  out  of  1,350  mem- 
bers 270  (or  over  twenty  per  cent)  were  out  of  work. 
The  worst  showing  was  made  in  Cleveland,  where, 
through  the  amalgamation  of  two  German  dailies  and  the 
introduction  of  typesetting  machines,  two-thirds  of  the 
membership  were  unemployed  for  a  while.  During  tMi 
period  the  general  fund  of  the  Typographia  paid  $17,- 
262  in  out-of-work  benefits,  and  benefits  paid  out  of  the 
local  treasuries  of  some  unions  for  the  same  purpose 
brought  this  amount  up  to  $23,000  for  the  fiscal  year.  It 
is  very  doubtful  if  there  is  another  trade  union  in  thin  or 
any  other  country  which  could  have  stood  such  a  great 
stress.  Nevertheless,  the  typographia  never  lost  courage 
and  continued  its  battle  for  the  In  tterment  of  its  members 
and  the  laboring  people  in  general.     Strikes  at  Detroit 

to67 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

and  Pittsburgh  were  won,  but  a  strike  on  the  California 
Demokrat  at  San  Francisco  was  lost  and  the  union  in 
that  city  went  out  of  existence  in  June,  1894. 

At  Chicago  the  German  printers  employed  in  the  office 
of  Simon  Brothers,  which  furnished  plates  to  a  large 
number  of  German  papers  in  this  country,  refused  any 
further  to  pay  the  high  dues  in  effect  at  that  time  and 
had,  therefore,  to  be  suspended  from  the  union.  They 
then  started  an  assembly  of  the  Knights  of  Labor,  under 
the  name  "D.  A.  Typographia  No.  1,  L.  A.  1037."  Later 
on  the  printers  of  the  Chicago  Freie  Presse  joined  this 
"fake"  union,  which  led  to  an  energetic  boycott  against 
the  paper  that  lasted  for  some  time  and  cost  a  large 
amount  of  money,  but  was  won  in  the  end,  as  were  all 
the  other  battles  which  the  Typographia  had  to  fight. 

On  July  1,  1894,  the  new  constitution,  necessary  under 
the  treaty  of  amalgamation  with  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  went  into  effect.  The  old  executive 
board  of  the  Typographia,  located  in  New  York  and 
elected  by  that  union,  adjourned  sine  die,  and  the  general 
secretary  of  the  Typographia,  who  had  been  elected  since 
1888  by  referendum,  moved  the  headquarters  of  the 
Typographia  and  its  journal  in  October,  1894,  after  the 
convention  of  the  International  Typographical  Union  at 
Louisville,  from  New  York  to  Indianapolis,  where  the 
headquarters  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
are  located.  Under  the  agreement  he  became  fourth 
vice-president  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
and  automatically  later  on  third  and  second  vice-presi- 
dent, as  the  pressmen  and  the  stereotypers  left  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union.  The  secretary-treasurer 
of  the  Typographia,  who  is  also  the  editor  of  its  official 
journal,  Buchdrucker-Zeitung,  in  accordance  with  the 
agreement  made  with   the   International  Typographical 

1088 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

union,  then  took  general  supervision  of  the  German 
branch.  He  is  supported  by  an  advisory  board  of  three 
(now  five)  members  who  are  elected  from  the  three  (now 
five)   largest  local  unions  of  the  Typographia. 

The  fiscal  year  1895-96  started  out  well.  All  the  non- 
members  of  the  New  Yorker  Staats-Zeitung,  forty  strong, 
joined  the  union,  and  this  was  made  a  strictly  union  office, 
and  has  so  remained  since.  The  unions  at  Cincinnati, 
Pittsburgh  and  Columbus  raised  their  scales  without  trou- 
ble. At  Toledo,  No.  24  was  organized  in  November, 
1895,  and  at  Wheeling,  No.  25  in  March,  1896.  In  order 
to  take  better  care  of  the  great  number  of  unemployed 
printers,  the  Typographia  in  December,  1896,  decided  by 
referendum  vote  to  reduce  the  working  time  in  all  news- 
paper offices  using  typesetting  machines  to  five  days  per 
week.  In  New  York,  Newark,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore, 
Cincinnati,  St.  Louis  and  several  smaller  cities  this  deci- 
sion was  enforced  while  a  number  of  other  cities  remained 
passive  on  this  important  subject,  owing  to  local  contracts 
or  other  circumstances.  The  year  1896-97  was  very  quiet, 
only  a  few  small  strikes  occurring.  In  August,  1897,  a 
revolution  in  the  German  newspapers  of  St  Louis  took 
place.  Two  dailies,  Tageblatt  and  Tribune,  went  out  of 
existence,  and  later  the  Anzeiger  des  Westens  was  con- 
solidated with  the  Westliche  Post.  This  threw  a  number 
of  German  printers  in  St.  Louis  out  of  work.  Some  of 
them  found  situations  on  the  Volks-Zcitung,  a  daily  paper 
started  by  workingmen,  but  this  paper  did  not  exist  very 
long.  At  Philadelphia  the  daily  Gazette  was  gained  for 
the  union,  after  the  men  employed  there  had  been  organ* 
ized.  But  at  the  same  city  tht  daily  Volksblatt  went  out 
of  existence  in  May,  1898,  and  at  Milwaukee  the  daily 
Seebotc  was  consolidated  with  the  Harold  Twenty-live 
years  had  passed  now  since  the  formation  of  the  Typo- 

toSg 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

graphia,  and  this  occasion  was  celebrated  in  the  spring 
of  1898  with  great  enthusiasm  by  all  the  local  unions  of 
the  Typographia. 

In  October,  1900,  No.  1,  of  Philadelphia,  was  compelled 
to  order  a  strike  on  the  Philadelphia  Demokrat  for  viola- 
tion of  union  rules.  This  strike,  in  which  the  boycott 
again  played  an  important  part,  lasted  for  over  five  years, 
until  the  office  was  regained.  But  the  paper  had  been 
hit  so  hard  by  the  boycott  that  it  did  not  live  much 
longer  and  was  consolidated  with  the  Philadelphia 
Gazette  in  May,  1907.  At  Chicago,  in  June,  1902,  the 
daily  Illinois  Staats-Zeitung  was  bought  up  by  Mr. 
Michaelis,  an  arch  enemy  of  the  Typographia,  and  he 
discharged  all  the  union  men  formerly  employed  on  that 
paper.  Again  the  boycott  was  enlisted  in  the  assistance 
of  the  Typographia,  and  the  office  of  Mr.  Michaelis  was 
unionized  in  October,  1902.  The  office  of  Simon 
Brothers  had  been  unionized  prior  to  that  date,  and  the 
typographia  printers'  assembly,  Knights  of  Labor  of  Chi- 
cago, mentioned  heretofore,  went  to  pieces.  No.  20,  of 
Omaha,  dissolved  in  February,  1901.  A  new  union,  No. 
23,  was  formed  at  Winnipeg  in  March,  1906,  and  another 
one,  No.  20,  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  on  New  Year's  day, 
1907. 

From  1902  on  nothing  of  great  importance  occurred  in 
the  Typographia.  It  had  a  one  hundred  per  cent  or- 
ganization now  and  covered  almost  the  whole  field.  The 
consolidation  and  suspension  of  German  papers  in  this 
country  went  on,  the  trade  in  German  book  and  job  offices 
also  slacked,  and  therefore,  slowly  but  steadily,  the  mem- 
bership of  the  Typographia  decreased.  But  nevertheless 
all  its  locals  showed  the  old  spirit,  and  one  after  the  other 
succeeded  in  raising  the  scale  from  time  to  time,  with 
only  a  few  and  very  short  strikes. 

For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  Typographia, 

1090 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

arbitration  was  tried  in  the  dispute  between  the  com- 
bined publishers  of  the  German  dailies  of  Greater  New 
York  and  Typographia  No.  7  in  1 903.  These  arbitration 
proceedings  were  conducted  in  accordance  with  the  agree- 
ment between  the  American  Newspaper  Publishers' 
Association  and  the  International  Typographical  Union. 
Commissioner  Driscoll  acted  for  the  publishers,  Organ- 
izer McLoughlin  for  the  Typographia,  with  Bishop 
Potter,  of  New  York,  as  umpire.  The  decision  was  mostly 
in  favor  of  the  union,  giving  the  men  an  increase  of  30 
cents  per  day  and  the  five-day  system  for  evening  papers. 
Previous  to  this  time  the  men  on  evening  papers  worked 
five  days  in  one  week  and  six  days  in  the  other.  The 
decision  included  the  proviso  that  the  men  should  set 
22,500  ems  per  day  on  the  linotype,  but  owing  to  the 
fact  that  no  man  can  accomplish  more  than  what  is  in 
his  power,  this  proviso  remained  a  dead  letter. 

When  the  great  eight-hour  battle  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  began  in  the  fall  of  1905,  the  Typo- 
graphia, being  a  part  of  the  organization,  of  course  had 
to  help  carry  the  burden  of  the  battle,  and  contributed 
$66,445.05  to  the  strike  fund.  Having  gained  the  eight- 
hour  day  twenty  years  before,  it  was  only  necessary  to 
call  small  strikes  of  German  printers  at  St.  Louis  and 
Milwaukee,  where  some  of  the  book  and  job  offices  had 
not  lived  up  to  the  eight-hour  rule,  owing  to  the  comp 
tion  of  the  English  offices  and  the  withdrawal  of  the 
German  eight-hour  label.  At  Toledo  the  men  in  the  book 
and  job  room  of  the  Express,  a  German  daily,  who 
belonged  to  No.  63,  went  on  strike  for  the  eight-hour  d 
Later  on  the  members  of  Typographia  No.  24.  who 
worked  on  the  paper  mentioned,  were  called  out  in  sup- 
port  of  No.  63;  but  several  ol  tlum  "ratted,  thr  strike 
was  lost  and  the  union  had  to  dissolve  at  the  end  of  the 
year  1906  and  tin    I  ol«-do  Bapri  ha  I  as 

1091 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

a  non-union  office  ever  since.  Another  strike  had  to  be 
called  at  Buffalo  in  March,  1910,  in  order  to  enforce  a 
new  and  increased  scale;  but  this  strike  was  won  in  a 
very  short  time.  All  the  other  increases  obtained  by  the 
different  locals  of  the  Typographia  during  the  past  few 
years  were  granted  without  serious  trouble. 

•In  July,  191 1,  the  German  daily  at  Wheeling,  W.  Va., 
suspended  publication  and  No.  25  had  to  be  dissolved. 
At  the  end  of  the  year  191 1  No.  18,  of  Belleville,  111.,  and 
No.  23,  of  Winnipeg,  also  went  out  of  existence,  there 
not  being  sufficient  German  work  in  those  cities  to  justify 
the  further  existence  of  German  unions. 

This,  briefly,  is  the  history  of  the  Typographia  during 
its  thirty-nine  years  of  existence,  from  July,  1873,  to 
June,  191 2.  A  study  of  this  chapter  will  show  that  the 
German  printers  of  this  country,  although  small  in  num- 
ber, have  been  very  active  and  aggressive  during  all  that 
time,  and  that  they  have  made  their  mark  in  the  trade 
union  movement  of  America.  The  organization  was 
founded  in  1873  by  seven  local  unions  with  316  mem- 
bers. In  1877  the  list  showed  ten  locals,  but  only  270 
members.  The  year  1881  showed  nine  locals  and  579 
members,  and  from  then  on  made  a  steady  increase,  until 
it  reached  its  high-water  mark,  with  twenty-one  locals 
and  1,382  members  in  1892.  Then  the  decline  began, 
and  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  191 2  showed  nineteen  locals 
with  887  members. 

The  first  general  secretary  of  the  Typographia  and 
editor  of  its  journal  was  Charles  G.  Bachmann,  who  held 
office  from  July  1,  1873,  to  June  30,  1876.  Then  followed 
Jean  Weil,  of  New  York,  from  1873  to  1883;  then 
Frederick  Milke,  of  New  York,  from  1883  to  1886,  and 
then  came  Hugo  Miller,  also  of  New  York,  who  holds 
the  office  up  to  the  present  time. 

Before  closing  this  chapter,  it  would  be  well  to  say  a 

1092 


Deutsch-Amerikanische  Typographia 

few  words  regarding  the  beneficial  system  of  the  Typo- 
graphia. As  stated  in  an  earlier  part  of  this  history,  the 
first  convention  made  it  compulsory  on  the  locals  of  the 
Typographia  to  establish  out-of-work  and  sick  benefit 
funds;  then  came  a  joint  burial  fund,  and  later  on  the 
traveling  fund.  In  1884  all  the  different  funds  were 
centralized,  with  yearly  equalization  of  the  money  in  the 
treasury  of  the  different  locals;  the  general  secretary- 
treasurer  having  the  fund  only  for  administrative  pur- 
poses in  his  hands,  but  he  keeps  control  over  all  the 
benefits  paid  by  the  different  locals.  The  present  benefits 
are  the  following: 

Five  dollars  sick  benefit  per  week  in  case  of  sickness  for 
fifty  weeks  and  fifty  weeks  more  at  $3  per  week,  a  total  of 
$400  sick  benefit. 

Six  dollars  out-of-work  benefit  per  week,  the  maximum 
sum  allowed  in  one  fiscal  year  to  be  $96,  in  periods  of  $24. 

Seven  dollars  old  age  pension  per  week  ($5  from  the 
International  Typographical  Union  and  $2  from  the 
Typographia). 

Five  dollars  strike  benefit  per  week  for  single  men  and 
$7  for  married  men  or  heads  of  families.  (This  is  paid 
out  of  the  treasury  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union). 

Burial  benefit  of  from  $75  to  $400,  according  to  the 
length  of  membership. 

Burial  benefit  of  $50  for  the  deceased  wife  of  a  member. 

Admission  to  the  Union  Printers  Home,  under  the  rules 
of  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

The  traveling  benefit  has  been  discontinued  since  1908, 
there  being  no  further  necessity  for  such  benefit  un 
existing  conditions  in  the  printing  trade. 

Since  July  I,  1884,  the  time  when  the  funds  and  ben- 
efits of  the  Typographia  have  been  centralized,  until 
June,  1912,  a  period  of  twant)   eight  years,  the  amount 

1093 


History  of  The  Typographical   Union 

of  benefits  paid  to  its  members  and  their  families  is  as 
follows:  Out-of-work  benefits,  $173,645.91;  sick  ben- 
efits, $120,906.75  ;  burial  benefits,  $87,840;  strike  benefits, 
$37,790.54;  traveling  benefits  (up  to  1908),  $8,317.01; 
old  age  pensions  (for  four  years),  $18,951.00,  making 
a  total  of  $447,508.21.  Add  to  this  the  contribution  of 
the  Typographia  for  the  eight-hour  struggle  of  the  Inter- 
national Typographical  Union  ($66,445.05),  making  a 
grand  total  of  $513,953.26,  or  in  other  words,  the 
Typographia  in  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years  expended 
more  than  a  half-million  dollars  for  beneficial  purposes, 
with  an  average  membership  of  about  one  thousand,  cer- 
tainly a  good  showing.  But  high  benefits,  of  course, 
demand  high  dues.  The  members  of  the  Typographia 
are  paying  now  forty-five  cents  per  week  into  the  general 
fund,  besides  the  local  dues  and  the  one  per  cent  assess- 
ment for  the  pension  and  burial  fund  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union.  However,  these  high  dues  bring 
them  very  high  returns  in  the  form  of  shorter  hours  and 
better  wages,  clear  proof  that  a  trade  union  is  the  best 
savings  bank  for  the  workingman. 


1094 


Technical    Trade    Education 

Public    Copyright    Acts 

Union    Printers    Home 


Technical    Trade    Education 

By  W.  B.  PRESCOTT 

Secretary  International  Typographical  Union   Commission 
on   Supplemental   Trade   Education 

Does  not  the  beauty  and  grandeur  of  our  country — aye,  the  lire*  of  the 
people — depend  more  on  the  efficient  handiwork  of  the  tradesmen  than  on  all 
other  vocations?  Why  then  should  not  the  trades  receive  even  more  protec- 
tion from  incompetency  than  the  professions?  Other  trades  look  to  you,  in 
a  measure,  to  lead  the  onslaught  against  incompetency.  Are  you  equal  to  the 
emergency? — Mark  L.  Crawford,  President  International  Typographical  Union 
for  the  fiscal  year  1883-4. 

THUS  spoke  Mr.  Crawford  to  the  thirty-fourth 
session  of  the  International  Union  at  New  Orleans, 
in  June,  1884.  It  is  the  first  appeal  for  a  trade  educa- 
tional system  that  can  be  found  in  the  records.  It  was 
prefaced  by  a  review  of  the  situation  that  has  now  become 
so  familiar  as  to  be  regarded  as  a  matter  of  course.  The 
president  declared  that  the  future  of  the  organization 
depended  on  the  wise  treatment  of  apprentices,  and  he 
asserted  "our  unions  are  being  filled  with  incompetent 
men,"  making  a  burlesque  of  the  claim  that  a  union  card 
is  sufficient  evidence  of  competency.  He  emphasized  the 
fact  that  the  International  had  declared  time  and  again 
as  being  in  favor  of  an  indenture  system — a  system  that 
would  bind  both  parties  in  such  a  manner  that  a  higher 
grade  of  workmanship  would  unquestionably  be  obtained. 
He  repudiated  the  charge  that  the  unions  were  responsi- 
ble for  the  incompetents  in  their  ranks,  placing  the  blame 
primarily  on  employers  who  exploited  rather  than 
taught  apprentices,  and  who  afterward  "are  only  too 
willing  to  use  these  incompch nt  nun  to  cut  our  throats 
when  occasion  arises,"  thus  compelling  the  unions  "for 
self-protection  to  admit  those  men  to  membership." 

Mr.  Crawford  conceded  th.it  mat  liinery  had  "to  a  great 
extent  revolutionized  matters,"  but  maintained  that  the 
inntlamcntal  fault  was  the  lack  of  stringent  apprentice 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

laws  which  would  compel  employers  to  do  their  duty 
toward  apprentices.  In  support  of  his  plea  the  president 
regretfully  stated  that  in  trades  ether  than  printing  the 
positions  of  importance  were  held  by  men  hailing  from 
countries  where  the  laws  required  indenture  systems.  It 
would  appear  the  training  of  apprentices  was  one  of  Mr. 
Crawford's  hobbies,  as  the  first  article  in  the  first  issue 
of  The  Inland  Printer  (October,  1883)  was  from  his  pen 
on  that  subject  under  the  caption  of  "An  Era  of  Botches." 
There  were  other  articles  along  similar  lines  and  a  lively 
discussion  persisted  for  months  and  years  which  probably 
reflected  the  state  of  mind  of  union  printerdom  on  the 
issue  more  than  the  official  proceedings  of  conventions. 

Always  there  has  been  more  or  less  controversy  about 
the  education  of  apprentices  and  the  competency  of  jour- 
neymen. In  the  early  eighties,  however,  the  situation 
had  become  acute  from  the  standpoint  of  those  interested 
in  sustaining  the  reputation  for  skill  of  union  members. 
Then  apprentices  were  coming  from  offices  that  had 
grown  large  and  in  which  modern  specialization  meth- 
ods were  beginning  to  bear  fruit — in  the  shape  of  printers 
who  knew  naught  of  presswork  and  could  set  only 
straight-matter  or  small  jobs.  In  the  eyes  of  some  of  the 
members  who  participated  in  this  discussion — men  who, 
like  the  late  William  J.  Kelly,  were  an  authority  on  either 
presswork,  straight  or  job  composition — these  applicants 
were  too  poorly  equipped  to  call  themselves  printers.  This 
writer's  case  is  an  illustration  of  the  change  that  had  been 
effected  in  the  trade  within  a  short  period  before  1883. 
When  he  made  his  timorous  bow  to  the  industry,  com- 
ing from  the  office  in  which  he  commenced  the  trade, 
the  force  numbered  not  more  than  ten  to  fifteen  men, 
all  on  one  floor,  and  the  apprentice  worked  on  a  press  or 
at  the  case,  as  suited  the  convenience  of  the  foreman.  In 
1883  that  office  employed  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty 

1098 


Technical  Trade  Education 

persons,  and  though  the  same  man  was  superintendent  few 
composing-room  boys  ever  got  a  "look-in"  at  presswork, 
and  to  put  a  pressroom  boy  at  the  case  was  unthinkable. 
In  the  composing-room  specialization  was  even  then  hav- 
ing its  effect  on  apprentices.  There  was  a  book  room 
on  one  floor  with  a  job  room  on  another,  and  where  the 
boy  started  there  he  stayed.  That  was  in  a  compara- 
tively small  city,  where  industrial  development  was 
slower  than  in  the  great  centers  which  were  in  the  eyes 
of  Mr.  Crawford  and  others  who  figured  most  promi- 
nently in  shaping  union  policy.  Specialization  of  this  kind 
became  more  general  as  old-established  offices  became 
larger,  and  employers  starting  in  business  found  it  neces- 
sary to  secure  equipment  to  do  specialty  printing,  and 
thus  developed  a  condition  which  made  it  impossible  for 
many  employers  to  teach  boys  the  trade,  even  if  they 
were  ever  so  willing. 

The  instances  in  which  circumstances  compelled  neg- 
lect of  education  were  so  numerous  that  neglect  soon 
became  the  normal  state.  Those  offices  which  were  in 
a  position  to  educate  apprentices  did  not  feel  that  they 
should  carry  the  burden  of  providing  good  men  for  the 
trade,  and  there  was  no  one  to  call  them  to  account,  even 
if  their  position  was  not  a  reasonable  one  when  viewed 
from  a  business  standpoint. 

New  working  conditions  tended  to  make  it  more  diffi- 
cult for  journeymen  t<>  maintain  an  interest  m  the  \ouths 
with  whom  they  worked.  Devices  for  lowering  the  coat 
of  production  compelled  journey  IMS  to  show  results  in 
profit-making  work,  which  led  to  the  abandonment  of  all 
matic  attempts  to  teach  boys. 

Tin-  youths  were  not  without  friends  willing  to  protect 

them.      Almost    every    person   connected    \\\\\\    the  craft 

recognized  conditions  and  many  bemoaned  the  ine\  liable 

:!t-v       I'herc  did  not  srein  to  be  a  reim.lv         I  h,    craft 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

floundered;  employers  were  inclined  to  blame  the  unions 
when  they  spoke  collectively  or  officially.  Of  course,  as 
the  union  does  not  hire  boys,  it  is  not  responsible  for  the 
competency  or  incompetency  of  apprentices,  so  the  super- 
ficial conclusion  was  that  employers  were  wholly  blam- 
able,  and  many  union  resolutions  said  as  much.  Among 
employers  and  employes  who  sought  a  remedy,  a  num- 
ber proposed  a  reversion  to  the  old-style  indenture  sys- 
tem. This  was  not  feasible,  however,  as  employers 
regarded  the  obligations  imposed  as  too  onerous  and  prof- 
itless, for  it  is  a  question  in  many  offices  whether  the 
employment  of  boys  is  profitable.  The  greatest  obstacle, 
however,  was  the  attitude  of  the  public  mind  and  of  the 
boys  toward  an  indentured  apprenticeship.  It  came  to 
be  regarded  as  a  species  of  slavery,  incompatible  with 
modern  conceptions  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  youth. 
Everybody  knew  that  the  haphazard  methods  would  lead 
nowhere,  but  everybody  would  rather  have  that  than 
curtail  the  liberty  and  privileges  which  an  advancing 
civilization  bestows  on  the  young. 

Slowly  but  surely  the  world  began  to  realize  that  the 
shop  apprenticeship  system  had  broken  down.  Some 
other  system  was  required.  Looking  at  other  commer- 
cial countries  where  the  opportunities  are  less  spacious, 
it  was  found  that  in  order  to  develop  good  mechanics 
and  artisans  training  supplemental  to  the  work  in  the 
shop  was  a  necessity.  This  fact  was  brought  strongly 
to  the  attention  of  the  American  public  in  1902,  when 
the  United  States  commissioner  of  labor  issued  a  volumi- 
nous report  on  the  subject.  A  first  fruit  of  this  publica- 
tion was  the  formation  in  1907  of  the  National  Society 
for  the  Promotion  of  Industrial  Education. 

In  the  same  year  the  International  Typographical 
Union  took  the  initial  step  toward  answering  the  ques- 
tion asked  by  President  Crawford  a  quarter  of  a  century 
before:    "Are  you  equal  to  the  emergency?"    This  tardi- 

1100 


Technical  Trade  Education 

ness  was  due  to  the  fact  that  for  most  of  the  intervening 
period  there  was  no  clear  idea  about  what  could  be  done, 
and  when  it  was  discovered  that  supplemental  education 
was  the  most  practical  remedy  it  was  found  that  appren- 
tices and  journeymen,  worked  to  the  point  of  exhaustion, 
were  not  in  the  proper  frame  of  mind  to  absorb  instruc- 
tion during  their  limited  leisure. 

In  1907  the  eight-hour  workday  had  been  established 
and  the  union  was  preparing  to  institute  new,  attractive 
features.  The  convention  was  held  at  Hot  Springs,  Ark., 
and  on  "talkfest  day"  the  writer  was  asked  to  make  a 
few  remarks  to  the  assembled  delegates.  He  took  for 
his  subject  the  need  of  technical  education,  pointing  out 
that  the  reduction  in  the  hours  of  labor  had  made  it 
possible  for  all  but  a  very  few  to  put  in  some  time  at 
perfecting  his  knowledge  of  the  trade.  The  delegates 
adopted  a  resolution  authorizing  the  executive  council  to 
appoint  a  commission  "whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  formulate 
some  system  for  the  technical  education  of  our  members 
and  apprentices." 

President  Lynch  appointed  as  members  of  the  commis- 
sion, A.  H.  McQuilkin,  editor  of  the  Inland  Printer,  of 
Chicago,  111.;  Frank  M.  Walker,  of  Houston,  Tex.,  who 
resigned  and  was  succeeded  by  Robert  E.  Darnaby,  of 
Indianapolis,  [fid.,  and  W.  B.  Prcscott,  of  Chicago,  111., 
with  the  president  serving  ex  officio. 

The  commission  and  eXOCtttivfl  council  nut  in  Chicago 
in  joint  session  on  December  g  and  10,  and.  to  quote  the 
report  published  in  the  Typographical  Journal,  "thor- 
oughly canvassed  trade  education  as  it  is  applicable  to 
the  compositor's  art  and  the  welfare  of  the  un 

Alter  the  conclusion  of  thrir  dflttbtftttiOM  tin-  members 
of  the  executive  council  and  the  commissioners  in  a  signed 
address  to  the  membership  said : 

"The  decadence  of  the  apprenticeship  system  under 
which  the  employer  took  direct  personal  interest  in  the 

not 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

youth  is  now  generally  recognized,  as  modern  shop  con- 
ditions and  the  specialization  of  labor  place  it  beyond 
recall.  The  problem  before  the  commission  and  the  union 
officials  was  how  best  to  fill  the  void,  and,  if  possible, 
lay  the  foundation  for  a  system  of  trade  training  that  will 
in  the  light  of  present-day  conditions  prove  more  helpful 
to  the  craftsman  than  the  apprenticeship  system  could  be. 

"Obviously,  the  first  suggestion  would  be  the  estab- 
lishment of  schools  equipped  with  material  at  which 
instruction  could  be  received.  This  was  rejected  on  the 
score  of  expense  and  the  fact  that  its  benefits  would  be 
limited  to  those  living  in  the  larger  printing  centers. 
Several  unions — notably  those  at  Indianapolis  and  Los 
Angeles — have  established  classes  for  instruction  in 
typography — an  effort  which  merits  the  approval  of  the 
commission,  which  will  at  all  times  be  willing  to  cooper- 
ate and  aid  such  schools  or  classes.  The  paucity  of  men 
fitted  to  act  as  teachers — for  the  capable  workman  is  not 
necessarily  an  efficient  instructor — convinced  the  com- 
mission that  it  would  fall  far  short  of  meeting  the 
requirements  of  the  craft  if  it  placed  its  chief  reliance 
on  such  methods,  dependent  wholly  on  local  enthusiasm 
and  local  talent  for  their  success.  It  should  also  be  noted 
that  these  commendable  efforts  are  confined  to  the  edu- 
cation of  apprentices,  while  there  is  need  for  some 
means  whereby  journeymen  may  improve  themselves  and 
thereby  increase  their  earning  capacity,  by  keeping  in 
step  with  the  advance  of  the  graphic  arts. 

"Heartily  as  the  commission  approves  of  such  agencies, 
their  cost  and  the  experimental  nature  of  the  venture 
warned  it  that  some  other  method  must  be  adopted.  The 
Inland  Printer  Technical  School  has  in  preparation  a 
correspondence  course  consisting  of  more  than  thirty-six 
lessons,  ranging  from  elemental  details  to  the  most 
advanced  methods  of  artistic  display.      Other  efforts  to 

1102 


Technical  Trade  Education 

import  similar  knowledge  by  correspondence  have  not 
been  successful,  but  it  is  the  conviction  of  those  competent 
to  judge  that  the  causes  of  previous  failures  have  been 
largely  anticipated. 

"Certain  that  the  widest  possible  appeal  could  be  made 
by  the  correspondence  method  and  that  the  course  in 
preparation  would  be  as  nearly  perfect  as  possible,  the 
commission  devoted  its  attention  to  devising  ways  and 
means  whereby  the  student  could  receive  the  instruction 
as  close  to  cost  price  as  possible.  The  Inland  Printer 
Technical  School  undertakes  to  furnish  the  course — which 
shall  be  known  as  'The  I.  T.  U.  Course  of  Instruction 
in  Printing' — for  $20,  payable  in  monthly  installments. 
This  will  include  personal  examination  and  written  criti- 
cisms of  the  work  of  each  student  by  experts,  as  well  as 
the  necessary  apparatus  —  drawing-board,  pencils,  ink, 
rulers,  etc.  The  scholarships  are  interminable.  Scholars 
have  the  aid  of  the  school  for  an  indefinite  period ;  in 
other  words,  the  scholarship  lasts  a  lifetime. 

"Though  $20  is  a  low  price  for  the  course,  the  com- 
mission, in  the  hope  of  stimulating  interest  in  this 
comparatively  new  but  important  work,  decided  to  offer 
a  prize  of  $5.00  to  every  student  who,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  commission,  is  deserving.  Briefly,  the  qualities  which 
will  determine  the  awarding  of  these  prizes  will  be  pro- 
ficiency and  assiduity. 

"This  plan  of  reward  was  adopted  for  the  purpose  of 
reducing  the  cost  to  the  average  man,  who  is  the  object 
of  the  union's  solicitude  and  who  suffers  most  by  reason 
of  inadequate  educational   facilities,   in   pi  ,    to  the 

common  one  of  granting  a  small  number  of  large  prixe* 
to  a  few  of  the  mOtl  advanced  students. 

"At  this  writing,  the  system  M  which  the  prizes  will 
be  awarded  can  not  be  given,  but;  the  rules  will  be  drat 
in  accordance  with  the  most  approved  educational  meth- 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ods.  In  addition  to  the  prize  of  $5.00,  and  as  a  further 
incentive  to  all  to  take  advantage  of  the  plan,  the  com- 
mission will  make  special  arrangements  for  tuition  fees 
with  needy  apprentices  and  others  who  may  desire  to 
take  the  course. 

"Full  details  relating  to  the  correspondence  course  will 
be  furnished  later;  this  is  but  a  brief  outline  of  what 
the  commission  had  to  present  to  the  membership,  though 
it  by  no  means  exhausts  what  it  has  in  view,  and  of 
which  this  is  the  initial  step.  Those  interested  in  the  wel- 
fare and  advancement  of  our  members,  especially  those 
engaged  in  job  and  ad  composition,  have  been  impressed 
by  the  invasion  of  the  commercial  artist  or  designer  in 
the  domain  that  once  was  exclusively  the  printer's.  The 
tendency  of  this  innovation  has  been  to  reduce  the  com- 
positor to  the  position  of  a  mere  copyist.  Some  few  excep- 
tional workmen  have  maintained  the  traditional  place  in 
the  art,  but  the  great  mass  can  not  make  good  under  exist- 
ing conditions.  Not  only  is  this  prejudicial  to  the  worker 
as  a  craftsman,  but  it  prevents  the  best  possible  results 
in  product  and  consequently  retards  the  development  of 
the  craft  and  its  followers.  As  a  rule,  the  commercial 
artist  or  designer  who  directs  is  not  understood  by  the 
printer  who  does  the  work.  The  commercial  artist's  con- 
ception is  never  fully  grasped  by  the  mind  trained  in 
mechanics  and  accustomed  to  working  with  type,  while 
the  commercial  artist  fails  to  acquire  an  adequate  idea  of 
the  possibilities  or  limitations  of  the  material  with  which 
the  mechanic  does  his  work.  Here  we  have  a  waste  of 
effort  and  imperfect  work,  which  should  be  obviated. 
But  how?  Manifestly  not  by  making  printers  of  the 
commercial  artists  or  vice  versa.  The  commission  believes 
the  solution  is  to  be  found  in  the  printer  acquiring  an 
elemental  knowledge  of  pertinent  art  principles,  which, 
when  applied  to  his  daily  work,  will  make  him  master 

1 104 


Technical  Trade  Education 

of  the  typographic  field.  Mechanical  skill  and  artistic 
conception  combined  in  one  person  will  result  in  the  cur- 
tailment of  wasted  effort,  produce  better  work  and  greatly 
enhance  the  economic  value  of  the  worker,  who,  with  this 
knowledge,  becomes  in  truth  an  artisan. 

"The  arrangement  made  with  The  Inland  Printer 
Technical  School  places  the  complete  faculties  of  that 
institution  and  the  services  of  its  experts  under  the  control 
and  at  the  disposal  of  the  commission." 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  the  commission 
endeavored  to  give  an  ocular  demonstration  of  the  two 
principal  factors  in  trade  education,  namely :  ( I )  the 
whole  purpose  of  the  course  is  to  bestow  benefit  on  the 
student,  all  other  considerations  being  secondary  to  his 
advancement,  and  (2)  the  application  of  the  best  and 
most  advanced  educational  methods  to  trade  training.  As 
intended,  the  object  lesson  in  these  features  given  by  the 
I.  T.  U.  Course  have  had  a  decided  influence  on  the  gen- 
eral discussion  of  industrial  education. 

The  March  Typographical  Journal  contained  the  first 
advertisement  of  the  "I.  T.  U.  Course  of  Instruction  in 
Printing,"  and  the  world  was  told  that  a  trade  union 
had  quit  talking  about  industrial  education  and  was  put- 
ting its  resolutions  into  effect  under  novel  auspices.  Had 
the  Course  been  put  on  the  market  as  a  commercial  ven- 
ture by  The  Inland  Printer  it  would  cost  $50  or  $60  at 
the  lowest,  but  owing  to  the  liberality  of  the  union,  com- 
positors could  secure  the  instruction  for  the  net  cost  of 
$15.  The  price — $20 — was  found  to  be  too  low,  and  was 
subsequently  raised  to  $23  for  cash  and  $25  if  paid  on 
the  installment  plan. 

The  second  meeting  of  the  National  Society  for  the 
Promotion  of  Industrial  Education  saw  the  Course  almost 
ready  for  students,  and  at  that  session  the  first  public 
exposition  of  the  methods  to  be  employed  was  given. 

1 105 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Progress  was  slow  when  compared  with  other  activities 
in  which  the  union  had  identified  itself,  for,  as  an  illus- 
tration, an  augmented  burial  fund  is  diffusing  benefits 
within  a  few  months  after  the  scheme  is  adopted.  After 
making  its  bow,  the  commission  found  itself  confronted 
by  the  justifiable  suspicion  of  the  correspondence  method 
of  instruction,  and  the  natural  and  commendable  hostility 
to  some  of  the  phases  of  trade  education  that  are  paraded 
as  technical  training  or  industrial  education,  in  which 
the  productiveness  rather  than  the  advancement  of  the 
student  is  the  prime  consideration. 

Another  impediment  was  the  trade  tradition  that  the 
office  was  the  place  to  learn  type  composition,  and  also 
the  wholly  foundationless  belief  that  the  commission  was 
trying  to  make  more  printers.  That  would  be  preposter- 
ous, for  there  is  a  sufficiency  of  printers,  many  of  whom 
could  be  more  efficient  workers  if  given  an  opportunity 
to  learn  what  they  had  no  opportunity  of  learning  when 
serving  their  apprenticeships. 

By  dint  of  much  reasoning  and  persuasion,  printers 
began  to  realize  the  principles  underlying  display  work 
could  be  taught  by  correspondence,  and  that  a  knowledge 
of  those  principles  was  of  great  advantage  when  applied 
to  everyday  work.  Some  of  the  most  accomplished  com- 
positors were  induced  to  take  the  Course  and  declared 
it  good. 

When  the  Boston  convention  met  in  August,  1908, 
there  was  a  respectable  display  of  work  done  by  students, 
and  the  convention  endorsed  enthusiastically  a  system  of 
trade  education  that  gave  such  promise  and  was  devoted 
solely  to  the  advancement  of  the  student  and  not  for  the 
purpose  of  piling  up  fortunes  or  otherwise  exploiting  the 
ambitious  learner. 

As  with  some  of  its  other  features,  the  policy  of  the 
Typographical  Union  quickly  demonstrated  its  utility  and 

1 106 


Technical  Trade  Education 

practicability.  Those  not  in  close  touch  with  the  labor 
movement  expressed  amazement  that  a  trade  union 
should  be  interested  in  industrial  education,  and  inci- 
dentally they  learned  the  lesson  that  there  were  several 
different  kinds  of  industrial  education,  some  of  which 
should  be  opposed  vigorously,  while  others  were  entitled 
to  support.  Naturally,  the  influence  of  this  movement 
first  became  manifest  in  printing  trade  organizations. 
The  International  Pressmen's  Union  took  up  the  subject 
and  quickly  made  a  move  toward  establishing  a  technical 
school.  Simultaneously  the  photo  engravers'  organiza- 
tion and  the  bookbinders'  brotherhood  became  the  forum* 
of  pertinent  discussion.  These  organizations  were  not  i- 
fortunate  as  the  typographical  union  in  that  they  did  not 
find  a  system  of  education  already  developed  and  await- 
ing the  best  method  of  application.  The  photo  engravi  r- 
and  bookbinders  were  constrained  to  content  themselves 
by  conducting  in  their  official  papers  departments  devoted 
to  technical  subjects  while  hopefully  developing  more 
effective  methods  of  instruction. 

The  ever-expanding  circle  of  the  influence  of  the 
Course  was  demonstrated  by  the  American  Federation  <>t 
Labor,  which  appointed  a  committee  on  industrial  educa- 
tion composed  of  its  most  influential  and  prominent  mem- 
bers. They  gave  unqualified  endorsement  to  the  efforts 
of  the  typographical  union  and  their  report  on  industrial 
education  was  in  consonance  with  the  general  primiples 
that  had  governed  the  commission. 

Slowly,  but  surely,  employers  began  to  take  more  inter- 
est in  this  effort.  Some  have  gone  so  far  as  to  give 
increased  wages  to  any  I.  T.  U.  students,  and  others  deal 
liberally  with  apprentices  who  take  the  Cour>c  I  he 
t  significant  action  on  the  part  of  organized  empi 
however,  is  that  oi  UlC  ChktgQ  I  mplo\  mg  Print- 
Association,  which  intend  into  tnent   with  Chl- 

1107 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

cago  Typographical  Union  No.  16,  whereby  apprentices 
are  required  to  take  the  Course  during  the  last  year  of 
their  apprenticeships,  a  special  increase  of  wages  being 
provided  for  this  purpose. 

Throughout  our  jurisdiction  the  preachings  of  the  com- 
mission and  literature  distributed  in  behalf  of  the  Course 
have  quickened  the  union's  conscience  regarding  appren- 
tices. A  common  form  of  expression  is  to  have  the  union 
pay  all  or  a  portion  of  the  apprentice's  tuition  fee,  and 
not  the  least  important  is  the  fact  that  where  this  has  not 
been  done,  men  are  organizing  committees  for  the  pur- 
•pose  of  protecting  the  interests  of  the  youths  of  the  trade. 
Five  years  after  the  enrollment  of  the  first  student  it  is 
not  an  exaggeration  to  say  that  no  working  hour  passes 
in  which  some  person  is  not  advised  to  take  the  Course, 
and  the  relation  of  the  craft  to  apprentices  and  journey- 
men of  limited  skill  is  discussed  as  never  before. 

Outside  union  circles  and  in  foreign  lands  the  Course 
has  duplicated  the  cultural  success  it  achieved  among  its 
own  people  and  at  home.  The  commission  has  two  exhib- 
its and  a  series  of  stereopticon  slides  showing  the  work  of 
students.  These  have  been  displayed  in  a  number  of  cities 
and  at  gatherings  of  employing  printers  and  publishers. 
In  many  cases  employers  and  buyers  of  printing  display 
more  interest  than  do  compositors,  though  there  are  now 
thousands  of  enthusiastic  I.  T.  U.  Course  men. 

The  education  department  of  New  South  Wales  secured 
permission  to  use  the  principles  employed  by  the  I.  T.  U. 
Commission  and  changed  its  studies  in  composition  to 
conform  to  our  methods. 

Instructors  in  technical  schools  of  Great  Britain, 
France,  Germany  and  Australia  have  taken  the  Course 
and  are  commending  it  to  their  countrymen. 

The  Fourth  International  Congress  on  the  Relation  of 
Art  to  the  Crafts,  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Ger- 

1108 


Technical  Trade  Education 

man  government  at  Dresden  in  August,  1912,  afforded 
a  demonstration  of  the  excellence  of  the  Course  and  its 
far-reaching  effects.  The  American  committee  selected 
the  Course  as  being  the  best  and  most  informing  example 
of  the  application  of  art  to  the  crafts.  At  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  this  committee  of  prominent  educators  the 
commission  was  represented  by  an  exhibit  and  Chief 
Instructor  Trezise,  who  explained  in  detail  the  instruc- 
tion given  students.  Eulogistic  comment  was  unanimous, 
and  a  delegate  from  South  Africa  spoke  on  the  value  of 
the  education  from  observing  a  student  in  his  home  town. 

Noticias  Graficas,  the  leading  trade  paper  of  South- 
America,  has  translated  the  advertising  matter  and  the 
enthusiastic  editor  has  had  some  specially  printed  so  that 
patrons  could  benefit  from  illustrations  showing  the 
lessons. 

At  home  more  than  four  thousand  compositors  have 
enrolled  as  students.  They  range  from  the  teens  to  the 
sixties,  and  include  men  who  have  won  fame  as  com- 
positors as  well  as  those  who  never  had  an  opportunity 
to  set  a  display  line.  Men  who  were  formerly  indifferent 
workers  are  now  designing  work;  others  have  become 
.  advertising  men,  while  in  every  nook  and  corner  of  the 
jurisdiction  there  are  men  to  whom  life  is  sweeter  and 
better  because  of  the  knowledge  gained  through  the 
Course.   " 

And  that  is  how  the  union  of  1913  answers  the  ques- 
tion of  President  Crawford  in  1884 — "Other  trades  look 
to  you  to  lead  the  onslaught  against  incompetency — are 
you  equal  to  the  emergency?" 


I  1(H) 


J.  J.  SUU.!\  AN.   W  ^iiix..t..^    I 
International  Typographical  Union  I  opyrtffcl 

|{r|.ir.<-nuti«r.    1897-19— 


Public   Copyright   Ait      Massed 
by   Congress 

International  Typographical  Union  Copyright  Legislation,  with 
a  Resume  of  the  Work  Connected  Therewith 

By  J.  J.  SULLIVAN 

International  Typographical  Union  Copyright  Representative 
Washington,  D.  C. 

THE  International  Typographical  Union  builds 
wisely.  In  its  broad  constructive  policy  it  includes 
every  feature  that  has  a  bearing  on  the  interests  of  its 
members.  Not  only  the  essentials  but  the  non-essentials 
are  included  in  its  policy.  Its  work  not  only  embraces  all 
the  prime  factors  of  trade  unionism  generally,  but  it  also 
contemplates  educational  features  of  a  practically  scien- 
tific and  necessary  character  in  order  to  meet  the  require- 
ments exacted  of  the  up-to-date  typographer,  as  well  as 
beneficial  features  that  insure-  substantial  aid  and  comfort 
to  its  sick,  aged  and  superannuated  memb< 

Legislating  wisely  and  with  the  broadest  M  opt  within 
the  walls  of  its  own  convention!,  the  International  Union 
also  found  it  necessary  t«>  secure  from  congress  such 
national  legislation  as  it  deemed  necessary  for  the  protec- 
tion of  its  membership.  This  feature  oi  it-  work,  < 
ducted  soldy  upon  trade  union  lint-,  has  been  devoted  to 
copyright  legislation,  bearing  directly  on  «  hat  is  termed 
the  mechanical  or  manufacturing  features  of  .oj.\  right 
law.  Nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago  the  attn 
the  International  Union  was  directed  to  the  miration  of 
American  copyright  on  account  of  the  important  bearing 
that  that  subject  had  on  the  punting  industry  in  the 
United  State-,  ,iml  for  tuentv  five  \  e.irs  OOplHfhl  legis- 
lation bai  been  included  in  the  WOtl  d  die  International 

till 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

to  which  it  has  given  close  and  constant  care.  The  Inter- 
national Union  has  been  broad  and  generous  in  its  policy 
in  dealing  with  this  subject,  for  it  not  only  legislated  for 
its  own  members  but  for  all  the  organized  workers  in  the 
printing  industry  in  the  United  States.  It  alone  has  borne 
all  the  expenses  of  copyright  legislation.  No  other  inter- 
national union  in  the  printing  trades  has  expended  a  dol- 
lar to  secure  the  copyright  legislation,  equally  beneficial 
to  all  the  workers  in  the  printing  industry,  which  it  has 
taken  the  International  Typographical  Union  twenty-five 
years  to  have  incorporated  in  the  law.  For  years  it  main- 
tained a  copyright  committee  in  Washington,  and  upon 
the  elimination  of  that  committee,  with  many  other  of 
the  old  standing  committees,  a  copyright  representative 
was  appointed  to  continue  the  copyright  work. 

The  early  struggles  of  the  International  to  secure  a 
copyright  act  beneficial  to  its  members,  and  its  persistent 
efforts  in  protecting  the  workers  in  the  printing  trades 
in  the  United  States  by  the  enforcement  of  the  copyright 
acts,  is  a  long  story.  It  was  a  struggle  of  twenty-five 
years,  but  the  International  won.  Previous  to  the  drafting 
of  the  copyright  act  of  1891,  the  president  of  the  Interna- 
tional appointed  a  delegate  to  represent  the  interests  of 
the  organization  in  the  construction  of  that  bill,  for  that 
was  the  first  copyright  act  that  contained  any  provision 
covering  the  interests  of  the  members  of  our  craft.  That 
act  contained  a  provision,  known  as  the  "manufacturing 
clause,"  which  required  that  in  order  to  secure  an  Amer- 
ican copyright  on  a  book  the  same  must  be  printed  from 
type  set  or  plates  made  within  the  limits  of  the  United 
States.  We  thought  that  this  was  a  fairly  good  provision, 
but  we  soon  found  that  it  contained  some  defects.  We  dis- 
covered in  the  case  of  stereotype  plates  for  books  printed 
abroad  that  were  afterward  reproduced  in  American  edi- 

1112 


Public  Copyright  Acts  Passed  by  Congress 

tions  that  the  type  was  set  and  the  mats  made  abroad  and 
the  mats  were  then  imported  into  the  United  States  from 
which  plates  were  made  from  which  books  were  printed 
that  carried  American  copyright.  The  manufacturing 
clause  of  the  copyright  act  then  in  force  required  that  in 
order  to  secure  an  American  copyright  on  a  book  that  the 
said  book  be  printed  from  type  set  or  plates  made  within 
the  boundaries  of  the  United  States.  The  purpose  of  the 
law  was  in  the  case  of  a  book  bearing  American  copyright 
that  the  typesetting  and  the  plate  making  of  said  book 
should  be  done  in  the  United  States.  Some  publishers 
imported  mats  from  Europe  from  which  plates  were  made 
in  this  country,  and  claimed  they  were  complying  with 
the  provisions  of  the  law.  An  amendment  was  added  to 
the  copyright  law  that  required,  that  in  order  to  secure 
American  copyright  that  "the  type  must  be  set  either  by 
hand  or  machine  within  the  borders  of  the  United  States, 
or  from  plates  made  from  type  set  within  the  borders  of 
the  United  States.  By  this  addition  the  law  was  greatly 
strengthened.  When  it  is  understood  that  the  wage  of  the 
American  printer  is  about  75  per  cent  higher  than  the 
wage  of  the  printer  in  any  of  the  countries  abroad  with 
which  we  have  to  compete,  the  above  statement  relative  to 
making  two  sets  of  mats  or  plates  will  not  seem  so  remark- 
able.   But  there  are  stranger  features  than  this  to  relate 

From  a  compilation  of  public  copyright  enactment- 
pared  by  Mr.  Thorwald  Solberg,  register  of  copyrights, 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Herbert  Putnam,  librarian  of 
congress,  we  find  that  there  have  been  thirty-one  public 
copyright  acts  passed  by  congress,  the  first  in  1 790  and 
the  last  in  1909,  covering  a  period  of  1 19  years.  These 
acts  are  given  in  chronological  order  with  a  brief  synopsis 
.  of  each.  The  copyright  act  of  March  4,  1909,  which  »-» 
the  principal  act  relative  to  our  craft,  as  well  as  all  the 

1113 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

other  organized  workers  in  the  printing  industry  in  the 
United  States,  is  not  included  in  this  list.  The  full  text 
of  the  "manufacturing  clause"  contained  in  that  act  is 
later  given  in  this  article. 

Public  Acts  Relating  to  Copyright  Passed  by  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,   From   1790  to   1905,   Inclusive. 

May  31,  1790   [Original  Copyright  Act],  First  Congress,   Second  Session,   Chap- 
ter 15: 
An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps, 
charts,   and  books  to   the   authors   and   proprietors   of   such   copies   during 
the  times  therein  mentioned.      (Statutes  at  Large,  vol.   1,  pp.   124-126.) 
April  20,   1802,   Seventh  Congress,   First  Session,   Chapter  36:- 

An  act  supplementary  to  an  act  entitled  "An  act  for  the  encouragement 
of  learning  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books  to  the 
authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times  therein  men- 
tioned," and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing, 
engraving,  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints.  (Statutes  at  Large, 
vol.  2,  pp.  171-172.) 
February  15,   1819,   Fifteenth   Congress,   Second  Session,   Chapter  19: 

An  act  to  extend  the  jurisdiction  of  the  circuit  courts  of  the  United  States 
to    cases    arising    under    the    law    relating    to    patents    [and    copyrights]. 
(Statutes  at  Large,  vol.   3,  pp.   481-482.) 
February    3,    1831     [First    Revision],     Twenty-first    Congress,    Second    Session, 
Chapter  16: 
An    act    to    amend    the    several    acts    respecting    copyrights.        (Statutes    at 
Large,    vol.    4,    pp.    436-439-) 
June  30,  1834,  Twenty-third  Congress,  First  Session,  Chapter  157: 

An    act    supplementary    to    the    act    to    amend    the    several    acts    respecting 
copyrights.       [Requiring    the    recording    of    assignments    of    copyrights.] 
(Statutes   at   Large,   vol.    4,   p.    728.) 
August  10,  1846,  Twenty-ninth  Congress,  First  Session,  Chapter  178,  Section  10: 
An  act  to  establish  the  "Smithsonian  Institution."      [Requiring  the  delivery 
of  one  copy  of  book,  etc.,  to  the  librarian  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution 
and   one   copy   to   the   Librarian   of   Congress.]      (Statutes   at   Large,   vol. 
9-,    p.    106.) 
March  3,  1855,   Thirty-third  Congress,  Second  Session,   Chapter  201,   Section  5: 
An   act  making  appropriations   for   the  service   of  the   postoffice  department 
during    the    fiscal    year    1856.      [Providing    for    the    free    transmission    of 
copyright   deposits.]      (Statutes   at   Large,   vol.    10,   p.    685.) 
August  18,   1856,   Thirty-fourth  Congress,  First  Session,   Chapter  169: 

An  act  supplemental  to  an  act  entitled  "An  act  to  amend  the  several  acts 
respecting  copyright,"  approved  February  3,  1831.  [Securing  the  sole 
right  of  representation  in  the  case  of  dramatic  compositions.]  (Statutes 
at  Large,  vol.  II,  pp.  138-139.) 
February  5,  1859,  Thirty-fifth  Congress,  Second  Session,  Chapter  22,  Sections 
6  and  8: 
An  act  providing  for  keeping  and  distributing  all  public  documents.  [Pro- 
viding for  the  removal  of  all  copyright  deposits  and  records  from  the 
department  of  state  to  the  Department  of  the  Interior.]  (Statutes  at 
Large,  vol.   11,  pp.  380-381.) 

1 1 14 


Public  Copyright  Acts  Passed  by  Congress 

February  18,  1861,   Thirty-sixth  Congress,  Second  Session,  Chapter  ff: 

An   act  to   extend   the   right   of  appeal   from   decision*  of  circuit  court*  to 
the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States   [in  copyright  case*).    (Statutes 
at   Large,   vol.    12,    pp.    130- 131.) 
March  3,  1865,   Thirty-eighth  Congress,  Second  Session,  Chapter  lit: 

An  act  supplemental  to  an  act  entitled  "An  act  to  amend  the  several  acts 
respecting   copyright,"    approved    February    3,    1831,   and    to   the   acts   «n 
addition    thereto    and    amendments    thereof.      [Extending    copyright    pro- 
tection to  photographs,  etc.]      (Statutes  at   Large,   vol.    13,  pp.   540-541.) 
February  18,  1867,  Thirty-ninth  Congress,  Second  Session,  Chapter  43: 

An    act    amendatory    of    several    acts    respecting    copyrights.      [Imposing    s 
penalty   of  $25   for   failure   to  deposit  copies  in   library  of  congress,  and 
providing    for    the    free    transmission    by    mail    of    "copyright    matter.") 
(Statutes  at  Large,  vol.  14,  p.  395.) 
July  8,  1870  [Second  Revision],  Forty-first  Congress,  Second  Session,  Chapter 
230,  Sections  85-11 1: 
An   act   to   revise,  consolidate,   and   amend  the   statutes   relating  to   patents 
and  copyrights.      (Statutes  at   Large,  vol.    16,  pp.   212-217.) 
June  8,  1872,  Forty-second  Congress,  Second  Session,  Chapter  33$.  Section  it*: 
An  act  to  revise,  consolidate,  and  amend  the  statutes  relating  to  the  post- 
office    department       [Providing    for    the    free    transmission    through    the 
mails  of  copyright  matter  addressed  to  the  librarian  of  congress.)     (Stat- 
utes at  Large,  vol.  17,  pp.  283,  306,  307.) 
December  1,  1873   [Third  Revision] — Revised  Statutes,  Title  ij.  The  Jud< 

Chapter  '7,  Section  610;  Chapter  n.  Section  699;  Chapter  it.  Section  pit. 
Chapter  18,   Section   071: 
(Statutes  at  Large,  vol.    18,   part    1,   pp.    no,    lit,   130.    134,    135.    183.) 
December    1,    1873    [Third    Revision] — Revised   Statutes.    Title    to.    Chapter    t. 
Copyrights: 
(Statutes   at    Large,   vol.    18,    part    1,   pp.   957-960.) 
June   18,   1874,   Forty-third  Congress,   First  Session,  Chapter  joir 

An  act  to  amend  the  law  relating  to  patents,  trade-marks,  and  copyrights. 
[Notice  of  copyright  required;   fees,   registration  of  prints  for  articles  of 
manufacture  at  patent  office,  etc.)      (Statutes  at   Large,  vol   it,  part  j, 
pp.   78-79) 
March  3,  1870,  Forty-fifth  Congress,  Third  Session,  Chapter  too,  Sexlt  ■ 

An   act   making  appropriations   for  the  service  of  the  postoeVe  department 
for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,   1880,  and  for  other  purposes.     |  Pro- 
viding against  transmission  through  the  mails  of  sny  pttbUcatase) 
violates  copyright]      (Statutes  at   Largs,  vol.   so.   p.    1 
August  1,  1882,  Forty-seventh  Congress,  First  Session,  Chapter  $46: 

An  act  to  amend  the  statutes  in  relation  to  copyright      |  Posiuoa  of 

of  copyright   in   the   case   of   decorative   articles.)      (Statu***  at    Large. 
vol.  22,  p.   181.) 
March    3,    1891    [So-called    International    Copyright    Act],    rVyaVat   C—i 
Second  Session,  Chapter  50} : 
An  act  to  amend  title  60,  chapter  3.  '•<  «h*  Revised  Stotagag  of  la*  VmMo4 
States,    relating  to  copyright*       |  r Mending  copyright   to  certain  eases  as 
works  by  foreign  author*.)     (Statutrs  at  Urge,  vet  so,  pp.  HetVtlie.) 
February    9.    1893,    Fifty-second   Congress.    Second    Session.   Chaffer    sg.    See 
tion  8: 
An  act  to  establish  a  court   of  appeal*  for  the   District  el  Cslo—Ma.  as»t 

•  ll.rr    |...i|  l>i.«    |gt    •    -Ml    of    •rrot    OC   Sfptal    f»**B    la* 

court   of  appeal*  of   thr    District  of  Ctlaasasa  to  ike  aageatM  eeott  si 
tl.r   l.uir.l   Statag  •»  all  copyright  cat**.)     (StaMsw  at  Large,  eaj 
II'     434.    43*) 

HIS 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

March  3,  1893,  Fifty-second  Congress,  Second  Session,  Chapter  215: 

An    act   relating   to   copyrights.      [Enabling   act,    giving   the    same    effect   to 
copies   deposited   prior  to   March    1,    1893,   as   to   copies   deposited   "on   or 
before   publication."]      (Statutes   at   Large,   vol.    27,    p.    743.) 
January  12,  1895,  Fifty-third  Congress,  Third  Session,  Chapter  23,  Section  52: 
An  act  providing  for  the  public  printing  and  binding  and  the  distribution 
of   public    documents.      [Providing   that   no   government   publication   shall 
be  copyrighted.]      (Statutes  at  Large,  vol.  28,  p.   608.) 
March  2,  1895,  Fifty-third  Congress,  Third  Session,  Chapter  194: 

An  act  to  amend  section  4965,  chapter  3,  title  60,  of  the  Revised  Statutes 
of   the    United    States,    relating   to    copyrights.      [Providing    damages    in 
cases   of  infringement  of  photographs  and  works   of  art.]      (Statutes  at 
Large,  vol.   28,  p.   965.) 
January  6,  1897,  Fifty-fourth  Congress,  Second  Session,  Chapter  4: 

An  act  to  amend   title   60,   chapter   3,   of  the   Revised   Statutes,   relating  to 
copyrights.      [Enacting    that   unauthorized    representation,    wilful    and    for 
profit,    is    a    misdemeanor,    punishable    by    imprisonment.]       (Statutes    at 
'Large,  vol.  29,  pp.  481-482.) 
February   19,   1897,   Fifty-fourth    Congress,   Second   Session,    Chapter  265    [Sec- 
tion— Library  of  Congress]  : 
An   act   making   appropriations    for    the   legislative,    executive   and   judicial 
expenses  of  the  government  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,   1898,  and 
for   other   purposes.      [Providing    for   the    appointment   of   a   register   of 
copyrights.]      (Statutes  at  Large,   vol.   29,   pp.   545,   346.) 
March  3,  1897,  Fifty-fourth  Congress,  Second  Session,  Chapter  392: 

An  act  to  amend  title  60,  chapter  3,  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  the  United 
States,    relating    to    copyrights.       [Providing    penalty    for    printing    false 
claim    of    copyright    and    prohibiting    the    importation    of    articles    bearing 
false  claim  of  copyright.]     (Statutes  at  Large,  vol.  29,  pp.  694-695.) 
April  17,  1900,  Fifty-sixth  Congress,  First  Session,  Chapter  192: 

An    act    making   appropriations    for    the    legislative,   executive,    and   judicial 
expenses  of  the  government  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1901,  and 
for  other  purposes.     [Copyright  office.]     (Statutes  at  Large,  vol.  31,  p.  95.) 
January  7,  1904,  Fifty-eighth  Congress,  Second  Session,  Chapter  2: 

An   act   to   afford   protection    to    exhibitors   of   foreign   literary,    artistic,    or 
musical  works  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition.     (Statutes  at  Large, 
vol.   33,   part   1,   pp.    4-5. ) 
March  3,  1905,  Fifty-eighth  Congress,  Third  Session,  Chapter  1432: 

An  act  to  amend  section  4952  of  the  Revised  Statutes.     (Statutes  at  Large, 
vol.  33,  part  1,  pp.   1 000-100 1.) 

None  of  these  acts  had  any  bearing,  either  directly  or 
indirectly,  on  the  interests  of  our  craft,  except  the  acts  of 
1 89 1  and  1909.  As  previously  stated,  in  the  act  of  1891 
a  provision  was  included  covering  the  interests  of  typog- 
raphers only,  which  required  that  in  order  to  secure  an 
American  copyright  on  a  book  the  same  must  be  printed 
from  type  set  or  plates  made  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
United  States.     After  some  time  we  found  that  this  pro- 

1116 


Public  Copyright  Acts  Passed  by  Congress 

vision  was  being  violated  by  the  importation  into  the 
United  States  of  practically  perfect  plates  under  the  head 
of  "old  type  metal,"  from  which  books  were  printed  and 
American  copyright  secured,  and  also  by  the  importation 
of  "mats"  from  which  plates  were  made. 

Under  the  tariff  act  of  July  24,  1897,  passed  by  the 
Fifty-fifth  Congress,  it  is  provided  under  section  533  of 
the  free  list  that : 

"Old  copper,  fit  only  for  re-manufacture,  clippings 
from  new  copper,  and  all  composition  metal  of  which 
copper  is  a  component  material  of  chief  value  not  specially 
provided  for  in  this  act,  shall  be  admitted  free  of  duty." 

Section  403  of  the  same  act  provides  that : 

"Books  of  all  kinds,  including  blank  books  and  pam- 
phlets, and  engravings  bound  or  unbound,  photographs, 
etchings,  maps,  charts,  music  in  books  or  sheets,  and 
printed  matter,  all  the  foregoing  not  specially  provided 
for  in  this  act,  shall  be  dutiable  at  25  per  cent  ad 
valorem." 

Many  of  the  American  publishers  have  branch  houses 
in  Europe,  and  if  an  American  publisher  who  brought  out 
a  copyrighted  book  in  Europe  wished  to  bring  out  an 
American  copyrighted  edition  of  that  book  it  was  dccitl- 
edly  to  his  interest  to  have  the  plates  from  which  the 
European  edition  was  printed  shipped  into  the  United 
States  under  the  head  of  "old  type  metal"  free  of  duty, 
instead  of  having  the  type  reset  and  the  plates  remade 
in  this  country  as  the  law  required.  I  do  not  wish  to  be 
understood  as  saying  that  this  practice  was  general,  for 
there  are  hundreds  of  honest,  legitimate  American  pub- 
lishcrs  who  would  not  stoop  to  such  methods,  but  we  do 
know  that  the  practice  was  carried  on  extensively.  This 
information  was  obtained  from  members  of  our  own  craft 
in  various  book  printing  establishments  and  from  other 

1117 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

reliable  sources.  It  used  to  be  an  easy  matter  to  secure 
copyright  in  this  country  previous  to  the  copyright  act  of 
1909.  All  that  was  necessary  for  an  author  or  publisher 
who  wished  to  secure  copyright  was  to  fill  out  a  blank 
application  stating,  for  illustration,  that  John  Jones,  of 
No.  12  Park  Row,  New  York  city,  desired  copyright  on 
his  book  entitled  "The  Lost  Key,"  and  forward  two  copies 
of  the  book  and  one  dollar  for  registration  fee  to  the 
register  of  copyrights  at  Washington.  Upon  the  receipt  of 
the  application  by  the  register  of  copyrights,  the  title  of 
the  book,  the  name  and  address  of  the  applicant  for  copy- 
right were  recorded  and  John  Jones  was  informed  that  his 
application  had  been  registered,  and  this  procedure 
granted  him  full  copyright  on  his  book.  It  was  not  the 
duty  of  the  register  of  copyrights  nor  of  any  other  desig- 
nated official  to  inquire  when  an  application  was  made  for 
copyright  whether  the  provisions  of  the  copyright  act 
under  which  copyright  was  desired  had  been  complied 
with  or  not,  nor  is  it  the  duty  of  any  official  to  do  so  now, 
but  we  have  so  strengthened  the  manufacturing  clause  of 
the  present  copyright  act  as  to  make  this  almost  unneces- 
sary, as  will  be  seen  when  we  quote  this  act  later  on. 

Year  after  year  we  contended  with  the  chief  of  the 
customs  division  in  Washington  that  the  manufacturing 
clause  of  the  copyright  act,  referring  to  the  act  of  1891, 
was  being  vitiated  and  the  government  defrauded  of  its 
just  revenue  by  the  continued  importation  into  this  country 
of  practically  perfect  plates  and  "shells"  under  the  head 
of  "old  type  metal,"  but  we  could  not  get  the  customs 
official  to  agree  with  our  contentions.  On  different  occa- 
sions we  secured  a  set  of  plates  showing  the  perfect  plate, 
the  slightly  imperfect  plate,  and  the  battered  or  worthless 
plate,  and  these  we  presented  to  the  chief  customs  officers 
in  Washington  to  demonstrate  our  contention  that  all  the 

1118 


Public  Copyright  Acts  Passed  by  Congress 

plates  shown  with  the  exception  of  the  battered  or  worth- 
less plate  were  practically  perfect  and  should  be  made 
dutiable,  but  we  failed  in  every  instance  to  carry  our 
point.  The  reply  always  was :  "Old  type  metal ;  free  of 
duty."  We  doggedly  persisted  in  our  efforts  and  finally 
through  Mr.  Charles  Montgomery,  law  officer  of  the 
customs  division  in  Washington,  who  fully  agreed  with 
our  contention,  succeeded  in  reaching  the  secretary  of 
the  treasury,  who  at  that  time  was  Hon.  Leslie  M.  Shaw. 
We  demonstrated  to  the  secretary  with  a  set  of  plates  what 
our  contentions  were  relative  to  perfect  plates  and  "old 
type  metal,"  and  it  did  not  take  the  secretary  thirty  min- 
utes to  agree  with  us  in  every  respect.  We  respectfully 
suggested  to  the  secretary  that  he  ought  to  issue  specific 
instructions  to  the  collectors  of  customs  at  all  ports  in  the 
United  States  relative  to  perfect  plates  and  "old  type 
metal,"  and  that  the  subject  ought  to  be  illustrated  by  the 
reproduction  of  the  plates  shown  him,  so  that  the  Cfl 
officials  at  all  ports  would  be  able  to  distinguish  between 
perfect,  slightly  imperfect  and  imperfect  or  worthless 
plates.  The  secretary  agreed  to  do  this  later  on,  but  in 
order  to  expedite  matters  we  had  a  set  <>t  halftones  made 
reproducing  the  plates  we  wished  to  demonstrate  and 
furnished  them  to  the  treasury  official  in  charge  of  the 
printing  division  of  the  treasury,  and  the  next  month  the 
secretary  of  the  treasury  issued  a  special  official  circular 
in  which  the  plates  were  ihowa  with  instrtx ti.-iis  relative 
to  them,  and  these  circulafl  were  sent  to  the  i. Hectors 
of  customs  at  every  port  in  the  United  States.  Tfcss  put 
a  stop  to  a  gnat  extent  to  the  Importation  of  slightly 
imperfect  but  practically  perfect  platei  under  the  head  of 
"old  type  metal."    A  plate  could  l><  lightly  imper- 

fect, but  practically  perfect  for  the  pnrpODi  toi  which  >t 

was  intended,  by  punching  a  hole  in  the  blank  «jwur  pre. 

itro 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

ceding  a  chapter  page,  or  in  the  blank  space  concluding  a 
chapter,  or  by  mashing  a  word  or  two  which  could  be 
easily  remedied. 

The  official  circular  issued  by  the  treasury  department 
is  herewith  reproduced. 

[Stereotype  and  Electrotype  Plates  and  Shells,  fraudulent  entry  of.] 

Treasury  Department, 

Office  of  the  Secretary, 
Washington,  July  3,  1906. 
To  the  Collectors  and  Other  Officers  of  the  Customs. 

It  is  represented  to  this  department  that  perfect  stereotype 
and  electrotype  plates  and  "shells"  for  printing,  which  are  duti- 
able, are  imported  into  the  United  States  and  entered  as  fit  only 
for  remanufacture  and  passed  free  of  duty  under  paragraph  533 
of  the  tariff  act  of  July  24,  1897.  I*  *s  a^so  alleged  that  by  this 
method  the  provision  in  section  4956  of  the  Revised  Statutes, 
as  amended  by  the  act  approved  March  3,  1 89 1,  requiring  the 
two  copies  of  books  delivered  or  deposited  for  copyright  pur- 
poses to  be  printed  from  type  set  within  the  limits  of  the  United 
States,  or  from  plates  made  therefrom,  is  violated,  in  that  not 
infrequently  books  delivered  and  deposited  in  the  copyright 
office  for  registration  are  printed  from  the  plates  and  shells 
manufactured  abroad  and  so  imported.  See  in  this  connection 
T.  D.  20404  of  December  10,  1898. 

There  are  printed  herewith  fac-similes  of  plates  and  shells 
perfect  in  all  respects,  plates  and  shells  slightly  imperfect,  but 
which  may  be  made  perfect  at  trifling  expense,  and  a  plate  or 
shell  which  is  in  reality  fit  only  for  remanufacture ;  all  properly 
designated. 

A  "shell"  is  defined  to  be  "a  thin  film  of  copper  which  forms 
the  face  of  an  electrotype,  and  is  afterward  backed  with  type 
metal  to  the  required  thickness." 

Plates  and  shells  entered  as  fit  only  for  remanufacture,  free 
of  duty  under  paragraph  533,  ante,  should  be  carefully  in- 
spected and  compared  with  the  fac-similes  herewith,  and 
whenever  it  appears  that  plates  or  shells  so  entered  are,  in  fact, 
perfect  plates  or  shells,  or  plates  or  shells  which  may  be  made 
perfect  without  remanufacture,  or  that  they  are  imported  in 
violation  of  section  4956  of  the  Revised  Statutes,  as  amended, 

1 120 


Public  Copyright  Acts  Passed  by  Congress 

you  will  apply  the  provisions  of  sections  6  and  9  of  the  act  of 
June  10,  1890,  relating  to  false  and  fraudulent  declarations, 
invoices,  etc.  Leslie  M.  Shaw. 

Secretary. 
Mindful  of  the  easy  manner  of  securing  copyright 
under  the  copyright  act  of  1891,  we  endeavored  when  the 
present  copyright  act  was  under  consideration  to  so 
broaden  and  strengthen  the  manufacturing  clause  of  the 
act  as  to  secure  the  full  protection  to  our  craft  which  that 
provision  was  intended  to  give.  Under  the  copyright  act 
of  1 89 1,  the  first  act  which  contained  any  provision  rela- 
tive to  our  craft,  only  typographers  were  included  in  the 
provision.  When  the  act  of  1909  was  under  considera- 
tion all  the  other  crafts  in  the  printing  industry  sought 
protection  under  its  provisions.  That  bill  was  under  con- 
sideration for  two  years.  Numerous  conferences  were 
held,  but  the  only  representatives  present  were  those  from 
the  lithographers  and  typographers,  and  on  one  occasion 
the  president  and  secretary  of  the  bookbinders.  At  the 
request  of  the  officers  of  the  other  crafts  and  under 
instructions  from  President  Lynch,  who  has  always  taken 
a  keen  interest  in  copyright  matters  and  who  has  given 
the  International  copyright  representative  his  warmest 
support,  we  were  instructed  to  represent  all  the  crafts  not 
represented  and  endeavor  to  have  the  manufacturing 
clause  in  the  proposed  new  act  broadened  so  as  to  provide 
that  in  order  to  secure  copyright  in  this  country  the  com- 
plete manufacture  of  the  book  must  be  done  in  the  United 
States.  This  feature  w  r  nil  *  ceded  in  having  incorpor.r 
in  the  act.  We  also  sought  to  have  the  method  of  securing 
copyright  made  more  secure  by  requiring  that  copyright 
could  only  be  secured  by  the  applicant  filing  with  his 
application  for  copyright  an  affidavit  under  the  seal  of 
a  registered  notary  that  the  pmvisiOM  <>i  thr  manufactur. 
ing  clause  had  been  complied  with  in  nil  respects,  and  that 

IISI 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  two  copies  of  the  book  required  to  be  filed  with  the 
application  had  been  produced  under  the  provisions  of  the 
manufacturing  clause  of  the  law.  Great  opposition  was 
offered  to  this  provision,  the  publishers  claiming  that  such 
a  requirement  would  subject  them  to  annoyance  and 
expense.  The  publishers  would  not  stand  for  the  affidavit 
feature.  We  would  not  stand  for  anything  less.  Just  at 
this  critical  time  there  was  imported  into  San  Francisco 
from  Japan  a  large  consignment  of  school  books  of  the 
standard  American  series  then  used  in  our  public  schools. 
This  same  class  of  books  was  selling  on  the  American 
market  at  from  45  to  70  cents  per  copy.  The  same  class 
of  books  imported  into  the  port  of  San  Francisco  were 
invoiced  at  7  cents  per  copy.  The  collector  of  the  port 
held  up  the  books  on  the  ground  that  they  were  improp- 
erly invoiced.  Upon  a  further  examination  of  the  books 
he. found  the  imprint  of  a  prominent  Philadelphia  pub- 
lisher on  the  title  page,  and  on  the  back  of  the  title  page 
a  notice  of  American  copyright  by  the  same  publisher. 
The  treasury  department  was  notified  and  I  was  called 
into  the  case.  Under  the  copyright  act  of  1891  the  owner 
of  the  copyright  had  to  be  notified  and  given  thirty  days 
to  reply.  The  Philadelphia  publisher  replied  that  he  was 
the  owner  of  the  copyright  and  that  all  the  plates  had 
been  stolen.  That  story  was  about  as  thin  as  a  knife  blade 
and  is  in  line  with  many  more  stories  that  have  come  up 
during  my  experience  in  copyright  matters.  Every  hon- 
est man  will  say  that  the  Philadelphia  publisher  entered 
into  an  arrangement  with  some  Japanese  publisher  to 
have  the  plates  shipped  to  Japan,  the  books  produced 
there,  and  then  a  bold  attempt  made  to  import  them  into 
the  United  States.  Under  the  copyright  act  the  books  were 
not  allowed  entry  into  this  country  and  had  to  be  returned. 
But  it  is  a  safe  proposition  that  they  found  their  way 
into  the  United  States  at  some  other  port.     This  fact  was 

1 122 


Public  Copyright  Acts  Passed  by  Congress 

called  to  the  attention  of  the  publishers  at  the  next  con- 
ference on  the  present  copyright  act  and  it  opened  their 
eyes  pretty  wide.  We  told  them  that  it  would  not  take 
many  years  under  such  conditions  to  put  the  American 
publisher  out  of  business,  and  we  further  told  them  that 
in  legislating  for  the  typographers  we  were  also  legis- 
lating for  the  publishers.  The  affidavit  feature  went 
through  without  any  further  opposition  and  the  honest, 
legitimate  publishers  of  the  United  States  arc  just  as 
stanch  advocates  of  the  manufacturing  clause  of  the 
current  copyright  act  as  the  printers,  and  they  desire  to 
see  every  provision  of  that  clause  observed.  The  copy- 
right act  of  1909,  which  is  the  current  act,  folic 

Section  15.  That  of  the  printed  book  or  periodical  specified 
in  section  5,  sub-sections  (a)  and  (b)  of  this  act,  except  the 
original  text  of  a  book  of  foreign  origin  in  a  language  or  lan- 
guages other  than  English,  the  text  of  all  copies  accorded 
protection  under  this  act,  except  as  below  provided,  shall  be 
printed  from  type  set  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States, 
either  by  hand  or  by  the  aid  of  any  kind  of  typesetting  machine, 
or  from  plates  made  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States  from 
type  set  therein,  or,  if  the  text  be  produced  by  lithographic 
process,  or  photo  engraving  process,  then  by  a  process  wholly 
performed  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  ami  the  pi 
ing  of  the  text  and  binding  of  the  said  book  shall  be  performed 
within  the  limits  of  the  United  States;  which  requirement!  »hall 
extend  also  to  the  illustrations  within  a  book  consisting  of 
printed  text  and  illustrations  produced  by  lithographic  process, 
or  photo  engraving  process,  and  also  to  separate  heliographs 
or  photo  engraving,  except  where  m  either  case  the  subjects 
represented  are  located  in  I  foreign  country  end  illustrate  a  id- 
cut  ilic  work  or  reproduce  I  work  of  .irt  ;  but  thev  -hall  not  a| 
to  works  in  raised  c  li.ir.i.  t ■  f -  ior  the  uv  of  the  blind,  or  lo  books 
Of  foreign  origin  iii  I  language  Ol  langUagM  other  than  ! 

01  to  books  published  thread  fan  the  BngUsh  language  seeking 

ad  nit  trim  pint.,  lion  under  this  .».  1 

Sec.  h>     Nut  in  the  case  of  the  tHM>k  the  copfes  so  depcatad 

shall  In-  accompanied  bv  an  affidavit,  under  the  official  seal  ofl 

anj  officer  authorised  to  admlniatai  oath*  «ulun  Um 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

States,  duly  made  by  the  person  claiming  copyright  or  by  his 
duly  authorized  agent  or  representative  residing  in  the  United 
States,  or  by  the  printer  who  has  printed  the  book,  setting  forth 
that  the  copies  deposited  have  been  printed  from  type  set  within 
the  limits  of  the  United  States  or  from  plates  made  within  the 
limits  of  the  United  States  from  type  set  therein ;  or,  if  the  text 
be  produced  by  lithographic  process,  or  photo  engraving  process, 
that  such  process  was  wholly  performed  within  the  limits  of  the 
United  States,  and  that  the  printing  of  the  text  and  binding  of 
the  said  book  have  also  been  performed  within  the  limits  of  the 
United  States.  Such  affidavit  shall  state  also  the  place  where 
and  the  establishment  or  establishments  in  which  such  type  was 
set  or  plates  were  made  or  lithographic  process,  or  photo 
engraving  process  or  printing  and  binding  were  performed  and 
the  date  of  the  completion  of  the  printing  of  the  book  or  the 
date  of  publication. 

Sec.  17.  That  any  person  who,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
registration  of  a  claim  to  copyright,  shall  knowingly  make  a 
false  affidavit  as  to  his  having  complied  with  the  above  condi- 
tions shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon 
conviction  thereof  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  more  than 
one  thousand  dollars,  and  all  of  his  rights  and  privileges  under 
said  copyright  shall  thereafter  be  forfeited. 

It  is  a  well-understood  proposition  that  the  workers  in 
the  printing  industry  in  the  United  States  cannot  compete 
with  the  workers  in  the  printing  industry  of  Europe.  That 
is  the  reason  that  we  have  followed  copyright  legislation 
for  years  in  order  to  secure  protection  from  the  competi- 
tion of  European  typographers.  That  is  the  reason  that 
we  contended  that  on  every  American  book  bearing  copy- 
right, and  on  every  American  edition  of  a  foreign  book 
applying  for  copyright,  the  same  should  be  printed  in  the 
United  States. 

The  United  States  Bureau  of  Labor  in  September, 
1904,  in  Bulletin  No.  54,  in  an  article  prepared  by  Mr. 
G.  W.  W.  Hanger  on  wages  and  hours  of  skilled  workers 
in  the  United  States  and  Europe,  included  a  table  and 
chart  relative  to  compositors  in  the  United  States  and 
four  European  cities.   With  three  of  these  cities  we  come 

1 124 


Public  Copyright  Acts  Passed  by  Congress 

in  direct  competition  in  the  printing  of  books.  These  cities 
are  in  Great  Britain,  Germany  and  France.  The  table  and 
chart  are  herewith  produced: 

COMPOSITORS 


YEAR 


wacu  ra  uovu 


Inin.l 

State* 

(A) 


Great 
Britain 


(Ma 
bcrc 

only 


r  MM 


1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895- 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1 90 1  . 
1902. 
1903. 


$0.3980 
•3997 
.4013 
.3933 
.3796 
.3827 
.3897 
.3935 
•3934 
.4086 
.4071 
•4*5* 
•435* 
•4467 


$0.1572 
.1651 
.1689 
.1692 
.1693 
.1689 
•»o9S 
•  1*97 
•1697 
•1699 
.1699 
.1730 
.1768 
I79S 


$0.1  o«S 
.1048 
.1109 
.1141 
.1153 

.I2j8 

.1215 
.1295 

.1282 
.IJ94 
•  1*99 
.1364 
.1369 
.1411 


•0.1*07 
.IJ©7 
.1*07 
.1*07 
.1207 
.1207 
.1207 
.1*07 
.1255 
•*S5 
.1255 
.1255 
.1155 
.130  J 


$o^>78» 
••7S* 

•07  7  * 
-•7** 


•OT9« 
.©•25 


.©■*$ 


••955 


YKAK 


COMPOSITORS 


iiot-M  ru  wni 


Inited 

State* 

it) 


Hnuin 


t.rrmany 

(Mi 


£ft 


rr»m» 


1890, 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1  B94  . 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901  . 
1902. 
1903. 


53-15 
52.62 
5*58 
U*l| 
5*75 
5*73 
S*-S8 
5*47 
52.00 
51.26 
51.09 
SOJ7 
499* 
49- »• 


5433 
52.67 
5-»  >7 
52.17 
52.17 
S*«7 
5*  >7 
5*-  •  7 
52.17 
52.17 
5'  «7 
5«-67 
»o.lj 
50.00 


5740 
S7-7» 
57-3* 
5710 
56.56 

53.60 
ll.ll 

»'  <J 
3«-47 


«••  47 


fcO   K» 


This  table  covets  a  period  ol   1 .,  years,  from  1890  to 
1903,  inclusive.    These  data  were  0  Mtors 

generally,  regardless  of  their  union  «>r  nonunion  affilia- 
tions, .mil  therefore  include  both   union  and  nonunion 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

men.  If  the  data  had  been  secured  for  union  compositors 
the  rate  shown  would  be  materially  higher.  Coming 
down  to  the  last  year  shown  in  the  table,  1903,  we  find 
that  the  wages  of  compositors  in  the  United  States  were 
44.67  cents  per  hour,  those  in  Great  Britain  17.95  cents 
per  hour,  those  in  Germany  14. 1 1  cents  per  hour,  those  in 
France  13.03  cents  per  hour,  and  those  in  Belgium  9.55 
cents  per  hour.  Bringing  these  figures  down  to  a  percent- 
age basis,  we  find  that  the  wages  of  compositors  in  the 
United  States  in  1903  were  60  per  cent  higher  than  those 
in  Great  Britain,  68  per  cent  higher  than  those  in  Ger- 
many, 73  per  cent  higher  than  those  in  France,  and 
79  per  cent  higher  than  those  in  Belgium.  I  believe  it 
will  be  readily  seen  that  we  can  not  compete  with  the 
typographers  of  Europe.  Our  rates  have  advanced  very 
materially  and  our  hours  have  been  materially  reduced 
since  1903,  so  that  the  rates  shown  do  not  represent  the 
wages  or  hours  of  our  craft.  They  are  given  for  com- 
parative purposes,  viz. :  to  show  the  rates  and  hours  of 
compositors  in  the  United  States  and  Europe.  The  accom- 
panying chart  shows  the  average  wages  per  hour  for  the 
same  years  and  the  average  hours  per  week.  The  chart 
is  very  simple  and  needs  no  explanation. 

Under  the  present  act  the  duration  of  copyright  is 
twenty-eight  years,  with  a  renewal  at  the  end  of  that 
period  of  twenty-eight  additional  years,  so  that  the  length 
of  time  of  American  copyright  is  fifty-six  years.  During 
the  life  of  an  American  copyright  on  a  book  all  foreign 
importations  of  that  book  are  prohibited  under  section  30 
of  the  act  of  1909,  which  is  herewith  given.  There  are 
some  exceptions  to  that  prohibition  which  are  also  given 
and  herewith  follow : 

Section  31.  That  during  the  existence  of  the  American 
copyright  in  any  book  the  importation  into  the  United  States  of 
any  piratical  copies  thereof  or  of  any  copies  thereof  (although 

1 126 


Wages  and   Hours  of   Labor 
United   States  and   Europe  — 1890  to  1903 

COMPOSITORS 


CENTS 
PER  HOUR 

AVERAGE    WAGES     PER     HOUR 
1890     1891     1892     1893     1894    1895     1896     1897     1898     1899     1900     1901     1902     MM 

cnrr* 

r««  MMM 

70 

65 
60 
55 
50 
45 
40 
35 
30 
25 
20 
15 

• 

70 
65 
60 
55 
50 
45 
40 
35 
30 
25 
20 
IS 
10 
5 

10 

5 

HOURS 

ii  k  ran 

AVERAGE    HOURS    PER    WEEK 
1890     1891     1892     1893     1894     109J     1894     1897     IM     MM)     MM)     MM     MM)     MM) 

MM  » > 

85 

80 
7S 
70 
65 
60 
55 
50 
45 

IS 
•0 
75 
70 
6$ 
60 

ss 

St 

45 

I—  I   Nlllll  WAI«  . 


..*«*»  wii«i<i      aaa.  -..aautat 
*<*NkWt<>«4, 


Public  Copyright  Acts  Passed  by  Congress 

authorized  by  the  author  or  proprietor)  which  have  not  been 
produced  in  accordance  with  the  manufacturing  provisions  spec- 
ified in  section  15  of  this  act,  or  any  plates  of  the  same  not  made 
from  type  set  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  or  any 
copies  thereof  produced  by  lithographic  or  photo-engraving 
process  not  performed  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  section  15  of  this  act,  shall  be, 
and  is  hereby,  prohibited :  Provided,  however,  That,  except  as 
regards  piratical  copies,  such  prohibition  shall  not  apply : 

(a)  To  works  in  raised  characters  for  the  use  of  the  blind ; 

(b)  To  a  foreign  newspaper  or  magazine,  although  contain- 
ing matter  copyrighted  in  the  United  States  printed  or  reprinted 
by  authority  of  the  copyright  proprietor,  unless  such  newspaper 
or  magazine  contains  also  copyright  matter  printed  or  reprinted 
without  such  authorization ; 

(c)  To  the  authorized  edition  of  a  book  in  a  foreign  lan- 
guage or  languages  of  which  only  a  translation  into  English  has 
been  copyrighted  in  this  country ; 

(d)  To  any  book  published  abroad  with  the  authorization  of 
the  author  or  copyright  proprietor  when  imported  under  the 
circumstances  stated  in  one  of  the  four  subdivisions  follow 
that  is  to  say : 

First.   When  imported,  not  more  than  otic  copy  at  one  time, 
for  individual  use  and  not  for  sale;  but  locfa  privilege  of  impor 
tation  shall  not  extend  to  a  foreign  reprint  of  a  book  by  an 
American  author  copyrighted  in  the  United  States; 

Second.  When  imported  by  the  authority  or  for  the  OM  of  the 
United  States  ; 

Third  When  imported,  foi  use  and  not  for  sale,  not  Mrs 
than  one  copy  of  any  such  book  in  any  one  brvok  ft,  in  good  faith, 
by  or  for  any  society  or  institution  incorporated  t<>r  educate 
literary,  philosophical,  scientific,  or  reUgJooi  purpose*,  or 
the  encouragement  of  the  fine  arts,  or  for  any  college,  academy, 
school,  or  seminary  0!  learning.  Of  t'-r  any  st.it.-.  v.  bOOtj  college, 
university,  or  tree  public  library  in  the  I'lntol  9l 

Fourth.  When  such  books  form  parts  of  libraries  or  collec- 
tions pun  baaed  en  blot  for  the  use  of  societies,  institution*,  or 
libraries  designated  in  the  foregoing  paragraph,  or  form  part* 
ol  the  libraries  or  personal  baggage  belonging  10  persons  or 
families  arriving  from  foreign  ootmtrki  and  are  not 

ti  jt 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

Under  the  above  provisions,  which  are  known  as  the 
privileged  sections  of  the  law,  there  will  be  seen  under 
paragraph  three,  a  reference  to  libraries,  literary  societies, 
etc.  These  public  libraries  and  societies  are  allowed  to 
import  one  copy  at  any  one  invoice  of  a  prohibited  book. 
When  it  is  understood  that  there  are  over  10,000  public 
libraries  and  literary  societies  in  the  United  States,  the 
magnitude  of  their  importations  of  prohibited  books  can 
be  better  understood. 

While  these  institutions  can  import  only  one  copy  at 
any  one  invoice,  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  them  sending 
out  invoices  continually.  We  know  of  a  number  of  cases 
where  librarians  have  publicly  stated  that  they  purchased 
a  great  many  books  abroad  on  account  of  their  cheapness. 
It  was  never  intended  by  congress  that  public  librarians 
should  exploit  books  from  abroad  to  the  detriment  of  the 
American  publisher  and  printer.  They  were  only  sup- 
posed to  purchase  a  book  abroad  when  the  same  could  not 
be  found  on  the  American  market,  but  it  is  a  pretty  well- 
known  fact  that  some  librarians  are  purchasing  books 
from  abroad  for  the  profit  there  is  in  it  for  themselves. 
This  is  the  one  feature  that  violates  the  manufacturing 
clause  of  the  present  copyright  act,  and  it  is  a  feature  that 
we  are  giving  close  attention  to.  We  have  followed  this 
matter  for  some  time  and  we  have  put  plans  under  way 
which  we  believe  will  give  us  a  direct  line  to  what  extent 
these  libraries  and  societies  are  importing  books  from 
abroad.  When  we  have  these  data,  if  the  facts  warrant  it, 
we  intend  to  ask  congress  to  withdraw  the  privileged  pro- 
visions relative  to  public  libraries,  etc.  With  this  amend- 
ment added  to  the  current  act  we  believe  that  we  will  have 
finally  secured  a  copyright  law  that  will  insure  to  the 
members  of  our  craft  the  protection  that  we  have  so  long 
sought  to  obtain. 

1 128 


%  i 


(  II  \KI  I  -   Dl   \<  "V 

Siipriilllrmlrftt     l-!......     I'lintrt.     ■ 

la  !■**■■*  CoW». 


Historical    Sketch    of 
The    Union    Printers    Home 

IN  May,  1857,  the  first  proposition  to  establish  a 
home,  or  asylum,  for  invalid,  aged  or  infirm  union 
printers,  was  made  to  the  National  Typographical  Union 
at  its  session  in  New  Orleans,  La.  The  proposition,  how- 
ever, did  not  meet  with  serious  consideration  and  was 
dropped  until  i860,  when  it  was  again  discussed,  but  no 
action  taken.  Ten  years  elapsed  when  the  question  was 
renewed  at  the  eighteenth  annual  session,  held  at  Cin- 
cinnati in  1870,  but  the  delegates  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  deemed  the  measure  impracticable. 
Similar  action  was  taken  in  1877,  and  the  subject  was 
lost  sight  of  until  the  session  of  1882,  when  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  consider  the  advisability  of  devising 
ways  and  means  for  the  maintenance  of  a  home  for  dis- 
abled union  printers,  on  the  plan  of  the  national  soldiers' 
homes.  Nothing  came  of  this  action,  and  the  consumma- 
tion of  the  project  seemed  as  far  off  as  ever,  until  George 
W.  Childs  and  A.  J.  Drexel  presented  the  International 
Typographical  Union  with  a  check  for  $10,000,  at  the 
thirty-fourth  annual  session,  held  at  Pittsburgh  in  1886. 
The  gift  was  accepted  and  the  disposition  thereof  was 
referred  to  a  special  committee  of  five. 

At  the  next  session  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  held  in  Huffalo  in  1887,  the  trustees  of  the  fund 
reported  $1 1,020.04  in  their  possession  At  this  meeting. 
S.  J.  Triplett,  of  Austin.  I  h  .  presented  an  offer  from 
the  mayor  and  council  of  that  city,  in  which  they  agreed 
to  donate  seven  acres  of  ground,  provided  the  Interna- 
tional Typographical  Union  would  erect  thereon  a  Home 
for  sick  and  indigent  printers.  The  communication  was 
referred  1      1  special  committee  and  they  deemed  it  advts- 

MJO 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

able  to  establish  such  a  Home,  provided  the  plan  could 
be  demonstrated  to  be  feasible,  a  point  which  it  was 
impossible  for  them  to  determine  in  the  limited  time  given 
for  consideration.  John  D.  Vaughan,  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  committee,  made  a  report  to  the  Kansas  City 
convention  in  1888,  in  which  he  suggested  that  the  fund 
be  used  to  endow  hospitals  at  Austin,  Tex. ;  Denver, 
Colo.,  and  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  and  have  wards  assigned 
to  sick  printers.  The  report  was  received  and  ordered 
placed  on  file. 

Thus  the  matter  went  over  to  the  Denver  convention  of 
1889,  before  which  Will  Lambert  appeared  and  asked 
that  the  Home  be  established  in  Austin.  In  addition  to 
the  proposition  of  Mr.  Lambert,  four  others  were  pre- 
sented, one  of  the  most  important  being  that  of  Charles 
S.  Semper,  of  Semper,  Jefferson  County,  Colorado,  who 
proffered  the  International  Typographical  Union  eighty 
acres  of  land,  nine  miles  north  of  Denver,  for  a  Home 
site;  but  the  proposition  made  by  Louis  R.  Ehrich,  of 
Colorado  Springs,  Colo.,  was  the  most  popular.  On 
behalf  of  the  board  of  trade  of  that  city,  Mr.  Ehrich 
offered  to  deed  to  the  International  Typographical  Union 
eighty  acres  of  land  one  mile  east  of  Colorado  Springs, 
conditioned : 

t  That  the  International  Typographical  Union  would 
commence  the  erection  of  a  Home  on  said  tract  within 
two  years,  to  cost  not  less  than  $20,000,  and  to  be  com- 
pleted within    one  year  from  date  of  commencement. 

Mr.  Ehrich  addressed  the  convention  at  length  on  the 
subject  of  locating  the  Home  at  Colorado  Springs.  He 
directed  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  leading  physicians 
of  the  country  had  agreed  in  characterizing  Colorado 
Springs  as  the  most  perfect  sanatorium  and  health  resort 
in  the  world  for  the  cure  of  all  forms  of  throat  and 
lung  diseases — diseases  to  which  printers  were  especially 

1 130 


Union  Printers  Home 

liable — and  urged  that  the  establishment  of  such  a  home, 
in  the  highway  of  trans-continental  travel,  would  natu- 
rally attract  the  attention  of  many  wealthy  and  charitably 
disposed  citizens,  and  prove  a  source  of  strength  and 
influence  to  the  International  Typographical  Union. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Ehrich's  remarks,  a  resolution 
recommending  "that  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed, 
consisting  of  the  president,  second  vice-president  and 
secretary-treasurer,  to  arrange  the  details  to  formally 
accept  the  proposition,  and  to  take  such  legal  steps  as 
may  be  necessary  in  connection  therewith,"  was  adopted. 

Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this  resolution,  the  com- 
mittee proceeded  to  carry  out  its  instructions,  and  on 
June  22,  1889,  an  agreement  for  the  transfer  of  the  land 
was  entered  into  between  the  committee,  as  trustees  of 
the  International  Typographical  Union,  and  A.  A.  Mc- 
Govney  and  F.  L.  Martin,  the  latter  gentlemen  repre- 
senting the  board  of  trade  of  Colorado  Springs.  The 
question  of  finally  accepting  the  proposition  was  voted 
upon  by  the  membership  of  the  International  Typograph- 
ical Union  in  the  fall  of  1889,  and  the  action  of  the 
Denver  convention  was  ratified  by  a  vote  of  4,828  to 
1,532,  only  about  one-third  of  the  members  voting. 

CONTUIi:i"noNS    I  UoM     Mi\II.IK>    SOLU'mi> 

At  the  Denver  convention  the  sum  of  $21,689.45  w** 
reported  in  the  hands  of  the  trustees  of  the  fund.  The 
convention  having  made  n<>  |>r<>\ frfoa  i«>r  the  railing  of 
additional  money  to  erect  a  Home,  an  appeal  for  \«»hm- 
t.uv  contributions,  to  be  applied  toward  the  building 
tin  institution,  was  immediately  totted  t<>  the  mcml> 
in  which  it  was  stated  that  under  the  trims  ..t  the  gift 
it   would  be  necessary  to  commence  th<  >n  of  a 

building  by  June  22,  1891.  The  appeal  was  responded 
to  by  many  unions  and  members,  nml  at  the  tune  «»(  the 

n.u 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

meeting  of  the  Atlanta  convention,  in  1890,  the  contribu- 
tions amounted  to  $4,199.55,  which  was  turned  over  to 
the  Home  corporation,  the  creation  of  which  was  author- 
ized at  this  session. 

The  Atlanta  convention  also  ordered  the  Childs-Drexel 
fund  transferred  to  the  new  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Home,  to  be  used  for  building  and  maintenance;  that  a 
per  capita  tax  of  $1.00  be  levied,  collectible  at  the  rate 
of  10  cents  per  month,  to  be  applied  to  the  Home  fund; 
and  r.hat  the  board  of  trustees  should  have  power  to 
regulate  and  determine  the  uses  and  purposes  of  the 
Home.  On  September  24,  1890,  the  trustees  filed  articles 
of  incorporation  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state  of 
Colorado. 

HOME    BUILDING  DECIDED   UPON 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees,  on  November  19, 
1890,  it  was  determined  to  build  a  $50,000  edifice,  and  a 
building  committee  was  appointed  to  have  charge  of  the 
work.  On  March  17,  1891,  this  committee  awarded  the 
contract  for  the  main  building  at  a  cost  of  about  $60,000. 

A  recommendation  that  an  assessment  of  10  cents  per 
month  be  levied  on  the  membership,  to  be  applied  to  the 
building  and  maintenance  of  the  Home,  was  submitted  to 
the  Boston  session  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  in  1 891,  by  the  trustees,  and  was  adopted  by  the 
convention.  It  was  further  decided  that  the  anniversary 
of  the  birthday  of  George  W.  Childs,  May  12,  1892, 
should  be  celebrated  by  the  dedication  of  the  Home. 

THE   DEDICATION 

As  previously  noted,  May  12,  1892,  was  set  aside  for 
the  dedication  of  the  Home.  The  city  of  Colorado  Springs 
was  crowded  with  people  from  all  parts  of  the  state,  and 
many  distant  points.  The  trade  unions  and  civic  societies 
joined  in  a  monster  parade  through  the  city,  after  which 
they   adjourned  to   the   Home,   where  the   visitors  were 

1132 


Union  Printers  Home 

received  by  a  committee  of  ladies  from  Denver  and  Colo- 
rado Springs.  The  exercises  were  held  in  the  open  space 
in  front  of  the  Home.  Vice-President  Aimison,  of  the 
board  of  trustees,  opened  with  a  short  address,  and  was 
followed  by  Rev.  James  B.  Gregg  with  a  fervent  prayer 
of  dedication.  The  Colorado  Springs  band  and  the 
Pueblo  Cowboy  band  rendered  several  selections,  after 
which  Governor  Routt,  of  Colorado,  was  introduced.  His 
speech  was  brief  but  appropriate.  Following  him  came 
Mayor  Ira  G.  Sprague,  of  Colorado  Springs,  who  deliv- 
ered a  short  address,  in  which  he  paid  a  high  tribute  to 
the  printer  and  his  work,  and  extended  a  cordial  welcome 
to  all  strangers  present.  James  McKcnna,  first  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  International  Typographical  Union,  re- 
sponded to  the  mayor's  address  of  welcome.  The  most 
conspicuous  figure  on  the  platform,  Mr.  George  \V. 
Childs,  was  then  introduced.  Cheers  greeted  his  introduc- 
tion and  followed  the  conclusion  of  his  talk.  Leon 
Hartigan,  a  Creede  printer,  read  a  specially  prepared 
poem  by  Eugene  H.  Munday,  the  poet-printer.  August 
Donath  gave  an  interesting  history  of  the  Home,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Senator  Jacob  H.  Gallinger,  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, an  old  typo,  who  delivered  the  principal  oration  ol 
the  day.  Short  talks  were  made  by  Mr.  Capellcr,  presi- 
dent of  the  National  Editorial  Association,  and  Bishop 
McLaren.  Letters  were  received  and  read  from  John 
Whitticr,  George  W.  Curtis,  and  the  acting  editor-in- 
chief  of  the  New  York  World,  expressing  good  wishes. 
The  benediction  by  Dean  A.  R.  Kcifer,  of  Grace  Church, 
Colorado  Springs,  fittingly  closed  the  services  of  the  day. 
after  which  the  building  was  opened  for  Intpecti 

Colorado  Springs,  where  the  Home  is  located,  if  .« 
of   30,000    inhabitants,    situ.it. .1    i;|>on    a    plateau    al 
6,000  feet  above  the  sea.   Electric  cars  will  take  >  m  to  the 
mountains  only  a  few  milei  aw  I       I  he  charms  and  fa«ci* 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

nations  of  the  surrounding  mountain  scenery  have  fur- 
nished a  theme  for  many  pens.  Who  has  not  heard  of 
Pike's  Peak,  of  Manitou,  with  its  health-giving  springs 
and  picturesque  villas,  of  the  Garden  of  the  Gods,  Glen 
Eyrie,  and  Cheyenne  Canon?  All  these  and  many  more 
are  close  at  hand,  affording  a  never-failing  delight  at  each 
visit.  Medicinal  springs,  with  healing  waters,  bubble  up 
amid  the  foothills,  and  a  light,  dry  atmosphere,  with  an 
abundance  of  clear  weather  and  brilliant  sunshine,  has 
been  and  is  doing  wonders  for  thousands  of  invalids  who 
seek  health  and  life  in  this  vicinity. 

The  surface  of  the  townsite  is  almost  flat,  with  a 
gradual  slope  to  the  south.  The  annual  precipitation — 
rain  and  snow — averages  about  fifteen  inches.  The  sun 
shines  almost  constantly,  and  days  are  infrequent,  summer 
or  winter,  when  it  is  not  pleasant  out  of  doors.  The  shade 
affords  relief  from  the  summer  sun,  and  the  nights  are 
always  cool;  and  though  the  mercury  sometimes  drops 
below  zero  in  winter,  the  dryness  of  the  atmosphere 
prevents  the  low  temperature  from  causing  extreme 
discomfort. 

THE    HOME   SITE 

On  a  commanding  eminence,  overlooking  Colorado 
Springs  and  the  surrounding  plains,  stand  the  Home 
buildings.  They  face  the  west,  and  from  this  point  we 
have  a  panoramic  view  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  from 
Castle  Rock  on  the  north  to  the  Spanish  Peaks  on  the 
south,  a  distance  of  120  miles.  To  the  west  the  land 
slopes  down  to  the  city,  and  to  the  southwest  to  Prospect 
Lake.  To  the  south  and  east  the  land  inclines  to  a  dry 
creek.  The  soil  is  dry  and  loose,  but  produces  abundantly 
when  properly  irrigated. 

On  each  side  of  the  driveway,  extending  from  the 
gateway  to  the  main  building — a  distance  of  650  feet — 
there  is  a  broad  cement  walk;  bordering  it  and  surround- 

1134 


Union  Printers  Home 

ing  the  Home  are  lawns  comprising  an  area  of  twelve 
acres.  These  lawns  abound  in  flowers,  shrubs  and  trees, 
maple  and  elm  alternating  in  front  and  along  the 
driveway. 

The  main  building  is  of  white  lava  stone,  with  red 
sandstone  trimmings.    The  main  edifice  is  144  feet  long 
by  44  feet  wide,  with  a  wing  in  the  rear  of  the  north  end 
85  by  40  feet.   Porches  extend  from  the  wing  to  the  south 
end  of  the  building  on  the  first  and  second  stories,  afford* 
ing  easy  access  to  any  part  of  the  building  from  the  rear. 
Each  story  contains  a  central  hall  the  entire  length  of  the 
building,  every  room  opening  into  the  main  hallway,  in 
addition  to  having  outer  windows.    A  broad  stone  stair- 
way,  protected  by   heavy  balustrades,   leads  up  to  the 
massive  archway  of  the  portico.    From  the  vestibule  the 
open    portals   of   the   main    entrance   invite   to   spaci 
parlors,  reception  rooms  and  chambers  on  either  side  of 
the  main  hall.   Above  the  portico,  in  the  second-story  cap 
course  of  sandstone,  in  raised  gothic  letters,  arc  the  words. 
"Union  Printers  Home,"  while  on  cither  side,  throughout 
the  front  elevation,  suitable  carving  ornaments  the 
terior.   The  inside  finish  is  all  natural  white  pint 
the  stairway,  which  is  white  oak,  with  carved  panel-     I 
building  contains  seventy-five  rooms,  the  kitchen,  pantl 
cold  storage  room,  dining  room,  closets,  etc..  bring  on  the 
basement  floor. 

THE  SANATORIUM   uinniNG 

Consumption  being  one  of  the  diseases  to  which  print- 
ers are  especially  liable,  it  Is  not  surprising  that  the 
ravages  of  this  disease  caused  many  to  sod  -In  Iter  and 
care  at  the  Home.  This  class  of  inmates  began  inr  rearing 
•  aily  in  1893,  and  at  the  Louisville  session  of  the  It ■• 
national  Typographical  I'ninn  in  1894  it  was  reported  by 
the  superintendent  thai  the  authorh  the  »t4t. 

Colorado  were  contemplating  the  enactmenl  el  .»  Uri  to 

1135 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

compel  the  segregation  of  consumptives  at  such  institu- 
tions as  the  Home.  The  erection  of  a  hospital  was 
suggested,  but  the  convention  failed  to  take  any  action  on 
the  subject.  In  the  report  of  the  executive  committee  of 
the  Home  trustees  to  the  Colorado  Springs  convention  in 
1896,  the  hospital  proposition  was  taken  up  and  the 
advisability  of  such  a  building  discussed.  As  a  result  of 
this  action  by  the  committee,  the  following  resolution  to 
the  convention  was  unanimously  adopted : 

That  an  assessment  of  50  cents  on  each  member  in  the  juris- 
diction of  the  International  Typographical  Union  shall  be 
levied  to  provide  funds  to  build  a  hospital  annex  to  the  Union 
Printers  Home,  said  assessment  to  be  due  and  payable  on 
Christmas  day,  December  25,  and  forwarded  to  the  secretary- 
treasurer  on  or  before  February  1,  1897. 

This  resolution  was  at  once  submitted  to  the  member- 
ship, and  resulted  in  its  endorsement.  When  the  result  of 
the  vote  became  known,  a  great  rivalry  as  to  which  should 
be  the  first  to  pay  the  assessment  was  manifested  by  local 
unions,  and  though  none  of  the  money  was  due  until 
December  25,  1896,  a  number  of  local  bodies  sent  in  their 
contributions  previous  to  that  date,  so  as  to  make  their 
offering  in  truth  a  Christmas  gift.  The  assessment  was 
rapidly  paid,  and  the  trustees  lost  no  time  in  arranging 
for  the  building  of  the  sanatorium. 

The  hospital  building  is  located  just  south  of  the  main 
structure,  covering  a  space  of  50  x  90  feet,  and  was  orig- 
inally but  two  stories  in  height.  The  demands  for  admis- 
sion to  this  building  having  outgrown  its  capacity,  the 
board  of  trustees,  at  its  annual  meeting  in  September, 
1902,  decided  to  increase  the  number  of  rooms  by  adding 
another  story.  The  architects  who  designed  the  original 
building  were  instructed  to  prepare  plans  for  the  new 
addition  and  to  carry  out  the  general  scheme  of  the  lower 
stories.  This  method  was  followed  and. work  was  com- 
menced on  the  improvement  early  in  January,  1903,  and 

1 136 


Union  Printers  Home 

completed  in  April  of  the  same  year.  The  architecture  of 
the  hospital  is  in  keeping  with  that  of  the  main  building, 
the  superstructure  being  of  Castle  Rock  lava  stone. 

In  1904  ten  tents  were  erected  near  the  hospital 
building  for  the  use  of  tuberculous  patients.  They  proved 
to  be  such  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  hospital  service  in 
the  treatment  of  lung  trouble  that  ten  more  were  added  in 
1907.  The  tents  are  octagonal  in  shape,  with  framework 
as  substantial  as  that  of  a  house,  are  securely  anchored  on 
four  sides,  and  will  withstand  the  most  severe  winds.  The 
covering  is  of  the  best  15 -ounce  double-filler  army  canvas, 
and  is  impervious  to  snow,  wind  or  rain.  A  circulation  of 
air  is  secured  by  an  arrangement  of  ventilators  in  the 
floor  around  four  sides  of  the  tent  and  in  the  peak.  These 
ventilators  can  be  closed,  but  are  kept  open  except  in 
extremely  cold  weather.  The  tents  are  steam-heated, 
lighted  by  electricity,  and  have  a  system  of  electric  call 
bells,  by  which  the  occupants  can  immediately  summon 
a  nurse." 

With  twenty  tents  and  the  hospital  given  op  to  tuber- 
cular residents,  there  was  need  of  a  central  building  for 
their  use.  To  supply  this  want  a  new  building,  called  the 
solarium,  was  erected  in  1907. 

The  experimental  stage  in  open  air  treatment  for  tuber- 
culosis has  long  since  been  passed.  Fully  50  per  cent,  of 
the  patients  who  have  the  advantage  of  "tent  life"  and 
the  regenerating  rays  of  the  Colorado  sun  have  recovered 
health  and  strength  and  have  been  enabled  to  again 
assume  business  duties.  There  arc  main  tent  colonfal  in 
Colorado,  but  few  of  them  comport  with  the  tuberculosis 
sanatorium  at  the  Home. 

I  III      I    \l    \|i|<\      \\|>     III    VMS..     II    \M 

The  laundry  and  heating  plant  is  located  about  ninety 
feet  east  of  the  main  building  and  hospital,  and  coven 
6,100  square  feet.    The  dimensions  of  the  laundry  are 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

30  x  59  feet.  Its  machinery  equipment  is  ample,  and  of 
the  latest  design  and  best  quality.  The  sterilizing  and 
disinfecting  apparatus  in  use  reduces  to  a  minimum  the 
chances  of  contagion  through  the  medium  of  clothing, 
etc.,  used  by  the  sick. 

To  the  south  of  the  laundry  is  the  engine  room.  The 
room  is  large  enough  to  accommodate  two  dynamos, 
should  the  Home  install  an  electric  lighting  system.  Two 
151  horse-power  water  tube  boilers  have  recently  been 
installed  to  take  the  place  of  the  two  forty  horse-power 
boilers  which  were  originally  purchased  when  the  Home 
was  first  established. 

The  second  story  contains  fifteen" large  sleeping  rooms, 
with  necessary  lavatory  accommodations.  These  rooms 
are  used  by  the  male  help  of  the  institution. 

THE    LIBRARY 

The  original  library  of  the  Home  contained  about 
3,000  books,  a  large  number  of  which  were  donated  by 
employing  printers,  the  principal  promoters  of  this 
acceptable  feature  being  H.  G.  Bishop  and  W.  B.  Mac- 
Kellar.  In  1906  Frank  Swigart,  of  St.  Louis  Union, 
interested  a  number  of  publishers,  authors  and  prominent 
people  in  the  Home  library,  and  several  thousand  volumes 
were  donated  to  the  library  through  his  efforts.  At  the 
sug"gestion  of  James  Monroe  Kreiter,  of  Washington, 
D.  C,  delegates  and  visitors  to  the  1906  Colorado  Springs 
convention  of  the  International  Typographical  Union 
were  asked  to  bring  a  book  with  them  for  the  Home 
library.  As  a  result  of  the  efforts  of  Messrs.  Swigart  and 
Kreiter,  the  library  now  contains  almost  10,000  volumes. 
The  Home  also  receives  228  papers,  including  many 
leading  dailies,  weeklies  and  monthlies,  together  with 
several  religious  and  German  papers.  Eight  magazines 
are  received  through  the  courtesy  of  their  publishers,  and 
the  Home  subscribes  for  two  copies  of  each  of  the  leading 

1 138 


Union  Printers  Home 

monthlies.    The  library  is  supplied  with  literature  that 
would  be  a  credit  to  any  institution. 

GATEWAY    AT   ENTRANCE  TO  GROUNDS 

The  magnificent  stone  gateway  at  the  entrance  to  the 
grounds  consists  of  a  central  elliptical  arch,  12  feet  9 
inches  wide  by  13  feet  4  inches  high,  for  vehicles,  with  a 
half-circle  arch  on  each  side,  5  feet  wide  by  8  feet  high, 
for  pedestrians.  Between  the  center  and  side  arches  are 
heavy  piers,  3  feet  9  inches  square  and  19  feet  6  inches 
high.  Smaller  piers  are  erected  on  the  sides,  with  a 
curved  wrought-iron  railing.  The  driveway  is  furnished 
with  double  wrought-iron  gates,  (the  side  gates  being  of 
similar  material. 

The  face  of  the  central  arch  stones  bears  the  inscription 
in  gilded  letters:  "Union  Printers  Home — Erected  and 
Maintained  by*  the  International  Typographical  Union." 
The  date  of  the  erection  of  the  Home — A.  D.  1 89 1 — is 
placed  over  the  side  arches.  Light  is  provided  from  orna- 
mental wrought-iron  electric  lamps,  placed  on  each  side 
of  the  large  piers.  An  ornamental  iron  fence  extends 
some  450  feet  on  either  side  of  the  gateway.  Thi>  im- 
provement, which  was  completed  in  1901,  cost  about 
$  1 ,600.  , 

r    '  SUPERIMI  M'l  MS   COTTAGE 

The  superintendent  and  his  family  occupy  a  six-room 
modern  cottage,  located  a  short  distance  north  0!  the  main 
building.  This  dwelling  is  heated  by  steam  and  lighted 
by  electricity,  and  it  is  connected  by  telephone  with  the 
main  building  and  hospital  The  outside  Villi  are  of 
white  lava  stone,  similar  t<»  that  used  «•»  the  other  build- 
ings. This  addition  was  Completed  in  I9OO,  its  Ctwt.  in- 
cluding furnishings,  being  $3,400. 

r.\K\^    \m.    I  l\l     sI.h  K 

In  t(>u;  the  itock  bai  ted  *omc  years  previously 

partially  destroyed  by   lire     New  bsrn*  and  #hed*. 

it  V) 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

presenting  a  handsome  architectural  appearance,  and  in 
keeping  with  the  substantial  character  of  the  other  Home 
buildings,  were  immediately  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
$3,300.  They  are  large  enough  to  house  twenty-five  head 
of  cattle  and  six  horses.  The  cattle  are  Holsteins,  and  the 
herd  is  one  of  the  finest  in  Colorado. 

SUPPORTED   BY   THE    MEMBERSHIP 

Many  people  suppose  that  the  expenses  of  the  Home 
are  defrayed  by  endowments.  Such  is  not  the  case.  Since 
the  original  gift  of  Messrs.  Childs  and  Drexel,  the  Home 
has  received  but  one  endowment,  that  being  made  by 
Herman  S.  Hoyt,  trustee  of  the  estate  of  Julia  A.  Ladd, 
of  Shirley,  Mass.  This  bequest  of  $1,100,  less  the  inherit- 
ance tax  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  brought  the  Home 
$1,045.  Under  the  terms  of  the  bequest  it  is  known  as  the 
Julia  A.  Ladd  Fund,  and  no  portion  of  the  original 
amount  can  be  used,  but  such  interest  as  may  be  received 
thereon  goes  toward  the  expenses  of  the  Home.  With  this 
one  exception,  the  Home  has  no  endowments. 

Since  its  completion,  all  expenses  of  the  Home,  includ- 
ing cost  of  maintenance,  have  been  paid  from  money 
contributed  by  the  members  of  the  International  Typo- 
graphical Union,  the  revenue  being  provided  by  setting 
apart  a  certain  portion  of  the  monthly  contributions  to  the 
union.  At  first  an  assessment  of  10  cents  per  member  per 
month,  in  addition  to  the  International  Typographical 
Union  per  capita  tax,  was  levied  for  the  support  of  the 
Home,  but  the  Philadelphia  session  of  the  International 
in  1892  combined  the  Home  assessment  of  10  cents  and 
the  monthly  per  capita  tax  of  15  cents,  classing  the  two 
as  per  capita  tax,  and  crediting  20  per  cent  of  the  amount, 
or  5  cents  per  month  per  member,  to  the  Home's  support. 
This  prevailed  until  March,  1897,  when  the  increasing 
demands  on  the  Home  made  an  increase  in  revenue  neces- 

1140 


Union  Printers  Home 

sary,  and  a  new  law,  requiring  30  cents  per  capita  tax  per 
month,  went  into  effect,  the  Home  receiving  one-third  of 
the  amount,  or  10  cents  per  month  per  member.  This 
revenue  proved  inadequate  for  the  needs  of  the  Home,  and 
on  March*  1,  1908,  the  monthly  contribution  of  each  mem- 
ber was  increased  to  15  cents,  at  which  figure  it  now 
stands. 

AVERAGE   COST   PER   RESIDENT 

During  the  year  ended  May  31,  191 2,  the  expenditures 
from  the  Home  fund  were  $99,821.01.  Included  in  this 
amount  is  all  money  paid  for  improvements  and  repairs 
on  the  buildings  and  grounds,  farming  expenses,  insur- 
ance, food  supplies,  clothing,  pensions,  medical  attend- 
ance, transportation  of  residents  who  vacate,  burials, 
salaries  of  employes  and  officers,  printing  and  the  ex- 
penses of  meetings  of  the  board  of  trustees.  Deducting 
$22,691.22  expended  in  building  the  library  addition, 
sanatorium  improvements,  a  smoke  stack  and  in  general 
repairs  and  improvements,  and  the  purchase  of  additional 
land,  the  net  cost  of  maintenance  is  found  to  be  $77.- 
129.79,  or  $588.13  per  year,  $49.01  per  month  for  each 
resident.  When  it  is  remembered  that  this  sum  covers  all 
expenses  in  connection  with  the  upkeep  of  the  Home 
property  and  the  care  of  its  patients  in  a  manner  not 
excelled,  if  equaled,  in  any  similar  institution,  the  cost 
will  not  appear  excessive. 

Kl.sil.l  NTS   ACCOMMODATED 

From  the  opening  of  tin-  Hume  in  July,  189a,  to  M.»\ 
31,  1 91 2,  1,312  applicants  have  been  admitted  to  the 
Home.  Any  member  of  the  International  Typographical 
Union,  who  has  been  such  for  ten  continuous  years,  may 
apply  for  admission  to  the  Home  Members  suffering 
from  pulmonary  tuberculosis'  may  be  admitted  t«»  thr 
sanatorium  at  any  time.    Application  mini  be  made  upon 

1141 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

the  form  provided  by  the  trustees,  be  endorsed  by  the 
local  union  with  which  he  is  affiliated,  and  set  forth  his 
physical  condition  at  date  of  application.  If  passed  upon 
favorably  by  the  admission  committee,  a  certificate  of 
admission  is  issued  by  the  secretary  of  the  board,  which 
must  be  presented  to  the  superintendent  by  the  applicant 
upon  his  arrival  at  the  Home. 

MANAGEMENT 

The  management  of  the  institution,  which  will  accom- 
modate about  170,  is  in  the  hands  of  a  superintendent, 
who  acts  under  the  direction  of  the  board  of  trustees,  one 
of  whom  is  a  resident  of  Colorado  Springs.  The  superin- 
tendent's wife  is  the  matron  and  is  appointed  by  the 
president,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  trustees.  The 
nurses  and  other  employes,  being  selected  by  the  superin- 
tendent, are  directly  under  his  supervision.  The  physician 
is  appointed  by  the  board  of  trustees. 

Everything  possible  is  done  by  the  board  of  trustees 
and  the  superintendent  to  make  the  residents  of  the  Home 
comfortable  and  happy.  They  are  furnished  with  suitable 
food  and  clothing,  medical  attendance  is  provided,  and 
the  necessary  care  and  attention  is  given  to  those  who  are 
confined  to  their  rooms.  Each  resident  receives  a  pension 
of  50  cents  per  week,  and  an  additional  allowance  is 
granted  to  those  who  assist  in  caring  for  the  grounds  or 
buildings. 

The  annual  meetings  of  the  board  of  trustees  are  held 
at  the  Home. 

COST  OF  BUILDING  AND  MAINTAINING  HOME 
AND  SANATORIUM 

RECEIPTS 

Contribution   of   Childs  and   Drexel $10,000  00 

Contributions  and  interest  from  June,  1886,  to  October  31,  1890.  16,933  63 
Contributions,  assessments  and  interest  from  November  1,   1890,  to 

April    30,    1 892 52,889  37 

Per   capita   tax   and    assessments    from    May    1,    1892,    to   June    30, 

1898      144.893  87 

1 142 


Union  Printers  Home 

Hospital  annex  assessment  to  June  30,  1898 $14,013  95 

Julia    A.    Ladd    bequest 1.045  0* 

Cummings  memorial   fund 13.203  43 

Per  capita  tax  and  all  receipts  of  fund  from  July  1,  1898,  to  May 

3',    i°>2    897.9a*  31 

Total     $1,150,901  4* 

EXPENDITURES 

Building  and  furnishing  main  building $70.1 14  44 

Building  and  furnishing  hospital  annex jj.08.1  54 

Building    and    furnishing    superintendent'*    cottage    and    addition 

thereto     3.8*4  57 

Building  laundry,  machinery  for  same,  etc i*.*4i   55 

Heating  plant  addition 1 4.376  87 

Library,  building  addition  to  and   furnishings 36.714  27 

Additional    land    purchase 3.500  00 

Maintenance,  salaries,  repairs,  improvement!,  etc.,  from  opening  of 

Home  to   May  31,   1912 9*3.4*8  ft 

Total    $  18 J 

Balance  in  fund  May  31,   1012 *4.6i8  94 

Total    Jt.i  $0,901   46 

Trustees  op  the  Home  Since  its  Inception 

•Aimison,  William Nashville,    Tcnn }  ••••"••OJ 

I  1898-1903 

Ames,  W.  E Milwaukee,    Wis. 1913-1918 

•Black,  Daniel Detroit,    Mich 1900-1901 

Bramwood,  J.  W Denver,    Colo 1896  1909 

Colby,  F.  A Colorado   Springs,   Colo.  1893-1898 

Crowley,  Thomas  F Cincinnati,    Ohio 1903  1910 

•Cummings,  Amos  J New  York  City,  N.  Y. . .  .  1890-189* 

•Dailey,    James   J Philadelphia,    Pa. 1890-1900 

•Donatii,  August Washington,  D.  C .  1890-1894' 

Donnelly,  Samuel  B New  York  City,  N     ]  1898-1900 

Dorsey,  Henry Dallas,    Texas 1895-1898 

Ducuid,  Alex Cincinnati,    Ohio..  1894-1897 

Fen nessy,  Thomas  D Los  Angeles,  Cal. .  .1903- 1910 

HALL,  Columbus Washington,  D.  C.  18901894 

Hays,  John  W Minneapolis,    Minn  1909  1914 

•Lambert   William Austin.    Texas. .1890  189* 

Lynch,  James  M Syracuse,    N.    V  ..  1900  1914 

McCappery,  Thomas Colorado  Bfxtafo,  Colo  18901914 

McClevey.  W.  S I  ilp>iH) 

M<  Kei.  Walter  H 

Morgan,   George   W Hrlliniham   Hay,  Wash.  i8«o  1894 

Parr,    W.    II I  1890  (894 

•I        tOtti    I     W W»«hmgton.    D    <  IfjM   i9»J 

I'iiton,    Frank    S CotCOJO,    III  <«> 

■I'nvK,    Ki.wmii)    T San    !'■  189a   1894 

I'.uiii.     Mn  iiaki Ottawa.    Canada.. 

1894  «a*a 

Rogers.    II.    II 

Sheparp.     I      <  Rapid*.   Ml.'  .»»«   iiu 

Tatrm,   R.   I I'hiladoloMo.     I>  ptff, 

aotd. 


History  of  The  Typographical  Union 

*Vaughan,   John   D Denver,    Colo 1890-1892 

White,   J.   W Kansas   City,   Mo 1897-1902 

White,   W.  J San   Francisco,   Cal 1 903-1 909 

Wilson,  Anna  C Washington,   D.   C 1909-1915 

Wines,  A.  G St.    Louis,    Mo 1 893-1 896 

Wood,  C.   L Fort    Worth,    Texas 1912-1915 

Woodward,   James  G Atlanta,    Ga 1 890-1 893 

superintendents 
* Joh  n    D.    Vaughan Denver,    Colo 1 892 

W.   C.   Schuman Denver,    Colo 1892-1896 

*C.  E.  Clark Omaha,    Neb 1896-1898 

Charles   Deacon Chicago,    111 1 898-1 9— 

*  Deceased. 


1 144 


Index 

CONVENTIONS  1850,  1851,  1852 

Convention  at  New  York,   1850:  rACt 

Address  to  journeymen  printers  of  United  States 1  Jo 

Apprentices    1 19 

Comment  on  address  to  printers 125 

Contract    printing 1 19 

Formation   of   local   unions 117 

Government    printing   office 119 

National   executive   committee   appointed    1850 I  so 

National  executive  committee  created 117 

Officers,    1850 117 

Convention  at  Baltimore,   1851: 

Call  issued  to  form  national  union 1  j t 

Committee  to   frame  constitution  appointed ijo 

Constitution  presented  for  approval iji 

Constitution   to  be    ratified ijo 

Government  printing 1*8 

Memorial    to    congress t  a8 

National  executive  committee,   1851 Ij6 

National  Typographical   Union   constitution 131 

National  Typographical  Union  suggested ..  119 

Officers,    1851 U7 

Permanent    committees 1  tj 

Subordinate    unions •  •  jo 

Convention  at  Cincinnati,    185a: 

Assigning   charter    numbers 1  it 

By-laws     t  it 

First  officers  National  Typographical  Union,   185J 139 

Form    of    charter ijt 

National  executive  committee,    1853 

Officers,    1852 .  IJ6 

Organization  of  the  National  Typographical  Union 

Public     printing •  H 

Selecting   convention    city •  J? 

Sunday    work 

NATIONAL    TYfOGBArltU  A|      t'NION 

Convention    at    Pittsburgh,    1853: 

(  barters  and  traveling  cards 

Death  of  John   W.   Pcregoy ■  .  •♦» 

Deaths  of   illustrious  statesmen ••  i«4 

First    traveling   card 

Free  use  of  telegraph  lines 

ral  laws 

Measurement    of    type 

Membership   for   trade    proteetion 

New  York  Co-operative   Ub*M 

•  rs,    |8S3 

Official    organ Ml 

Opposed   to   strikes 

Password,  grip,  secret  »i«n«.   M  ••  »!• 


INDEX 

Convention  at  Pittsburgh,  1853 — Continued.  page 

Protest   from   Baltimore 145 

Scale  of  prices 151 

Seal     152 

Sunday    labor 148 

Unique    treasurer's    report 146 

Convention  at  Buffalo,  1854: 

Charters    issued 155 

Executive    committee,    1854 155 

Female   labor  in   composing   rooms 153 

General    laws 155 

Membership,    traveling   cards,   seal,    charter 154 

New   York   Co-operative   Union 152 

Officers,    1854 , 156 

Offices  of  secretary  and  treasurer  combined 153 

Official     organ 155 

Convention  at  Memphis,   1855: 

Duties    of   executive   committee 157 

Executive  committee,    1855 160 

Officers,    1855 160 

Permanent  convention  city 1 58 

President's    report 157 

Proprietor    members 160 

Public     printing 159 

Ritual    159 

Convention   at    Philadelphia,    1856: 

Charters     1 64 

Government   printing  office 163 

National   executive   committee,    1856 164 

Officers,    1856 164 

Pressmen    161 

Returns     1 64 

Convention  at  New   Orleans,    1857: 

Baltimore   union   rechartered 166 

Biennial  conventions 167 

Co-operative   Union   disbanded 1 68 

Joint   stock   printing  plant 168 

National  executive  committee,    1857 1 69 

Non-member    delegates 165 

Officers,     1857 169 

Official    organ 1 69 

Separate     branches 168 

Union  Printers  Home  suggested 165 

Unique     invitation 167 

Convention  at  Chicago,   1858: 

Copyright     law 1 74 

Country    unions 172 

National  executive  committee,   1858 175 

Officers,    1858 175 

President's    address 17° 

Pressmen     organized 17-2 

Protecting   the   industry 174 

1 146 


INDEX 

Convention  at  Chicago,   1858 — Continued.  r*ci 

Public    printing I7j 

Kats     I7j 

Secretary-treasurer  removed 171 

Slawson's     history I7j 

Subordinate  unions  advised  to  be  cautious 

Toast :  The  National  Typographical  Union 1 7  j 

Traveling    cards 

Versatility   of   the   printer 174 

Convention  at  Boston,   1859: 

Baton   Rouge  charter  surrendered 179 

Contracts    favored 181 

Critical    period . .  178 

First  president  to  be  re-elected 178 

Head  of   Franklin  on  traveling  card ..  lij 

National  executive  committee,    1859 184 

Officers,    1859 

Official    organ 1 79 

Pioneer  organization  to  consider  tuberculosis 179 

Pittsburgh    rechartercd 

Political    conditions . .  iti 

Proprietor    members . .  i8j 

Providence   union's   charter   stolen . .  iSj 

Public     printing ill 

Secretary-treasurer     resigns 

Convention  at  Nashville,  18601 861: 

Authority  to  organize  dual  union  in  Washington....  ...    189 

Baton  Rouge  charter  reissued 

Brooklyn's    charter ■ .    1*4 

Charters    

Charters  revoked ..    184 

Columbia  Typographical  Society  refuses  charter....  ..    1S8 

Jurisdiction  over  Canadian  unions  proposed ■  •    if* 

National   executive   committee,    1860-1861 ..    184 

Officers,     1860-1861 «•» 

Per  capita  tax •  ••84 

President's    address 

San   Francisco   charter   preserved 

Union's  lack  of  authority 

Convention  at   New   York,    186a: 

Canadian    unions ■  •   in 

1  liirtcrs   issued,    reissued   and   surrender.  I  •*• 

(  i\il   w.ir   Dtl  kkl 

Nation. il    cmhiiht    I'limmillrr.     |M8  ••• 

No   general    legislation '•* 

Officers,    186.1 

Per  capita  tax   for   1M1    rnnittr.1  »•• 

Postponement  critui/cd 

Postponement   ..I   OOaVtStkM  of   1861   justified.  ..    189 

Postponing,  truth  tastta 

Convt  nt  1.11  .it  t  Irvrlainl.   tH6j: 

Inttf— th>|   Irtin    from   Ntw    Orle«n< 
Laws    


INDEX 


Convention  at  Cleveland,  1863 — Continued. 


PAGE 


National  executive  committee,  1 863 204 

Officers,    1863 205 

Organization     work 203 

Paper   trust 202 

Proprietor  membership  in  Portland   (Ore.)   union 203 

Resignation  of  President  Farquhar 200 

Unique    communication 202 

Convention  at  t  Louisville,   1864: 

Associated  Press  monopoly 208 

Chartering  stereotypers'  unions 209 

Charters   issued   and    reissued 205 

Conditional    membership 209 

Delinquent  southern  unions 209 

Interchange  of  cards  with  foreign  unions 206 

National  executive  committee,   1864 210 

Officers,    1 864 210 

Official    organ 205 

Printing  proceedings  of  1862  and  1863 208 

Proofreaders   207 

Uniform  constitution  for  subordinate  unions 208 

Unique  letter  from  Portland  (Ore.)  union 206 

Working   cards 209 

Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1865: 

Boston's  per  capita  tax 214 

Canadian    unions 212 

Charters  issued,  reissued  and  surrendered 212 

Columbia  Typographical   Society 213 

Death   of  President   Lincoln 213 

Distinguished     visitors 214 

Eight-hour     day , 213 

First    fraternal   visitor 214 

National  executive  committee,    1865 215 

Officers,    1 865 211 

Unique    toasts 214 

Convention  at  Chicago,  1866: 

Charters     217 

Charters  and   membership 219 

#       Conditional    membership 218 

Ex-delegates   217 

National  executive  committee,    1 866 220 

No    important    legislation 219 

Officers,     1866 215 

Official   organ 219 

Original   names   on   charters 219 

President's    address. 216 

President's    report 217 

Southern    unions 217 

Convention  at  Memphis,   1867: 

Charters  issued  and  reissued 225 

Columbia  union   receives  charter 225 

Delegates    set    type 225 

1 148 


INDEX 

Convention  at  Memphis,   1867 — Continued.  face 

Elective    officers a*4 

Female    labor t jf 

Form   of   charter 

Functions   of    delegates 

Local    autonomy 

Minor   legislation . .   «j6 

Name    changed 

National    executive    committee 1*6 

National    fund 

New   constitution 

New  constitution,  etc 

Officers,    1867 sj6 

President's    report 

Protest  against  new  constitution 

Traveling    cards 

Uniform    constitution 

Convention  at   Washington,   1868: 

Amnesty     

Artemus    Ward    memorial 

Change   of   name t  jo 

Charters   issued,   reissued   and   surrendered sjo 

Convict    labor »ji 

Copyright     law « j  1 

Eight     hours 

General    amnesty ...  ttt 

Ii«h    cost   of   living jji 

How  can  the  non-union  printers  be  organized? .    tt» 

National    executive    committee 

National    Labor    Union 

Officers,    1868 

Rejecting    new    constitution 

Secretary-treasurer's     report . .   *jo 

Strikes     ..   tt» 

The  legislation  of  the  last  session *** 

Visit  to  United  States  capitol 

Convention    at    Albany,    1869: 

Ilirth  of  International  Typographical   Union 

Charters     surrendered 

General    amnesty -  .   »»* 

National    executive   committee,    1864 ..   M* 

National     fund , 

Negro    members 

New    constitution 

Officers,    1869 

Passing  of  the  National  Typographical  Union . 

IVr   capita   tax 

PfWUbafl    report 

I  v     drlrgatrn ••    »J» 

lv'(  ■|.ir«rlil.ili"M>      «)t 

S|.lil.Klirl,l     (III    »    11m. Ml    llliltipted 

Unsatiafactory  ckikIukmi*   in    BoM 

Women's    BniOU •   Mt 

•  «  *•> 


A 


PAGE 


INDEX 

INTERNATIONAL   TYPOGRAPHICAL    UNION 

Convention   at    Cincinnati,    1870: 

^    Apprentices     250 

Bids  for  printing 250 

Business   in   the   south 247 

Charters     246 

Cincinnati  first  meeting  place 245 

Divided  jurisdiction   250 

First  woman  elected  to  office 246 

General    prosperity , 246 

Government  printing  office 246 

Home   for   disabled   printers 248 

National  executive  committee,    1 870 251 

Negro    members 248 

Officers,    1870 246 

Organizing    Canada 248 

Postal    abuses 249 

Pressmen    251 

Strikes    248 

Susan   B.    Anthony 250 

Convention   at   Baltimore,    1871: 

All  unions  furnished  new  I.  T.  U.  charters 258 

Appeal    cases 258 

Arbitration     257 

Charters   issued   and   surrendered 252 

District     unions 258 

Fast    typesetting 256 

Female    labor 253 

i     Jurisdiction   over   pressmen 257 

Membership     258 

National    executive    committee,    1871 258 

National    labor    congress 256 

Negro    question 258 

Officers,     1871 252 

Per  capita   tax   reduced 258 

Report   of   Miss   Lewis 253 

Strikes    253 

Traveling   printers 257 

Convention   at   Richmond,    1872: 

Artemus    Ward    fund 262 

Charters     262 

Chicago     fire 260 

English  and  French  unions  in  Montreal 264 

Female    labor 262 

Government  printing   office 262 

Legislation    262 

National  executive  committee,    1872. 266 

Officers,    1872 259 

Resolutions     264 

Unsuccessful     strikes . .' 260 

Convention    at   Montreal,    1873: 

Artemus   Ward    fund 269 

Charters,   etc 269 

District    unions 269 

1 150 


INDEX 

Convention  at  Montreal,  1873 — Continued.  wag* 

Female   labor *6$ 

German    printers ...  J67 

Government  printing  office .  .  .  j66 

National  executive  committee,   1873 »7 1 

Officers,    1873 ,..  J67 

Pressmen's    unions ...  j6t 

Resolutions     ...  aoo 

Sub-lists    ...  j6f 

Convention  at  St.  Louis,   1874: 

Brooklyn    union 

Centennial  exposition 

Charters    

District    unions 

Election  of  officers 

German    union 

Interchange  of  membership  cards 

Membership   

Monthly    journal 

National  executive  committee,   1874 *7* 

Officers,    1874 .   »T 

Per  capita  tax 

Resolutions     

Secretary-Treasurer   Collins   defaults 

Uniform    constitution 

Unsuccessful    strikes 

Women's  Typographical  Union 

Convention   at    Boston,    187s: 

Defalcation    of    secretary-treasurer 

Delinquent  unions •  .  *•• 

Executive   committee    discontinued ••   #7* 

Greeley    monument 

Inharmonious    laws 

«     Membership    

^ — -National    Labor   Congress , 

New   constitution 

Officers,    1875 

Resolutions    

Convention  at  Philadelphia,    1876: 

Amendments    and    resolutions . .  iM 

UOU     .   «•• 

Defense    fund 

Erasing   names   from   charters .  **« 

:il   amncr.ty    it fu-.nl 

i-y     iiioniiiiu  nl 

Jurisdiction     limit' 

Mi  iiil>cr»hip     

<  Miners.     1876 . .   **• 

Sol.  lists    

I 'inform  constitution   for  subordinate  union. 

Convention  al    Louisville,   1877: 

•••  ••* 
Delegate  to   Pirti —  .  *w 


INDEX 


Convention  at  Louisville,  1877 — Continued. 


PAGE 


Depressed  trade  conditions 289 

Digest    of    laws 295 

French-Canadians     292 

Gift  of  Italian   printers 294 

Greeley     memorial 292 

Lack    of    discipline 292 

Officers,    1877 .' 296 

Representation    295 

Uniform    constitution 295 

Union    Printers   Home 295 

Convention   at  Detroit,    1878: 

Female  compositors 299 

Insurance    plan 306 

International    strike    fund 299 

Jurisdiction  of  subordinate  unions 306 

Lowest  membership 296 

Minor    legislation 306 

Officers,     1878 306 

Organization   and    discipline 296 

Permits     . . 298 

Vice-President    Griffin    expelled 305 

Convention    at    Washington,    1879: 

Arbitration     315 

Biennial    conventions 315 

Charters     314 

Defense     fund 308 

Delegate   to   Paris 314 

Discouraging    conditions 306 

-—  Inception  of  the  A.  F.  of  L 315 

,       Insurance     315 

Limitation   of   foreman's   authority 308 

Negro    members 307 

Officers,    1879 v 315 

State    unions 314 

St.   Louis   charter 311 

Visit  tomb  of  Washington 316 

Convention  at   Chicago,    1880: 

Continental   Federation   of   Trades 323 

Insurance  plan  rejected 326 

Officers,    1880 327 

Prize  for  best   reorganization   plan 326 

Separate  charter  for  job  printers   refused 326 

Tariff  on  paper  and  printed  matter 325 

The  Brotherhood    320 

Typographia  traveling  cards 327 

Convention   at   Toronto,    1881: 

Campaign   of   education , ■ 328 

Federation    of    trades. 328 

General    prosperity 333 

Good    times 327 

Officers,     1881 335 

Official    organ 334 

1152 


I  X  D  E  X 

Convention  at  Toronto,   1881 — Continued.  rjMUt 

Opening  session  with   prayer -    jj« 

Reorganization  plans JJj 

The  Brotherhood    334 

Convention  at  St.   Louis,   1882: 

American  Federation  of  Labor .   jj* 

Conflicting   laws 3J* 

Deolaration    of   principles ■ .  $4* 

Expense    of    representation v .   Jjo 

Federation  of  trades  organized . .   33* 

French-Canadians     .  .    Sit 

Officers,    1882 

Pressmen    •   35 i 

Reorganization    plans ■  •    Si  J 

Results  of  the   Pittsburgh   congress ■   349 

Secret    organizations ■  •   354 

State    deputies . .  IS* 

Sub-lists     •  • 

The  Pittsburgh  convention ■ .   JJt 

Union  Printers   Home -  -   355 

Work  of  the  convention 35' 

Convention  at  Cincinnati,   1883: 

Charters     .    Ji« 

Federation   of  Trades js« 

French-Canadian    union .    3  jS 

Government  printing  office . .   J4» 

Membership    . .  j*i 

Officers,    1883 ...  jM 

Official    organ .  •   3*» 

Organization    work 

Per    capita •   4*1 

President's    address 

Revision  of   laws ■    3** 

State    deputies ■ .   3** 

Strikes     

Sub-lists     3*> 

Union    Printers    Home 

(  < invention   at  New   Orleans,    1884: 

Agreement    with    Typographia 

Ailiitration     

•It     

<  burton  

<  lnrf    organizer 

Endowment     fuixl 

•ration  of  Trades 

I>  m.ile    labor 

\i>  abwhlp    

OSetra,   1HH4 

n  ••■ 

tt    tax 

Relation.    «  llli    kmilllt*    i.f    I  al- H  »*• 

State     (lr|.il|i.-. 

Slt.kr. 

J" 


INDEX 


Convention   at    New    York 
Federation  of  Trades. 


'  PAGE 

38i 

Forerunner   of   priority   law 380 

Growth    retarded 37g 

Insurance    plan , 381 

Officers,    1885 ; . .  .  381 

Pressmen    380 

Strengthening    influences 379 

Strike     fund *..  37g 

Structural    errors 377 

Sub-lists     38 1 

Convention   at   Pittsburgh,    1886: 

Childs-Drexel    gift 389 

Disposition    of    gift 39 1 

Federation    of    trades 387 

Gift    accepted 39 1 

Insurance     feature 393 

Knights  of  Labor  and  Federation  of  Trades 383 

Officers,    1 886 394 

Official    organ 392 

Organizing    382 

Relations  with   pressmen 388 

Strike    fund 382 

Union     label 392 

Convention  at   Buffalo,    1887: 

Childs-Drexel    fund 4o6 


Insurance 


405 


Nine-hour     day 409 

Officers,     1887 4i0 

Organization         396 

Pascoe     defalcation 394 

Printers     Home 407 

Relations    with    Knights    of    Labor    and    the    American    Federation    of 

Labor    397 

Reorganization    405 

Strike    fund   law 3gS 

Unfinished     business 409 

Convention  at  Kansas  City,    1888: 

American   Federation  of   Labor 420 

Childs-Drexel    fund 418 

Committee  on  laws 412 

Defense    fund 413 

Executive  council  created 412 

Executive    council    meeting 422 

Headquarters   established 411 

Insurance     413 

New     constitution 410 

Nine-hour    day 413 

Officers,     1888 423 

Official     circular 412 

Organizing     413 

Pascoe   defalcation 418 

Per   capita    tax 412 

"54 


INDEX 

Convention  at  Kansas  City,  1888 — Continued.  r»OM 

Printers  Home 419 

The  Brotherhood    

Convention    at   Denver,    1889: 

Biennial  elections  and  conventions 

Colorado  Springs  selected 4J$ 

Delegates  to  American  Federation  of  Labor  and  Paris  Exposition...  . 

Executive    council 

Insurance   plan    

Minor    legislation 

Pascoe    defalcation .   4 j  1 

Relations  with  American  Federation  of  Labor ..  4*9 

Reorganization    4J6 

The     referendum 

The  Typographical  Journal 

Union   Printers  Home . .  4  J* 

Convention   at  Atlanta,    1890: 

American  Federation  of  Labor ...  4J6 

Delegates  to  Paris  congress . .  444 

Home    trustees .  ««. 

Minor  legislation 

Officers,    1 890 

Organization    .  .  4J9 

Pressmen    »••  44* 

Printers  Home   

Six-day  law 441 

Stereotypers     « 4 

Strikes     4M 

The    referendum « 4 . 

Convention   at  Boston,    1891: 

Amendments  to  constitution 

American   Federation  of   Labor 

Burial   benefits 

Copyright    law .  444) 

Important    legislation 

Membership,    etc ■ .   44* 

Nine-hour     day 

Officers,   1891 

Pressmen    ■  •  44* 

Priority    

The    referendum 

Typesetting    machines •   4M 

Union    Printers   Home 

Convention  at   Philadelphia,   1S01: 

American   Federation  of  Labor...  .  4*4 

Apportionment  of   funtls »•  4M 

Hurial    fund 

Constitutional    aninidiiirnu.  .  . 

Finances     

Meml>ership    

Mimoi    lr«i»l»tlon 

Nine-hour    day «'• 


^-~>.        INDEX 

Convention  at  Philadelphia,  1892 — Continued.  page 

Officers,     1892 \. .  .^/. 470 

Organization     work 458 

Pittsburgh    strike 470 

/Pressmen     461 

Priority    465 

Review  of  officers'  reports 456 

Secretary    MfcClevey    resigns 467 

Six-day   law 465 

State    unions 462 

Strike    fund 466 

The     injunction 469 

Union   Printers   Home 467 

Convention   at   Chicago,    1893: 

Allied    trades 474 

Black-balling 474 

Charters     474 

Constitutional    amendments 480 

Copyright    law 476 

Death  of  former  President   Hammond 489 

Death  of  Harry  E.  Gamble 490 

Five-day     law 484 

International    fund 484 

Machinists    477 

New  organizing  districts 491 

Nine-hour   day 482 

Officers,    1893 490 

Organization     work 473 

Reorganization    476 

Review   of  officers'   reports 471 

Seceding    pressmen 478 

Secretary-treasurer's    report 479 

Shorter   hours 475 

Sick   benefits 484 

Stereotypers     479 

Typesetting    machines 482 

Typographia    amalgamation 485 

Union    Printers   Home 488 

Convention   at  Louisville,    1894: 

Allied   trades    councils 500 

American   Federation   of   Labor   political   platform 494 

Constitutional     amendments 512 

Deaths  of  Messrs.   Childs  and   Drexel 516 

General     laws 514 

Indianapolis   bank    failure 495 

Machinists     497 

Nine-hour    fund 516 

Officers,    1894-1895 SJ7 

Officers'    reports 49- 

Organization   work 493 

Out-of-work    fund 515 

Pressmen   and  bookbinders 503 

Secretary-treasurer's     report 512 


1 156 


INDEX 

Convention  at  Louisville,  1894 — Continued.  r^r 

Shorter    hours JOi 

Six-day  law 5 1 , 

Stereotypers    .  .    i , , 

Typesetting    machines 

Union   Printers   Home 

Convention  at  Colorado   Springs,   1896: 

Additional   constitutional   amendments ...   539 

Additional     vice-presidents .    537 

After  the   Colorado   Springs  convention 

American   Federation  of  Labor 

Biennial   conventions . .    j  jg 

Civil    service . .   )*$ 

Constitutional    amendments ...   \tt 

Deaths    

Home    trustees 

Hospital    annex jjf 

Important    recommendations 

Increased  per  capita .    j»»« 

Minor   legislation 

Nine-hour-day    struggle .    5  \i 

Officers,     1 896- 1 897 . .   )j6 

Officers  elected  by   referendum ■ .   M> 

Organization     work .  .    511 

Organizers     

Out-of-work    fund . .   jj* 

Percentage  dues 

Referendum    elections ..    $47 

Review  of  officers'  reports . .   519 

Secretary's     report 

Secretary-Treasurer    Wines'    retirement ..   $|4 

Stereotypers     

The  Brotherhood   

The    label 

Typesetting    devices ...   $*j 

Typographia     

Typographical    Journal 

Union  Printers   Home 

Unique     incident . .    M* 

Convention   at   Syracuse,    1898: 

Allied    trades 

American  Federation  of  Labor 

Amnesty  

Annual  conventions .   |*j 

Charters     

(  IiiI.Ih  Drrxrl    Home .    »*» 

Constitutional    amrmlmrnM. 

Death  of  Hrnry  George . .    t** 

Defense  fund  . 

Discussion  of  economic  subjects  at  union*  «Mtitn|< 

lot   organisers   •   !•* 

lions   of   local   unions..  .   ft* 

I  ott.ls  Mt 


INDEX 

Convention  at  Syracuse,  1898 — Continued.  page 

General  laws 574 

German-American    Typographia 552 

Government   bonds 559 

Indianapolis  bank   failure 551,  569 

Journal    free    list 567 

Location    of   headquarters 566 

Machine   tenders    549,  567 

Mailers    553 

Manner    of    administering    obligation 543 

Minor  Home  affairs 567 

Minor  recommendations 551 

Mortality    statistics 5^8 

New     obligation 562 

Newswriters     553 

Nine-hour  day  achieved 563 

Nine    years'    finances 558 

Organization    work 547 

Organizers    559 

Organizing   system    changed 561 

Photo    engravers    553,  568 

Postal    telegraph 568 

President's    address 543 

Proofreader    members 549 

Propositions    rejected 562 

Referendum 550 

Referendum  laws  amended 561 

Resolutions 574 

Retiring   official   honored 569 

Review   of   officers'   reports 543 

Seals 551 

Shorter    workday   committee 560 

Sick    benefit    fund 550 

Secretary  Bramwood's  report 553 

Stereotypers    and    electrotypers 552 

Stereotypers'  trade   district 566 

Strikes    552 

The    Home 551 

To    abolish    referendum 569 

Tripartite     conference 575 

Typographical    Journal '. 555 

Union  label 550,  569 

Use   of  defense    fund 562 

Convention  at  Detroit,   1899: 

American   Federation   of  Labor 592 

Annual  reports   576 

Constitutional    amendments 594 

Controversy  with  Chicago   publishers 599 

Controversy  with   the  machinists 602 

Copyright  law 4 585 

District    organizers 599 

Funds   584 

General  laws,   resolutions,  committee  reports,  etc 596 

1 158 


INDEX 

Convention  at  Detroit,  1899 — Continued.  r*c* 

German-American     Typographia ...   3S6 

Government     ownership 5*5 

Government  ownership  and  the  copyright  law ..  600 

Home    trustees . .   j*  j 

Labels    6o* 

Machine  tenders    .    .   s*4.  s«t 

Mailers   . .   J»* 

Miscellaneous     propositions . .  to* 

Newswriters . .    j*7 

New  York  Sun  strike ..   599 

Officers,    1900-1901 ..   61  j 

Organization    work ...    578 

Organizers'  reports .„ j»j 

Photo  engravers ,«, J** 

Pittsburgh    lockout •!• 

Postal  savings  bank . .  MS 

Proprietor    members . .   5S4 

Relations  with   allied   crafts . .   $*• 

Secretary-treasurer's    report . .   $tt 

Shorter   workday .   $79 

Shorter  workday  committee . .   5»J 

Socialism    •  ■  ••• 

Stereotypers  and  electrotypers . .   J*j 

Strikes    •    $7* 

Subordinate  union  affairs ■ .  *•• 

Typographical  Journal .   J»i 

Union   Printers   Home • .  *•! 

Convention  at   Milwaukee,    1900: 

American  Federation  of  Labor  delegates ..  4j* 

Annual    conventions . .  ••• 

Hurial   fund 

Chicago   stereotypers .  *M 

Conciliation  and  arbitration ■ .  *4i 

Conditions   in   Pittsburgh • .  •»*» 

Constitutional   amendments ••   •>»* 

Defense    fund 

Disreputable  campaign   literature *«t 

District  organizers -  •  *•• 

General    fund 

General     laws 

Hume  trustees **• 

Injunctions    

Jurisdiction    

Kansas  City   trouble 

Machine    tenders 

Mailers     **• 

Minor     rriiimiiirn.l.ili.iii 

Newswritrrs    •*• 

New   York   Sun    ulrikr  **• 

Nmrhour   day 

1  Ml.,  ial    bu»mr«».  .       . 

Organization  work I 

1199 


INDEX 

Convention  at  Milwaukee,  1900 — Continued.  page 

Organizers'   reports 635 

Photo    engravers 631 

Pittsburgh    strike 622 

President    Donnelly's    retirement 656 

President's    address 615 

Relations  with   allied  trades 626 

Request  for  tripartite  conference 641 

Resolutions     639 

Secretary-treasurer     632 

Stereotypers    629 

Stereotypers  ask  to  withdraw 640 

Tripartite  agreement 651 

Typographia    629 

Typographical    Journal 634 

Union   Printers   Home 634 

Convention  at  Birmingham,    1901 : 

After  the  convention 688 

American  Federation  of  Labor 677 

Arbitration    agreement 663 

Arbitration  agreement  renewed 689 

Benefits    668 

Chinese    exclusion 687 

Constitutional    amendments 679 

Economic    policy 667 

Executive    council 665 

General    laws 683 

Home    trustees 677 

Label     667 

Liberty  of  the  press 669 

Limited    membership 686 

Mailers    671 

Miscellaneous    subjects 669 

Newswriters   671 

Officers,   1 902- 1 903 688 

Organization    work 676 

Organizers    666 

Organizing    districts   abolished 683 

Photo    engravers 672' 

Propositions   defeated , 684 

Relations    with    publishers 688 

Resolutions     683 

Review   of  officers'   reports 661 

Secession   of  photo   engravers 662 

Secretary-treasurer's     report 673 

Stereotypers'    affairs 669 

Stereotypers'  separation  movement 663 

Strikes    668 

Tripartite   agreement 664 

Tripartite   agreement  abrogated 688 

Typefounders    673 

Typographia     670 

Typographical    Journal 676 

Withdrawal   of   stereotypers 680 

Women's    auxiliaries 686 

I  l6o 


INDEX 

Convention  at   Cincinnati,    1902:  r     t 

American  Federation  of  Labor 70* 

Apprentices    . .   696 

Iiurial    benefits .  .   70J 

t itutional    amendments 709 

Eight-hour  day    . .  719 

Eight-hour  day  must  come . .  6ft 

Finance   . . .  697 

General   laws,    resolutions 

Local    contracts . .  697 

Los  Angeles  Times . .   7 1  j 

Mailers    . .  699 

New  organizing  system .  . .  Aft 

Newswriters    ...  70a 

Organizers'    reports ...  705 

Photo  engravers   ...   700.  71s 

Relations  with  allied  trades ..  *•) 

Relations  with  the  printing  pressmen . .   7 1  j 

Relations  with  publishers  and  typothet* .  6»j 

Review  of  officers'  reports . .  691 

Secretary-treasurer's    report . .  ft 

Strikes     .  .    7»j 

Typefounders    701 

Typographia   . .  69* 

Typographical    Journal . .  7*4 

Union  Printers  Home . .  707 

Convention  at  Washington,   1903: 

Agreement   with   allied  trades ..   ;M 

Allied  trades  agreement  ratified 

American  Federation  of  Labor ..  jxt 

Arbitration    agreement 

Arbitration     developments .   7)9 

Atlanta    strike 

Code  of  procedure . .   7*4 

Committee  on  benefit  features 

Constitutional    intendments 

Eight-hour  day   

iiiu.ral    laws,    etc 

Hats  off   to   the   printers . .   7*« 

Home    trustees 

Kansas    City 

Los   Angeles   Times 

tfaikn  

ii«  with  A.   N.   P.   A.   representatives. 

Miscellaneous    

■  rs     1904-1905 

Orgat  rts 

Organising    work . 

■pita  tax »•  in 

I'll. .to  aagnmn 

BttoHOM  «itli   n.». paper  publt«l>f« 

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INDEX 

Convention  at  Washington,   1903 — Continued.  page 

The  developments  in   Spokane 740 

Trade   union    incorporation 726 

Typefounders 729 

Typographia    727 

Typographical    Journal 731 

Convention  at  St.  Louis,   1904: 

Arbitration 756 

Arbitration    agreement 771 

Beneficial    features 759 

Boston  and  Louisville  strikes 755 

Changes  in  the  laws 765 

Eight-hour  day 754,  775 

Label    759 

Los  Angeles  Times 785 

Mailers    761 

Newswriters  761 

Organization    757 

Photo   engravers 783 

Review   of   officers'   reports 753 

Secretary's    report 761 

Strikes    753 

Typefounders 761 

Typographia   760 

Convention  at  Toronto,  1905: 

Address  of  Samuel  Gompers 837 

Address  of  Max  Hayes 838 

Affiliated  unions  and  the  joint  agreement 800 

Arbitration   801 

Brief  review  of -officers'   reports 795 

Constitutional    amendments 799 

Eight-hour    day 810 

Los   Angeles   Times 808 

Mailers    796 

Newswriters   797 

Officers,   1906-1907    844 

Philadelphia   case    787 

President  Ellis'  address .' 819 

Report  of  the  committee  on  eight-hour  day 824 

Secretary's    report 797 

St.   Louis  charter  revoked 801 

Typefounders     797 

Typographia    796 

Union  Printers  Home 798 

Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906: 

Assistance  from  American   Federation  of  Labor 857 

British    strikebreakers 851 

Constitutional    amendments 858 

Eight-hour    assessments 854 

Eight-hour    day 863 

General    conditions 85 1 

Home   affairs 853 

Home  library 847 

1 162 


INDEX 

Convention  at  Colorado  Springs,  1906 — Continued.  tKI-t 

Injunctions   . .   850 

Membership    857 

Mailers    ...   854 

Officers'    reports ...  848 

Old  age  pensions . .  879 

President's    address . .  848 

Relations  with  publishers . .  851 

Report  of  convention's  eight-hour  committee . .  87S 

Report  of  International  eight-hour  committee ..  8a  1 

San  Francisco  disaster . .  8)9 

Secretary-Treasurer's   report 8(4 

Typographia   . .  8)4 

Convention  at  Hot  Springs,  1907: 

After  the  convention .  91s 

Burial   fund . .  8*7 

Constitutional    amendments . .  8*9 

Eight-hour    campaign . .  8*1 

Home    fund . .  My 

Label    .884 

Los  Angeles  Times  and  Philadelphia  Inquirer ..  884.  foj 

Membership    • .  fJM 

Officers,    1908-1909 9"" 

Officers'    reports . .  Mi 

Old   age   pensions ...  tti.  90$ 

One-man  shop ■ .  8*4 

Publicity  campaign .  Mj 

Report  of  convention's  eight-hour  committee.  .  ..  f*M» 

Sanitary  composing  rooms .   88 j 

Secretary   Uram wood's  report . .  9tf 

Trade  and  technical  schools ■ . .  9°* 

Typographia   . .  ••/ 

Union  Printers  Home . .  ••* 

Convention  at  Boston,  1908: 

After   the   convention •  •  •*• 

American  Federation  of  Labor 

I'.urial     fund •  •  •*• 

By-laws,  general  laws,  etc 

Constitutional    amendments •>-' 

Cost  of  eight-hour  struggle •" 

Distinguished    visitors •   •'* 

Bom  fund ••  •*• 

Lot  Angeles  Times  and  Philadelphia  bqpssTM 

Membership   •*• 

New  agreement  with  utrrrxtyrwn.  •'* 

Officers'    reports 

Old  age  pensions 

President's    address 

rntiii.,11   1,.   imniiati.mal  cight-howr  liu—IIHs. 

•ny    law 

►  nation  of  Secrettry-Trwuuw  Bwwocil 

<  lary-Treasurer's   rrpoft 

Typographia   

AM.Iresa  of  Commissioner  Krllogi  •  til 


I  \f>\ 


INDEX 

Convention  at  St.  Joseph,  1909:  page 

After   the   convention 953 

Brief  review  of  officers'   reports 934 

Burial   fund 943 

By-laws,    etc 946 

Constitutional    amendments 946 

Finances    940 

Home    fund 943 

Increased  mortuary   benefits 947 

Label   campaign 938 

Los  Angeles  Times  and  Philadelphia   Inquirer 951 

Mailers    942 

Membership    944 

Mortuary  benefits 936 

Officers,    1910-1911 953 

Old  age  pensions 937 

Organizing   work 939 

Pension  roll 944 

President's    report 934 

Report  of  executive  council 945 

Secretary-Treasurer's   report 943 

Supplemental  trade  education 941 

Typographia   942 

Convention  at  Minneapolis,  1910: 

Address  by  Charles   Francis 983 

After   the   convention 987 

Bonding  local   officers , 968 

Executive    council 971 

First  convention  on  Pacific  coast 986 

Health    campaign 965 

Increased  mortuary   benefits 957 

Increased  mortuary  benefits  again  defeated 973 

Joint  ownership  allied  label 976 

Los  Angeles  Times  and  Philadelphia  Inquirer 985 

Mailers    966 

Membership   968 

Mortuary  benefits 967 

Officers'    reports 955 

Old  age  pension   fund 969 

Old  age  pension  law  amended 976 

Organizing  work 956 

Other   legislation 974 

Receipts    and   benefits 969 

Relations  with   allied  trades 958 

Secretary-Treasurer's   report 966 

Typographia   965 

Convention  at  San  Francisco,   191 1: 

Betterments    992 

Commissioner   Kellogg's   address 10 14 

Constitutional    amendments 1 000 

Executive    council 999 

General    conditions 992 

Illegal   strike  at   Chicago 1015 

Increased  mortuary  benefits 1004 

Loan   to   United   Hatters 1 026 

1 164 


I  M  I)  EX 

Convention  at  San  Francisco,  1911 — Continued.  r«cc 

Mailers    . .  99 j 

Membership    997 

New  arbitration  agreement .    1009 

Officers,    1912-1913 .    to** 

Pension   fund . .  99S 

Pension  law  amended .    iooj 

Presentation  to   Hugo  Miller .    10*7 

Salaries    increased .    1001 

Secretary-Treasurer's   report .  .  99) 

Summary  of  officers'   reports . .  989 

Summary  of  office   work . .  991 

The    Brotherhood .    10J7 

Typographia   . .  994 

Tuberculosis    campaign . .  997 

Union  Printers  Home 99  j 

Convention  at  Cleveland,  191 2: 

Addresses  by  distinguished  visitors 1051 

Arbitration    


Benefit    features 

Burial  benefits 

Chicago   pressmen's  strike 

Facts  and  figures 

Executive  council   

Mailers    

Membership    

Officers'    reports 

Pensioners    

Referendum    propositions 

Secretary-Treasurer's   report 

Strikes 

Strike  of  Chicago  web  pressmen . 

Typographia   

Tuberculosis   campaign 

Union   Printers   Home 

Volume  of  business 


e,S 


o*J 


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•4J 
•4* 


MM 


/ 


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